How to choose the best florist for your wedding + floral budget

Let’s be honest, your wedding flowers will be one of the most expensive elements of your wedding day. It right on up there with your wedding venue + cateerring and photography. Your  wedding flowers will help set the tone + mood for your day, create atmosphere, and bring your vision to life. While most wedding inspiration out there on instagram and those gorgeous wedding blogs are beyond the average couples budget, you should know that even higher end florists + event design firms can work within your budget. So you shouldn’t rule out a quote based solely on price alone. You should consider the following instead. 

Pre determine what percentage of your wedding budget you can allot for your wedding flowers and decor. 

What you ultimately spend on your day will depend upon how important florals + decor are to you as a couple and your wedding day. If you kinda like flowers, and feel you need them to complete your day, you are more likely to allot a lower percentage towards your wedding flowers and forgo details elements. However, if you absolutely love florals and details and feel they are an essential element to executing your wedding day vision and guests experience, then you will be willing to invest more. 

I suggest that you forgo the norms about wedding budgets and adjust your wedding flower + decor  budget according to how you value their importance to your day. If fresh florals are a top priority, then increase your floral budget by decreasing the budget of elements that hold less importance to you. If you have a particular floral budget, then share it with your florist - they can help you maximize it to the fullest. 

Consider what components make up the florists designs. 

For couples who crave an unforgettable wedding day, that usually comes at a price. When viewing the portfolio’s and work for a florist / designer, look at the elements that comprise their work. Do their designs consist of flowers you see every day at the corner flower shop or grocery store, or do they combine unique varieties that you never seen before including higher end vases and vessels, unique elements such as fruit. Florists can design with so many different blooms, plants and materials. Is uniqueness of their designs and varieties of florals used more appealing to you than the costs. 

Cost of floral set up and clean up - are you not considering this very important service?

It is easy to narrow your choices down to price, but you are missing out if you solely focus on cost! Instead be sure to ask about the services a floral designer / firm includes if it isn’t already outlined for you. 

Some florists simply drop off the flowers, with very little services above and beyond that. The services provided by your florist / design firm should include full consultation, delivery, full installation, relocation, styling, clean up and full tear down following your wedding. Once you understand this you will understand how the process of the creative vision and the florist services are worth the investment. 

You should be surprised on your wedding day with how beautifully everything has come together, not be the fact that at the last minute your wedding party is assisting with a floral installation, or setting up a floral backdrop just moments before you walk down the aisle because your florist hasn’t done so. Many couples do not consider or even realize the smaller details that are essential to bringing their wedding day to life, and to flow seamlessly. Who wants to be cleaning up wedding flowers, candle decor, and tearing down large floral structures at the end of their wedding night - no bride I have ever spoken with!! 

Remember the phrase “You get what you pay for”

Although costs doesn’t always equal experience, it can be a reasonable determination of the type of service you will receive. Cutting corners and selecting a florist solely on the lowest quote alone - typically means you will receive the most inexperienced option. Meaning, someone who will not be prepared to give you what you want or understand the scope of your vision and how to execute it on the day of. It is important to remember that a skilled and experience florist charge what they charge because the understand how  much work goes into flawlessly executing a clients vision. 

Find out what level of services a florist includes in their services. 

There is value in service that price does not always convey. Many  couples see the bottom line of a quote and assume they are only paying for the florals themselves. However, that simply isn’t the case! Do your research - see if a prospective florist has a reputation for good quality and consistant service or if they are offer a more hands off approach. Find out if they offer up follow up meetings, how their planning process works and how often the are willing to meet with you to discuss your wedding flowers. Take time to understand their process and service elements. This will allow you to see how invaluable it is to have everything wrapped up in one experienced florist / design firm. Even if it a little more than you have budgeted for. 

Choosing a weddng florist is the first step towards having a beautiful wedding day. However, there are many other things to consider when choosing your wedding florist, and that is where Sue Gallo Designs can help! If you are curious about our services and how we can help you to excute a fabulous wedding day with the most gorgoeus wedding florals - give us a shout. I would love nothing more to help you to wed beautifully! 

Stephanie + Kemar’s beautiful Ravine Vineayard Estate Winery wedding was captured by the talented Cornia V Photography.