Congratulations!
Flowers play an integral part in setting the mood and ambience for your Big Day. Whether you are the type of bride who is simply looking for an idea about where to start with regards to your theme, budget and seasonal constraints, or the type of bride who knows exactly what she wants down to the last bud, it would be my pleasure to work with you to bring your wedding day visions to life!
Where to begin....
If you have just begun the many hours of planning and organizing that will go into creating your big day then you have probably already considered the importance of your flowers. There are many considerations to take into account while planning your weddng florals; What is your color palette and theme? How large is your wedding venue and what restrictions, if any, do they impose? What is your budget? Are there seasonal restrictions that you need to take into account? ~ I am more than happy to tackle each and every issue with you and would like to offer you the following pages to help guide you through the beginning stages of your floral planning.
Your Budget
I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to go into planning your florals with a budget! Probably the number one misconception in the floral industry is the cost of flowers and the work that goes into them!
Each and every wedding I work with is a custom design. There are no two alike. I work with each engaged couple to determine what will work best for them. One of the most difficult determinations for any soon-to-be-married couple is how to budget for flowers. There are many shops and sites that will tell you that on average, 8 to 10% of your total wedding budget should be dedicated to your flowers. To take the frustration out of going into a consultation blindly, I have created the following simple guide to help you understand and develop a realistic budget.
Here are a couple of simple considerations when figuring out the How's and Why's of flowers:
The SEASON in which you are getting married, the SIZE of your wedding party, venue and guest list, your color palette, miscellaneous expenses like rentals, DELIVERY CHARGES and SET UP FEES and, most importantly, what TYPES OF BLOOMS and BOUQUET STYLES you choose for your big day. ~ Each of these factors must be considered when determining your budget.
Each of these elements plays a role in determining how you should calculate your floral expenses. How important are flowers for you? For many brides, flowers are one of the core elements of the wedding day. Whether it is for sentimental reasons or that you simply love them, it is best to have a realistic expectation before you begin to shop around.
I am happy to work with brides to try to accommodate all budgets but it is important to have a realistic perspective when planning your wedding flowers. For example, some blooms are much more cost effective than others. Roses, daisies, stock, hypericum berries and carnations are economical flowers that are available year round. Garden Roses, Orchids, Peonies and Succulents are some examples of premium blooms and greens that will significantly increase the cost of bouquets and arrangements. Another factor to keep in mind is the seasonal availability of the blooms you would like in your wedding florals.
The size and sheer work involved in the pieces you choose to include in your wedding also play a big part in determining your budget. Garland, trellis, floral chandeliers, centrepieces and head table arrangements are all very work intensive and can be costly. Choose your pieces carefully and plan to budget for some of these larger pieces if they are important to you.
The best way to stay within a more economical budget is to choose flowers that are both in season and cost-effective and to take into account that the larger the piece, the more time and work a florist has to put into it.