When a bride dreams of her wedding, she dreams of the perfect gown and the perfect groom—and in the background of this mental picture the room is decorated with beautiful flower arrangements. The florist usually claims 15% of the budget for even the smallest or largest of weddings, but it’s easy to lose track of where that money is going. It’s important to make that money count, so don’t forget to budget for your floral expenses. Even if you’ve convinced yourself that you just want a bouquet, plan to visit a florist early in the planning stage to choose exactly what you want (and make sure it’s in budget). Here is some sage advice for choosing your flower arrangements, choosing your florist, and keeping your sanity:
*Your florist will want a deposit of up to 50% of the cost of your arrangements when you reserve their services. This is common—don’t forget to bring your checkbook.
*Percent based fees and costs will make this expense jump up when it’s time to calculate a final total. Make sure the quote your florist gives you includes sales tax, delivery or hourly fees, and anything else unexpected.
*Interview your florist. The beauty of their flowers is important, but the person you will be working with is even more important. Have they done weddings before? Do they have the experience (and the manpower) to turn out 50 flower arrangements the day of the deadline? Are they comfortable with your budget, and willing to think up ways to make your bridal bouquet gorgeous and cheaper than the 60.00$ you set aside?
*Prioritize before you meet the florist. Obviously, you would like to hold a bouquet. Will the groom have a boutonniere? A classical wedding can have floral arrangements on the tables, on arches or as wall decorations, as bridesmaid bouquets, as boutonnieres, as favors, in the flower girls basket, at the ends of pews, and in a hundred other places. Know ahead of time whether you’d be more willing to cut costs on centerpieces or your Maid of Honor’s bouquet.
*Associate names with bouquets while planning. Your mother in law is going to gravitate for the biggest bouquet she sees—make sure both her and the florist realize that bouquet was meant for your bridesmaids, and she is getting a small corsage.
*User accessories wisely. Sprigs of ivy, swatches of ribbon, and twinkling lights can add to the look of floral decorations but can also add to the cost. Halving the size of your reception hall arrangements, but adding two 25 foot strands of small white lights might be a cost effective idea, but adding 50 four foot strands to hang from pillars would not.
*Work with a florist, even if you’re looking for a single bouquet (the cheaper the better). You can’t count on your local grocery store to carry something suitable the morning of your wedding. A professional florist can create a bouquet for you at a very reasonable cost, and have it ready for you either the morning you need it or the night before.
*Account for your flowers at all times leading up to the wedding. If your florist tells you to put your bridal parties bouquets in water, in your refrigerator, overnight (so they will be fresh for the wedding), make sure you ask yourself if your fridge can hold 8 puffy bunches of roses. Arrange to borrow fridge space at a friend’s house, or even arrange with your caterer to borrow space in theirs. If you plan to pick up your bouquet before the wedding, make sure the florist doesn’t open at 11am across town from your 1pm wedding ceremony.
Most importantly, don’t try to keep track of everything yourself. Keep lists, ask your mother or your friends for help, and make sure you have a cousin chosen to go pick everything up if you aren’t getting it delivered.
