Wedding planning guide
Florists
Florals set a lot of the visual tone for both the ceremony and reception — bouquets, boutonnieres, an arch or arbor, and centerpieces. The right florist balances your aesthetic with the practical logistics of getting everything delivered, set up, and broken down on the day.
What to budget
Floral pricing generally scales with the number and type of arrangements you need. A few general patterns:
- Personal flowers (bouquets, boutonnieres, corsages) are typically priced individually and add up based on wedding-party size.
- Ceremony florals (arch, aisle markers) and reception centerpieces are usually the largest portion of a floral budget.
- In-season, locally available flowers are typically more affordable than out-of-season or imported varieties.
- Delivery, setup, and breakdown (including moving ceremony florals over to the reception) are sometimes included and sometimes billed separately — always confirm.
Questions to ask a florists
- ?Can you work within our budget, and where would you recommend we splurge or save?
- ?Do you use in-season flowers, and can we substitute if something specific is out of season or expensive?
- ?Do you handle delivery, setup, and breakdown, or do we need to coordinate that ourselves?
- ?Can ceremony florals (like an arch or aisle arrangements) be repurposed at the reception to save cost?
- ?How far in advance do we need to finalize our floral order?
Keep it all on the checklist
Once your florist is booked, add it to your wedding checklist to keep design details and delivery timing in one place.
Start your free checklistFrequently asked questions
How far in advance should we book a florist?
Popular florists, especially for peak-season weekends, can book up months ahead. Booking once you have a date, venue, and rough color palette is a safe approach.
What's the difference between a florist and a wedding/event designer?
A florist typically focuses specifically on the flowers and arrangements, while an event designer may handle broader decor (linens, lighting, rentals) alongside florals. Some vendors do both — ask which services are included.
Can we save money by handling some flowers ourselves?
It's possible for simpler elements (like bud vases or loose greenery), but weigh the time and stress of DIY floral work against the cost savings, especially in the days right before the wedding.
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