Planning a wedding in the New York, New Jersey or Connecticut region in the months to come? I know the wedding planning process can be overwhelming, and it's hard to know how the many elements of a beautiful wedding come into play when you’re first getting started. You have questions and I hear them all the time. As a Fairfield County, CT-based floral designer, knowing how to weave flowers into the planning of your big event is my forte.
Here is a list of the most frequently asked questions and answers about working florals into your wedding day!
1. When is the best time to choose a florist?
While flowers are very important - and arguably one of the biggest design elements of your whole wedding day - you don’t have to lock your florist in first. In the planning pecking order, choosing your venue and your wedding date are most important. Next, solidifying your bridal party is helpful. These two elements work to get a sense of the spaces, and the number of people in your wedding party needing florals, be it a boutonniere, bouquet, corsage or flower crown. Once these two things are locked in, then you can choose your florist. At that point, your floral designer will be more prepared to share proposals and estimates with you in short order.
2. What is a color story and how do I choose one?
Color story is simply the color scheme of your wedding, and obviously your wedding flowers will play a big role in this. Do you want your flowers to make a splash with bright, bold pops of color? Or would you prefer more tonality with soft and sophisticated neutrals? If you’re not sure yet, again, that’s okay! While thinking of the colors of bridesmaid dresses and groomsmen suits is important, so is considering the venue. Does the venue have a specific style or color throughout that could clash with your flower choices? Perhaps there are shades that would work particularly well with the venue setting. This is another great thing to consider when choosing your floral color story.
3. What if you don’t know what kind of flowers you want?
Maybe you don’t know a ton about flowers or varieties. Maybe you lack vision and just feel overwhelmed with the options, and are not sure of what you want. I’m here to tell you: that’s okay! In fact, it’s more common than you think! My job as a florist is to help you create your vision. I’ll ask you some helpful questions that act as thought starters. The most important one: How do you want your guests to feel on your wedding day? Elegant? Casual? Like they’re guests of a New England garden party? Perhaps more formal? We start there and I will lead the way.
4. How do I describe what kind of flowers I want?
Besides telling me how you want your guests to feel at your wedding, you don’t have to describe much at all. With the tremendous access to content that we all have nowadays, via Pinterest, magazines, Bridal Blogs and more, my recommendation is to pull all of the bridal inspiration photos that resonate with you, and share away. Sometimes the vision we have in our heads can be interpreted differently from person to person, so sharing photos is a great way to ensure you and your florist are on the same page.
5. How big of a budget item are flowers compared with the other elements of a wedding day?
While it’s unlikely anything comes close to the cost of your wedding venue, if making a big impact in your wedding portraits and in your wedding venue and reception is important to you, expect to spend a fair amount on the florals. Remember your wedding flowers can be spare…or they can be everywhere – from the church, to the reception tabletops and entryway to being held or worn by every parent or grandparent, and member of your bridal party. Quality florals are also a limited resource. So while there are ways to get creative with the budget, ensuring that you plan to have enough in the budget to make the impact you want is a necessary part of the process.
Are you planning a wedding or another milestone event in the months and years to come? Have questions about floral designs for the big day? I’d love to help. Please reach out here to schedule a chat!