Wedding planning is all about decision-making. From the venue, food, and color schemes to the flowers, it can seem like the decisions are endless. Flowers alone require great thought and consideration, such as which types you want to include in your arrangements, the kinds of wedding arrangements and bouquets you need, and the packages or services you want to book with your florist. It is always best to take ample time to consider your overall wedding aesthetic and style, how much time you have before your big day, how big your wedding will be, and of course, your budget. Are you interested in a full-service design package or a DIY option? Or perhaps you want to pick and choose precisely what you want to fulfill your basic wedding needs. Here is the ultimate guide to help you decide which packages and floral services are perfect for your wedding.
Types of Wedding Flowers
To decide which floral services you want for your wedding, it is crucial to understand the different kinds of wedding flower arrangements and bouquets you may desire.
Personal Flowers
Personal flowers can be hand-tied bouquets, boutonnieres, corsages, flower crowns, and other floral items held or worn by brides, grooms, bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girls, mothers, and fathers of the couple, and even those of special recognition like godparents. When prioritizing your budget, personal flowers should always come first since they are the most photographed compared to other wedding flowers.
Ceremony Flowers
Flowers for a wedding ceremony can include a floral arch, tree flowers, aisle markers, and arrangements at the altar. Ceremony flowers help set the tone of the wedding and are often the first pieces of décor that guests admire. It is important to think about ceremony flowers as a way to enhance the formalities of your nuptials.
Reception Centerpieces
Moving into cocktail hour and the wedding reception, centerpieces are another essential floral item. From small arrangements on cocktail tables to large and inviting arrangements on guest tables and either a head table or sweetheart table, no wedding feels complete without alluring centerpieces.
Flower Installations and Special Décor
Other showstopping flower designs you can choose for your wedding are flower installations, floral walls, hanging arrangements, and more creative and out-of-the-box pieces that your florist will help you imagine and bring to life. These types of floral elements are sure to wow wedding guests and make a statement.
Wedding Flower Costs to Keep in Mind
You probably already have a good idea of which route you want to take for your wedding flowers. However, before committing to a package or service, consult your budget and ask your florist some critical questions. While the flowers will cost one thing, the services you choose, in addition to each bloom, will help determine the overall price for your wedding. Some packages may already have built-in service fees, such as labor, design, and set-up fees, while others may not. Before sending in a deposit, check if your package deal includes all the services you need or is simply charging stem by stem or arrangement by arrangement.
Types of Wedding Flower Services
DIY Wedding Flowers
DIY, or do-it-yourself, wedding flowers are the most cost-effective way to dress your wedding in beautiful blooms. Once you gather your supplies, you create and set up your own personal flowers, ceremony arrangements, centerpieces, and more that will reflect your vision. Choose a DIY flower package if you have simple wedding flower ideas, are hosting a small or micro wedding, want to keep your cost at a minimum, enjoy having the freedom to design and create, and are planning your wedding in less than six months.
Á La Carte Wedding Flowers
Á La Carte wedding flowers are a popular path for brides and grooms since you pick and choose only the flowers and décor that are most important. This package or service allows you to work with a professional florist without committing to an extensive wedding design. Select á la carte if you are having a medium size wedding, are looking for flexibility, want to control or customize your budget, need the essentials plus a little extra, have time to set up your flowers, and are planning your wedding within a year to six months in advance.
Full-Service Wedding Design
Full-service wedding designs take all the pressure off you as the person getting married. With a full-service package, your florist will design and create the wedding of your dreams without you needing to lift a finger leading up to your wedding or the day of. In addition to personal, ceremony, and reception flowers, full-service designs include rentals and décor like candles, lanterns or cylinder vases, linens, chairs, and flower installations, depending on your style, theme, and ideas. This option is right for you if you are having a large wedding, want all the bells and whistles on top of the basics and essentials, want your florist and designer to guide you every step of the way, prefer your florist to deliver, set up, and breakdown your flowers and décor, and are planning your wedding at least one year in advance.
Wedding Flower Timeline
Timing is a significant factor that will lead you to the ideal type of floral service for your wedding. The more time you have to work with a florist, the better. Having at least one year before your date will open the door to more options and services you can take advantage of. Check out the timeline below to see how far in advance you need to order your wedding flowers.
- Planning and Consultations - One year to nine months
- Putting Down a Deposit - Nine to six months
- Choosing Flowers - Nine to six months
- Ordering Flowers - Six months
- Creating and Arranging - Week of
- Setting Up at the Venue - One day or day of
We know that planning a wedding isn't a piece of cake, but we strive to make your wedding planning process as fun, easy, and stress-free as possible. If you are still unsure which package or direction to go in, reach out to our wedding professionals for more insight, to discuss your personal needs, or to set up an event flowers consultation.
