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Wedding Planning 101 – Meeting with a Floral Designer, with Guest Blogger Nancy Liu Chin

February 4, 2013 | editorial team

I’m just giddy working on this post…not only do I get to spend some time on my very favorite topic (I’m the flower girl here at Junebug amongst a die-hard group of loyal photography junkies!), but I get to share one of my favorite designers with you too! Junebug member Nancy Liu Chin is brilliantly talented, and as an expert in the industry she has a lot of great ideas for couples as they are planning and working with a floral designer. Today she is sharing some of her beautiful designs AND tips on what you can do to ensure a successful meeting with your florist!

Floral design by Nancy Liu Chin, photos by Jose Villa | junebugweddings.com
Photos by Jose Villa

 

From Nancy Liu Chin: Perhaps it is naive of me to think that all people who are newly engaged should know how to work with a floral designer. After all, there are endless wedding planning books, articles on how to plan the perfect wedding, and plenty of blogs…yet, today, a bride asked me if it was necessary to meet with me in order to get a floral proposal. Of course, meeting a floral designer is a must unless you are planning a destination wedding and even at that, I recommend a phone interview.

So to help newly engaged couples, I’m writing this post on how to prepare for your meeting with your floral designer. I truly hope this is not only helpful for engaged couples but for all event planners, floral designers, wedding enthusiasts…and many more. I will be using the term Floral Designer in this post for simplicity. Keep in mind that I am using both these terms – florist and floral designer – to mean someone who will be creating wedding flowers. It’s interchangeable!

Modern white composite rose bouquet from Nancy Liu Chin, Photos by Scott Andrew | junebugweddings.com
Photos by Scott Andrew Studio

 

So, the question is, what should you prepare for when meeting with your floral designer? Follow these steps, and your floral desgn

1. Flower Knowledge – Do you need to know the names of all the flowers?

My God, I hope not! If all clients knew the name of all cut flowers, then most of the floral designers around might be out of a job. To me, it’s like asking if a patient needs to know all the medical terms before they see their doctor. It would be unproductive and a waste of one’s time. If gardening is a hobby, I can imagine that you might want to know more about how flowers are produced, cultivated, and cared for. However, for someone who is planning a wedding, there are more productive things to spend your time on.

Keep in mind, a good, knowledgeable, informed floral designer should have a portfolio with plenty of flowers for a couple to look through. I keep a “deck” of colorful cards which are coordinated by color and alphabetized so that I can “flip” through it during meetings and show clients what flower I am describing.

Here are some good examples of the type of phrases that would be helpful for you to use:

  • Romantic, fluffy, large head flowers like roses and peonies that evoke a garden feel.
  • Modern, architecturally interesting blooms that have beautiful, shapely stems. French Tulips in a single vase are very elegant to me.
  • Something unusual with lots of spiky tips, fussy, different. Something that wouldn’t be fun to touch but would look very different from the standard fluffy flowers.
  • Simple, happy flowers that make me smile, like sunflowers, daisies, mums.
  • Bold, dramatic flowers that work for a grand ballroom.

Bottom line: Describe characteristics of what you want the flowers to look like!

Floral design by Nancy Liu Chin, photos by BLR Photo | junebugweddings.com
Photos: BLR Photography

Floral design by Nancy Liu Chin, photos by Jennifer Skog Photography | junebugweddings.com
Photos by Jennifer Skog Photographers

 

2. Get Organized and Create a Check List

It is very helpful to create a check list of things you need. Emailing a copy to your floral designer ahead of time is wonderful. You can also bring a copy with you to the meeting. Of course, since you may not know all the flower pieces that you might need, here is my check list.

Personal Flowers:

  • Bridal Bouquet
  • Bridesmaid Bouquets
  • Groom’s Boutonniere
  • Groomsmen’s Boutonnieres
  • Usher(s) Flowers
  • Reader(s)
  • Officiant
  • Mothers and Fathers
  • Grandparents
  • Sponsors
  • Ring bearer, Coin bearer, other little boys who need flowers
  • Flower girls, Junior Bridesmaids, other little girls who need flowers

Ceremony Flowers:

  • Altar or Ceremony Large Pieces
  • Chair or Pew Decorations
  • Aisle Decor
  • Welcome Table
  • Gift Table
  • Foyer Arrangement
  • Door or Entryway
  • Car Decor

Reception Flowers:

  • Centerpieces
  • Head Table or Sweet Heart Table
  • Bride and Groom’s Chair
  • Bar
  • Food Stations
  • Dessert Stations
  • Cake Table
  • Dance Floor Decor
  • Cocktail Table
  • Place Card Table
  • Door Ways
  • Lounge Decor
  • Walkways
  • Fireplace Mantels

Bottom Line: Get organized and have a list ready!

