Questions for the Florist

One of the most important professionals you will engage to provide services at your wedding is the florist.  As you begin to make service provider selections, we suggest that you consider asking prospective florists about the following areas.  Their answers will help you to decide on which professional will best suit your tastes and needs.

• Ask about their design credentials.  Ask about the experience level of those who will be designing and creating your bouquets and decorations.  Have they received recognition in any design competitions or been recognized for excellence by any of the professional organizations in the industry?
• Ask to see the work rooms as well as the show rooms.  You want to make sure that they have enough room to handle your wedding on top of other floral work, especially during the busy season.
• Ask how they process/handle flowers when they arrive from the grower or supplier.  Do they control water pH levels, add nutrients and/or antibacterial agents to the water to feed and protect the flowers?
• Ask to see the cooler space.  You want to make sure your florist has enough cooler space to handle and store your completed wedding flowers.  Is the temperature in the cooler monitored closely?  Are there backup coolers in case of a breakdown?
• Ask about their delivery system.  Make sure the delivery vehicles are clean and well organized so that your flowers can be delivered without damage.  Is there adequate back up transportation?  Are the delivery people aware of all the requirements for delivery and set up preferred by area churches?

Make your appointments to interview florists well in advance of need.  Depending on the area of the country, the time of the year and the size of your wedding, you may wish to begin the selection process and lock in your preferred professional florist for your big day well in advance.  Some brides book the date six months in advance and then schedule another appointment closer to the date to begin the specific floral selections.

Please let us know if you have other questions about florists or other wedding professionals.