How can a wedding florist help me?
One of the most noticeable aspects of any wedding and reception are undoubtedly the flowers. Flowers and weddings always seem to go hand-in-hand, and flowers lend an air of luxury, colour and vibrance to any wedding celebration, whether it is a large and expansive affair or a small intimate gathering. A great deal of thought goes into choosing the right flowers and colour combinations for weddings, as these often reflect the attitudes and lifestyles of the bride and groom, and add to the general theme of the wedding as a whole.
Why are flowers so important at weddings?
Apart from the fact that flowers are naturally beautiful and add both fragrance and elegance to any occasion, there is a reason why brides carry flowers at their weddings. The tradition of brides wearing or carrying flowers is rooted in ancient traditions. The ancient Romans believed that flowers signify new beginnings, fidelity and hopes of fertility, and their romantic associations have continued down through the ages. Brides are careful when choosing the flowers they want at their weddings, since each flower bears its own mythological message but then again, if they are less traditional and want a more robust bouquet - or sometimes just one single bloom - brides may choose Proteas and indigenous flora rather than roses or the more ‘genteel’ flowers. It’s all down to personal choice.
What flowers are needed at a wedding?
There are three definite areas where flowers play an important part in any wedding. These are :
- For the wedding party. These include the bride’s and bridesmaids’ bouquets, nosegays and any floral hair arrangements or hair wreaths, the groom’s, groomsmens’ and ring bearer’s boutonierres. Some florists will allow for up to 8 corsages for parents and grandparents. For weddings which include flower girls, obviously the florist will make up their hair decorations, miniature bouquets or baskets of petals which are to be scattered along the aisle before the bride.
- For the ceremony, which include the entryway and altar or chuppah (for outdoor weddings) arrangements, pew or chair arrangements, welcome table or entryway arrangements and floral aisle decorations. Petals for showering the bridal couple as they leave the church are also included, if these are required.
- For the reception, including all guest table arrangements, bridal party table decoration and arrangements, buffet table decorations, wedding cake table decorations and even decorations for the cake itself. If required, floral decorations can be made for the car in which the newly married couple leaves the reception.
Since every wedding is unique and individual, there may be other requests made for floral arrangements or decorations in addition to those mentioned above. Of course, the more flowers, the higher the cost, so it may be useful to ask the florist whether any of the arrangements made for the church or chuppah ceremony can be re-used at the reception. If there are two weddings in the same church on the actual day, it might be worth checking to see if the same floral arrangements can be shared by both parties (especially for weddings with a common colour scheme or using all-white arrangements), which will definitely assist in keeping costs down. If the brides-to-be are willing, they can meet beforehand to agree on the flowers and style of arrangements which will suit both parties.
How to find the right wedding florist for your needs
Check their online ratings and customer reviews
Wedding florists are becoming extremely prominent on the internet, where they can showcase their experience and skills to best effect. When looking for a wedding florist, search sites such as Uptasker are invaluable time-savers in narrowing down the available options, especially since it lists in geographical areas. It’s no good finding the perfect florist if she is situated in Pretoria and you are in Cape Town!
Uptasker also provides online ratings and customer reviews, allowing you to judge satisfaction and service levels as evaluated by previous brides, which is a tremendous boost to one’s peace of mind. You can also check for advertisements in bridal magazines, visit bridal expos, speak to wedding planners and wedding dress designers, or check the Yellow Pages. If you are lucky enough to have attended a friend’s wedding or seen photographs of a wedding where the floral arrangements have really impressed you, ask for the name of the florist who provided the flowers.
