Tips to choosing your perfect Wedding Flowers
Choosing your wedding flowers is an essential part of creating a beautiful and cohesive atmosphere for your special day, your vision, your memories and your photographs but it’s not as simple as just picking your favourite flower and visiting a florist shop.
Here are some steps and tips to help you choose your wedding flowers:
1. Create your Wedding Budget
When planning your wedding you need to set a budget, this could be what you know you want to spend, what you can afford or a figure you know you cannot go over. Within this you will need to create a budget for your flowers. Knowing how much you can allocate to floral arrangements will guide your choices and help you make decisions that fit within your financial plan.
The final amount will vary depending on what venue you will be having, or venues if you are having a ceremony followed with a venue, the types of flowers you want and the overall budget you decide.
Whether your wedding flower budget is £200 or £2,000, it’s really important to have realistic expectations and some understanding of what your money will be able to get you.
Once you have a figure in mind, you can start looking for a florist that can work within your budget. They will be able to give you an idea of the amount of centrepieces you can have with the flowers you would prefer and any other extras you have been considering.
Keep in mind that flowers can be deceptively more expensive that you think, especially when you factor in different seasons and the ongoing rising costs.
The average cost for a large hand tied bridal bouquet is between £125.00 plus, bridesmaids bouquets upwards from £90.00 and between £10-15 for buttonholes.
2. Consider your wedding theme and colours with a professional
As well as considering your budget, before you contact a florist it would be beneficial to have some vision, whether this is a Pinterest board, a saved folder held on instagram or an album saved on your phone, any of these will help show your vision to the florist.
Think about the overall theme and colour scheme of your wedding. Flowers should complement the style and colours you have chosen for the venue, your dress, bridesmaids, flower girls/Paige boys and groomsmen.
Are you a fan of having something subtle and understated, or do you want something large and more vibrant. It is really important to find the florist that best understands your vision, whether this is a florist a friend has used and recommended or is a florists work you have admired but have no experience with.
When meeting with any florist, make sure you take any visuals with you, this will cue the florist to the overall style that you are hoping to achieve for your big day.
Also, consider the size and style of the bridesmaids’ bouquets, boutonnieres for the groom and groomsmen, and corsages for the mothers and how many of these will you require?
3. Start with in-season flowers
You may already have a few favourite flowers you really want to use for your bouquet and floral arrangements, and it’s important to communicate this with wedding florist when you first start working together. But it’s also important to keep an open mind and remember that certain flowers may not be available when you have booked your wedding or they may cost more, depending on their availability. Remember: Not every type of flower is readily available year-round, so if you’re insisting on using very specific blooms, be prepared to spend more money or consider similar alternatives.
Using in-season flowers is just one way you can cut costs. Those flowers are more abundant and easily sourced around the time that you’re getting married, which means that your florist won’t have to work too hard—or use too much of your budget—to find them from growers.
4. Research Flower Types
Familiarise yourself with different types of flowers and their seasonal availability. Some flowers are more expensive or challenging to find during certain times of the year. Opting for in-season blooms can help you save money and ensure the freshest flowers.
Although if there are certain flower types that you really feel the desire to have included on your wedding day there are lots of options now available to use Silk or Freeze Dried blooms. A lot of the time you cannot notice that these are not in fact fresh when combined with fresh blooms.
Some brides in fact, choose to add these in due to allergies! Something to consider.
An experienced florist can also offer valuable advice and suggest the best flowers to achieve your desired look. They can also provide alternatives if specific flowers are out of season or too costly.
5. Consider the Venue
Take into account the location and size of your wedding venue when selecting flowers. For instance, if you have a grand ballroom, you may want larger, more elaborate floral arrangements. For an outdoor garden wedding, you may want to incorporate more natural, local blooms.
Just remember all of these additional flowers can quickly add to your wedding flower budget, so you will need to be aware of these costs when making your plans with your chosen florist.
Make a list of all of the flower arrangements you will require, how many tables you will be having, the number of bridesmaids etc. Some brides opt to have a top table filled with the bridesmaids bouquets to be more cost effective. Just make sure you have vases for these to stand in when not being held.
6. Personal Touches
Incorporate meaningful flowers into your arrangements, such as using flowers that hold sentimental value to you and your partner or adding blooms that symbolize love and happiness.
If you’re looking for even more ways to personalise your flowers, tap into the symbolism behind each flower. Red roses and red tulips are a declaration of love and passion, while orchids symbolise refinement and beauty.
Will you be adding flower accents to your cake? or a reception area?
7. Be Flexible
While it’s good to have preferences, try to be open to suggestions from your florist. They have expertise in creating stunning floral arrangements and may suggest alternatives that you haven’t considered which may have a dramatic impact on reducing your budget.
Remember that your wedding flowers should reflect your personality and style as a couple. Take the time to explore various options, and most importantly, enjoy the process of choosing the beautiful blooms that will make your wedding day even more special.