When Groomasaurus Gal first asked me my opinion of some pictures she had clipped out of magazines of wedding floral arrangements, I looked at her earnestly and uttered this profound statement: “Uh, I dunno.”
I would imagine that most guys have the same reaction to floral arrangements. Nothing in life has prepared most of us to have an opinion on floral arrangements: what is fitting, what to look for, what they should cost. Many of us have bought flowers for women on more than a few occasions, but on those occasions usually we just stop by a local florist and ask them something like, “So I’m in the doghouse and I need to get out before I freeze from all the icy stares I’m getting from my girlfriend/fiancee/wife. Do you have a floral arrangement that can help with something like this?” To which the florist smiles and then shows us a fabulous arrangement that helps turn the tide (as well as a litany of apologies) and put us in our significant other’s good graces.
With that said, here are a few tips I learned when shopping for flowers for your wedding:
1. Have your wedding colors already picked out – It helps to know what colors your wedding part attire (such as bridesmaids’ dresses and groom’s and groomsmen’s attire) and decor (including table runners and skirts, favors, etc.) will be so that your florist can match those items.
2. Browse around the Internet for ideas – There are tons and tons of wedding flower pictures on all sorts of wedding-related sites and blogs, and these are great places to start to get an idea of what is possible (for example, here’s a great place to get ideas for bridal bouquets).
3. Decide what kind of arrangements you want – Traditionally, the bride has a bouquet and the groom has a boutonniere, but you can also add bridesmaid bouquets; groomsmen boutonnieres; corsages for mothers, grandmothers and other women of importance; boutonnieres for fathers, grandfathers and other men of importance; ceremony arrangements; and finally reception arrangements and centerpieces. You need to decide how much you want and what role flowers will play in your decor.
4. Consider your favorite types of flowers – Some people have certain types of flowers that they just love, or they have certain flowers that they associate with points in their relationships (like you gave your fiancee a rose on your first date), and you may want to consider adding these special flower species to your mix. Remember that some types of flowers may not be in season when your wedding occurs and that out-of-season flowers are often more expensive.
5. Visit a few local florists – Once you have a good idea of your colors, styles and types of arrangements, you should pay a visit to some local florists and have them show you their sample books. This will give you a good idea of their capabilities as well as the choices you have.
6. Narrow your florist list and ask for quotes – Revisit those florists who seem to be a good fit and who you think can meet your needs and ask them for a quote. Remember to include any special requests (such as special delivery needs as well as any floral preservation services you would like).
7. Follow up regularly with your chosen florist – A few weeks prior to your wedding, you should follow up with your florist to confirm your order as well as delivery times, etc.
8. Consider a way to “recycle” your flowers – When your wedding is over, what will you do with your flowers? Many couples have their bridal bouquet and groom’s boutonniere dried and preserved, but what will you do with the rest of your flowers. One option is to give them all away to your guests by telling them to take home the floral centerpieces. Another is to donate them to a local church. Whatever you decide, try to think about finding a better place for your beautiful wedding flowers than a dumpster.
Those are some good initial tips, and another great place to start researching your wedding flowers and finding great local floral vendors is the Flower Shop Network. This site not only has great advice for researching and buying flowers (for example, there’s a page that provides wedding flower tips for the budget-minded bride), but it also offers a wide number of profiles for florists in your local area. The same people also have a site called Wedding & Party Network that offers great insights into wedding flowers as well as many other wedding areas, and it is another excellent place to check out for wedding ideas, inspiration and vendors.
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