We asked some of our talented wedding floral friends to give some advice for couples looking to add floral to their wedding day designs. Many newlyweds come to the floral consultation table with seemingly clever cost cutting ideas and misguided expectations. We are here to help shed some light on the truth behind the blooms, how to budget accordingly, and insight into your floral designer’s wisdom.
WE ASKED: What floral trend do you wish would die out?
Rachel of Alba Dahlia Floral shared that she really wishes that the over-use of greenery trend would die. Greenery is beautiful in the right places but it does not need to be the overall theme. Blooms are much prettier on their own and make more of a statement.
Tisa of Sage Fine Flowers answered: Hoedown Rustic. Think burlap, lace and sunflowers. Anything overly trendy and specific like these items is going to look dated in a few years. Better choices include: classic fabrics like silk, linen, and velvet; fat, classic blooms like garden roses, peonies and dahlias.
Justine of Justine’s Flowers echoed Tisa by stating: Barn wedding style with wood cuts, baby’s breath, mason jars, and burlap…unless your wedding is actually in a barn!
Sabrina of Vivienne + Vine Floral Design believes Baby’s Breath is a new trend that needs to phase out quickly. The idea that baby’s breath is cheap is not always the case, especially if you need to buy a great deal to create the desired look.
Kristen of Kristen McCurdy Studio agrees that although Baby’s Breath has an interesting look in bulk, brides need to be aware that the odor is not pleasant. When in large bundles, the smell may not be worth the look.
Kate of Kate McLeod Studio adds that she really doesn’t have an issue with any trends right now. She loves that natural, overgrown style that is in. Florists might say the Pampas Grass trend is getting over used a lot. However she thinks it gives a beautiful feathery and natural effect, although it can be an absolute mess to work with.
WE ASKED: What is the biggest mistake you see couples make during the floral planning?
Justine of Justine’s Flowers simply states: The biggest misconception I see is clients not having a realistic budget to go with unrealistic expectations. Champagne taste on a beer budget is rarely a successful approach.
Sabrina of Vivienne + Vine Floral Design see couples making the mistake of not doing their research. There are so many different florists out there and there is someone for everyone. Before you try to DIY, find someone who fits your style and budget. Your floral is basically the entire theme of your wedding and can make or break the entire design.
Kate of Kate McLeod Studio answers: This doesn’t happen as much with clients as it used to, but developing consistency in design is so important – in the big picture and in the details. Keeping the theme and vision consistent throughout the entire design. There are so many ideas out there, with Pinterest and social media. A client may come in with so many wants and desires, but when it comes down to it, designing a beautiful event requires consistency throughout the design. Also, trusting us to do what we do best. You hire your vendors for a reason, letting them take off with your vision and trusting that they will execute a beautiful design is important in the planning process.
Tisa of Sage Fine Flowers answered: The biggest mistake I see are brides trying to stretch the budget too far by doing lots of small pieces versus larger statements. This tends to happen with brides on a budget who try to DIY their reception decor. They will go to Hobby Lobby when something is on sale, and buy a zillion pieces of it. When the items are assembled on the table, they just don’t come together in a cohesive design. The decor then looks busy and disjointed. Everyone has a budget. A good designer will help the couple hone in on where to invest their dollars to get the biggest impact.
WE ASKED: What is a floral misconception you often have to correct for clients?
Tisa of Sage Fine Flowers answered: There is a misconception that faux flowers will be less expensive than real flowers. Attractive faux flowers are every bit as expensive as real flowers. New varieties of dried flowers can even be significantly MORE expensive than fresh! The only upside to silk flowers is that they can be kept and reused in your home (read take up space in the attic) 🙂
Justine of Justine’s Flowers shared: Couples believe that “simple” greenery is inexpensive. But in fact some greenery stems are as expensive as a single stem of flowers. And the greenery that brides typically desire is at the higher end of pricing when it comes to draping your reception in greenery.
Rachel of Alba Dahlia Floral agrees with Justine stating that everyone thinks that greenery and dried florals are cheaper. They are definitely not! Most of the time greenery is the same amount as florals, if not more work on the florist to construct. As for dried florals, they are even more expensive than regular fresh blooms.
Kate of Kate McLeod Studio echos the above and adds that when cutting back on design, maybe try changing up table design, incorporating a mix of styles and some that are more minimal. Sometimes less is more. Greenery can be just as expensive as an arrangement, with install and processing still required in the design.
Do you have questions for one of our Wedding Floral Designers? Leave us a comment below and we’ll get you an answer!
Contributing Photographer: Beatbox Portraits