Florists are professionals who have knowledge of the art of flower design and arrangement. Since flower decor is one of the aspects that can make your wedding photos aesthetically pleasing, understanding what a florist does for a wedding can help you decide whether to hire one or DIY.
What Does a Florist Do for a Wedding?
The main duty of a florist at a wedding is to choose the type of flowers that will be used, arrange for their delivery, maintain them before the wedding, and then arrange them on the wedding day. Since florists have experience with different types of flowers and colors, as well as the latest trends in flower decor, we can ensure your flower decor blends well with the color schemes of the attire and the venue.
The following are some things a florist does for a wedding to improve the mood and the overall appearance of the venue or reception by adding different flower decor.
Choosing the Best Flower Type
Professional florists have varying flower ideas that best suit your needs depending on your style and color preferences. We have sufficient knowledge of what different colors of flowers symbolize.
For instance, red flowers are a symbol of pure love, orange color connotes a deep feeling of desire, and yellow illustrates friendship. Florists know which flowers are in season and which are pocket friendly if you work on a tight budget.
If your wedding takes place during the summer season, professional florists like Jennifer Cole Florals know which flowers best withstand high temperatures. We also know the flowers that can withstand being moved from one place to another during the wedding day.
Managing the Flowers
Depending on how many flowers you’ll be needing for the wedding, most, florists order flowers from different locations, some of which require shipment prior to the wedding day. Once the flowers arrive, they must be maintained to remain fresh and appealing. Florists have the knowledge of how to keep the flowers fresh for longer through methods such as cutting at a certain angle.
For instance, if the flowers arrive when they are a little premature, florists re-cut their stems and rehydrate them to attain maturity and the best flowering stage by the wedding day.
During transportation, some flowers may get damaged due to high temperatures or packaging issues. A florist sorts them out once they arrive to avoid damaging the other flowers.
Selecting Ribbons and Containers for Clients
Containers help hold your flower arrangement for decoration, while ribbons help tie flowers together for the bride and the bridesmaids. Professional florists can get you high-quality containers that are waterproof. 
Ribbons, on the other hand, come in varying fabrics, patterns, textures, and colors to help you add distinctive character to your reception and ceremony. You can use ribbons for wedding cake decoration, seat embellishment, wedding bouquets, and aisle and stairways decoration.
A florist helps determine the right ribbon colors that blend well with the containers, flowers, and the general style of the wedding.
Arranging Flowers
Professional florists have experience creating flower arrangements that blend well with the wedding mood. When arranging the flowers to fit in the container, florists may use the following equipment to keep foliage, flowers, or stems in the container.
- Floral foam: Instead of using a vase, this a great tool a florist can use to prolong the life of the flowers by keeping them firmly in place
- Floral frog: Florists use this tool to establish a foundation of the floral event design by keeping the stem of the flowers secure
- Floral crowning glory: This is a solution that helps the flowers hold moisture, keeping them fresh and vibrant
- Florist wire: A florist can use this wire to keep the flowers facing in a specific direction
- Floral thorn strippers: It helps in removing leaves and thorns from flowers such as roses
- Floral branch cutters: They are similar in appearance to garden clippers and help in cutting out pesky stems
- Floral knife: The tool helps cut out the stem of the flower
Constructing Corsages and Buttonholes
Apart from using flowers to beautify the venue and the reception, a florist can use them to make the bride and the groom appear more colorful and vibrant. Florists can construct buttonholes, which are small arrangements of fragrant flowers that are pinned to the lapel of the groom’s jacket.
The flower usually points upwards towards the shoulders, and it complements the color scheme of the wedding. Florists construct corsages for the ladies, usually worn on the wrists and tied using a ribbon like a bracelet. Bridesmaids can consider wearing flower corsages instead of carrying a bouquet.
Florists also construct flower crowns worn by flower girls, who are younger girls between the age of four to nine years. In most cases, the florists will design these flowers a day before the wedding.
Related Questions
How Much Can a Professional Florist Charge for a Wedding?
The overall cost of hiring an expert florist is between $700-1200. However, this is only a rough estimate of how much you may spend, and the actual expenses depend on the type of flowers you want, the source of the flowers, the venue of the occasion, and the time of the year.
Can I Do the Wedding Flower Decor Myself Instead of Hiring a Florist?
You can carry out the decor yourself rather than hiring a professional florist if you work on a tight budget. However, this might be stressful, considering that planning a wedding involves other time-consuming arrangements.
What Decisions Should I Make Before Hiring a Florist?
Before hiring a florist, you should decide on the groom’s suit, wedding gown, and other attire that bridesmaids and groomsmen will wear during the wedding. You should also reserve the venue and reception of the wedding. This is because the attire and venue can help the florist determine the flower decor to use.
Final Thoughts
So, what does a florist do for a wedding? Getting a florist ensures your wedding flower decor is done professionally, ensuring the flower colors blend with the colors of the attire and the avenue. A florist helps source the flowers before the wedding and arranges them on the wedding day.
