Wedding Planning Tips

When it comes to your wedding planning a lot can depend on your personal circumstances & your wedding preferences. Typically the average can take anything form 6 months to 2 years to organize, although the ultra organized amongst us could do it quicker!

It is important though to set a proper & well thought out plan. Missing out on any stage in your wedding planning process can throw all your hard work into chaos. Imagine if you forgot to send out the invitations or book the photographer, you could end up with either no guests or no pictures! Never fear though, because here is a useful checklist to help you get everything in order & make sure you don’t miss anything out.

Having a good florist can make a huge difference to your wedding day. Your choice of flowers & bouquet say as much about you as your dress & wedding theme do. But finding a good florist does depend on your doing your research, so armed with your local wedding directory you should get out there & visit some shops to find one that match’s your needs & style

Wedding directories come in various formats. From paper based versions in phone books & magazines, to online directories which can cover a wider area. I would suggest using a combination of both as not everybody will be listed in every directory. Online versions may also carry customer reviews & ratings which can help you with your initial search.

Having found a florist you are comfortable with, you should ask to see some examples of their work. Ask if they have a portfolio they can show you or maybe magazine or photo shoots. It is also worth asking if they are producing flowers for a wedding in the near future & if you can drop by to see what they have produced. The flowers & arrangements you choose for your wedding should be a reflection of your own personality & style, but don’t be sucked into modern trends if they are not you, it is best to stick to classic & timeless styles. This will prevent you from looking back at your photos in years to come & cringing at the now hideous displays that surround you!

Your wedding directory may hold details of florists that will give you a free consultation & quotations for your wedding flowers. Many florists are prepared to do this, but you will need to go in armed with certain bits of information for them to give you’re a full quotation. A second meeting maybe charged at an hourly rate & you should book your appointments in advance particularly at busy times of the year such as Christmas, Easter & Valentines Day.

When you attend your consultation tell the florist how many people are in your bridal party & the number of guests you anticipate attending. This helps to determine the number of buttonholes, corsages & centerpieces needed. You will also need to tell her how many bouquets/posies you want for yourself & your attendants.

Let her know which flowers you do like & which you don’t. Give her details of your color scheme & your wedding dress – this will help determine the shape of your bouquet.

You can also take in pictures of bouquets & arrangements that you like to show her.

Be aware that good florists can be booked up a long time in advance – from months to years in some cases, so begin your search as early as possible. Once you have your perfect florist book them straight away to guarantee their services for your wedding. Be prepared to pay a deposit as well. Ask about refund policies, cancellations & when full payment is due.

Finally, make sure that you choose vendors & professionals that you like, feel comfortable with & trust. They are integral to the success of your day & you should feel confident once you have hired them, that they are the right person for the job.