The big question has been popped, the wedding date has been agreed upon, and the venue is booked.
Congratulations! You have made quite a lot of progress on your wedding planning journey. Now it is time to speak to suppliers and pin down the ones that can help bring your vision to life.
Finding the right supplier can be challenging, as it is something most couples don’t do very often in life.
A band, caterer, hair, make-up, stationary, wedding car, cake, photographer, and florist, to name but a few.
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Have questions? Ask anything, and our team of experts will be there to help you decide.
At Milston Flower Barn in Wiltshire, we provide bespoke flowers for weddings across the Southwest of England. Couples come to see us for an initial consultation, after which they need to decide if we are the ones that can create the perfect floral backdrop for their big day. No pressure…
When tackling the florist (the likes of myself!), the primary advice is to ask the right questions. Why?
Because it eliminates confusion, builds trust with the supplier, and starts to channel your ideas.
Ask a wedding florist expert
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Let me help you out here and give you some examples.
Have you worked at our venue before?
A good one to start with is asking if the florist has worked at your venue. It does help if the supplier knows the venue because they can make suggestions for decorating certain features immediately. If not, ask if they can do a site visit with you.
With the environment in mind, ask if they can provide seasonal, locally grown flowers. We all love a long-stemmed rose, but not so much when we know its journey from Kenia to the UK created an enormous carbon footprint. Locally grown flowers are increasingly available, even quite early in the season.
Can you show me examples of your work?
Can your florist show you examples of weddings they have done in the past, and can they provide references or testimonials from those couples?
No, that is not an awkward question. Your supplier will be proud to show you their work and gush about the fabulous feedback they received. It will give you confidence that they can actually do what they promise.
Can we repurpose our flowers throughout the day?
‘Money is no object’ is something we don’t hear a lot. More often, we help couples keep their budget under control. Ask your florist for ideas on how to repurpose the flowers throughout your wedding day, as it is a brilliant way to get value for your money and a more sustainable and eco-friendly way to style your wedding.
Most commonly, flowers will be repurposed from the ceremony to the reception space. However, if you have elaborate floral arrangements, you might need to engage your florist or event coordinator for a lift-and-shift service. Probably the most accessible items to repurpose are the bridesmaids’ bouquets. After the main photos have been taken, put them into vases and use them as centerpieces.
Another ‘no-brainer’ for repurposing is floral pillars, which have become super popular with our couples over the past two or three wedding seasons. They look fantastic, framing the ceremony area as a backdrop to the top table. Floral pillars are much easier to repurpose than a floral arch, which, once in place, is almost impossible to shift.
Do you offer a clear-down service?
There are dozens more questions, but one fundamental question needs to be asked: ‘Who is responsible for the clear-down?’.
Venues often have strict rules on checking out the next day, but the last thing you want to think about after a big night is dismantling your wedding arch, cutting off the pew ends, and disposing of all the unwanted flowers and foliage.
Your florist would have used a van to deliver it all to your venue, and you will probably need one, too, if you’re thinking about doing the clear-down yourself.
There are dozens more questions you can ask; frankly, the more, the better. Walk into your supplier meetings prepared, and you will walk away with a lot of knowledge and ultimately a lot more confidence!
Credits
- Flowers: Milston Flower Barn
- Photos: Angela Ward-Brown Photography
- Design: Rosie Barrett Wedding & Event Design
- Venue: The Fonthill Estate, Wiltshire
Author: Susanne Kennedy
German born Susanne Kennedy, co-founder of Milston Flowerbarn, has a background in business consulting and a big passion for flowers. A lot of her inspiration comes from many years spent abroad, combining creative influences from Asia, Europe and Australia.
