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Health & Fitness

Wedding Flowers Made Easier

Choosing the right florist to create your wedding flowers shouldn't be stressful. Here are a few questions to ask and answer which will make the selection process easier.

For the last few days, I’ve been thinking about what I was going to say in our blog. I sat down a few times and began to type – the ideas that seemed so interesting, so pertinent in my head, seemed so boring on the computer screen.

Then I sat down with a bride. Well, actually 3 brides in one day. In my typical fashion, I asked each bride a lot of questions. I realized I answered even more questions than I asked. Florists speak a different language. Knowing what questions to ask will help you decide if you have found the right florist. After all, it is your day – and it’s important to find the wedding vendors that best suit your needs.

Here are few of the questions I am most commonly asked:

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  • How long have you been a floral designer?
  • When and where did you receive your training?

I appreciate the bride who asks me these questions for several reasons. The first of which is when a bride asks me this it shows that she is acknowledging what I do is a talent. It takes skill, practice and aptitude. After all, are you really confident enough to trust your best friend’s cousin’s neighbor – the one who is really creative – in create your wedding flowers?

(The answers are: I have been a florist for almost 30 years. I went to the Hixson School of Floral Design at the start of my career and continue my training at every opportunity, meaning 3 or 4 times per year, I attend a specialized design class and attend design shows. I am a member of the Connecticut Florists Association.)

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The next question I am often asked is:

  • Have I ‘done a wedding’ in your particular ceremony location or reception venue?

Excellent question! Most wedding sites (churches, synagogues, town greens or other such possibilities) have their own rules as to when florists are allowed access to the space to decorate as well as where flowers can be placed, if flowers are viewed as a donation and must be left in place and how flowers are displayed.

The majority of reception venues also have rules as to set up times and such. Familiarity with both the site and the personnel is vital. (My answer to this question is most often times “Yes.” Once I have answered this question, I will go on to say I am more than happy to meet a wedding couple at their reception site. Not only do I enjoy finding new venues, I get a better idea of what the wedding couple is envisioning for their day.)

This is the moment I usually begin to ask a few questions of my own.

Once the general time of the day is written down, the ceremony and reception sites are noted and the wedding day attire is discussed or often time viewed (I love pictures and fabric samples!) I move on to asking if there is specific style or theme for the wedding day.

Embracing a style (think 1940’s Old Hollywood Glam) offers a starting point to base all your decisions from. This helps me, as a florist, keep your taste, vision and design style in mind. Brilliant hues of Gerbera Daisies are stunning. They are fun and funky, but they are not an appropriate choice for a 1940’s Old Hollywood Glam wedding.

At this point, I will often ask about budget. All the weddings we create are beautiful. We approach each wedding with our desire to provide each and every wedding couple with the fabulous flowers. No matter what their budget is. Small budgets. Larger budgets. We are happy to work with you to create your wedding on your budget. This is far easier to accomplish when you are not keeping your budget a secret. There are times I meet some resistance, some hesitation during this part of our time together. Let me explain, I don’t want to show you something that is out of your price range, have you fall in love with it and then tell you “You can’t have that.” I understand your reluctance to sharing that information with me. I do. However, to better serve you…. that information truly helps.

Of course, I ask lots more questions. And I answer lots more questions as well. But they are for another blog.

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