It may seem obvious - pick your favourite flowers and colours and go from there? A good start, but there's lots more to consider. I suggest asking yourselves the following SEVEN questions to get going!
Question 1 - What time of year will it be?
Not all flowers or colours are available year round. I've said it before and I'll say it again - using seasonal flowers is the best way to ensure that your florals work well with your wedding day, last well in whatever weather you may have, and are as planet-friendly as possible.
The best times of the year for in-season flowers in the UK are Spring, Summer and early Autumn. I'll soon be adding another blog post about the best seasonal flowers per month of the year, so keep your eyes peeled!
Question 2 - What will your dress or outfit be like?
Your flowers should compliment your outfit and look fabulous against it - if your flowers are white and your dress is white, it may not stand out very well.
If you have a particular colour palette in mind for your wedding party, think about how your flowers can tie in with this and really enhance it.
You may also have a concept of texture for your special day - will it be full of indulgent, luxurious textures or will it be more dainty and delicate? Your flowers and foliage can be tailored to match in perfectly. Make sure you speak to your florist about this!
Question 3 - How do you want your bouquet to look and feel?
The flowers chosen and the volume of flowers and foliage used will make a big difference on how your bouquets look and feel. Larger bouquets, and trailing/teardrop bouquets can be very heavy. If you choose flowers with large, woody, stems, like protea as an example, these will also be very weighty! If you envision a light and airy bouquet, you'll need to make sure your florist uses delicate and slender-stemmed flowers.
Think about whether you want exposed stems, ribbon, or something more rustic like hessian. Do you want your ribbon to match or contrast with your outfit or your flowers themselves? How about a trailing ribbon to really show it off?
And finally, think about how your bouquet will look in your photos and in shots taken from further away. Will the shape, colours, and textures stand out?
Question 4 - Will your ceremony take place indoors or outdoors?
If you're getting married indoors, make a note of the decor of your venue - is it a blank canvas or it it quite highly decorated already? Is it modern or traditional? As with your wedding attire, you want your flowers to compliment and work harmoniously with your venue. If your venue is more of canvas to decorate, you flowers will make more of an impact if they are fairly plentiful and used cleverly throughout. If your venue already has quite a few unique features, ask your florist how best to add flowers!
If your ceremony will be outside, think about any structures which could be adorned with flowers. You could also think about having really naturalistic flowers which look like they're growing from the ground. Using plants in your designs would also be a great way to slot them into the environment. The ceremony space may already have beautiful plants and flowers so you'll only need a few complimentary designs. ️
You'll also need to check with your florist about how well certain flowers you may want will stand up against the elements like wind, rain and sun!
Question 5 - What kind of set up will you have for dining?
Certain designs work best with long tables and others are ideal for round ones. Make sure you think about how your guests will be able to interact over/around your flowers! If your meal is formal, you may want to invest in impressive floral centrepieces. If you're having a more laid back affair with unassigned seating, you could just opt for a few vases of flowers here and there. If your dining space with tall or vaulted ceilings, you may find that centrepieces with some height make the most of that space.
Don't forget your bar and cake table or sweet table too - these are great places to have a few simple flower arrangements like bud vases. You can also ask your florist to provide vases to stand your ceremony bouquets in, for extra decoration! Repurposing your ceremony flowers during the meal is a great way of making the most of your budget.
Question 6 - Where will you and your guests spend most of your time?
The biggest and best florals should be located in the space where you'll spend the longest time as this is where they will make the most impact. Think about framing the entrances to your ceremony and receptions spaces; where people will mingle and spend time coming in and out multiple times! When you're sitting down to eat, where you're dancing, or having speeches - these are all great places to have a floral feature. That way they'll be a beautiful backdrop for photos! Again, repurposing ceremony flowers is a great way to add more flowers to your reception!
Question 7 - How much of your budget can you allocate for flowers?
If your budget is fairly minimal, make sure you're paying for florals which will have the biggest impression and impact on your day. Invest in your bouquet(s) and a statement piece for your ceremony which can be moved to your reception space later on.
Designs like moon gates, floral arches, or urns really make an impact and can make brilliant backdrops for photos and special moments. I'd also recommend spending money on your table flowers as, if you're having a formal meal, these will receive the closest attention from your guests! Groups of bud vases are an economical option and they look so pretty mixed with some candles as extra decoration, if you like.
Hopefully your mind is now filled with great ideas for your wedding flowers! Why not get in touch and we can start planning for your big day?
All flowers pictured made by the Surrey Florist
Venues pictured -
Northbrook Park - Wedding Venue In Hampshire | Northbrook Park | Harbour Hotels
The Walled Garden at Cowdray - Cowdray Estate
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