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Halifax Wedding - Florist

Topic: Choosing Bouquets, Ceremony & Reception Flowers
Timeframe: Six Months
 

Selecting a Florist


Once considered part of the background scenery, flowers have moved into the foreground of wedding planning. The trend is toward flowers that are fresher and in-season, and more of them—for decorating the exterior of the ceremony site and even on the wedding cake.

The first step is to find a reliable and experienced florist. Get recommendations from family members and friends. Ask the church or synagogue's wedding coordinator, your caterer, or bridal consultant for suggestions.

Before meeting with a florist, work up an accurate list of the number of bouquets and arrangements you will need.

In addition to your bouquet, you will need flowers for the attendants, flower girl, mothers, grandmothers, Godmothers, guest book attendant, female greeters and readers. Boutonnieres will be needed for the groom, groomsmen, ring bearer, fathers, grandfathers, male greeters and readers.

You may want wreaths, bows or arrangements for the church doors, vestibule displays, altar or chuppah arrangements, pew markers, candelabra bouquets, garlands for the aisle or altar railings, sign of peace roses, unity candle arrangements, and/or faith-specific floral tributes.

For the reception you may need arrangements for the head table, candelabra, guests' tables, buffet tables, parents' table, ice carvings, wedding cake (including the knife and table), a toss-away bouquet, entrance vestibules, and restrooms. Of course this may change as you hear new ideas and get estimates of everything you want.

Set a realistic budget before meeting with a florist, but don't let your budget limit your imagination. A creative florist will be able to modify designs to suit your imagination as well as monetary constraints.

Money Saver Tip: If there is more than one wedding at a church, consider the idea of sharing flower costs.

Take time to visit several florists and ask to see photographs of their work. Compare flower quality, craftsmanship, and design. Ask for and contact references. Arrange to visit a ceremony and/or reception site just after it has been set up, before guests arrive. This will give you an excellent overview of their work.

Ask each florist to provide you with a written estimate. Inquire about cancellation, deposit, payment, and refund policies.

Selecting the Arrangements


Remember that while you can get most flowers year round, buying flowers in season will save you money, and ensure quality and availability. NOTE: Remember that florists experience heavy demand for flowers on certain holidays (Valentine's Day, Mothers Day).

There are many details to consider when choosing bouquets and arrangements. Obtain fabric swatches from all gowns and dresses. Try to get enough fabric so you can leave a sample with the florist for matching flowers, ribbons, tulle, and other accents.

Photographs of your gown and attendants' gowns will be very helpful. Photographs of the interior of the ceremony site and reception sites will help if your floral designer has never worked there. Also inquire about any restrictions.

Your dress, color scheme, style, season, and time of day of the wedding will impact floral selections. Church arrangements need to present a dignified yet joyful quality, keeping with the majesty of the building.

When choosing arrangements for the reception, keep in mind the color of the walls and height of ceilings. The trend is toward smaller vases to allow open conversation around the table. The room's lighting may also influence floral design. Dimly lit and large rooms benefit from dripless candles, votive lights or small table lamps.

If you do not know how many centerpieces you will need, estimate the number of tables by counting the number of guests invited (excluding those who will be sitting at the head table), subtracting 10 percent and dividing by the number of seats at each


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