How to Inquire with a Wedding Florist for Your Wedding
So, you’re getting married?! Congrats!!!
Now comes the fun (and slightly stressful) part of planning your big day.
However, one of the most delightful parts? The FLOWERS.
But how exactly do you find the perfect wedding florist and, more importantly, reach out to them without sounding basic and uninformed? Let’s break it down.
Step 1: The Vibe Check
It’s time to be creative and think about the vibes. What is your aesthetic? What do you want your wedding to scream to your guests? Do you want it to be a reflection of your relationship or do you want it to just feel some sort of way (like romantic and effortless, or maximalist and extra?)
Pro tip: Start a Pinterest board titled “Wedding Flowers”
Pins: Start pinning color swatches, textures, ceremony inspo, bouquets, tablescapes - etc. that speak to your vision for the wedding.
Step 2: The Search & The Stalk
Alright, time to pull out your detective skills (which you’ve already perfected from years of social media scrolling). Start by searching for local wedding florists on Instagram, Pinterest, Tik Tok and Google. I would use hashtags such as #capecodflorist or #capecodwedding — filter this to your location and it should prove helpful! Pay attention to those dreamy floral arches, bouquets, and installations that speak to you, as well as the person behind the business. You want to make sure you vibe with your florist, as this will make you feel at ease and seamlessly instill trust in your decision making.
Pro tip: Make a list in your notes app titled: “Florists I’m Obsessed With”
Make a Shortlist: Narrow down to 2-3 florists whose work makes you go “YES. THIS.”
Step 3: Slide Into Their Inbox (But Professionally)
Now it’s time to actually reach out! You can usually do this via their website’s contact form, email, or social media DMs (if they seem chill like that) - but most of the time they will have a contact form on their website!
What to Include in Your Inquiry:
Your wedding date
Venue location(s) - this includes both ceremony and reception, if they are at separate venues (give the specific address too — the more deets the better)
A rough idea of your floral budget (Don’t be shy; they’ll appreciate the transparency!)
Your vibe or aesthetic (Words like “romantic garden party” or “high fashion/editorial” work great.)
Any specific flowers you love or hate (Example: “I’m obsessed with peonies, but please, no baby’s breath.”)
Guest List — this will give your florist a good idea of how many reception tables you’ll have.
A list of personals (think about if you want bouquets for all the bridesmaids, boutonnieres for all the groomsmen — do you want parents to have something? — the more detail the better)
A rough idea / vision for both Ceremony and Reception — even if this changes down the road, it’s helpful for you to give your florist as much information upfront as possible because this will allow them to offer more dialed in pricing out the gate.
Sample Email/Message: “Hi [Florist’s Name],
I’m getting married on [Wedding Date] at [Venue], and I absolutely love your work! I’m envisioning something along the lines of [brief description of your aesthetic, like ‘whimsical garden party with pops of pink and peach’]. I’d love to chat more and see if we’d be a good fit. Also, my floral budget is around [Amount].
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Best, [Your Name]”
Step 4: Prepping for the Consultation (A.K.A. Flower First Date)
Woohoo! You’ve got a response! Now it’s time to prep for your consultation (in person, on Zoom, or via email).
What to Bring:
A Pinterest board or folder of inspiration photos
Your wedding color palette
Any must-have floral items (bouquet, centerpieces, installations, etc.) - Make a list of everything you think you need // but also, don’t fret - any good florist will you bring you through everything even if you haven’t thought of it and help you narrow down your lists of wants/needs!
Your rough budget again (Yes, it’s that important!)
Questions to Ask:
Do you do more than one wedding a day? — at American Stems, we only service one wedding per day to ensure our brides get 110% of our attention. This is important to ask if this is something thats important to you!
What’s your process look like after this consultation call?
Do you have minimum budget requirements?
If I commit to to the current proposal, can we still make changes going forward?
How do you handle setup, delivery, and teardown?
Can guests take the centerpieces?
Do you provide candles or other decor?
Can you work with my favorite flowers, or suggest alternatives if they’re out of season?
What’s your payment structure and cancellation policy?
Typically, after this call and once your questions have been answered - your florist will follow up with a pricing proposal. At American Stems, we send you over both a pricing proposal and a detailed creative deck that gives you visual representation of what we propose for your wedding florals.
Step 5: Making the Decision
After chatting with your potential florists, you’ll want to make your choice. Consider:
Whose style matches your vision most closely?
Who made you feel the most excited and at ease during your conversation?
Who fits within your budget (or close enough - you’ll never regret splurging on a little more flowers!)
Step 6: Booking Your Dream Florist
When you’ve made your choice, let them know you’d like to book them! You’ll likely need to sign a contract and pay a deposit to secure your date.
Pro tip: Don’t ghost the florists you didn’t choose! A simple “Thank you so much for your time, but we’ve decided to go in a different direction” is always appreciated. Plus, good karma.
Step 7: Enjoy the Process!
Congratulations! You’ve successfully navigated the world of wedding florist inquiries. Now, sit back, relax, and daydream about all the pretty flowers that’ll soon be gracing your special day. (Oh, and maybe go reward yourself with a latte or something. Wedding planning is hard work.)
