Florist FAQ: How to Find A Wedding Florist
Welcome to our new Belli Fiori Blog series, Florist FAQ! In this series we’ll be taking a deep dive into the different aspects of wedding flowers, from finding your florist to behind the scenes on wedding day and much more. Today we’re kicking things off at the very beginning, with the process of finding a wedding florist!
It’s so exciting to plan a wedding but, let’s be honest, it can also be stressful and a little overwhelming because there is SO MUCH information out there! Typing “how to plan a wedding” into Google yields more results than I can count. But while the first 3 articles that came up are from reputable sources (WeddingWire, The Knot and The Spruce, respectively) the articles themselves are actually pretty vague and even over simplify the process a bit, rather than provide useful details.
Most couples know they need a venue, caterer, photographer, florist, a dress or suit, and entertainment, but they don’t know where to start when it comes to finding each of those vendors. Which brings me to the topic at hand: how to find a wedding florist. Let’s dive in!
I need a wedding florist, where do I start?!
The first step actually has nothing to do with flowers, but everything to do with your entire wedding: the venue! The location of your ceremony and reception will determine so many factors of the day, from style to guest count, so it’s hard to plan any other details without knowing where everything will take place.
Once you’ve booked the perfect venue and have begun to envision your wedding style (hey there Pinterest!), you’ll want to start thinking about what you’ll need a florist to provide. Are you envisioning a custom ceremony structure and elaborate centerpieces, or will you only need a professional to design your bouquets and boutonnieres? Do you want someone to handle all the little details, or are you ok with having everything dropped off at your venue?
For example, Belli Fiori is a full service, custom design studio; we collaborate with our couples and are involved in not only the floral arrangements, but often times the overall look of the event as well. Most of our clients list flowers as a wedding day priority, and want unique designs and unexpected elements throughout their day. We have a large inventory of rental items for our clients to choose from (everything from candleholders to ceremony structures), and teams that set up and strike our events so our clients don’t have to lift a finger or worry about a thing.
On the flip side, our sister company The Flower Lab is perfect for couples who just need personal flowers and simple centerpieces, and don’t want to spend too much on flowers. We created The Flower Lab to be more of a streamlined wedding florist, with curated Collections featuring popular styles and colors. Clients can shop everything we offer online, pick out exactly what they need and place an order from the comfort of home! We designed each Collection to not only be beautiful but also affordable, and easily picked up or dropped off on the day of the wedding.
Regardless of where flowers sit on your list of wedding day priorities, knowing what you need and expect will help to narrow down the type of florists you should reach out to. If you talk to one full service florist who will set everything up and come back at the end of the night, and then talk to another who just drops the flowers off at the venue, you’re comparing apples to oranges!
Where do I find a wedding florist?
Once you know what you’re looking for out of a wedding florist, it’s time to research companies. There’s always Google, but theknot.com is a great resource specifically for finding wedding vendors; you can view portfolios, get information on a company and read reviews from real clients all in one place. You can also create an account to keep yourself organized, which is always a positive when it comes to wedding planning! (I promise, I was not paid to promote The Knot, I’ve just been in the wedding industry a long time and have seen how it’s a great tool for couples!)
If you have friends or family members who have recently gotten married, ask them who they used for their flowers, especially if you liked their arrangements! Past clients are a great way to get insight on a vendor’s process and what they’re like to work with. And don’t feel like you shouldn’t use the same vendor your friend used; a good florist will create something unique and special for you!
Another great way to find vendors is from those you’ve already booked, like your venue! Venue coordinators are a great resource, because they not only see the final product, but also how each vendor conducts themselves behind the scenes. I was a venue coordinator prior to joining the Belli Fiori team, and when clients would ask for recommendations I based my answers not only on who did great work during the wedding, but also if they treated the staff and the space itself with respect.
How many florists should I talk to?
I know wedding planning is fun, but don’t overwhelm yourself! Once you have a list of possible florists, reach out to your top 2 picks. If they are available for your date, set up a consultation and/or get a proposal! If you don’t connect with either, or feel like your vision isn’t understood after meeting with your top 2, then move on to the next company on your list. If you talk to too many people at once, it’s easy to get overwhelmed, confuse who said what, and even miss important details.
As you’re narrowing your top choices, keep in mind what we discussed above about comparing apples and oranges! You can’t compare a proposal from a full service florist with that of a drop off option, because they aren’t selling the same service.
When should I book a wedding florist?
At Belli Fiori, most of our clients book 6 months to one year out from their wedding date. Of course this is not a hard and fast rule; we have some clients who book more than a year out, and others who reach out 3 months from the big day. Just keep in mind that most florists do limit the number of events they take in a weekend. We determine how many events we can handle on a Saturday based on the size, scope and location of each event. Popular wedding dates always book quickly; so don’t put off reaching out to your top pick if you’re getting married in a peak month!
I hope this has been helpful to those of you who recently got engaged and are just starting your wedding planning journey! Remember that wedding vendors understand that you’ve probably never done this before, and are happy to answer your questions and provide insight. Stay tuned as we continue the Florist FAQ series with more tips and information to help ease the stress of wedding planning.
If you’ve booked your venue and are ready to talk flowers, fill out our inquiry form - I’ll check our availability and we can get this flower party started!
Lisa & John’s Vendor Team
Photographer: Kairos Photography | Ceremony Venue: Our Lady of Lourdes | Reception Venue: Algonquin Golf Club | Cake: Sarah’s Cake Shop
Post by Kimberly Wallner