Wedding Flowers 101
FEATURED PHOTO BY Kristen Thomison | FEATURED PHOTO FLORALS BY Fox & Fern
Florals have a way of transforming a wedding from lovely to downright jaw-dropping. Whether they’re framing your walk down the aisle or accenting the tablescapes guests admire over dinner, florals bring texture and emotion into every corner of your celebration. It’s safe to say they do some serious heavy lifting when it comes to setting the tone. So, when flowers are one of the most photographed parts of your day, where do you even begin?
If your only floral experience involves grabbing a plastic-wrapped bouquet at the entrance of Trader Joe’s or sending sympathy arrangements, you’re not alone. Planning wedding flowers is an entirely different game, but with a little prep and the right florist, you’ll soon be dreaming in dahlias and hydrangeas. Let’s break it down step by step.
START WITH STYLE
Begin with inspiration — lots of it. Magazines, Pinterest and Instagram are your friends here, but scroll mindfully. Sometimes inspiration images are of silk florals, digitally enhanced or even completely created by AI, so keep that in mind (looking at you, gravity-defying installations). Focus less on replicating exact arrangements and more on gathering an overall vibe. Lush and romantic? Clean and modern? Wild and organic? Complementary colors or analogous colors? Monochrome or a rainbow of hues? Consider searching for inspiration photos as your “thought gathering” process.
Once you’ve started curating images that speak to you, you’ll start to see common threads in what you’re drawn to. We’re talking color palettes, shapes, even flower types. If you’re stuck, your floral designer will absolutely be able to spot the patterns and offer their professional opinion.
Don’t forget to seek inspiration offline, too. Think about recent weddings you’ve attended, a friend’s bouquet you couldn’t stop staring at or a storefront floral display you’ve been smitten with. Just make sure you have some photos or a strong way with words so you can communicate these details to your florist.
Pro tip: Search for images of real weddings at your venue. Even if the exact flowers or aesthetics aren’t your thing, it’s helpful to see what kinds of floral arrangements look natural in that space. And what is logistically possible!
TALK BUDGET
Once the floral daydreaming is underway, it’s time for the part no one loves to talk about, but absolutely should: budget.
A good starting point is to plan to spend around 10% of your total wedding budget on florals. But that number isn’t set in stone. Some couples want a bouquet and some bud vases. Others want full floral moments, covering every square inch. The scope of your vision will shape what you’ll spend.
And even within the scale of flowers, you also should consider the types of flowers you want. Some flowers are economical, while others come at a premium price point. Filling your venue with clouds of baby’s breath will have a very different price point than having meadows of imported king proteas. If you have must-have flowers — like peonies in August or anemones in July — just know that sourcing out-of-season blooms can spike the cost. Staying flexible with the types of flowers (and letting your designer work their magic) can go a long way in staying on budget without sacrificing style.
Note: Dates around Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day often bring price hikes due to floral demand. Planning around that can help stretch your dollar further.
FIND THE RIGHT FLORAL DESIGNER
Once you have a vision and a working budget, it’s time to find your floral soulmate.
Referrals are gold and a great place to start. Of course, check reviews online (we all know online reviews can be misleading at times, so take them with a grain of salt), but also ask recently married friends who they hired and loved. Your venue and planner are also great resources, especially since they know who’s professional, punctual and consistently delivers.
Social media can also be a great scouting tool. Search local hashtags like #atlantaweddingflorist, then deep dive into portfolios, websites and tagged photos. Look beyond the grids and ask: Does their style align with mine? If everything one florist does is whimsical and boho but you want a clean classic look, they probably aren’t for you. Yes a talented florist can create any style, but when it comes to your wedding, you want a vendor you can feel confident in.
You want someone who gets your aesthetic, respects your budget, clearly communicates their process and pitches their own on-point ideas. Bonus points if you genuinely enjoy talking to them. It’s a relationship, after all.
