Did you get engaged over Christmas or New Year? Congratulations!!! Are you now thinking what next!?
Don’t fear, wedding planning is really fun and now more than ever we need celebrations to look forward to!
Number one job you should always start with when wedding planning is budget. I know not everyone likes to talk about money but if you don’t nail this down straight away, it’s very easy to get carried away. That’s when ‘Wedmin’ goes from fun to frustrating and we want to avoid that.
We all have different priorities for our wedding, for some it’s the venue, for others it’s the food, hopefully if you’re here, flowers are priority for you (but don’t worry if you’re unsure I’ll be sharing some general tips too). Once you have your overall budget, you’ll need to decide on how you want to split it, what are your priorities? Knowing how much you want to spend with different suppliers not only helps keep you on top of things but it’s so beneficial for your suppliers to. Don’t be scared of sharing your budget with your supplies, this is how they can make sure they are offering you the best and most appropriate service for you. There’s nothing more heart breaking than getting excited about a £20,000 wedding when your budget is £2000. Don’t get me wrong, both will be beautiful but it’s important you and your suppliers are on the same page for stress free planning.
You may want to consider using a wedding planner or an on the day coordinator. Regardless of the size of your wedding, you may find a planner beneficial, especially if you have a busy lifestyle before you started wedding planning.
I asked Stacey Page, an independent New Forest based wedding planner why couples should consider getting a planner involved:
“What is the difference between a full wedding planner and an on the day coordinator?”
A full planner is there from the beginning of your planning, whether that is assisting you at the very start with your venue search or perhaps a little later with your invitation shopping and the rest of your supplier search. A full planner will also be there on the day of your wedding too and can assist you with anything following your special day events.
An on the day coordinator will collate your plans usually around 4-6 weeks prior to your wedding day and contact your suppliers and be there on your wedding day to see the day through and coordinate order of events also!
Planners / coordinators can offer slightly different services to the above. Some on the day coordinators also assist day prior and day after others just turn up on the day with a briefing beforehand! It is important to do your research before to make sure that coordinator or planner is offering what you are looking for!
“Why should couples consider using a planner or coordinator?”
A planner / coordinator is always a really great person to have with you. People often think if they have a wedding coordinator included in their package at their venue, that they shouldn’t need to book one for themselves still. No no no!! Those venue coordinators are there to see that their plans go correctly for you, with their staffing, timings and to look after the venue as well as you and the wedding party then go home when the shift finishes, handing your day over to another member of staff. Trust me I used to be one and it wasn’t the role I wanted!! A planner / coordinator will be there from start to finish for YOU! From the moment you wake and need them at your beck n call until the party ends or maybe even the following day! It really can relieve so much stress from you and your close family/friends having someone there for YOU.
“Can couples planning a small wedding still benefit from using a planner/ coordinator?”
No matter how big or how small a wedding is, it’s still the most special day of your life. There’s still always going to be things to organise and timings to follow that day. A coordinator can take this stress off your head (Also off a family member or friend, allowing them to enjoy your celebration!) it is one day that you do not want to be clock watching on or worrying if Uncle Bob has got his veggie starter or if the cake lady has been paid! Allow someone else to take these matters into their hands. Your memories should consist of only the plans you made and watching them all come together nicely as you’ve dreamt. Leave the other bits to a professional who will fit in the background of your day just perfectly!
So wedding flowers, where to start? Ordering wedding flowers can seem overwhelming because it’s unlikely you’ve needed to order that quantity of flowers before. For most, you’re experience probably extends to gift bouquets for loved ones or maybe treating yourself to vase flowers for your home. And that’s absolutely fine, find a florist you love, feel comfortable chatting with and they should work with you throughout the whole process.
Depending on the size of your wedding or how specific you want to be, you probably want to start chatting to a florist 12 months before the big day. However if you’re not one for hanging around or like to leave things a bit later, most florists can work with much less time if they have availability.
For me, at Fig & Bramble, I ideally love to start working with couples 12 months before the big day. That’s because I’m a flower farmer as well as a florist so if possible, I love to grow specific flowers just for my couples which often means needing 12 months for Mother Nature to do its thing. However I have also turned around wedding flowers in less than 4 weeks’ notice so nothing is impossible!
Each florist is different and will have their own style, check out social media and website portfolios to find florists that suit your wedding theme. Also don’t be afraid to use Pinterest, the more information and examples you have to show a florist, the closer to your dream day you’re likely to get. Just be clear on what elements from the pictures you like, is it the colours or the flower type? Also respect most suppliers are happy to take inspiration from Pinterest but nobody wants to simply copy someone else’s work.
Don’t panic if you don’t know your Roses from your Rudbeckia, us florists don’t expect you to! If you don’t know what style or theme you’d like your florals to be, start with your wedding date. It might sound obviously but flowers are seasonal, sometimes easy to forget with all the excitement of wedding planning. However flowers growing in March are highly unlikely to still be growing in December. By starting with the date, your florist will be able to show you what flowers are available at that time of year, which should help you narrow things down.
If you know exactly what you want, being aware of the seasons is even more important. For example, if having Peonies is non-negotiable for you, then you need to make sure your wedding date is May or June.
I always put together a mood board for my couples and talk through what elements might work well within their budget. This is why it’s important to be open about budget, nobody it looking to squeeze you, we just want to make sure our suggestions are appropriate for your day. If possible I will also visit a wedding venue with my couple to finalise what they want where and make sure the mechanics are possible.
If you’re getting married during British flower season, I’ll invite you to my cut flower patch and you see your actually wedding flowers growing in the field. If you spot something else you fancy, this is a good chance to also finalise colours.
Hopefully all this will make sure planning your wedding flowers fun and stress free. I hope this has given you a bit more insight on where to start with your wedding flowers. If you’d like to chat further, get in touch to arrange a free no obligation chat/ consultation where I can talk you through the whole process and see if I’m suited to your big day.
Take Care
Adele xx
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