* All the floral designs featured in this post were created by Limewood Flowers with love.
So, you’re planning your wedding and feeling unsure about the flowers? That’s where I come in! As speciality wedding florist living in England, creating wedding flowers is my passion, and something I do every day. If this is your first time planning a wedding, I know you’ll have a lot of questions, and I’m here to help.
There are some questions almost every couple asks, so to help you on your wedding planning journey here are the answers! While each of these questions could be a blog in itself, I hope this guide helps ease your wedding flower worries. If you still need more guidance, feel free to get in touch – I’m always happy to chat about your wedding vision.
Wedding flowers checklist
Let’s start with the basics. There are endless options when it comes to wedding flowers, and ultimately, it’s up to you and your vision. Your floral design will reflect your personality, culture and religion (if you follow a faith). The flowers will also set the tone for the day, and tie in with your overall wedding theme. The list below is based on the most frequently requested arrangements in western weddings for both civil and religious ceremonies.
Every faith, culture and community has their own traditions and we love learning more about these and how you would like to honour these in your day.
Personal wedding flowers
- Bridal Bouquet
- Bridesmaid’s Bouquets
- Groom’s Buttonhole
- Buttonholes for ushers, dads and brothers
- Corsages for mums and grandmas
- Flower crowns or combs for hair
- Flower girl petals and baskets
- Flowers for ring bearer
For more on all of these arrangements, try my wedding flower checklist for personal flowers.
Most importantly these flowers are designed for you, the flowers do not care about gender or stereotypes. Simply describe the how you want to feel and what words you feel most comfortable using. I’m still waiting for someone to order a floral cape, if that is not too much of a hint!
Wedding ceremony flowers
- Welcome table arrangements
- Welcome sign flowers
- Ceremony arch or backdrop
- Aisle flowers
- Flowers for pew ends
- Registrar/signing table flowers
- Confetti petals for guests
Wedding reception flowers
- Entrance flowers
- Seating chart or escort card table flowers
- Table centerpieces
- Bar arrangements
- Floral ceilings
- Floral chandeliers
- Floral clouds
- Card table and guest book arrangements
- Wedding cake flowers
- Flower arrangements for cocktail tables
- Food station flowers
- Stage installations
- Photo booth floral wall
What is the most important thing to consider when choosing wedding flowers?
The answer here has two parts. The first answer might not be what you want to hear: your budget. Your wedding flower budget determines the overall feel and impact of your flowers.
Once you know your budget, the most important thing to focus on is your wedding florist. Allow a professional florist to guide you through the options available. Describe the impact you want to create, rather than focusing on specific arrangements.
Will your venue choice affect your flowers?
Yes, your venue choice will absolutely affect your flowers! There are two main reasons for this:
- Venue rules – Some venues work only with specific suppliers or have rules about what types of arrangements are allowed, including how and when suppliers can access the venue. Always check with your venue to see if you can bring in your own suppliers. Your vision may not align with the suppliers they allow. If you can bring in your own suppliers, my blog on how much wedding flowers cost goes into more detail on how venue access times can impact your budget – and therefore your flowers.
- Logistics & Costs – If your venue is far from your florist, the delivery cost could affect your budget. If you choose a venue 20 minutes drive from the florist of your dreams then their delivery costs will be much lower, allowing more room in your budget for the actual flowers.
How far in advance should you order flowers for your wedding?
This is such a difficult question to answer and can vary from florist to florist. I typically take bookings up to 18 months in advance to ensure accurate pricing and availability.
The more important question, though, is how far in advance couples should contact a wedding florist. My advice is as soon as you know your wedding date, venue, and have an idea of your floral budget. This allows us to check availability and make sure we’re the right fit for your day.
If you want florals to have a transformative impact on your wedding day, reach out early. You don’t need to ‘book’ instantly, it is about finding out if your dream florist is available. In England, peak wedding season runs from June to August, so securing your florist early for these months is crucial. May and September could be described as ‘shoulder season’ when there is less competition for suppliers and venues.
Many florists book key summer dates long in advance, so don’t wait!
Can I do my own wedding flowers, or should I use a florist?
I know this question well – I even asked myself the same thing when I was planning my own wedding! At that time, I wasn’t a florist, but I loved flowers and knew how to grow them. I thought, “How hard can it be?” But, the real question is, “What do you want to spend your time on just before your big day?”
In the end, I decided to hire a florist, and it made my wedding day so much less stressful. The flowers were absolutely beautiful, and I cried – I cried while sitting, relaxed, on my wedding morning, a glass of fizz in hand, chatting with my bridesmaids and sneaking a peek out of the window as guests were arriving. I wouldn’t have wanted to be working on the flowers in the days leading up to my wedding or on the morning itself.
This is what a wedding florist does. Flowers are a fresh product, and they cannot be prepared too far in advance. If you want to spend the time before your wedding covered in foliage, cutting thorns off rose stems, then by all means, do that.
For most people, however, hiring a florist is the better choice.
How much should you spend on wedding flowers?
This is a tricky question to answer! At Limewood Flowers, my approach is always focused on what matters most to you. My answer to how much you should spend on wedding flowers is simply: whatever you are comfortable spending. If a florist is pushing you to spend more than you’re comfortable with, then they are not the right fit.
When you inquire with me, my first email reply will include a price guide, which provides typical costs for the most common arrangements. From there, you can decide if my prices align with your budget.
Can I use flowers from my garden for my wedding?
This is such a lovely idea, but the answer really depends on why you want to include them.
If your goal is to save money, I usually advise against using flowers from your garden. It’s often not a cost-saving approach! In order to cut costs, you’d need to supply the majority of the flowers, which is likely more than you think and may not be feasible to grow in your space. You’d also need to ensure they are available at the right time, as flower timing can be unpredictable. And, if your flowers don’t bloom as expected, or they’re damaged by the weather or pests, sourcing wholesale flowers last minute can be much more expensive. It will also cost more if you are expecting your florist to visit your garden to cut the flowers.
On the reverse side, if you would like to include flowers from your garden or a loved one’s garden as a way to include a special memory to your day, the answer is always yes! I love helping couples incorporate meaningful flowers into their wedding. We can work out how best to make it work. After all, your wedding is about your story, and I’m more than happy to help make those memories come to life with your flowers. If including one of your Gran’s sweet peas is important to you then it is important to me as your florist.
Ready to bring your wedding flower vision to life?
So there you have it! A quick rundown of some of the most common wedding flower questions I get from couples. Remember, this is just a guide to get you started – you can go as big or as small as you want.
If you choose me as your wedding florist you are free to ask as many questions as you have. I want you to enjoy your wedding planning, not stress about the details like what a plinth is for or what on earth a broken arch arrangement is (though, if you do want to know, I’m always happy to explain!). And if you’re on the lookout for a wedding florist, please don’t hesitate to reach out with your brief – I’d be happy to help!
