How to choose the perfect wedding florist: a step-by-step guide
Planning a wedding involves numerous decisions, each contributing to the overall ambiance and experience of your special day. Beyond just setting the mood and visual appeal, the right florist or decorator can also enhance and simplify your planning process. With so many florists to choose from, how do you find the right one? To ensure that your vision aligns seamlessly with your overall wedding theme, selecting the perfect wedding florist requires careful consideration and a step-by-step approach.
At Stemning Blooms, we specialize in creating bespoke floral designs that reflect each individual’s unique love story. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the essential steps to help you choose your ideal wedding florist.
1. Define Your Wedding Aesthetic & Floral Vision
Before diving into florist research, take time to define your overall wedding aesthetic. Are you dreaming of a romantic garden wedding overflowing with lush, cascading florals? Or do you envision a sleek and modern design with clean lines and minimalist arrangements?
Think about how you want your wedding to feel—elegant and timeless, boho and free-spirited, or bold and dramatic? Flowers play a major role in creating the mood of your day. Consider how important florals are in your design- do you want them to be the star of the show or a subtle enhancement?
Start a Pinterest board, collect lots of inspiration from wedding magazines and blogs, and take note of colour palettes that resonate with you. When you’re ready, Stemning Blooms can help refine and translate your vision into reality.
2. Determine your floral budget
Once you have a clear vision, the next step is setting a floral budget. On average, couples allocate about 20% of their overall wedding budget to florals, but this can vary based on personal priorities.
Consider the following factors:
Guest Count & Venue Size
Larger guest counts and spacious venues may require more florals and decor to maintain a cohesive and impactful look. For example, a ballroom may need larger centrepieces, to balance out the space, while an intimate garden wedding can feel complete with delicate bud vases.
Floral Priorities
Are flowers one of your top priorities, or do you see them as a minor decor element? If florals are central to your wedding aesthetic, allocating a higher percentage of your budget will ensure stunning installations and premium blooms.
Seasonality of Flowers
Opting for in-season blooms can significantly reduce costs, whereas out-of-season or exotic blooms may require special sourcing and higher pricing. For example, peonies are much more affordable in the spring than in the winter.
Floral Installations & Statement Pieces
Large-scale installations like floral arches, hanging arrangements, or flower walls can dramatically elevate your wedding decor but come with higher costs due to labour and material expenses.
Rental vs. Purchase
Many florists offer rental items like vases, candle holders, charger plates, and floral stands. Renting can help cut costs while maintaining a high-end look.
3. Refine your style & Mood Board
Now that you have a budget and aesthetic in mind, it’s time to really define your style and refine your mood board(s). Your wedding flowers should reflect your personality, love story, and be cohesive with your wedding theme. You’ll really thank yourself for completing this step before meeting with florists.
You’ve explored wedding vlogs, Pinterest, Instagram, and real wedding galleries to identify the designs that resonate with you- now it’s time to bring your budget into the mix. Pay attention to the recurring elements- do you love airy, whimsical arrangements or structured, modern floral designs? Are you drawn to lush, garden-style blooms or minimal, monochromatic palettes? Keep track of these details and begin to remove any photos that don’t align with the overall theme. Your board shouldn’t be overwhelming and complicated with multiple different styles for the same floral element, if you are going for a cohesive look.
Now let’s start to think about what floral elements matter the most to you. Do you have to have a big floral ceremony arch or are there other alter designs that catch your eye? Are you only saving photos of a specific flower or colours? These are the types of things we want to narrow down. Knowing these details will help guide conversations with your florist.
If you’re unsure about your floral style, Stemning Blooms offers personalized consultations to help couples refine their vision. We’ll work with you to curate a design that perfectly complements your wedding theme and venue.
4. Research & Shortlist Florists
Not all florists are the same—some specialize in luxury, large-scale weddings, while others focus on intimate gatherings. Research florists in or around your area and look for:
A strong portfolio that reflects your desired style. Florists put out the work that they resonate with, in hopes of attracting their ideal client.
Client reviews and testimonials to ensure reliability and professionalism.
Experience with your venue of choice, which can streamline logistics and setup/takedown.
5. Schedule Consultations
Once you’ve narrowed down your list, schedule consultations with your top 3 florist choices asap. You want to get in touch with your favourite florists as soon as possible to increase your chances of reserving your date with them.
Come prepared for your consultation with:
Your wedding date and estimated guest count.
Your refined mood board/inspiration photos.
A list of your floral must-haves.
Your budget. I would recommend that you tell your florist your budget and allow them to show you what they have to offer that would be within your price range.
Your venue inspiration, or booking.
6. Review Proposals & Compare Options
After your consultations, florists will provide proposals outlining flower selections and design concepts, pricing breakdowns and payment schedules, setup, delivery, and takedown logistics.
Things to consider:
Does the proposal include all the floral elements you were looking for?
Are there hidden costs (setup, delivery, takedown fees)?
Is communication clear and professional?
At Stemning Blooms, we provide transparent pricing and customized proposals with no surprises.
7. Book Your Florist & Sign The Contract
Once you’ve found the perfect florist, secure your date by signing a contract and paying the deposit. Ensure the contract includes:
The final floral selections and design details
Payment structure and cancellation policies
Setup and teardown logistics
As your wedding day approaches, schedule a final check-in with your florist to confirm details. Make sure to finalize:
Confirm delivery times and locations
Assign a point person to coordinate floral setup if your florist isnt providing this service for your
Arrange for bouquet preservation if desired and offered by your florist
Overall, your wedding florals aid in creating the atmosphere around your day and choosing the right florist ensures your vision comes to life seamlessly.
At Stemning Blooms we take pride in crafting unique floral desisngs that make a lasting impression. If you’re ready to bring your dream wedding flowers to life, we’d love to chat! Contact us today to book your consultation!