THE TIMELINE: WHEN TO BOOK YOUR FLORIST
Like all good things in wedding planning, the earlier you book your florist, the better. Floral designers, — especially those who specialize in weddings — often book out up to a year in advance, particularly during peak wedding seasons. You’ve already done the research of who you think your perfect florist match might be, it would be heartbreaking to find they aren’t available on your date!
A good rule of thumb? Aim to book your florist about nine to 12 months before your wedding. If you’re planning a shorter engagement or a celebration during a popular month, reach out even sooner.
That said, don’t stress if you don’t have every last detail figured out yet. You don’t need to know your exact guest count or what your ceremony arch will look like. What you do need is a clear idea of your venue, your general style and your floral budget. From there, your designer can help you develop the vision and refine it as your wedding day approaches.
A lot of florists will start with an initial consultation and mood board, then revisit the plan with you two to three months before your wedding to finalize counts, colors and designs. So while you want to secure your spot early, know that there’s room to evolve.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Once you’re ready to meet with a potential floral designer, come prepared. Here’s the basic information they’ll likely ask for:
- Wedding date and venue(s)
- Estimated floral budget
- Ceremony setup and location
- Reception table shapes and layout (ex: farmtable, square, round, etc.)
- Estimated guest count
- Wedding party size
- Style, colors and inspiration photos
While in conversation, don’t be afraid to ask the important questions: Are they licensed and insured? How long have they been in business? What happens if they’re unavailable the day-of due to illness or an emergency? How many other people are on their team? What’s their cancellation policy?
If the chemistry and vision are right, they’ll send a proposal outlining what’s included — often including inspiration images and/or a moodboard, flower list, color palette and logistical details (like delivery and setup requirements). Read this proposal carefully and then read it again. Don’t be afraid to ask for edits if needed! Once you’re aligned, expect to sign a contract and pay a retainer to lock in your date.
AFTER THE WEDDING
You’ve spent so much time selecting the perfect blooms for your big day, but what happens when the music fades and the venue strikes? Lucky for you, there are so many thoughtful and sustainable ways to extend the life of your flowers well beyond your wedding day itself.
1. Repurpose or Donate
Start by checking in with your florist or designer to see if repurposing or donating your florals is a viable option. It’s not always as simple as dropping off arrangements since redistributing flowers takes coordination and manpower. But if your florist is on board, consider reaching out to a local hospital, hospice, senior living facility or shelter to donate your blooms to. Just make sure to arrange this in advance, since pickups typically need to happen within 24 hours of your event. It’s a beautiful way to share the joy of your day — and brighten someone else’s. Hosting a brunch, farewell lunch or post-wedding get-together? Your florals can absolutely pull double duty. Ask your planner or florist about repurposing centerpieces or ceremony arrangements to bring some of that wedding day magic to the next celebration.
2. Preserve
If you want to hold onto a piece of your bouquet forever (without resorting to hanging it upside down in a closet and hoping for the best), floral preservation artists can transform your wedding flowers into lasting keepsakes. From framed art to resin blocks and even jewelry, there are so many creative ways to preserve your blooms.
If this idea speaks to you, reach out to a preservation artist well before your wedding. They’ll walk you through how to package, store or hand off your flowers quickly to maintain their full beauty. Some even offer day-of pickups if they’re local to your area.
3. Use as Favors
What better way to thank your guests than by letting them take a little piece of the celebration home? Your florists or planner can set up a floral takeaway station near the reception exit, or simply invite guests to pluck blooms from centerpieces at the end of the night. It’s a fun, eco-friendly way to spread the joy and ensure those beautiful arrangements don’t go to waste.
Flowers aren’t just a visual treat, they’re the design thread that ties your whole day together. Not to mention, they’ll be present in almost every photo you take!
But you don’t have to be a flower expert to end up with beautiful results. With a little inspiration, informed budgeting and the right florist, you’ll be well on your way to fragrant, floral magic for the ages.
