Here are 8 helpful tips for finding the perfect florist

For an event like a wedding, your flowers play a big part in the look and feel of your day, so it's important to take the time to find the right florist to ensure they understand your vision and deliver floral arrangements that take your breath away. Here are 8 helpful tips for finding the perfect florist for you.

One. Determine early on the kind of flower styles you like

Many florists will have a particular niche when it comes to the types of flower arrangements they offer. Some prefer traditional styles whereas some keep up with the trends and focus on what's popular right now. If you have a look on the internet or in bridal magazines, screenshot or save your favourites styles. Once you have established the style that you like best, you can search for a florist that aligns and creates work that is similar to or the same as what you are after. This is the best way to ensure you end up with exactly what you want.

Two. Decide how many arrangements you want and where

The great thing about wedding flowers is that they can be as elaborate or as minimalistic as you like, and while any good florist will run you through all your options, here are some things to think of in the meantime:

1. Bouquets for yourself and the bridal party

2. Groom and groomsmen buttonholes

3. Mother and father of the bride buttonhole and corsage

4. Flower girl flowers

5. Ring bearer buttonhole

6. Arbour flowers

7. Ceremony flowers

8. Aisle flowers

9. Reception flowers

10. Throw away bouquet

11. Table arrangements

12. Cake flowers

It's a good idea to envision what arrangements you'd like and where and taking photographs of the location to show your florist to explain what you are looking for can ensure they nail the brief for you.

Some florists won't do wedding arrangements, they simply don't have the staff nor capacity to, so make sure you check this early on. Floral stylists or designers specialise in this, and they typically do full wedding floristry.

Three. Work out how much you are comfortable spending on your flowers

Everyone places varying importance on flowers for their big day, and understandably, people's budgets can vary greatly too. If you don't have a budget, then you won't have to work out how much you are willing to spend on flowers, if you do, it's smart to work this out early on in the wedding planning phase.

Four. Meet with your favourite florists

Sometimes you may think you have the perfect person picked out for the job, only to meet them in person and realise that they aren't the right fit for you. Once you have narrowed down your favourite florists, we suggest meeting with them in person to discuss your theme, colours and styles that you love. From here, you'll have a better understanding of who you think you'll be able to work with best and, more importantly, who you think will bring your dream wedding to fruition.

Five. Ask friends and family for recommendations

Aside from looking online and in magazines for vendors, try asking those closest to you that have been married for recommendations. You can gain a unique perspective and honest feedback on their work and how easy they are to collaborate with. If you like the look of their work, you can then have confidence knowing that they'll do a good job.

Six. Book your florist early on

Some couples make the mistake of waiting until it's too late to book their preferred florist. Reputable floral stylists will book out up to 18 months to 2 years ahead of time, and while some may take multiple bookings in the one day, it doesn't necessarily mean that they'll be able to accommodate the time of your wedding. If you have a date confirmed, booking your florist should be at the top of your to-do list.

Seven. Bring along as much inspiration as you can

When meeting with your favoured florist, bring along as much inspiration as you can to the meeting. Some things to include would be fabric samples of your day, colour swatches, other textural elements that you want to incorporate, and ideas on how you want the ceremony and reception to look. The more you provide your florist, the more they'll understand what you want, and the more likely they are to execute it to a tee for you on the big day. This is far easier than trying to explain what you want, sometimes the vision can get lost in translation.

Eight. Consider seasonal flower choices

Some flowers are seasonal, meaning that they aren't available year-round. Choosing seasonal flowers will ensure the blooms you choose will be in absolute prime condition. It can also help to keep costs down too. Out of season flowers can be hard to source, and their quality usually isn't guaranteed either. A good floral designer will be able to advise you upfront whether the flowers you want will be in season or not, and they will also be able to suggest other alternatives that look similar if they aren't.

Ready to book your florist?

We hope this post has given you an idea of how to choose the perfect Brisbane florist for you. Here at Mrs Gibbons Flowers, we create showstopping displays inspired by nature and your design ideas. Contact us today!