8 Tips For Choosing & Buying Your Wedding Flowers

Weddings take a lot of planning, and you will be making tons of decisions both big and small in the run-up to your big day.
It can be very easy to overlook an important aspect of your wedding, so we’ve pulled together our top 8 tips for your wedding flowers:
1. Choosing a Florist
Do your research and see what design style your local florists have before selecting a shortlist of which ones to meet with. When you do meet with potential Florists, ask to see a portfolio of work they have previously done, and bring along photos of floral designs you like, to explain exactly what you want.
2. Stick with a Budget
If you’re following our tips for a wedding on a budget, make sure you don’t get swept away in the moment and exceed it. Flowers are a lovely feature of a wedding day, but they aren’t the main focus, and remember that they are a perishable item!

3. Decide What You Need
There are a vast array of floral arrangements and personal flowers that can be included in a wedding package, so before approaching a Florist, decide what you need for your big day. Options include: Bride’s bouquet, floral head pieces, Bridesmaids’ bouquets, buttonholes for male wedding party members, corsages for female wedding party members, floral decorations for the wedding ceremony, table centre pieces, reception arrangements, and car decorations.
4. Know What You Want
Search out some inspiration online before approaching a Florist. Use websites like Pinterest and Instagram to get an idea of styles that you like. Do you prefer minimalist arrangements? Do you want colour and drama in your flowers? What size of arrangements do you want? These are all things to consider.

5. Think of the Venue
When choosing flowers, it’s important to remember that they won’t be viewed in isolation. Your ceremony and reception venue will potentially have an impact on the size and colour of your floral decorations. Small table centre pieces will look out of place in a big space, and your floral colours may clash with any striking décor at the venue. While most wedding venues favour neutral colour schemes as the perfect backdrop, some venues will have their own theme and style, so it’s important that your flowers tie in.
6. Know Your Colour Scheme
Before even considering flowers, you need to know what your Bridesmaids and wearing and what you colour palette is. You will be unable to pick any flowers if you don’t know what your colours are, as you will have no way of knowing if they are going to compliment or clash with your theme.

7. Consider Your Style of Dress
You might not have thought of it, but the style of your dress (and your Bridesmaids dresses) can have an impact on what kind of bouquet you should carry. If you dress is simple and elegant, or ornate and glamorous, if it is contemporary or classic, if it is white or off-white, these are all factors that can impact on your floral arrangements.
8. Get it in Writing
It’s best to play it safe, so all of your arrangements with service providers should have a signed contract, including with your Florist. Ensure this includes details of the flowers you are going to have (especially if you have a specific request), the quantity of each, what the price is (either total or itemised), any discounts that are included, as well as what time they will be expected to arrive at the venue.
By Rachel Doherty, Excalibur Press

SUMMER 2017 EDITION OUT NOW