My Friend Hated the Bouquet Her Florist Made for Her, How Can I Avoid a Similar Situation?

Don’t be afraid to dictate to your florist exactly what you want. You can show her photos of the flowers you definitely want and don’t want as well as photos of styles you like and don’t like.

When you meet with your florist to see centerpiece samples ask for them to provide bouquet and bout samples too. A floral sample is similar to a tasting with your caterer. You get to see exactly what you’ll get on your wedding day.

If you feel that the sample is good then make sure that you and the florist take a photo and write down the names of the flowers used. Remember that flowers are seasonal, so if your preview is months before your wedding the flowers may not be available on your wedding day or may cost money to fly them in from another region.

On your wedding day make sure you see the bouquet before the florist and her team leave your venue so if you aren’t happy they can fix whatever is bothering you.

Foot Long, I Mean, High

Over the past week I've been introduced to some fabulous florists. So I thought I'd write three posts with flower planning tips, and introduce you to some of the talented people I've met.

Tip #1: When deciding on what type of centerpiece you want, think about how high the arrangement should be.

Your guests should be able to talk to each other from across the table without something obstructing their view of the person sitting across from them.

To get an idea of how high an arrangement should be, place your elbow on a table and make a fist. The centerpiece should not be higher than the height of your fist - about 1 foot.

The arrangement pictured here is by Mary Lois at Loop Event Arts and Interiors in San Francisco. As you can see the tables are long, decorated with lush centerpieces placed every 2-3 feet down the table. The greenery and lanterns placed above are a great way to cover beams or unattractive ceilings.

Event Designer 101

There is a difference between a florist and an event designer. A florist will create your bouquet and centerpiece based on your color palette and style preferences. An event designer will work with you to create a palette and motif for your wedding, and execute ideas from everything from stationery design to floral arrangements to the personal details that make your wedding so special.

Nancy Liu Chin Designs creates weddings with an amazing attention to detail. Working with clients to determine what colors will create their palette and thinking outside the box, Nancy will create that thread you hear about in magazines so everything from your stationery to your linens to the cake and favors all compliment each other.

A Splash of Color

While the traditional bride's bouquet usually consists of only white flowers, the bouquets your bridesmaids carry can be any shade of the rainbow.

Talk to your florist about designing bridesmaid bouquets that will compliment yours. For example, you can pick the same type of flower in your bouquet but in a different color, or you can have them carry smaller white bouquets with a little bit of color placed around it as a cuff or in the center of the bouquet.

When deciding on a color, of course you want to choose blooms that will match their dresses, but you can also choose a complimenting color instead of one that matches exactly.

Urban Petals based in Washington, D.C. has designed floral arrangements for weddings and events in a wide range of styles. Whether you're planning a wedding on a private estate or in a ballroom, Sarah von Schrader will create the perfect look for your big day.