You are newly engaged and have an entire wedding to plan! First off, congratulations! This is going to be an exciting period in your relationship, but I am sure you have many questions. I’d like to help you answer one of them of them: How do we choose a floral designer for our wedding?
Let me give you some things to consider while you ponder that question.
Where To Start
Two pieces of the planning process that should be determined early on go hand-in-hand—the number of guests you anticipate inviting to share in your day and your budget. It’s kind of a “what comes first, the chicken or the egg” deal, so my recommendation is you spend some time and get these two decisions made as soon as possible.
Moving on to a Venue
Once you have these numbers, you will know what size venue you will require for your ceremony and reception. The venues you consider will be based somewhat on the feel and style you want your day to convey. Are you an outdoorsy couple who wants to be married in the summer in a natural, organic setting? Or does the glitz and glamour of a trendy spot in an urban area fit the two of you better? This is when you want to think about bringing in your designer.
Fitting Florals and Decor into a Budget
Since florals and décor typically take up 10-15% or more of your budget, a professional floral designer will help you make decisions that stay within that number and also assist you in styling your wedding. What colors do you want, what feel are you going for, and what memories would you like your guests to take away when they leave your celebration? Your floral designer is experienced in walking you through these questions and ultimately helping you come up with colors, the feel, and a style that will be pleasing to you and your groom as well as your family and friends.
Make It Yours
Recently, I had an initial consultation with a bride who grew up on a farm in rural Minnesota and referenced “home” several times. We talked about flowers in her Mother’s and Grandmother’s gardens, colors she remembered and fragrances that came to mind. Although the ceremony and reception venues were both in an upscale area of downtown Minneapolis, I could sense it was important to bring in elements of the gardens from home. At the end of our first meeting, we had a color palette, main flower choices, and an overall theme—all representing pleasant memories—to use throughout the planning process.
Your Designer
Just as important as when to choose a designer, is who that individual should be. The first thing you should do is look up the designer you are interested in online. Take a look at their website and social media. Take note of their signature style, their use of color, and their presentation. Does it match what you’re looking for? Can you see variety among their bouquets or are they a one-style only? Remember that every florist will have a style, but they should also have the skills to be creative and think outside of the box depending on the preferences of the bride. Do your research!
Will I Enjoy This Experience?
The second thing to consider is personality. You will be spending a good amount of time with this woman, especially if she is involved in the complete event styling. At your first consultation, be open about what ideas you may already have and want to incorporate into your day, and be honest about your budget. During your discussion, ask yourself, is this someone with whom I will enjoy being with while planning my wedding? If the answer is yes, then you are well on your way to choosing a floral designer who will assist you in creating a cohesive look that will be beautiful and memorable!
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In September of 2019 I was the owner and lead designer of a successful wedding floral design and styling business in Minnesota, and quite content with things as they were. As life would have it, however, my husband's job moved us 350 miles away. Leaving children, grandchildren, our home and my business behind, we made the move and settled in by early February 2020, just as #Covid19 started trending everywhere.
As a way to manage the upheaval of the move and the isolation of the pandemic, I turned my creativity to painting, crafting and photography. Always an entrepreneur and not yet ready to retire, I decided to start another business, One Precious Pearl...the Next Chapter.
Combining mixed media art with bookbinding, I now design and sell journals of various types. They range from vintage, modern vintage or mid century, junk, art, writing, faith or commonplace journals. I also welcome and thoroughly enjoy commissioned pieces! 
