Wedding florist: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What wedding florist is

A wedding florist plans the bouquets, boutonnieres, ceremony flowers and reception centerpieces for a couple, coordinating colors and delivery with the venue and the other vendors. Couples hire one when the flowers need to match the theme and arrive on time at several spots.

Signs you need it

  • You have a color palette or a theme that the flowers must match across the wedding
  • The ceremony and reception need flowers in several places, such as the arch, the aisle and the tables
  • You want bouquets and boutonnieres designed for the people who will carry and wear them
  • The venue has a set time for flower delivery and setup that must be coordinated
  • You are planning around a season and want flowers that will be in bloom on the date

What the pro does

  • Reviews your color palette, theme, venue and season, and talks through the look
  • Recommends flower types that are in bloom on your wedding date
  • Designs bouquets, boutonnieres, corsages, arches and centerpieces with a sample
  • Coordinates delivery and setup times with the venue and the decorator
  • Creates the floral pieces on the wedding day or the day before, depending on the flower
  • Collects or disposes of the flowers at the end of the day, as agreed

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Number of bouquets, boutonnieres, centerpieces and arch pieces
  • The flower types, especially those that are out of season or imported
  • Size of the ceremony and reception spaces that need flowers
  • Installation work, such as an arch, a floral wall or a hanging piece
  • Delivery, setup and teardown times and distance to the venue
  • Whether the florist supplies vases, stands and containers or the couple does

What a written quote should spell out

  • Each floral piece by type, with the quantity and the size
  • Which flowers are fresh, silk or dried, and whether any are replaced
  • Delivery and setup times and who is on site for each
  • Containers, stands and vases included or rented
  • Who approves changes and what happens to flowers that arrive damaged

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Can you show photos of bridal bouquets and centerpieces from weddings at our venue?
  • Which flowers will be in bloom on our wedding date?
  • How will you coordinate delivery with the venue and our other vendors?
  • Will you make the bouquets the day of, or the day before?
  • What do you do with the flowers after the reception?
  • Can you do a sample bouquet or centerpiece before the wedding?

Red flags

  • Has no photos of wedding work in a space like yours
  • Cannot say which flowers will be in bloom on your date
  • Does not coordinate with the venue on delivery and setup
  • Will not provide a sample or a detailed quote for the bouquets
  • Plans to deliver bouquets without a tested way to keep them fresh

What you can do yourself

A couple can make simple centerpieces for a small wedding with a few stems in matching bottles, provided they plan the timing and keep the flowers cool until the event. Hire a wedding florist for bouquets, boutonnieres, arches and large centerpieces that must look right in the venue's light and on the day.

Licenses and permits

No special license is usually required to arrange wedding flowers. Ask whether the florist is a registered business, carries liability insurance for setups at venues, and can show proof of the venue's delivery rules.

Wedding florist questions

How far ahead should we book a wedding florist?

As early as you can, especially for a popular date or season. A florist who knows your date can plan the flower types in advance.

Can the florist make the bouquets for the bridesmaids?

Yes, if you ask at the start. Share the number of bouquets and the sizes, and confirm the cost and timing for each in the quote.

Who takes the flowers after the reception?

Ask the florist. Some collect the arrangements, while others let the couple take them home or donate them. Confirm this in the contract.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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