Floral design by Nancy Liu Chin, photos by Lisa Lefkowitz | junebugweddings.com
Photos by Lisa Lefkowitz

 

3. Style, Color, Concept

Of course many couples go to meetings thinking that they will see something in a floral designer’s portfolio and instantly love it. I wish this were the case. But it is so NOT.

I think many couples come for inspiration. That’s wonderful! However, to make your wedding flowers truly unique, come with as many ideas and examples of things you love as you can. There are so many resources filled with ideas! Some things to bring:

  • Tear-sheets from magazines
  • Tagged images you love in wedding and floral design books
  • Images from wedding blogs, and individual blogs from wedding professionals
  • Pinterest boards
  • Swatch samples of fabrics you are using – your dress and bridesmaid dresses
  • Color swatches – you can go into Home Depot and pick out some “paint” chips so that you can clearly communicate your wedding colors. I guarantee you, when a bride walks into my office and tells me her wedding color is green, I ask her, “is it moss, forest, sea, celery, pea, chartreuse, apple, lime, sage, vivid, Kate Spade, Kelly, spinach, or pepper green?”
  • Your wedding invitation
  • Photos of your venue

Bring all the things that you think are useful for someone who is creating your weddings flowers. And it doesn’t have to be a whole novel – a few printouts, consolidated into something concise is perfect.

Bottom line: Go to be informed, and be prepare to show and tell.

Floral design by Nancy Liu Chin, photos by Greg Slick Photography | junebugweddings.com
Photos by Greg Slick Photography

 

4. Ask and you shall receive

In advance of your meeting, be sure to have a list of questions that you need answered. During the meeting, many will be addressed. However if you don’t have a prepared list, you might forget a few important questions. Jot down at least a few key questions. Some things you might want to ask:

  • Can you suggest a few cost saving tips?
  • What flowers hold up the best during the month of my wedding? (This question will show if the floral designer is truly knowledge about flowers and thinks off the cuff.)
  • Have you worked at my venue before? If not, would you mind going to do a site visit. (This question shows that a floral designer is attentive to the details and wants to be prepared. It also reflects their experience level.)
  • Do you drop off the flowers or does your staff or crew do the complete setup? (This question will answer what type of day of service you will get. And if the price for such service is warranted.)
  • What was your favorite wedding? Do you have an example in your portfolio? What made it so special? (This question will show you what the floral designer deems tasteful, interesting to them. I love this question because only a couple brides have ever asked me this and I think this one is by far the most interesting. It shows me that a couple wants to get to know me as a designer. )
  • How many events do you do a week? Will my wedding be the only one that day? (This question might be important to some of you if you feel that you need your team to focus on just you for that week.)
  • Have you ever gotten so ill that you couldn’t complete a job? If so, what would happen to my wedding? (It’s important to know if a floral designer has contingency plans. I know that we do, so I think others should be prepared as well)

Bottom line: Whatever quality is important to you, make sure you leave that meeting feeling that you get a good sense of a floral designer’s values, creativity, knowledge, and depth.

Floral design by Nancy Liu Chin, photos by Vero Suh Photography | junebugweddings.com
Photos by Vero Suh Photography

 

Thank you so much for sharing your expertise and knowledge with us, Nancy! Readers, for more great advice and ideas from Nancy, be sure to visit her blog “Nancy’s Brown Bag” and follow her on Pinterest!

And for more Wedding Planning 101 advice, don’t miss our posts on how to… hire a wedding planner, hire a wedding photographer, choose a wedding reception venue, pin a boutonniere, and take good care of yourself on your wedding day.

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15 Comments

  1. Thank you for this wonderful article! I have to meet with my florist this week, so it’s perfect timing.

  2. Great post here. Some useful advice!

  3. Gorgeous floral styling and very wise words!

  4. Great tips!!

  5. Wow! My absolute favourite is the modern white composite rose bouquet! Just perfect for a contemporary themed wedding!

  6. Awesome article! tips were really good and designs were fabulous and beautiful.The floral styles were too perfect and amazing.Thanks for the wonderful tips.

  7. Beautiful flowers, and very useful post. Thanks for sharing!

  8. Perfect Flowers. Nice Job.

  9. Very informative. Thanks for the tips.

  10. Great article. This will be very useful for couples planning their wedding.

  11. Thanks for the posts! I am preparing my wedding in one months’ time now good thing I’ve found this article of yours! It did really help me! The flowers are sophisticated in its own little way.. Totally adorable!

  12. I loved that about the name of all flowers :))) Indeed. Thx for your post. :)

  13. Where can I get samples of flowers in colors like you mention to make in a deck for clients to go through? kpenitani@gmail.com

  14. Well, flower plays major role in wedding decoration and feel glad to make their wedding perfectly designed.

  15. Excellent post. Your collection is really nice.

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