Flowers

So, a word on flowers.  What do you like?  Colours, varieties etc. Do you want a bouquet?  What kind of bouquet?  Do you need flowers at all??

I have just a few notes on your floral selection.

Don't assume you know your flowers. 
A photo a certain bride to be recently sent me seemed at first to be a standard rose bouquet. However, upon closer inspection it in fact included different varieties of rose finished with camelia leaves!!  Whodathunk?  Arrangements are often decorated or bulked out with leaves, sprays and berries.

It's extremely important once you know what you like to find out if your favourite flowers are in season on the date of your wedding.  And have a back up option.  Weather can have drastic consequences for the florist trade, with some flowers coming early or late due to an unforeseen cold snap or heatwave.  Other flowers may have a very limited supply, being sourced from interstate. Yep, that'll push the price up too!

Price
Get ready to swoon.  You may be astonished at how expensive the flowers will be.  A standard rose bouquet for example can set you back a couple of hundred dollars!  As a general rule, the more types of flower in the arrangement and/or the more work involved in arranging, the more expensive it will be.  Remember, most bouquet will involve some wiring - it's not as simple as slapping a bunch together and tying a ribbon round.

Table centres
These will be the biggest floral expense by far depending on how many tables you have.  You should budget for at least $50 per table for something simple.  You can have centres as simple or elaborate as you like, using flowers, leaves, feathers, candles or ornaments. I've even done an event with giant cocktail glasses full of jelly! And don't neglect the benefits of adding a mirrored board.   Keep in mind that a simple flower in a small tea vase can be enough for an elegant reception.  They don't even have to match - just pick a colour palette!

A word to the wise, if you have friends or family who are, well, stupid drunks, consider using battery operated tea lights instead of flammable ones. You'll thank me!  I've had even the most responsible CEO set a table on fire by accident!

Ceremony flowers
Consider your needs here.  Most churches do supply flowers but there's no guarantee you'll love them.  If you don't care, great! If not, remember to discuss your options at the time of booking.  If you want rose petals for the aisle or afterwards, you'll need to specify this with your florist.  Arbors or arrangements can cost upward of $500-1000 so do your homework and be specific!!



Also consider the different types of bouquet.  While the round posy is still the most popular, I carried a small teardrop which looked more delicate and intricate but was actually cheaper!  There are also heaps of bouquets available now made as keepsakes such as brooches, silk flowers.... the sky's the limit.