Wedding Floral Arrangements

Flowers are one of the most beautiful, colorful, and memorable parts of weddings. They bring an amazing sense of romance and luxury to the ceremony and reception spaces, add beauty and elegance to the entire wedding party’s look, and promote the wedding decor and resulting photography. Thus, you should pay a great attention to your wedding floral arrangements. But what’s the price of all of this natural beauty? Can you afford to have the wedding flowers of your dreams, even if you’re on a budget?

Using our below guide, learn tips for how to think about your floral budget and find out exactly how much certain kinds of wedding flowers cost. There are also several professionals that can do a bespoke, handpicked decor for your big day.

Get Inspired

Read magazines, books on floral decorating, visit fine floral shops, and take pictures of floral arrangements you like in public places. A five-star hotel is a great place to get ideas. Go on a Saturday and you'll probably see weddings already set up. The more ideas you have, the more you'll have to include in your wedding flowers.

Organize yourself

So get a notebook with pockets or a manila envelope just for your flower pictures. When you're ready to start making decisions, you can throw out the photos that don't fit into your plan.

Colors

If you have a favorite color, that's what you'll want for your wedding. But if the carpet is ugly in the room, you should probably think about a color scheme that will take the eyes off it. Or you may have fallen in love with some dresses for your bridesmaids. Choose your color scheme using any of these sources.

Set your flower budget

The flowers are just one part of a wedding celebration. Added to the cost of the dress, music, reception, and gifts, the budget for flowers can just about break the bank. But in any wedding, the flowers set the tone, add color and smell, and are one of the things that the guests remember. So don't save.

Select your flowers

Many different flowers can give the colors you choose. Will you want roses or carnations, orchids or iris? Your decision will be somewhat determined by where you live and the season of the year. Lilacs are almost impossible to get (at a price you can afford) in January, so find other flowers that have a similar shade. You may decide to have all roses or a combination of several varieties. Whatever you choose, make sure the flowers are available in your area or place a special order for just what you want.

Make a procedure to follow

Prepare a recipe for your floral arrangements just as you would write a recipe for the food you're preparing. Each centerpiece will need a box, a block of floral foam, 12 stems of roses, five stems of baby's breath, and three stems of ivy. Well, you get the picture. Be sure you have more than you need for what you expect to make.

Wait before meeting a florist

Take some time to figure out what you like, and learn what it's called, before you start talking to florists. There are two main things you'll want to know: the names of flowers and floral terms, like types of bouquets (cascade, posy and biedermeier), arrangements and other details.a

Get inspired by your venue

Your wedding area will greatly affect your floral decisions. If, for example, you're marrying in a park, botanical garden or vineyard, the flowers can be kept to a minimum (meaning you can make a big impact with fewer flowers). Choose arrangements that look like they belong: Groups of wildflowers may look out of place in a formal ballroom the same way a glam grouping of all-white orchids wouldn't seem right in a simple setting. Keep in mind your table arrangement too (round tables versus long farm tables), which can help influence the shape and style of your centerpieces.

Discuss with other couples

One of the best ways to find your florist is by word of mouth -- ask for tips from brides you know, read articles and browse wedding magazines. If you're working with a wedding planner or a wedding pro coordinator, they should have some ideas of area florists. Set up meetings with a short list of florists, so you can combine a person and view a portfolio of their work. You'll want to hire someone six to eight months out. Florists book up fast, particularly if you're getting married in peak season (May to September), so start vetting them alongside some of your other professionals early in the process and lock one in as soon as you can.

Choose a florist

This sounds strange, but what it means is different types of wedding pros deal with flowers. Do you want someone who'll not only make your arrangements but also help design the look of your reception tables and ceremony aisle? A florist designer is probably more your speed. Already have a planner or an eye for design? Then a regular florist will likely do the deal. Understand which is the best fit -- this will help you narrow your search and manage your budget (floral designers generally cost more than florists).

You Need to Show, Not Just Tell

Images are way more telling than words. Bring your inspirations boards, a bridesmaid dress fabric swatch and a photograph of your wedding dress. This will show your florist the look you're after from the start. Keep in mind: Your florist will appreciate snapshots that reflect your style but don't expect precise models of what lives on your inspiration board. Floral designers are just that -- artists with perception and a passion to create something one of a kind for your wedding. Describe what you like about the centerpiece or archway, but be open to changes and substitutions, mainly when it comes to actual flowers. Maybe you're interested in an arrangement because you like the free, deconstructed vibe, or maybe you just like the colors.