TABLE OF CONTENTS
In today’s world, it seems like wedding florists are a dime a dozen, with anyone who ‘likes flowers’ posing as a business professional. But how do you separate hobby florists from legitimate professionals to ensure you're in good hands and avoid a potential disaster with someone who lacks the necessary experience? While a beginner florist may offer the cheapest quote, weddings are complex, and a florist with little knowledge of the mechanics, emotions, and timelines of such an important day can quickly become a costly mistake. To help you make the right choice, here are some key questions to ask your potential wedding florist.
This question helps ensure that the florist is a legitimate, insured business and capable of meeting venue requirements. It protects you in case of any issues on the event day.
A professional florist will have a portfolio that showcases their style and experience. Testimonials offer real-world feedback, giving you insight into what it’s like to work with them. It also ensures there is a place to leave a review of your experience for future clients to see.
You're asking about both the florist’s overall experience and the expertise of the team working on your event. A florist with at least three years of experience—whether running their own business or working for others—should have a solid understanding of the basics of wedding florals. The key isn’t the number of weddings they’ve done but ensuring they’ve worked beyond just a few friends' weddings. It’s important to confirm that if they claim to have been in business for years, they’ve gained experience with multiple weddings during that time, not just holding a business license without real-world practice. Asking about the team helps you gauge whether the work is being offloaded to interns or if the team members are trained professionals capable of delivering the design style reflected in their portfolio.
This question is important because it ensures you know what will happen after your event. Some florists handle setup and leave, while others may include or offer an option for takedown. Clarifying this helps prevent surprises, and you can plan accordingly with the venue and other vendors. It’s a sign of professionalism if the florist has a clear process for both setup and takedown, which shows they are experienced in managing the full event timeline.
Asking about vase options gives you insight into their inventory and design flexibility. A professional florist can offer a range of vases to suit different styles, budgets, and wedding themes. This question helps ensure they can provide what you envision for your reception decor. It also shows their ability to work with different aesthetics and adjust to your preferences, demonstrating their professionalism and readiness to accommodate specific requests.
This question demonstrates their professionalism and ability to collaborate effectively with other vendors, which is crucial for ensuring a smooth event. Not only will you get valuable recommendations for other vendors, but it will also provide insight into the level of luxury they are accustomed to delivering. Suppose all their recommendations are high-end vendors who also speak highly of the florist. In that case, it’s a strong indicator that they are experienced in handling upscale events and that you’re in capable hands for your own luxury wedding.
A formal contract is essential for any vendor. It should outline services, timelines, pricing, and responsibilities. This is a sign of professionalism and ensures clarity in expectations on both sides.
This is an essential question, especially for LGBTQ+ couples or anyone with unique cultural or religious preferences. A professional florist should be open, inclusive, and comfortable designing for any couple, no matter their background. Their response can give you insight into their commitment to making all clients feel celebrated and respected and whether they have the experience or sensitivity to handle diverse types of ceremonies.
While familiarity with a venue is nice, a professional florist can adapt to any location. It doesn’t reflect their skill in delivering quality work at new venues.
Social media following is not an indicator of quality or professionalism. Many talented florists may have a small online presence but deliver exceptional results.
The number of team members doesn’t necessarily reflect their ability to execute your wedding successfully. An experienced florist may be able to work as fast as four or five inexpereienced florists.
Having a physical shop doesn’t guarantee quality or professionalism. Many successful florists operate from studios or home-based businesses and still provide excellent services.
While mockups can be helpful, they aren’t always necessary, and not all florists offer them. A lack of mockups doesn’t mean a florist is unprofessional; it might simply be part of their process or pricing structure.
Payment systems are a logistical detail that doesn’t reflect the florist’s expertise. Whether they use Venmo, Square, or another platform doesn’t give you insight into their skill or professionalism.
Renting out decor items like arches and candles is a nice bonus, but it doesn’t tell you about the florist’s design skills or their ability to manage your floral arrangements.
Choosing the right florist for your wedding can make all the difference in ensuring your special day runs smoothly and looks stunning. With so many options out there, it’s essential to ask the right questions to separate hobby florists from seasoned professionals. By focusing on questions that delve into their experience, approach to logistics, inclusivity, and ability to collaborate with other vendors, you’ll gain valuable insight into their professionalism and capability. While some details like social media presence or venue familiarity may seem important, they don’t necessarily reflect a florist's ability to execute your vision. By asking thoughtful, targeted questions, you can confidently select a florist who is not only skilled but also a true professional who will help bring your dream wedding to life.
Let us guide you to a flawless celebration adorned with captivating flowers. Book your free consultation today and step into a world where your wedding dreams bloom into reality.
Bronte
Bronte is a seasoned floral designer with over 13 years of experience and a degree in horticulture and floral design. She has been featured in prestigious bridal magazines and has worked with hundreds of couples. Bronte is dedicated to simplifying the wedding process for her clients and promoting the use of locally sourced flowers, combining her passion for blooms with sustainability efforts in the industry.
