Questions to Ask your Florist
It’s that time of year when couples are starting their wedding planning adventure. Picking a date, a venue and reaching out to vendors. Traditionally you could expect to get engaged, plan and have your wedding all in the same calendar year. 2023 is gearing up to be one of the busiest seasons for many wedding vendors as most of us still have postponed events from the previous two years. What does this mean for you? There is limited availability and your dream vendors may not be available. Not to fret, we wanted to make the process of booking your florist, hopefully a bit smoother (and quicker) by putting together a list of questions we most frequently get asked.
Photo by Samantha Joy Shantz
What flowers do you recommend that are in season?
We focus on using local and garden grown in-season flowers that reflect our climate in Southern Ontario.
Do you have rentals/are vases included?
We have a large collection of vases and rental items that are available exclusively for our clients. The rental fee for each item will be included in your design. If you would like to purchase vases this can also be arranged.
Can we reuse flowers from our ceremony?
Absolutely! WE love repurposing elements from the ceremony to the reception and can discuss the best designs for versatility. We charge a repurposing fee in order to move the design. For more ideas for versatile floral designs, see our recommendations here.
Do you use floral foam?
No, we do not use any floral foam in our designs because it is toxic to the environment and you! We use a combination of foam free designs, including pin frogs, chicken wire, agra wool and eco-conscious cloths. For a more detailed look at some of these techniques, see our blog post on Eco-Conscious Mechanics.
Photo by Samantha Joy Shantz
Where do the flowers come from?
I like to describe how we source our flowers like a bullseye: starting with our garden and slowly working outwards geographically. We grow a curated collection of flowers exclusively for our clients. These flowers are available from May-October. We also source from a number of local growers and farms. Lastly, we will select imported product and focus on maintaining the design aesthetic.
Is delivery included?
Yes, delivery is included. We also include delivery of personal flowers to a separate location for your getting ready process. Delivery not only ranges by location, but also takes into consideration the number of items that need to be transported and if we will require a vehicle rental, and or additional staff.
Do you require a minimum?
We have a minimum of $5,000 before taxes for weddings and a minimum of $1,000 before taxes for special events. This minimum ensures we can select the best product and ensure the quality of our designs.
What happens at the end of the evening?
If you have rental items or an installation piece, we have included the teardown and pickup of these items in your design. If you have purchased vases or have garlands/greenery, you will get to take these designs home. Teardown will be discussed during your design meeting and we send a delivery/teardown review the week before your event.
Photo by Samantha Ong Photography
Is everything customized? Is it a package? Is it unique?
Each proposal is customized for you and your partner. We will share “sample packages” to give you an idea of pricing and designs. After you secure your date, we plan a full Design meeting where we review the overall look and details of your event. We can then create a visual proposal including colour palette, rentals, and flower selections.
What is the payment process?
We require a non-refundable deposit of $750 to secure your date. Your payment schedule will be broken down into 3 equal payments that are paid in full 21 days before your event.
We hope you found this blog post helpful!
Your flower loving friends,
Liana & Emily xo
