Selecting a florist

 Questions to ask the florist at initial meeting:

Can you offer an estimate and description of flowers that would cover a wedding of my specified size within my budget?

If the flowers I prefer become unavailable or too costly to fit the budget, what would you substitute?  If you would find a particular substitution unacceptable, make your position clear.

What is the payment schedule?

What is your cancellation or refund policy?

Can you provide all the accessories, such as vases, columns, potted trees, kallah chair, and a chupah if needed?

Do you have photographs or samples of arrangement you’ve made for previous weddings?  Here you want to see the florists actual work rather than the boiler plate FTD book.

Which grade of roses do you use?

Which flowers are in season on the wedding date?  Which ones would fit the style and color you want to set for the wedding?

Are you familiar with the site of the wedding?  If not, will you take a trip to look it over some time before the wedding?

How long does delivery and setup take, what time will be scheduled for the wedding given the start time for photography?

How is the freshness of the flowers ensured?

Do you work with silk flowers?  This increases your options and can greatly reduce cost, particularly if the florist rents arrangements.   Even if you want only fresh flowers at your wedding, you may wish to request a copy of your bouquet in silk as a keepsake.  While there are services to preserve wedding bouquets, they are very expensive and require that the bouquet be delivered to the preserver immediately after the wedding.  And even with the costly techniques, not every type of flower can be preserved. 

The next step

If your first meeting went well, and you find you could work with this florist to achieve what you want within your budget then you can schedule a second meeting to get more precise figures based on your more exact numbers for centerpieces, arrangements, bouquets, and other floral accessories.    For this meeting, the florist should be prepared with a proposal that itemizes the number and types of arrangements, the types of flowers to be used, and the cost for materials and labor, including setup.  The florist should also offer you sketches or photos of any custom arrangements you requested.

Then you would discuss the floral plan and budget to bring the two in sync.  You may decide to add on a couple of hundred dollars to assure you have everything as you planned, or you may have to substitute some more economical alternatives to keep to the budget.  Your florist should be able to suggest what could work for the effect you want.  Once you’ve settled on that you will draw up a contract or written agreement that includes all of the points below.

What to get in writing:

-Everything that is to be sent should be included and itemized.  That means you specify each and every arrangement, bouquet, corsage, and boutonniere down to the size, color,  and type of flower used.

-Clarify what substitutions are acceptable and stipulate what are not.  For example, if you are allergic to a particular type of flower or have an aversion to a particular shade of pink.

- Exact time, location and dates for the wedding, as well as the specific delivery times should be clearly delineated.  You want your flowers to arrive before the photographer does so that your bouquet and floral backdrops could be used in your portrait poses.

- Specifications of retrieval if you are renting arrangements or other accessories from the florist that will have to be returned.

- The total cost, including sales tax, delivery charges, pick up charges, overtime, and gratuities.

- The payment terms, deposit amount, and balance due with dates specified.

- The refund/cancellation policy.

-The name of your contact at the florist with a number at which he can be reached on the day of the wedding

Related articles: Wedding Flowers
Guide to personal wedding flowers
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