Planning for Wedding Florals
One thing that makes your wedding day especially different from your everyday occasion or holiday gathering is the florals. Sure, you may opt for some hand-picked wild flower arrangements for your Easter dinner or grab a few pre-made centrepieces around Christmas but nothing compares to the scale and quantity of wedding day florals!
If you're anything like me, you haven't ventured into the world of gardening, arranging or even event planning until that sparkling engagement ring appeared on your left hand. Suddenly, you pay more attention to what people are growing on their front porches or are very aware of the number of house plants your friends own that you swear weren't there before. If you know nothing about flowers - don't worry, you don't have to! The beauty of planning the big day is that you're not alone - you've got a whole team of vendors who specialize in a particular area and will help you out with the important decisions.
A QUICK TIP ON FINDING VENDORS:
If you're overwhelmed with the task of finding the right vendors for your wedding, try asking coordinators at your venue if they have any preferred vendors for photography, audio/lighting, stationery, catering, florals, etc. If you're lucky, they'll have a list of vendors who have worked weddings there before and will know the ins and outs of that location.
Your florist will be your guide, your resource, and your supplier for all things green and growing. But that doesn't mean you're off the hook! You still have some responsibilities when it comes to making things happen. I've asked the wonderful florist we hired for our wedding, Karen Cal of Cedar & Stone Floral Studio, to share some advice on what you can do to aid in the process. She is so incredibly talented and I'm still over the moon about how our florals turned out! Together with your florist, you'll work to create and execute arrangements that highlight the creative style of your chosen vendor while contributing to the beautiful day you envisioned. I hope you enjoy these tips from Karen:
YOUR 3 FLORAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Most couples who reach out to me have never had the experience of ordering a ton of flowers in one shot, so here is some advice I have for couples who are starting the process of meeting with a florist:
1. FIND THE RIGHT FIT
Before you meet with anyone, try to hone in on the overall look and feel you want for your wedding flowers. While most floral designers have the technical know-how regarding the mechanics of creating an arrangement, each designer has a particular niche, a certain style in which they design.
If you are looking for huge opulent arrangements on tall, towering candelabras, talk to a florist whose work displays this style. If you want loose, natural pieces with lots of texture and trailing foliage, look for someone who creates pretty, garden style arrangements.
Social media is a great tool to help you research potential designers who share the same design aesthetic as you. Local wedding blogs can help point you in the right direction. Talk to your wedding venue for any recommendations, as designers familiar with the venue can make helpful suggestions on arrangements that would look good in that particular space.
2. BE FLEXIBLE
When it comes to the exact flowers in the arrangements, keep in mind that flowers are a natural product and that they are grown and imported from around the world, so there are a variety of factors (which are beyond the control of your florist!) that may not allow for a particular bloom to be available for your wedding. Agree on a certain colour palette with your florist, let them know of any flowers you can’t stand (if any! ALL flowers are beautiful!!!) and give them the flexibility of choosing the blooms that are in season and fit the colour range you have agreed to.
3. INSPIRATION
I often ask a couple to send me images of things that they are drawing inspiration from as they plan their wedding decor. Sharing details like their invitation suite, style of tables, chairs and linens they are using, even images of the bride and bridesmaid dresses can help give me some visual tools to get a better sense of what a couple wants their wedding to look like. Flowers are that finishing touch to elevate the beauty of the décor, but it is important that all components are cohesive so sharing details like these with your florist are important.
Pinterest can be a great tool to help your florist get a better sense of the overall look you are after for your big day, but don’t expect your florist (or any other wedding professional for that matter) to create an exact replica of a piece. Creative people are most creative when they are given breathing room to do what they do best.
Check out Karen's socials for floral inspiration:
Instagram: cedarandstone_ Facebook: Cedar and Stone Floral Studio
All of the lovely arrangements featured in this post were created by Karen Cal of Cedar & Stone Floral Studio and photographed by Hugh Whitaker.