Just like with all of the vendors in your wedding planning dream team, it is imperative that you ask questions of your floral designer prior to hiring them for services. For this reason, we collaborated with Emerald Gardenia, floral expert in Orlando, Florida, to give you 10 important questions to ask your wedding florist.
10 Questions To Ask Your Wedding Florist
Maribel, owner of Emerald Gardenia says “Schedule a consultation with your florist before you request a proposal. This will allow you to ask questions and the florist to make suggestions. In turn, you will receive a more accurate proposal.”
Before you arrive at your floral appointment, be preapred with this list of questions, and any others specific to your needs. By doing this, you will leave feeling empowered to make the very best decision for your wedding day.
- What are some ways we can personalize our wedding flowers?
- Can the flowers be donated to a church or nursing home after the event?
- What are some substitutions we can make to stay with-in our vision and budget?
- Could you include a couple of options for the bridal bouquet, ceremony backdrop and centerpieces that vary in price?
- What can we transfer from the ceremony to the reception?
- How can we maximize our budget? Note to couple: Be prepared to prioritize certain areas, if needed.
- Have you done weddings at my wedding venue? Note: This question should not be the determining factor in your final decision. A true professional can create your dream florals anywhere.
- What is the expiration date on the prices quoted in this proposal?
- What is your retainer/deposit to secure our date with you? When is the final balance due? Note: At Emerald Gardenia final balance is due 30 days prior to event date.
- Will you make a mock-up of the centerpieces for us to review?
Advice From An Orlando Floral Designer
Along with the above list of important questions to ask your wedding florist, Emerald Gardenia also gave us some helpful advice to share.
1. Trust your florist. Present your vision in detail and allow the professionals to guide you through the process. Maribel says, “Frankly speaking, if you can’t trust your florist, you should not be hiring them.”
2. Pinterest can be your best friend or your worst enemy. Be cohesive with the overall aesthetic of your board.
3. It’s ok to change your mind as you go along. Eliminate any images that no longer align with your vision before sharing your “board” with the florist.
4. If possible, use only one florist for all of your floral and decor needs. For instance, beyond the flowers you may need arches, lanterns, candle holders, etc.
5. If you must hire a rental company for the decor pieces, be sure to connect the two vendors together. This will ensure the pertinent details are communicated clearly. Including dimensions, colors, etc.
5. If your cake needs fresh flowers, order them from your florist. Further, share a copy of your cake design/sketch. This will allow your florist to provide the same kind of flowers, as well as the correct amount needed for the cake. If you choose to purchase the cake flowers from the cake company you may find that it conflicts with the cohesive design of the other florals.
With Florals, Time Of Year Makes A Difference
One question often asked by couples when ordering their wedding flowers, “Why are certain flowers more expensive during certain times of year?”
There are a few reasons why the price of flowers changes throughout the year. For instance, prices are always higher a couple of weeks prior to, and during, Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day.
Next, if a flower/greenery is out of season it may not be available at all. Or, if it can be sourced from a different country, it will most likely come with a higher price tag.
Emerald Gardenia says, “Unless there is a sentimental value to certain flowers/greenery, be ready to accept substitutions in order to stay within budget.”
Note: It is not necessarily less expensive to pack your design with more greenery or baby’s breath. Greenery, like flowers, has seasons.
Wedding Florist: Emerald Gardenia
We are so thankful to Emerald Gardenia for providing the questions, tips and advice for this blog about wedding flowers. Before we go, we asked Maribel, “What questions do your couples most often ask when booking you as their wedding florist?”
Q1.What are the day-of logistics? “We deliver, set, transfer and strike all the decor we provide.”
Q2: Will personal flowers be delivered to our rooms? “Yes. These are distributed accordingly to get ready rooms. The delivery time is pending photography schedule.” Learn more about hiring your photographer in our Helpful Questions To Ask Before Hiring Your Wedding Photographer Blog.
Q3: What happens to the flowers after the event? “We offer them to the client and guests first. Then to other vendors in the wedding. If any are left over, and our schedule will allow, we take them to a local nursing home.”
Q4: Other than flowers, what other services/products do you provide? “We can also provide signs. For example, welcome signs, seating charts, bar signs, and memory table signs to name a few.”
As you continue to hire your wedding vendors, remember to choose companies that are professional, licensed, insured and that match the vibe of your wedding. This task can be overwhelming, and as an Orlando wedding planner, we want to help you have a stressless wedding day. Schedule a Call with our Owner, Stephanie, and allow us to take your dream to reality.
More Blogs in the Build Your Wedding Planning Dream Team Series:
Top 10 Helpful Questions To Ask Your Wedding DJ
Helpful Questions To Ask Before Hiring Your Wedding Photographer
