What to Expect in Your Wedding Florals Consultation: A Straightforward Guide

I'm Allison! The owner of Pictured Petals, a floral design company located in Colorado. My studio is based in Littleton, tucked between the vibrant mountains & the industrial Denver skyline. My company launched in September of 2024 and I quickly landed in the niche of wedding and event work (which is right where I wanted to be... I just thought it would take longer than it did!)

In my consults with over 50 clients now, and being a recent bride as well, I have seen the uncertainty some of my couples have coming into our meetings! Not only will this post be a resource to my potential clients (SO happy to have you here!), but one for any other bride preparing for a wedding florals consultation from far and wide!

This list includes everything BUT the basics. My inquiry covers all the essentials like color palette, budget, personal flowers (bouquets, boutonnieres, corsages), ceremony, cocktail hour, reception, and delivery/set-up/clean up post-event or simple pickup needs. I have all of that information going into our consultation, so I can prepare my thoughts for your unique event well!

Photo: Andrés Molina - NomadicFitLust

The Day-of Deets

To help get a big picture for the flow of your day, make sure to have the following times ready:

• Ceremony time - this can be loosely estimated!

• Event end time

• Vendor access time (which can be different than when the couple is allowed access to the venue! This is often outlined clearly in your contract.)

• Will your ceremony & reception happen indoors/outdoors? What is the plan for unexpected weather changes?

Your florist understands timing can fluctuate a little bit up until your date. I make sure to touch base with clients a month out and confirm all solidified times!

 Flower Requests

In the flower world, there are no guarantees in flower types or varieties, but rather requests! The nature of my work very much depends on the nature of the world - it's climate, growing seasons, the growing locations, and so many more unpredictable pieces! It is a MUCH safer bet to trust your florist to nail it when given a color palette to adhere to.

Come into your consultation with any flower specifics, and your florist can make sure to let you know what is within the realm of possibility based on the time of year your wedding is taking place. Do some brainstorming beforehand on some blooms that may be meaningful to you and your significant other, tributes to special relatives, or any allergies that may come into play.

 Tally It Up!

Walk into your consultation prepared for your florist to ask you about quantities for every item. Make sure to account for your officiant, ushers, grandparents, flower girls, ring bearers, and furry friends in wearable counts as you think numbers through.

 Signage Florals

You often meet with your florist before any signage details are set in stone. Nonetheless, get to thinking about where you might want to see florals here! Think... welcome signage, seating charts, photo mirrors, and more! These make for easy add-ons down the road too, so don't sweat it!

 Cocktail Hour Florals

I see this area as an afterthought often - let's catch that ahead of time! I will begin by saying, if budgeting is slim... your cocktail hour is an easy area to scale back the florals so you can invest in the more prominent areas of your day! Some primary areas to think of florals for during cocktail hour may be: a guestbook table, gifts/cards table, a "loving memory" table, a grazing/charcuterie table, etc.

If you have a really sweet bar set-up or rent a comfy lounge set - florals can dress up these unique spaces more than you know!

 Venue-Specific Florals

Every event location is unique in it's own way! Does your location have a large, focal, staircase that could use some gorgeous blooms? Or maybe a gorgeous outdoor patio where guests will gather? Consider using florals to enhance the special charm of your wedding venue.

OR... maybe you feel the opposite. Your venue has antler chandeliers and that is just not your style, or there is an unsightly, drab corner you don't quite know what to do with. Flowers, my friend!

 When the Party's Over

After your beautiful day is said and done, you have all of these fresh florals left over, often with some life still left! Start thinking now about what you may want to happen with them. If you plan to have a post-wedding brunch or send-off, reuse your florals as decor here!

If you and your fiancé aren't hopping on a flight to your honeymoon right away, load up your flowers and bring them to a local nursing home. I promise you the residents and staff will just light up! And how special to have the bride and groom drop them off personally! If you have travel plans lined up, see if a family member or friend is interested in doing this on your behalf. You can, of course, discuss this service with your florist and breathe easy knowing it's taken care of.

What is your plan with your bridal bouquet? If you plan to have it preserved, I always recommend deciding ahead who may be the person coordinating that. BONUS TIP: gather up your bridesmaid bouquets as extra floral material to be used in your preservation. The preservation artists I recommend to my brides can book months in advance, so don't hesitate to think about this element!

If there are any major needs for tear down at the end of the night from your florist, plan for them to charge accordingly to return after your event has concluded (we typically either have to stick around town or make the drive back to your event) and take care of any remaining florals.

And to conclude...

Brides to be, I hope you found this guide informative! Walk into your consultation with your florist now bringing everything you may need to the table! At Pictured Petals, I strive to educate myself about the world of flowers, which then gives me the ability to pass knowledge along to my clients in turn. If you know someone planning a wedding and on the hunt for the perfect guide to help their upcoming floral consult go smoothly, would you send this their way? I'd be so grateful!

Pictured Petals is a floral design studio based in Colorado, delivering one-of-a-kind floral designs focused on weddings and specialty events. When I have the chance, I love bringing floral pieces to life for everyday occasions as well. You can check out my work at www.picturedpetals.com or give me a follow over on Instagram @picturedpetals. XO!

Photo: Andrés Molina - NomadicFitLust

COVER PHOTO: Andrés Molina of NomadicFit Lust

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