questions to ask a florist for your wedding

Have you fallen in love with the dreamy arrangements of a particular wedding florist on Instagram? Before you sign a contract, it's important to meet your potential floral designer in person (or schedule a video chat!). Once you have an informal interview set up, you can ask the nitty-gritty questions to make sure everyone's on the same page. To help, we've come up with a comprehensive list of questions to ask a florist for a wedding, before you sign and put down a deposit. (Pro tip: Download our FREE printable and bring it with you!)

9 Important Questions: What to Ask a Wedding Florist?

Below are the key questions to ask during your initial consultation to make sure they're the right fit for your celebration.

What you need to know: If you've already figured out your colors and wedding aesthetic, ask your potential florist about flowers they think would best complement the overall look of your wedding. It's also a good idea to ask about potential vase and vessel options (such as ceramic, metallic, clear glass, etc.) for the reception florals, as well as ideas they may have for the shape and feel of the floral arrangements (i.e., loose and flowy or more structured and composed).

What you need to know: Incorporating mostly in-season flowers is always the best way to maximize your floral budget. We highly recommend reviewing our great post on wedding flowers popular by season written by a California florist. Ask your wedding florist about what will likely be blooming around the time of your wedding. There also are many lovely flowers that are available year-round, so including those in the mix will still keep your overall tab low. Also be sure to share whether your wedding reception will be an indoor or outdoor event, and the average temperatures that time of the year. The heat and the amount of sun exposure will be a key factor as your florist determines the best flowers for your wedding.

What you need to know: This one might sound like an odd question to ask, but if you're hoping to keep your wedding as eco-friendly as possible, then it's important to inquire. Many florists use flower foam in a vase to help give the arrangement structure. The foam also soaks up water to help hydrate the blooms. However, flower foam (which typically looks like a green styrofoam brick) is made of single-use plastic and is not biodegradable. It is typically thrown in the garbage at the conclusion of the wedding. Ask if your florist usually works with floral foam; if they do, inquire if it's possible to use foam-free alternatives (such as chicken wire, which can be reused post-wedding).

What you need to know: Many florists also provide additional decor items, such as candleholders, backdrops, fabric draping, lanterns, and even lounge furniture. This means that instead of having to book separate decor-rental vendors, you might be able to streamline the process by just working with your wedding florist for all of your flower and decor needs. Ask if your florist offers these services and if not, if they can recommend a local rental company. Wedding industry folks typically partner with the same vendors on a regular basis, which means they are likely familiar with each other's item inventory and will work well together on the wedding day. Be sure to browse Minted’s collection of wedding decor featuring personalized bunting banners, table confetti, table runners, and more!

What you need to know: If you're the type who would really prefer to see a sample flower arrangement before the wedding, one question to ask a florist for a wedding is if they are willing to create a mock-up for you to review. This gives you and your florist the chance to make any needed adjustments before the wedding day and to ensure that everyone is on the same page. Pricing-wise, some florists will include a sample arrangement if your floral order meets a certain minimum, while others will create a mock-up at an additional cost.

What you need to know: If you're envisioning a wedding cake decorated with fresh flowers, it's important to ask your florist this question to figure out who will be responsible for decorating the cake—your florist or your cake designer. If possible, it's preferred that your florist handles this task. This way, you're guaranteed to have fresh flowers on your cake that match the rest of the arrangements. Alternatively, your florist could connect with your baker before the wedding to provide flowers for cake decorating. Just be sure to ask who will take on this responsibility so everyone is aligned. For insight on all the latest wedding cake trends, be sure to check out our detailed article.

What you need to know: Now it's time to get down to business and talk numbers. Let your potential florist know how much you have budgeted for your wedding florals. If you don't have a number in mind yet, according to statistics from WeddingWire, the average cost of wedding flowers in the U.S. is about $1,500, with most couples spending anywhere from $700 to $2,500. Another way to approach your floral budget is to allot 10% of your overall wedding budget to flowers and decor (such as professional lighting). But it's important to note that these figures vary widely according to your wedding location, the florist's experience, your wedding style, quantities needed, and how important flowers are to you personally.

Some florists will have certain minimum-budget requirements, while others do not. If your budget is tight, ask during your wedding flower consultation if there's any way your florist can work within your parameters. Most florists are willing to work with you regardless of what you have to spend, but it's important to be flexible and open to their suggestions on budget-friendly solutions and flower alternatives.

What you need to know: This one's a nitty-gritty question but it's an important detail to iron out. Based on your wedding-day schedule, there might need to be multiple locations for flower delivery drop-offs, in addition to the ceremony and reception locations. For example, if the bride and her bridal party are getting ready at a hotel, they may need the bouquets delivered to their location in time for photos. And if the groom and his attendants are getting ready at another location, the florist may need to schedule another drop-off at their location so their boutonnieres are delivered in time for photos. Ask your wedding florist how they charge for additional floral deliveries on the day of the wedding.

What you need to know: It's important to be on the lookout for receipt line items that you might not initially expect, such as delivery, setup, and breakdown. Most florists structure their pricing proposals to include pricing for all of the requested floral arrangements, with line items at the end for sales tax, setup, delivery, and strike (or breakdown). These are all necessary, of course, but can certainly add up quickly so it's an important question to ask a florist for a wedding about these fees when considering your total floral budget.

Everything Else You Should Ask Your Wedding Florist

In addition to the key questions listed above, be sure to review the wedding flower consultation questions below to see if any may be specifically important to you and your planned event.