Where to find flower arrangements for your wedding

Flowers can be a big part of your wedding budget, so you’ll want to ensure the money’s well spent. Here’s how to get beautiful bridal flower arrangements.

Looking for the perfect flower bouquet for your wedding? If so, there are many directions you can take with your floral bouquet, centrepieces, and arrangements. Here’s how to get started on the perfect bridal flower arrangements.

Start your search about a year ahead of your wedding by making appointments to visit wedding florists in your area. Don’t forget to ask fellow brides or newlyweds for their recommendations.

At these appointments, you can get a sense of what kind of work the florist does and their pricing. Then about eight months before your wedding, select a florist and determine what kinds of flowers you might want. From there, you should nail down the specifics of both your contract with the florist and the final flower ideas five months before your big day.

• The best way to determine what you like is by scouring sites like Pinterest and noting what options jump out at you.
• Also, chances are you've got a few bridal magazines laying around, so start marking the pictures of arrangements that appeal to you.
• Take these ideas to your florist, but also have a look at their books of arrangements to see what they have available.

How can you get the most out of your meetings with florists?

1. Do think about incorporating flowers grown in your region, or even local wildflowers. Using locally grown flowers can bring down your overall costs. Ditto for seasonal blooms, such as tulips in the spring.
2. Don't go for white flowers, which bruise and brown easily.
3. Do be open to ideas from florists as to which flowers to use.
4. Don'tforget to settle on a colour scheme before you begin looking at flowers.
5. Do set a budget before you start visiting florists so you know what you have to spend. It’s estimated flowers can account for 10 per cent of your total wedding budget.
6. Don't forget to adjust bouquets to your height and body type. If your gown is elegant and grand, plan for a bouquet that can match and not get lost against your dress. If you’re wearing a sheath dress, look for a lighter bouquet to complement your look.
7. Do include your wedding planner, if you have one, when picking out your arrangements. Their expertise will come in handy.
8. Don't forget to come prepared! Bring a photo of your wedding gown as well as samples of bridesmaids dress fabric to compare colours.