What you need to know about wedding flowers
Time and time again we see décor under budgeted by couples at the start of their planning. Many people expect flowers to be low cost or something that can be done on the DIY. Today we’re answering the most common flower queries with the help of La Lista’s florist members; L’Oasi, to help you maximise your flower budget and plan it right, from the start.
Like most suppliers, florists come in all shapes and sizes, with different skills, experience and expertise and picking the right florist is important to the outcome of your wedding day. A florist's role is usually either to:
• Provide the raw materials ie. flowers if you're doing it DIY
• Re-create a set of flowers that you've briefed. Maybe that's through some instagram / Pinterest pics
• Work with you / your planner / stylist to come up with an entire bespoke concept for your wedding and deliver this
Different florists will better suit each type of support. We have a range of florist members on La Lista for these different needs.
• The time planning your flower compositions (which often involves a lot of back and forth)
• The time ordering them
• The time preparing them (unpacking, cutting, de-leafing) and caring for them
• Storing them in a suitable environment
• The time actually making them (and the skills and years of experience that have gone into that)
• The team, the transport
• Setting them up on the day!
Now I’m certainly thinking…do florists actually make any money?!
Florists are generally super lovely people with great skill, create flair and really love what they do. They will know A LOT about flowers so it’s best to take their lead and listen to their advice.
First things first, do you know exactly what you want and you’re asking to replicate it, or are you asking a florist to come up with a concept and get creative? These two different requirements would likely need two very different florists.
• Do they create detailed proposals for their clients with flower choices / drawings?
• How closely do they work with the planner/stylist to plan the flowers?
• What is their style of floristry? (and does this match what you want?)
• Do they have a minimum spend?
• Do they have an ‘on the day’ transport and set up fee?
From doing this myself and sourcing local seasonal flowers, I learnt:
• It was lovely and special knowing I’d made all my flowers
• I needed more flowers than I thought
• It cost more than I thought it would
• I wish I’d not done it all – it took almost the whole day before the wedding and I’d have rather spent my time with my friends, family and guests
There’s a reason florists do what they do and my honest advice would be to make one or two aspects if you enjoy it and want to play a part, but spend a little bit more to get a florist on the job.
Our best tips for maximising your flower budget and minimising your weddings environmental impact are:
• Use seasonal flowers – click to get the free download below with an Italian seasonal flower guide
• Use a local flower farm - check out Olga's farm near Milan
• Use planters rather than cut flowers
• Don’t use arrangements that need ‘oasis’. Insist the florist uses ‘flower frogs’, chicken wire, or other re-useable materials
• Use more ‘filler’ flower types that achieve the same look as your showstopper flower. For example hydrangea are light and fluffy and fill the space but you need fewer stems than a peony but the flowers compliment each other and have the same impact
• Create a ceremony look that can be moved to the dinner tables (not all florists will do this but most will)
Written by Lucy White, Founder of La Lista & Wiskow & White, with over 5 years and 150 weddings worth of experience.
