Be Prepared. It’s the motto of the Boy Scouts, but it might just as easily be the best advice for every bride-to-be, heading into her wedding. With a million details to plan, some brides tend to put off flowers until the last moment or fail to understand how much goes into decorations, says Michelle LaPraim, owner of Elle’s Floral Design in Lacey.
Having provided floral support for dozens of weddings, LaPraim is familiar with simple tips to make the bride or wedding planner’s life easier before they even sit down with a florist. While these recommendations may not eliminate stress altogether, they can certainly minimize it as the big day approaches.
Come prepared with an idea of what you want. “You may not know the names of the flowers, but at least know the colors,” says LaPraim. “We can tell what is in season.” If a client has no idea what they want, it’s not the end of the world, but it helps to have a general concept. “We can work through that, but if helps if you can do a little bit of research before you come to your consultation,” she advises.
Bring pictures. When it comes to wedding flowers, the cliché about a picture’s worth is absolutely true. Again, coming with a color scheme in mind is really helpful. “Only a few things are seasonal,” says LaPraim. “We can special order anything, if you know what you want.”
Know what type of event you’re having. There can be a big difference between an outdoor garden wedding and a traditional church ceremony. Having a general idea will help your florist guide you more effectively. “Classic church weddings generally have a different type of bouquet,” says LaPraim. “In outdoor weddings, it tends to be more casual, loose, and free. Knowing what shape, size, and color you want will make things run more smoothly.
Avoid ‘Do it Yourself’ unless you are absolutely certain you can pull it off without undue stress. “We get a lot of frantic last minute phone calls from brides or bridesmaids saying ‘We can’t do it!’” says LaPraim. “People often want to handle the flowers themselves, but it’s a lot more work than they realize. When it’s the day before your wedding and you already have so much going on, you probably don’t want to be worrying about your flowers.”
Many people think that their group of friends or relatives can help, only to discover that they lack the needed skills or resources, or simply run out of time. They also may not realize how many flowers they actually need, and come up short at the last moment, she explains.
Consider multiple uses for floral arrangements. “Try to do things you can reuse,” says LaPraim. “Instead of getting whole new decorations for the head table, gift table or cake table, think about using the bridal and bridesmaids’ bouquets.”
Know your budget and tell your florist. “Don’t be afraid to talk about money,” LaPraim urges. “It will make it easier on everybody if you have an idea of your budget and let the florist know.” For brides on tighter budgets, have a clear idea of what you want but know that a florist can help you find affordable flowers that are similar and just as beautiful.
Be prepared to be flexible. “Your first choice might not be realistic given the circumstances of your wedding,” she explains. “You have to be a bit picky about what type of flowers you use. For example, if it’s 90 degrees out, don’t use hydrangeas. They only last for three hours.” She recommends having a lot of ideas but being ready to make compromises.
Think outside the box. “I did one wedding last summer where the woman was a gardener,” says LaPraim. “All of the arrangements were made of herbs. Everything in her bouquet you could eat and the whole wedding smelled amazing.” For centerpieces, the couple used plants they could put in the ground later. “That was really neat,” she says. “They really thought about who they were and reused everything. It’s important to choose something complimentary to who you are.”
Other than that, it’s important to have the details of when and where your wedding will be on hand. Following these tips can save time and energy and reduce stress for busy brides. To schedule a floral consultation, contact Elle’s Floral Design at www.ellesfloraldesign.com or call 360-791-5704.
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