When to start meeting with florists?

Kate2dance

We are getting married on May 19, 2012. When is the best time to meet with local florists?? I don't know how far in advance they typically get booked.

Also tossed around the idea of doing my own flowers, but they would have to be done the night before, right?

Maggie0829

Don't meet with a florist until about 3-5 months out.  You need to be definite on your color choices (ie linens and bridesmaid dresses) before deciding anything with your florist.  if you go too early you may change your mind a few times or you may just completely forget what you orderd.  Florists can usually handle (depending on their business size) 3-5 weddings a weekend so they don't get booked that fast.

As far as doing your own.  All I can say is practice makes perfect.  If you plan on using fresh flowers then yes they will need to be done the night before or the day of.  DIYing your own fresh flowers is a lot of unneccessary added stress to the week of your wedding...but that is my opinion.

fallbride1109

I booked mine about 6 months out--but that was because I wanted all my big vendors booked before spring "wedding season" started here and the florists would be so busy.  I do agree with the PP though--I did change my mind on several things, but my florist was great and helpful in guiding me along the way.  I did a mockup 2 months before my wedding and made my final decisions.

There is no way I would ever consider DIYing my flowers but lots of girls do.  And they all say it takes time and you need plenty of help.

flower_diva

If you want a specific or popular florist ,go meet with them now. You don't have to plan your whole wedding but you need to make sure they can do the wedding.It also gives me an idea of the size and scope of the event. I take only one weddings a week end, and if they are large I book only one.  Putting a deposit down now  holds the date. Then you come back 3-5mo out to make definate plans.

heather0711

Being in May, I'd suggest booking 6+ months in advance. I'm totally obnoxious about looking at the "calendars" and they all say to atleast start neeting with florists about 8 months out. My wedding is in January and I'm meeting with my fliorst on Saturday, so we're about 7 months out. I'm only using a florist for the ceremony stuff. The reception is all candles ad petals so I have less to discuss with her but since I'm a January wedding in New England, there aren't too many people fighting me for my day haha.
I also believe it's never reallyu too early if you know what you want. Might as well get something checked off on the to-do list.

Kate2dance

Thanks, Ladies!

I think I have definitely decided against making my own arrangements... too much added stress! I haven't really discovered who the best florists are in my area so I may need to research that and then decide to make appointments. I definitely have an idea of what I want... and all my flowers will be white so that should be farily simple I just have to figure out what flowers to use (my bouquet will have white peonies since my FI proposed to me in a peony garden!) White roses are gorgeous, too... do florists typically have vases and things, too? Or do I need to get those myself?

heather0711

My florist has everything under the sun to be rented but idk if that's typical. If there areparticualr vases youhave found you like, I'd buy them or rent them unless you're cool with whatever the florist uses. 

cpm1223

I'm getting married on May 12, 2012 and I actually just got in touch with a couple of florists to get an idea of what the flowers could cost.

I know what I like for flowers and I know what my colors are going to be so it wasn't really something I felt that I needed to wait longer to do. I'm also just getting some pricing info and not actually signing anything or giving a deposit on anything just yet, but I'd like to have an idea of how much $ we'll need to spend on flowers.