Making Your Wedding Special

It stands to reason that even if you're not marrying a future King of England, every bride should have a very special and memorable wedding day.  All of the vendors, friends and family you select to share the day with you should feel the same way.  On this day of all days, perfect service and attention to detail is absolutely required from your limousine driver to your bridesmaids to your reception venue.  And it goes without saying that your florist should play an integral role as well. 

Flowers and decor should accurately reflect your personal style, not necessarily your florist's!  To ensure the best service from your floral designer, make sure you meet and communicate with him or her often throughout the planning of your wedding.  You should always know every detail of the design of your decor.  Ask your florist for a detailed list of what flowers are being used, colors, etc.  Really competent designers will insist on showing you a sample of your bouquet and table decor prior to your wedding day so that everything is exactly as you discussed. 

Seasonal Flowers

Virtually every bride magazine suggests using locally grown or seasonal flowers for your wedding to keep costs down.  Indeed, it can be an effective way to stay within budget.  However, here are a few things to keep in mind if selecting the flowers for your wedding based on seasonality or where they are grown. 

Surprisingly, there are very few truly seasonal flowers.  Nearly all flowers are available year round, with tulips and peonies being notable exceptions.  Even then, both of those flowers are available for a price, although usually not as high quality as they are in season.  So if you have to have a particular flower that is out of season, it's a good idea limit it to a few in your bouquet and maybe in the groom's boutonniere.

Another seasonal element is flowers which are grown for specific holidays.  Red roses between Christmas and Valentine's Day cost about three times what they cost at any other time of the year.  Mother's Day also sees a spike in wholesale costs.

Locally grown flowers are an excellent way to keep your event "green".  Brides should be aware, though, that the selection isn't as varied as flowers sourced from other parts of the United States, Europe or South America.  It can also be difficult for your florist to "guarantee" the color of a particular flower.  So if you want something like locally grown hydrangea for your centerpieces, it's best to keep your color palette flexible so that you're not disappointed with the final result.

Don't Wait to Select Your Florist

The florist is often among the last of the vendors brides visit when planning their weddings.  Considering the impact that decor has on your wedding ceremony and reception venues, it should be the next stop after selecting your venues!  Truly experienced wedding florists can provide valuable information not just on what flowers will look great with your gown, but other important things like cultural floral traditions, church flower "rules" and creating ambiance for your wedding day.  Wedding florists also have great insights on day-of planning and timing because they are an integral part of it!