by Heidi Labron

Created on: April 08, 2008

Meeting with your florist about the flowers you would like at your wedding is more than just setting up an appointment and looking through her display books. You need to do your homework BEFORE going to see a florist, and in reality, you'll probably want to visit several florists before choosing the one that is right for your wedding.

Choosing the florist is less about budget and more about style these days. If you live in a big city, you'll have more options and hopefully, you'll be able to come up with a great florist that will meet all of your wishes (as well as stay within your budget). If you live in a smaller town, your options might be smaller, but there are still ways to get around this and have that gorgeous floral style that you've seen in all the wedding magazines! So, before you even meet with any of the florists in your area, have a plan.

#1. Pour through magazines and websites to find styles of flowers that you like, and even ones that you don't like. This will also help to determine your overall style. If you don't know what you want, at least you can go in with a few ideas about what attracts your eye in magazines. Rip out pictures, or print them off and keep them in a book so that you can take this with you to a florist. (If you can, make good color photocopies of each idea. Some florists will ask to keep your idea samples to work from later.)

#2. Try to determine what your style will be overall. Romantic? Classic? Avant-garde? If you are leaning towards an overall modern theme for your wedding and you try booking a florist who only does simple, classic flowers, the look will be all wrong. It is better if you know what you are looking for overall before talking with the florist.

#3. Of course, he/she will have lots of ideas and hopefully, samples of his/her work. What good is it to see a book full of things that they COULD do! You want to see pictures of things that they HAVE done! I can't tell you how important this is. Ask to see pictures.

#4. Color is important, but remember, just about any flower is available all year long, if you want to pay for it. Don't let that be a deterrent though. Maybe those peonies that you love will not be available in November, but a good florist can suggest an alternative that is similar in shape and size. Bring in dress samples, swatches from table runners, anything that you might have already decided upon for your wedding, even your jewelry. You never know what might inspire your florist and also give her direction.

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