Every wedding I photograph has flowers, some mega styled, others smaller rustic. Choosing your style, flowers, budget can be a bit of a minefield and so I caught up with the lovely Oxford florist sisters; Flowers by Kirsty, to find out their top ten tips, and what questions they get asked by brides and grooms.
WHAT IS THE AVERAGE SPEND FOR WEDDING FLOWERS?
One thing we always get asked is ‘what’s the average spend for wedding flowers’. This is like the million dollar question as there really isn’t one! There are so many different factors when thinking about your flowers and of course a wedding with 7 tablecentres will be very different to one that has 30 plus tablecentres. No two weddings we have ever done have been the same, so every wedding cost is different. The best advice we can suggest is be honest with what you’d like to spend. We always want to fulfil a couples dream, but will be honest if they only have £50 for a massive floral arch!
ARE SEASONAL FLOWERS CHEAPER?
Not all seasonal flowers means cheaper. Take peonies for example, the British season runs between May and June. This is when they are looking their absolute best and they are in high demand because they are so gorgeous. However this demand means they are still pricey when in season. Same goes for Hydrangeas, however they are a bigger flower so you don’t need as many in a large arrangement unlike say a rose.
IS IT CHEAPER TO BULK UP WITH FOLIAGE?
Same goes with foliage! A big tread right now is the wild, greenery look which we love doing. A misconception we get is that having all foliage means much cheaper arrangements. Sorry to say it doesn’t. Foliage like Eucalyptus is expensive and to create an abundant ball of it costs as you need a lot. Please don’t think it’s the cheaper option as its not!
WHAT SHOULD I DO BEFORE I MEET YOU?
Do a bit of research before you meet the Florist. Sites like Pinterest or Instagram are great to inspire you. Coming along with some ideas really does help. Us florists will then come up with a lot more, but we do need a little help to get started! However…
SHOULD I START A PINTEREST BOARD
Be warned, most photos on Pinterest are styled shoots! It’s great to get ideas for the flowers and a florist will create this as best they can. However most of the ‘wow factor’ photos aren’t from real weddings so can’t be achieved unless you have an unlimited huge budget!
WHAT IF I’M UNSURE ABOUT MY FINAL DECISION
If you are still not clear on what your floral arrangements will look like you can ask for a mock up example. However if you are doing this months before your day some flowers that the florist wants to use for them won’t be in season so bear this in mind. Also don’t assume this will be done for free. To make flower items costs the Florist so they will charge for their time and materials.
WILL THE FLOWERS LAST ALL DAY?
We get asked ‘Will the flowers last all day?’ Good quality and fresh flowers will last all day. However, if it’s a boiling hot day and you have very delicate flowers for say the buttonholes, then after a couple of hours being in direct sunlight and next to body heat these once looking fresh beauties will start to look a bit frazzled! We always provide vases for the bouquets to be placed in after the ceremony and tell couples how best to look after them to make sure they last for the big day.
CAN I KEEP THE FLOWERS AWAY AFTER THE WEDDING?
Another question we get asked is ‘Can i take them away with us after the wedding?’ Of course, they are your flowers! Hired vases will need to be collected, but whatever is inside them are yours to give away as gifts at the end of the night.
HOW SHOULD I BE CLEVER WITH MY BUDGET?
Re-use the arrangements as much as you can! Ceremony flowers can be used elsewhere in the venue. For example a flower arrangement for the registrar table can be popped on the top table. It’s all about being clever with the budget and re-using as much as you can.
ANY ADVICE ON WHAT FLOWERS ARE BEST TO USE?
Make it personal! We love it when couples really think outside the box with their flowers. Think about using a certain flower that reminds you of a family member or a special moment in your lives. Even using vessels that mean something to you both that can be filled with flowers is a lovely touch.
Oxford Florist Contact Details
- Website – Flowers by Kirsty
- Email – kirsty@flowersbykirsty.com
- Instagram – @flowersbykirsty