Flowers

Foraging for a florist? Get the best blooms for your budget with these expert tips and tricks.

01. CASCADE

If you want to make a floral statement, you can’t look past an overflowing, cascade bouquet. This bouquet is arranged into a pretty bunch at your hands, with loosely tied greenery and flowers flowing dramatically towards the floor.

02. HAND-TIED

Perhaps one of the most popular bouquet styles currently for casual and formal weddings alike, a hand-tied bouquet is arranged loosely to look unstructured; styled to seem as if the blooms have just been plucked from a nearby field.

03. POSY

These arrangements are small and dainty enough to be held in one hand. A great option for bridesmaids, or for brides who want any easy way to trim some dollars from their budget – or simply want their wedding gown to take centre stage.

04. ROUND

The most traditional and classic shape to choose from, a round bouquet usually consists of just one or two pretty and wide-blooming flowers such as peonies or roses, which are then tightly packed together to form a tidy, spherical bunch.

05. PAGEANT

Also known as the arm sheaf, the pageant bouquet generally consists of flowers and greenery with long, slender stems arranged to rest in the crook of your arm. Less commonly used, it’s another option for brides who are looking to wow.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOUR?

Plants in all their forms can make great guest favours. Consider mini potted succulents that could double as place names, packets of seeds for guests to take home and plant, or even fragrant herbs that can be put to good use in the kitchen. If you’ve gone all-out on your floral reception décor and you’re not sure what to do with the blooms after the event, consider having arrangements broken down towards the end of the night, and distributing the fresh flowers to guests as they leave, or donating them to a local hospital or rest home.

PICK OF THE BUNCH The endless list of flowers you can choose from aside, what about the different bouquets? Here’s a quick run-down.

01. WHAT’S YOUR BUDGET?

This is one of the most important things you should try and pinpoint before talking to potential florists. Most florists are more than happy to design flower arrangements within any budget, no matter how small, but a definitive guideline will help them know what they have to work with from the get-go.

02. RESEARCH DIFFERENT FLORAL PROS

Just like photographers, most florists will have their own unique style and taste. Do a bit of research on different florists and their styles through their website or Instagram, or request to see their portfolio. This will help ensure you’ll be happy with your florals come wedding day.

03. WHAT IDEAS DO YOU HAVE ALREADY?

Do you have a theme, colour palette or style in mind for your day yet? All these elements can help your florist create blooms that work cohesively with the rest of your wedding day styling. Come equipped with any pictures, magazine clippings or Pinterest boards that you love.

04. IS YOUR WEDDING DATE AVAILABLE?

While this may seem like an obvious thing to consider, florists can be booked up to a year in advance – and in some cases more than that – so if you have someone in mind, it’s best to bite the bullet and book as soon as you can to avoid disappointment later down the track.

05. HAS THE FLORIST WORKED AT YOUR VENUE?

While definitely not a dealbreaker, if a florist is familiar with your wedding venue, they’ll have a better idea of what will work and look great in the space. If they haven’t, consider asking your venue operator for photos of other couples’ set-ups to see if you can glean any bright ideas.

FIVE THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE BOOKING YOUR FLORIST