Hiring any wedding vendor is a significant investment, and there's also a fair bit of trust involved. Amid the joy of pinning inspiration photos, scrolling Instagram, and discussing design ideas with your partner, it can be daunting to think about choosing the "right" vendors.
Given how much of an impact your flowers will have on the overall design and feeling of your big day, you may be wondering how to determine if a florist is the right fit for you and the vision you have for your wedding flowers.
At Little Daisy Florals, our number one priority is providing exemplary service to couples who we jive with and whose floral vision resonates with our style. We want to be part of your dream vendor team, to bring your vision to life. So, while you're on the hunt for the perfect wedding florist, keep these questions in mind (or ask them outright!) to make sure that whoever you pick is the right fit for you and your dream!
Image by Kelly Szott Photography
Q: What can I expect as one of your clients?
Here's your opportunity to see what you're getting into and to decide if the florist's process will work for your own planning style. Do they invite communication and connection throughout the planning process? Do you feel assured that you will be comfortable and prioritized as a client?
At LDF, we put our emphasis on clear communication, and are happy to check in with our clients as often as you need, whether that's once or twenty times. Our initial consultations are always face-to-face (whether virtual or in-person), and we're always just one quick email away.
Q: How would you describe your style? Can I see your portfolio?
It may be a bit trite, but it's important to hire a florist whose style you LOVE. Most florists are flexible and their styles cover a wide range of designs, but you may not want to request a minimalist design from a florist who always takes a "more is more" approach.
Likewise, if you're looking for a particular aesthetic, don't be afraid to ask your florist if you can see photos of similar work. While most wedding vendors maintain a curated portfolio on Instagram, Pinterest, and their websites, not every photo or design will make the cut. If you're looking for a specific design or colour palette, it's possible that we have a photo that we'd be happy to show you.
Q: What suggestions do you have to maximize my budget?
You don't know what you don't know, and flowers can be expensive! We get it, and we want you to get as much from your flower budget as possible. Whether it's thoughts on which flowers to use, or possible options for repurposing arrangements between the ceremony and reception, your florist is the best person to ask to get ideas on how to make your blooms go farther.
At LDF, we particularly like to talk about seasonality and how focussing on seasonally specific blooms can often make a difference in how far your budget will go. We are always excited by the opportunity to incorporate our locally-grown flowers into designs as a way to extend your budget and also add something unique to the design.
Q: How does delivery, set-up, and teardown work?
Knowing this information can be helpful when determining your wedding timeline and who is responsible for your flowers on the big day. Depending on what arrangements are included in your design, your florist might require a certain number of hours onsite to set up an installation. If you are waiving delivery in favour of picking up your arrangements, it's important to ask whether this can be done the day of or the day before your wedding.
In line with this, it's important to ask whether your florist will reach out to your venue or planner directly to confirm delivery and access times, and any specific instructions for set up (such as parking availability).
Q: Do you have any policies or contract terms I should be aware of?
It's important to confirm that the florist actually provides the services that you're looking to hire them for. There's no worse feeling than getting excited about a design proposal, only to find out that you aren't a good fit based on a technicality.
For example, some florists have minimum spends to be aware of, which means they will not take on designs below a specific budget. In many cases, florists require exclusivity of design, meaning no other flowers can be provided from other sources. Some florists will include bouquet mock-ups as part of their proposal, while others do not (or charge an additional fee). Policies like these are important to take note of before seeking a quote from a florist, in order to ensure they're the right fit for you.
Image by Fiddle & Drum Photography
Image by Keara Maria Photography
Regardless of the answers to these questions, the most important thing to keep in mind before hiring a florist - or any of your wedding vendors - is to choose vendors who are excited to be part of your big day, and who you trust to bring your vision to life. Having trust in your florist means that we can flex all of our creative muscles to bring your vision to life (which we love to do).
We strive to provide clear communication about our processes, our designs, and our passion for what we do, so that you can feel confident in hiring us to bring your floral dreams to life! We believe that planning your wedding, or at least your interactions with your chosen vendors, should be filled with excitement and joy!
If you have other questions about what to look for in a florist, or if you'd like to schedule a consult, don't hesitate to reach out! We would love to be part of making your wedding as joyful and flower-filled as possible.
Image by Tess Lucas Photography