Although it's called it a 'wedding consultation', it really is just an informal chat about your ideas and style... There's nothing scary about it!
Some people know exactly what they want, to the point of having several mood boards, fabric samples and photos from Pinterest, with every possible detail thought out (there are pros and cons to this which I will go into). Others have no idea what they want, haven't thought about their dress, colour theme or style for the day. Either way, your florist can give you ideas and feedback.
For the bride/groom who knows exactly what they want...
Having a strong vision of your colour themes and style is great, it gives all of your suppliers, not just your florist, a very clear idea of the look you're going for.
However, what a lot of people don't consider when they come to us florists with very specific photos of what they want is...
That particular flower choice may not be in season at the time they are getting married.
A lot of the photos of wedding flowers you see online are either artificial or have a filter so they don't show the true colour of the flower.
Many photos you see online will include a lot of luxurious flowers, such as garden roses, peonies and hydrangea, they are often photos for styled photo shoots. Flowers like this do come at a higher price, so your florist can give you alternatives if you don't have such a high budget.
It's great to take these photos to your wedding consultation as your florist can see what kind of style you are interested in. We will always be able to suggest alternatives if the flower selection you are looking at isn't going to work.
For the bride/groom who has no idea what they want...
This isn't a problem!
I can only book in one wedding per day as it's only me (unless you have a very large wedding, in which case I always have florist friends I can call on to help out!) so the sooner you book your initial consultation, the better. Even if we just have a chat about roughly what you want ie. a bridal bouquet, at least one bridesmaids bouquet, some buttonholes... numbers can be confirmed later, your quote will be itemised so you can see how much each design will cost. Flower choice and colours can all be confirmed later.
It's a start! You will receive an estimated quote from this, to give you an idea of my pricing. There is a £50.00 booking fee just to secure the date (which comes off your final invoice), everything can be confirmed nearer to your date!
I always say to brides and grooms booking in for their consultation that my studio is not the most comfortable space! Obviously you're more than welcome to come to me, but I'm afraid there's no comfy seats and it's cold all year round...
I am happy to travel to you if you're local, or if your further away a Zoom meeting is preferable to a phone call. But most of the time, we will meet for a coffee somewhere in between. My most regular places to hold a wedding consultation is either Hips Social in Lydney, or the Speech House Hotel in between Coleford and Cinderford (check them out if you haven't already!). Both offer a quiet comfortable place to sit, enjoy a drink and a piece of cake and go through everything together.
As for planning your consultation, it's always helpful (but not necessary) to know...
the venue you are getting married at and where you are having your reception
the time of the ceremony and where the delivery addresses will be on the day
your colour theme and overall style you are going for
have you got outfits yet? seeing your wedding dress will help when deciding on a shape and size for your bouquet, it also helps to see bridesmaids dresses and suits if you know what you're having
I will never ask for your budget, I prefer to quote for exactly what you want, often including different options in your quote. This way you can see how much exactly what you want will cost, but remember there are always options!
To give you an idea, wedding flowers usually cost around 10-15% of the budget... However, please don't be embarrassed to let me know if what I've quoted is far too high. There are always alternatives, such as changing flower varieties or suggesting different table centres, to make it work for you.
Remember, your bridal bouquet and top table will be in a lot of photos.. you can always go for exactly what you want for certain things, and choose different varieties in your theme colours for other areas.
Found this helpful? Book your wedding consultation using my contact form, or message me on foxgloveandmoss@outlook.com or via social media.
Lauren
Foxglove and Moss