Flowers play such a pivotal role in a wedding. From the bride and bridesmaids carrying them, to stylish buttonholes adorning the groom and groomsmen’s suits and even their presence at the ceremony and reception, undeniably, beautiful blooms are one of the things guests remember the most about weddings. However, unless you’re a florist or have a deep interest in flowers, you’re unlikely to know much about them. Thankfully, I have the answer! Here, I’ve put together the ultimate top tips for choosing your wedding flowers.
The price of petals
Flowers can be an expensive affair so you need to know what you have to work with. Before undergoing any wedding planning task, the very first thing we recommend is to work out your budget and determine what proportion you’ll spend on what. Typically, couples spend 3% of the overall budget on their blooms.
Get some inspo
While initially, you might feel like you don’t have a clue, it’s easy to gage an idea of what you like. Spend a little while on Pinterest, Instagram (try #weddingflowers), wedding websites and browsing magazines to get a feel for flowers. Pin, cut or save anything you like and you’ll probably realise quite quickly that there’s similarities in what’s catching your eye. Keep your faves handy for when it comes to meeting your florist.
Brush up on blooms
Now while we aren’t saying you need to take things to Alan Titchmarsh levels, it’s good to possess a little knowledge of flowers. Simply learning the name of a few of the flowers that have taken your fancy will definitely make the process a little easier.
Pick the perfect florist
Unless you already know a florist, you (probably) won’t know where to start. This is where recommendations come in handy. Speak to family and friends about who they used for their wedding flowers. It’s wise to choose someone who either lives in your local area or close to your venue as this will save on paying travel expenses. Once you’ve narrowed it down to a few, check out their portfolio of work online, as well as reviews to get an idea of what they’re really like.
Colours are key
Deciding on a colour scheme for your wedding day, while help determine the hue of your flowers. Typically, the colour of the bridesmaids’ dresses is a good starting point. Usually, florists will recommend choosing just one or two key colours which complement each other well and add in a neutral tone such as cream or white.
Keep your theme in mind
While your theme won’t necessarily dictate your flowers, it can definitely help. If, for instance, you’re dreaming of vintage vibes for your wedding day, choosing rustic, just-picked feeling flowers may work perfectly. It’s all about deciding what you want for your wedding day and choosing details which help pull it all effortlessly together.
Consider the season
Another key tip is keeping the season in mind. Typically, different blooms are in-season at different times of the year. For instance, many brides long for peonies but these are usually only in-season for about 3-weeks in the UK. So if you choose a flower which is out of season, they often have to be imported, which drives up their cost.
Decide what you need
Once you’ve chosen your florist, meet with them. Bring along photos of flowers that you like, discuss your style of dress, wedding day theme and colour scheme. Finally, the options for blooms on your wedding day are endless so with your budget in mind, decide what you want.
Here’s a checklist of some of the ways that flowers can be used in a wedding:
Personal Flowers
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Bride & bridesmaids’ bouquets
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Flower girl’s bouquet or basket
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Groom and groomsmen’s buttonholes
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Corsages for mother of the bride and groom
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Buttonholes for father of the bride and groom
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Buttonholes for ushers
Ceremony Flowers
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Entryway arrangement
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Altar or table arrangements
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Pew or chair arrangements
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Aisle decorations
Reception Flowers
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Centerpieces
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Bride and groom’s chair decorations
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Lounge area arrangements
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Cake table arrangements