What to ask a florist!

meghsulliv

I'm starting the florist process and have no idea where to begin. I know what type of settings I want. When I contact a florist do you usually set up an appointment to discuss your vision and then they give you a rough price estimate? One of the florist I'm looking at has prices online but I know they will vary based on what I actually choose, so do you usually meet with multiple florists?

MEARBEARY

I am an event florist, so this is coming from the professional side...

Your best bet when meeting a florist is bringing picture of flowers you like, colors of your wedding, themes for your wedding, and types of bouquets you like!!!! i always tell my brides to flip through magizines, my portfolios, even google bridal bouquets to get inspiration.  it is so much easier for a florist to figure out what type of bouquet you want, if you have an idea of what you want! 

you can always just walk in to a florist and sit down with someone, but usually that just going to be the customer service girl at the front, not the wedding designer! i would suggest making an appointment witht he wedding designer!! during your appointment, the designer will ask you a ton of questions (where is your wedding, what are your colors, favorite flowers, how many bridesmaids, what theme, how many guests, ect) all these questions will give them an idea of what you are lookng for!  they will usually have a bunch of books for you to look through for inspiration. you need to remember the books are just a jumping point! you mentioned that the florist has pirces online, that is for the exact bouquet, if you want to modify things, the price will change! at the end of the appointment, the designer will write up a proposal, this will give you a full break down of what she will be doing for your wedding! THIS IS NOT A CONTRACT!!! you are free to shop around! if you are not 100% in love, then check another place! 

 i hope this help! shoot me any questions, you need.  im glad to help! 

egm900

Everything Mearbeary said.  Pictures are your best friend, also figure out good adjectives to describe your wedding, so they know whether you're going for a more modern vs. traditional look, etc.  Flower prices also vary according to time of year, so I wouldn't go by the website at all, get a personalized proposal.  Shop around 2-3 florists, and do make sure you talk to the person who will be handling arranging your flowers.  I thought flowers were one of the hardest parts because even examples of the florist work varied a lot depending on what that bride wanted.  The florist should also be able to recommend alternative flowers to use to make things less expensive if the original proposal is out of your budget.

kmclean29

I'm sure the ladies above covered it all, but yes, it's always a good idea to meet your florist in person and get comparison quotes.