How to Choose a Wedding Florist

Flowers are an essential part of any wedding, from the bride’s bouquet to boutonnieres, ceremony arches, centerpieces, and even wearables like flower crowns. Whether you’re throwing a large fairytale wedding or an intimate backyard ceremony, it’s important to work with an experienced florist. Why? The right floral designer will ensure that your arrangements are high-quality, long-lasting, and beautiful down to the very last petal.

Of course, finding a florist that can bring your floral vision to life takes time and careful consideration. Below, we’re discussing everything you need to know to make the process as seamless as possible.

What to Look for in a Wedding Florist

Before you can begin searching for premium florists in your area, it’s crucial to know what to look for. Here are a few key characteristics that any floral designer should have:

• Experience – How long has the florist been in business? How many weddings do they work on per year?
• Certifications and Education – Is the florist trained in the art of floral design, horticulture, or another related area?
• Excellent Customer Service – Does the florist answer the phone quickly? Are they willing to address all of your questions?
• Full Customization Options – Will the florist let you customize arrangements to your exact specifications?
• Access to Premium Flowers – Does the florist stock high-quality flowers? Are they able to source more exotic varieties to fit your wedding vision?

Choosing a Wedding Florist in Five Steps

The right florist can turn an otherwise average event into something magical and memorable. Now that you know what to look for, use the following tips to connect with and choose the best wedding florists for your needs.

1. Determine Your Wedding Style and Floral Needs

Not sure when to start looking for a wedding florist? It’s important to wait until you have a clear picture of your wedding vision, including your color palette, venue, and more. Most often, this means waiting until you’ve secured your venue and date to begin scheduling floral consultations.

Once you’ve decided on an overall aesthetic for your wedding, you’ll need to consider your floral needs. Specifically, you should determine what types of arrangements you want, how many you need, and what you want them to look like. To make this easier, you can create an inspiration board on Pinterest, Instagram, or using another method. Include photos of arrangements you like, particular flowers you want to incorporate, and images related to your overall theme. You can share this with prospective florists during your first meeting.

2. Set Your Budget

Before meeting with florists, establish your floral budget (or an estimated range). This number should consider bridal bouquets, bridesmaid bouquets, boutonnieres or corsages, centerpieces, and more. It should also factor in delivery and installation fees, rental security deposits, and sales taxes (where applicable).

Establishing a budget can be a challenge, but it helps to know your wedding priorities. What aspect of your event do you value most? This could be the dress, the venue, the catering, the flowers, or another element. Understanding your priorities will help you allocate money to each area of your wedding – and help you determine how much you want to spend on your flowers.

3. Do Your Research

Before setting up meetings with local florists, do plenty of research. Be sure to look at each florist’s Instagram and Facebook account, read customer reviews, and ask friends, family, and colleagues for recommendations. Then, set up preliminary phone calls before scheduling in-person consultations. This will help you narrow down your choices early on.

4. Schedule Consultations

Once you’ve spoken to florists on the phone to confirm that they can work with your budget and needs, you should schedule appointments to meet them in person and view their studios. Come prepared with questions to ask, and be ready to discuss your wedding vision (with the help of the inspiration board from step one). Some helpful questions to ask your potential florist include:

• Is my wedding date available?
• What does your wedding day routine look like?
• Where did you receive your training?
• How long have you been in the business?
• Do you offer specific packages, or are there customization options?

5. Choose the Florist That Checks Off All the Boxes

After you’ve completed all of the steps above, it’s time to make your decision. Never settle when it comes to your wedding day – aim to choose the florist that meets as many of your needs as possible. The right floral designer will do everything they can to make your experience a positive one.

Bedford Village Flower Shoppe Is Here to Help You Create Your Dream Wedding

Looking for the best wedding florist in Bedford, NY? Bedford Village Flower Shoppe is here to help you bring your floral vision to life. With a degree in horticulture from NY Botanical Gardens and a European Master’s Certification in floral design, our lead florist, Lauren Chillemi, can enhance your event with arrangements expertly designed to your specifications. Plus, when you work with Bedford Village Flower Shoppe, you aren’t just a customer – you’re part of the family. That means we’ll do everything we can to ensure you’re 100% satisfied with your wedding centerpieces, bouquets, and more.

For more information about our wedding flower arrangements and services, contact us today!