5 Tips to Help You Choose the Best Wedding Florist

You have to rely on a lot of vendors when it comes to planning your wedding day. Since your mind should be on your soon-to-be spouse, the vows you’re taking, and the family and friends that have gathered to share your special day, it’s in your best interest to select service providers that are reliable and trustworthy so that they can attend the details, leaving you free to handle other concerns. But while certain vendors like catering staff and the photographer will actually be at your event, others, like the florist, will merely drop off your bouquets and table settings. So if something goes wrong you’ll have little recourse to amend the mistake before it ruins your wedding. The point is that you may need to take extra care when hiring the florist to make sure you choose the best vendor for the job. So here are just a few tips to help you make your decision.

1. Get referrals. You can generally expect that your family, friends, and colleagues are not going to steer you wrong on such a recommendation, mainly because it could end up affecting your relationship if something goes wrong. So when you ask these trusted sources for a referral you know they’re going to offer up the best florists they’ve dealt with or nothing at all. In truth, they could also help you to steer clear of florists that they think will overcharge or deliver inferior products or services, potentially helping you to narrow your list.
2. View samples. Whether you visit the websites of florists you’re interested in or go to the store to peruse their wares and pore over sample photos, it’s important to get a feel for the type of artistry, variety, and overall design that each vendor has to offer, as well as their pricing structure. This will help you to determine which business can provide you with the flowers you’re looking for at a price you can afford.
3. Set a budget. Before you select a florist it’s important to know how much of your wedding budget you want to devote to the flowers. While many couples leave some wiggle room for overages or concede that they may move a little money from one section to another depending on costs, you need to be clear and up front about what you want and how much you are willing to spend. Otherwise your florist will assume that you can cover the tab for whatever you order. P.S. Get the particulars in writing just in case the vendor comes back with a higher price down the line.
4. Consider your must-haves. Just because you set a budget doesn’t mean the flowers you want will conform to it. So have a list of must-haves ready. A good florist can work with you to help meet your priorities or at least offer affordable alternatives.
5. Customer service. If you can’t get in touch with your florist and no one is returning your calls after you’ve made initial contact, can you imagine what kind of trouble you might find yourself in on your wedding day? It’s important to find a florist that offers the kind of customer service you expect. Just because their walls are plastered with some of the top 100 inspirational quotes of all time and they happen to have buckets of roses high and low doesn’t mean they can provide you with the reliable service you want. So take your time, cover your bases, and choose the wedding florist that meets all your needs.