Be Sure to Find a Florist Who Inspires You

As a florist who specialises in weddings, I would say that the most important thing to consider when looking for your florist is the chemistry between you. Your wedding is completely unique and you need to find suppliers who understand this and are flexible and creative with your ideas and budget restraints.

At Arcade Flowers, the approach we like to take is relaxed at first, chatting with the couple about what they’d like the wedding to feel like and the overall look, so that we can create a mental mood-board and really get to know their style and their wedding vision.

Once the first chat is over, we’ll send a detailed quote, containing all that we’ve talked about, making it very clear exactly what is included and how the items will look. This initial quote is usually ‘the ultimate’; everything the couple could ever dream of, with all sorts of inspiring ideas and price options.

From here, we can pick and choose certain elements according to budget, tweak some of the initial ideas, or simply do the lot! We have experience working with budgets of £200 and extravagant settings costing many thousands, and always manage to create fabulous flowers that enhance the day.

Here are some tips to help you find the right florist for you:

• When you first search for a wedding florist, the internet is a great place to start. Look out for businesses with a great looking website. If they have put effort into making sure their website is attractive and well designed, they will probably do the same with you flowers.
• Ask your venue if they recommend any particular suppliers.
• Try to call ahead and book an appointment to see the florist. A good consultation takes time and the florist will be more relaxed and prepared if they know you are coming. They will be able to research your venue ahead of time if necessary and will already have the kettle on when you arrive!
• Remember the chemistry! Instead of focussing on price, which many couples understandably do, focus on finding the right florist, who understands you and your wedding. If they’re good at their job, they will find a way to bring your flowers in on budget.
• Ask the florist if they have worked at the venue before. If they have, ask if they have any suggestions for decorations there. They may have fantastic ideas you haven’t thought of and they should also know whether the venue has any rules you need to be aware of. For instance, some venues do not allow open flames, and prefer candles to be housed in containers such as storm vases and votives.
• Be sure to find out how to officially book the florist for your wedding date. Most will take a deposit, which may be a standard charge or a percentage of the initial quote total. If you love the florist and they are well known for their wedding work, get in their diary! They will get booked up for the following year very quickly.
• If you wish to get quotes from more than one florist, do so, but be very careful not to be swayed by price alone. Go with your gut feeling - you’ll know who the best person for the job is. The florist who is creative and understands what you want will get the best results for your money.

Be aware that the florist will not usually be able to tell you exactly how many flowers will be used in a particular arrangement or bouquet, as prices at the flower auctions change daily. You can be sure of one thing though: you’ll get what you pay for! If another florist says they can do it for less, they’re probably imagining something different or will put less time/effort/flowers into your arrangements.

Why does my quote seem so expensive? We understand that most people have never planned a wedding before and have no idea how much things cost. Sometimes it can be a shock to see it all on paper and you might wonder where we get our prices. It is usually the case that a good florist will go above and beyond the call of duty, and all things considered, your quote is most probably excellent value for money.

Hopefully this guide will make things a bit clearer

• Your Bridal bouquet and bridesmaid’s posies will invariably contain more flowers than you imagine. They are usually very densely packed, not only to create a good shape, but also to give a strong, solid bouquet that is easy to hold and will last the day.
• Buttonholes may only contain one flower and a few leaves, but each element will be skillfully wired and taped to ensure it doesn’t droop and sits nicely on the lapel. This takes time and is fiddly work.
• For large events, a lot of time will be spent planning designs, updating quotes, ordering flowers and equipment, conditioning materials, polishing glassware and cleaning other hired items. And that’s before the florist even starts creating your arrangements!
• Even a florist with a good sized van may need extra transport to deliver your flowers if you have ordered lots of items or if your venue is quite far away. Organising the wedding-day logistics and liaising with the venue are all part of the florist’s service. You are not only paying for the actual flowers, but the expertise, experience and creativity of your florist, not to mention his/her time.

Beautiful wedding flowers are unique to the individual and exquisitely made, under pressure, with wonderful attention to detail. You are paying for a truly professional service. How can I keep costs down and still get great flowers? Do I ask Aunt Betty? It is extremely tempting to accept offers of help from friends and family to keep costs down for your wedding. The day is an expensive one, and this can be very stressful. However, it is also very stressful for you and your helpers if you try to do everything yourselves.

Flowers particularly are a very last-minute thing. To ensure freshness, most of the work will need to be done the day before the wedding or on the morning itself. Complex arrangements always take longer to create than you think, and the care and conditioning of the flowers requires space and manpower.

Even if you think you can’t afford it, get a quote from an experienced florist before you decide what to do. They are used to the time constraints could really take the pressure off. With this in mind, here are my top tips for getting great flowers no matter what your budget:

• Go for mixed, seasonal flowers and don’t be too specific about varieties. Let the florist choose exactly what blooms to use on the week of the wedding. This way they’ll be able to choose whatever is great value at the auctions and you’ll get more flowers for your money.
• Embrace foliage! A lot of people don’t really like much greenery in their wedding flowers, but if you can grow to love it, it will potentially save you hundreds of pounds. Impressive arrangements can be created with fewer flowers and more foliage, saving you money, as the foliage is much cheaper. Used the right way, it can add a lovely, natural feel to your decorations.
• Double up! Pew-end arrangements made in mini zinc buckets can make lovely decorations for outdoor tables at your drinks reception, and a gorgeous registrar’s table decoration could be moved to a mantelpiece or the top table later in the day. Tell your florist you’d like to use as many of the flowers as possible for the whole day.
• If the budget is really tight, think about what is going to create the most impact for the money and how long your guest are going to see the flowers for. I always tell brides to make sure they have a really fab bouquet as it will be photographed A LOT. I also advise spending a good deal of the budget on the table centres for the reception, as these will be viewed all evening, whereas the ceremony decorations will be viewed for as little as half an hour.