Contents[Hide]

Hiring a Wedding Florist

As with most aspects of wedding planning,  it's best to get recommendations from people you trust, whether it be family or close friends.  If they were happy with the floral arrangements  at their wedding,  ask them whom they worked with or how they went about selecting their florist.  And before you go shopping around, keep in mind the flowers  that are in season--if you're looking for something that isn't in bloom, it may be hard to find and will definitely be more expensive.  Once you've got all the logistics down, including the parameters of your floral budget, you can move on to the interview process.  Take a look at the following guide for some interview tips.

Questions to Ask at the Interview

You want to make sure you cover all the bases when you're deciding on wedding florists.  When you narrow it down to about three choices, schedule consultations with each to discuss the nitty gritty.  Make sure to ask if the consultation has a fee, as this will obviously affect whether you choose to use that particular florist.   Some important questions include:

  • Will you personally be the florist for our wedding?
    • Sometimes when you meet for a consultation, you'll talk to an owner or manager rather than the florists themselves. If you want to get a better idea of their work ethic and creative vision, it may be best to meet with them individually as well.
  • What's your track record?
    • Basically, this means how long have they been doing weddings, how many clients have they served, how many weddings a year do they serve, etc.
  • Can you accommodate a wedding of our size and budget?
    • Some facilities are only capable of working with smaller venues, especially if they're an independent mum and pop shop. Sometimes this is just a matter of being realistic about what you want and what you think is physically possible for the business before choosing to go on the interview in the first place.
    • This may also be a good time to ask if they've worked with your wedding venue before, or if they will go down to view the venue before making the arrangements.
  • Do you have a speciality?
    • Some florists have particular designs that they are known for. Ask to see a portfolio of their previous work to get a better idea.
    • You can also ask them to create a mock up design so you can see their speciality in person, but this can be quite expensive.
  • What are the time constraints?
    • You need to know how long before the wedding the floral arrangements and bouquets  will be put together, how long they will need to be delivered and set up and how long they will need for disassembly.
  • Price range?
    • You need to know how much the arrangements will cost, and if the florist requires a deposit before the big day.
    • Other things that may affect price include fees for delivery and pick-up as well as vases and other centrepiece items.

What to Get Out of the Interview

When you walk out of an interview with a potential wedding florist, there are a few key items you should come away with:

  • The business card of every person you could potentially be working with.
  • All the pertinent contact information including names, phone numbers, faxes, cell phone numbers, email and web site addresses.
  • A brochure that showcases they're work and explains specialties and pricing, if possible.
  • A full list of references--aka former customers--that you can speak with regarding the florist's services.

Related Guides

Hiring a Cake Designer

Hiring a Wedding Caterer 

Hiring a Wedding Planner

Choosing an Officiant

External Links