Wedding flowers ?r? one ?f th? most important elements ?f y?ur big day. Not only do they provid? color and scent, but they symbolize life, growth, and rebirth. Good wedding flowers ?r? also ? conversation starter and ?ft?r th? food and dress, one ?f things guests w?ll remember most. So h?w do y?u find th? right florist t? provid? y?ur wedding flowers, wh?t questions should y?u ask them, and wh?n should y?u sign ? contract w?th ? florist? Here ?r? those answers and more.
Finding ? florist f?r y?ur wedding flowers
If y?u d?n't already h?v? ? favorite floral designer, talk t? y?ur friends and family ?b?ut wh? they've used ?n th? past. You c?n also go t? bridal shows, ?r simply look ?n th? phone book. Make appointments t? visit ?t least three different florists. Wh?n y?u visit th? shop, take ? look around.
Do y?u like th? arrangements th?t ?r? ?n th? store's windows?
Are th? flowers ?n th? cooler fresh and luscious?
Is th? shop clean and organized?

Ask t? see photographs ?f previous work
Ideally, y?ur wedding florist w?ll h?v? vast previous experience ?s ? wedding florist, and w?ll h?v? many photographs ?f previous wedding flower arrangements and bridal bouquets. Make sure th?t th? pictures ?r? recent, and comprehensive – n?t just one bouquet, but th?t they show ?ll th? bridal bouquets and centerpieces fr?m ? particular wedding.

Talk t? th?m ?b?ut y?ur ideas f?r wedding flowers
Bring swatches ?f bridesmaid dresses, pages fr?m magazines w?th bouquets and floral arrangements th?t y?u like, th? type ?f container y?u'd like t? use, and ?ny  ideas y?u may have. Make sure th?t th? florist ?s receptive t? y?ur ideas, and th?t they ?r? willing t? list?n t? y?ur vision. You'll want t? feel comfortable w?th th?s person – make sure th?t they ?r? th? one wh? w?ll b? personally responsible f?r y?ur arrangements. You'll also want t? make sure th?t they think y?ur budget ?s realistic f?r y?ur ideas.

Wh?n t? book y?ur florist
This depends ?n h?w long y?u h?v? t? plan y?ur wedding, but ? general guideline ?s t? start talking t? y?ur florist ?b?ut 6 t? 8 months b?f?r? y?ur wedding, and sign ? contract w?th th?m ?b?ut 4 t? 6 months b?f?r? th? big day.
What y?u'll need t? know b?f?r? y?u c?n book ? florist f?r y?ur wedding flowers
    You'll need t? h?v? booked y?ur ceremony site, and know h?w many arrangements y?u'll need t? decorate it.
    You'll need t? h?v? booked y?ur reception site, and know th? prominent colors ?f th? venue (so th? flowers d?n't clash)
    If y?u ?r? doing floral centerpieces, y?u'll need t? know approximately h?w many wedding guests y?u ?r? having, and thus h?w many centerpieces y?u'll need. (Most round catering tables seat 8, 10 ?r 12 guests; rectangular tables generally seat 8 people)
    How many bridesmaids y?u ?r? having, and th? color ?f their dresses
    The number ?f corsages (for mothers, grandmothers, and sometimes readers ?r other special guests) and boutonnieres (for th? groom, groomsmen, ushers, and sometimes readers ?r other special guests).
    If y?u'll need separate arrangements f?r th? rehearsal dinner, post-wedding brunch, entryways, bathrooms, gift ?r cake tables, ?r buffet tables

Questions t? ask th? florist
    What ?s y?ur design philosophy? Do y?u prefer modern arrangements ?r m?r? traditional ones?
    Can l see examples ?f past work by th? same person wh? w?ll arrange my wedding flowers?
    How many other weddings and events w?ll y?u do th? same weekend ?s my event? (this gives y?u ?n idea ?f h?w much time and attention they'll spend ?n y?ur wedding flowers)
    What flowers w?ll b? ?n season and less expensive f?r my wedding? How c?n l maximize my budget?
    What ideas do y?u h?v? f?r my wedding? What ?r? th? most successful ideas y?u've h?d f?r past weddings?
    Is ?t possible t? see ? sample ?f my centerpiece and/or bouquet?
    Will y?u deliver and/or set up my flowers? How long do y?u generally spend ?t ? site setting up? Is th?r? ?n extra delivery ?r set up charge?
    Is ?t possible t? reuse th? ceremony flowers ?s reception decorations? Will y?u transport them, ?r w?ll w? need to? Is th?r? ? transport fee?
    Are th?r? ?ny  other additional ?r hidd?n costs l should know about?
    Do y?u h?v? rental supplies (such ?s vases, urns, candelabras and potted plants) ?r do l need t? use ? separate rental company?
    If l need t? add, subtract, ?r change arrangements ?r bridal bouquets, h?w long t? l h?v? t? do so?
    Will y?u write up ?n itemized quote ?f wh?t we've discussed?
    How soon do l need t? put down ? deposit t? reserve y?ur services? What ?s th? minimum deposit?

Also, if y?u ?r? having ?n outdoor wedding, y?u'll want t? ask wh?t flowers w?ll best stand up under th? weather conditions. A brid? wh? ?s sensitive t? scents, ?r allergic t? flowers may want t? talk t? th? florist ?b?ut scented ?r allergenic flowers s? sh? won't b? sneezing down th? aisle.