Nuptial Flowers: When To Book a Florist for Your Wedding
Your Pinterest board is full of pictures that embody your ideal wedding flower package. But making it happen for your wedding is proving more involved than simply finding examples of inspiration. There are so many decisions to make and factors to consider: styles, colors, seasonality, logistics, and more.
Choosing, sourcing, and preparing wedding florals is complex and time-consuming, but you can save yourself the stress by booking a wedding florist early. This way, you can attend to each consideration at your leisure and make planning enjoyable rather than overwhelming.
Twenty Mile House offers guidance here about details you need to have nailed down before booking a florist, why early booking is critical, and how to go about scheduling floral services.
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How Far in Advance Do You Need To Book Flowers for a Wedding?
Typically, people book a florist around 9–10 months in advance, but the most popular vendors may require bookings 12 months ahead of time. You’ll want to research floral vendors at least a month or two before you decide on the one you want to go with.
Twenty Mile House is unique in that our floral services are rendered in combination with all other services required for your wedding. Call today for help in creating and enacting your wedding plans.
4 Details You Need To Figure Out Before You Book a Florist for Your Wedding
While a florist should be booked fairly early on, the following items need to be confirmed first. Each of these factors may narrow down the field of florists you can consider.
#1: Budget
Couples in the United States spend $1,500 on average for wedding flowers. This is about 8% of the total typical wedding budget. You may not wish to invest this much in your flowers. On the other hand, you may see flowers as essential to the ambiance you wish to achieve. It’s up to you: your budget will reflect your priorities. Whatever you don’t spend on flowers can be dedicated to what you value more in your wedding display.
It’s critical to determine the sum of money and what percentage of your wedding budget you can invest in flowers for two reasons:
You can rule out florists whose prices exceed your budget.
It helps the florist know the monetary constraints they must follow for you.
#2: Date of Your Wedding
Before you book a florist, you’ll want to confirm that they are available on your wedding day. If there isa scheduling conflict between your venue’s and your florist’s availability, you’ll have to dispense with your chosen florist and secure the services of another.
This is a completely avoidable situation. Just choose a florist from the outset who can commit to serving you on your wedding date. Keep in mind that florists may have significantly less availability on popular wedding dates (such as in June).
#3: Venue Location
You can’t be certain of your date until you’ve secured the location (with a deposit) and explored its availability. This should be done at least 9 to 12 months in advance, though some couples book their venue as much as two years ahead of time. Your florist’s availability should coincide with that of your wedding venue.
Also, the character of the wedding venue will largely determine the kind of floral arrangements that harmonize with the setting and, at the same time, embellish it tastefully.
If you book Twenty Mile House as your venue, you’ll kill two birds with one stone. Our all-inclusive packaging saves you the trouble of booking a florist. We offer floral services and coordinate all the vendors you’ll need for your wedding.
#4: Style
Are there any varieties of flowers you just have to have, or are you okay with just achieving a certain look, which can be achieved with any type of flowers? It may be helpful to have photos that encapsulate the look and feel of your desired florals, whether you're adhering to a theme or just a color scheme.
Couples often choose one of these common styles:
Rustic: This style often incorporates wood accents, ferns, ivy, and wildflowers.
Minimalist: This style can be achieved with miniature arrangements, such as bud vases and simple but bold elements.
Vintage: Dark, muted flowers among white daisies or baby’s breath can achieve a classic vintage look.
Sophisticated: A neutral color palette and symmetrical arrangements lend an elegant air to your wedding.
Bohemian: Colorful, symmetrical arrangements of wildflowers are perfect for creating a relaxed, peaceful atmosphere.
Romantic: Bright, lush arrangements of multiple colors can soften the vibe and complement the intimacy of your celebration.
Classic: Lush blossoms of soft pastels and neutral colors arranged symmetrically and interspersed with natural foliage are a classic choice for your wedding florals.
Once you have in mind the style you’re pursuing, do some research to determine whether a given florist’s style accords with your preferences. When you consult with a few florists, you can present your ideas to them and compare their suggestions and price estimates.
3 Reasons To Book a Florist for a Wedding So Early
#1: Florist Availability
You want to ensure your desired florist is available on your wedding date, especially if you’re getting married during the peak season for weddings (late spring and early fall). Florists also tend to be rather busy around certain holidays, such as Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day. Book your florist at a time when demand isn’t so high.
There’s no need to get stuck with a florist who’s the last available option. If you research early, you’ll have more florists to choose from, and you’re more likely to be able to secure the services of the one you want most.
#2: Florist Options
Consider that any florist is subject to limitations, such as the flowers’ growing cycles. Even if you’re willing to pay extra for out-of-season flowers, the florist might not be able to promise that they can be acquired early enough to be arranged and showcased in your wedding. The earlier you book your florist, the more likely they will be to accommodate your preferences. They will have plenty of time to order the flowers they need to design and create your floral arrangements without rushing.
#3: Flexibility
As your plans evolve and your wedding date approaches, you may decide against flower arrangements that you formerly thought were indispensable. If you book your florist early, you’ll have the luxury of changing your mind and modifying your flower choices.
You may also need extra time for flexibility in the event that obstacles outside of your (and your florist’s) control arise, such as production or transportation shortages. You can guard against this possibility by choosing a florist who relies on multiple suppliers rather than just one.
How To Book a Florist for Your Wedding: 3 Steps
After you’ve done your research and decided on one or two florists to handle your wedding flowers, here are the next steps.
#1: Set Up a Consultation
Whether you visit the florist in person or call them on the phone, it’s best to speak directly with the florist to get a sense of how fitting they will be for your purposes. An in-person visit will allow you to browse some examples of their work.
In this conversation, you’ll discuss availability and prices for different packages, but be prepared to give the following information to the florist so the meeting can be as productive as possible.
The date and location of your wedding
A guest count
Desired style and/or color scheme
Requests for specific flowers
The names of your other vendors
#2: Review Design Options
After your initial consultation, the florist will prepare a proposal with their ideas for bringing your hopes to fruition, as well as projected costs. If you aren’t sure how big an investment you want to make until you see how it will look, request a design proposal that shows what you can expect from paying only for the essentials versus the most you could possibly afford.
During this meeting, you might decide to dispense with those elaborate aisle decorations in favor of a more expensive bridal bouquet, or you could do away with the wedding arch to leave more funds available for your reception table arrangements.
#3: Sign a Contract
Once you’ve made your final selections and are happy with the details of the proposal, it will be turned into a contract. Note every detail in the contract and the importance of consulting with your partner before signing. Confirm that any service you expect to receive is stated specifically in the contract. In addition, be sure you and the florist are in agreement with the following details:
When payment is due
Any changes in the event of inclement weather
Cancellation policy
Requirements for the delivery of the flowers
Make Planning Your Wedding Florals Easier With Twenty Mile House
Twenty Mile House is an all-inclusive wedding venue in California that can accommodate any style of wedding for couples who want the beauty of nature to feature powerfully in their special day. You can entrust your floral design and everything else to us! We know how difficult it can be to coordinate all the vendors employed to make your wedding happen.
At Twenty Mile House, we coordinate it all for you. By working closely with our partner vendors, we provide all of the following:
Wedding planning
Ceremony and reception sites
Catering
Wedding cake
DJ
Photography
Guest accommodations
Choose from among our beautiful ceremony sites to have your wedding along the river, in the forest, or surrounded by a garden. You can have your pictures taken at any of the breathtaking spots on our property, including the miner’s cabin, the historic train tracks, and the bridge spanning Jackson Creek.
Simplify your wedding planning and get ready to enjoy every step of the process with help from our professional team. Call Twenty Mile House today!