You're engaged. Congratulations! This is a really exciting time, and planning a wedding can be a lot of fun. And in my completely unbiased opinion, planning your wedding flowers is one of the most fun parts! But, where do you begin?

FIND YOUR STYLE

Get started with the basics - figuring out what you like! This is the perfect time to get online or pick up a couple of bridal magazines, and do some looking to see what's in style right now and popular for weddings. You're going to be carrying around your bridal bouquet for most of the day - figure out what bouquet shape you like. Have you selected your dress yet? Your bouquet should complement your dress well, so you may need to think about the shape and size of your skirt, the embellishments on the bodice, and so on. Are there any flowers you know you really do like or don't like? Have a general idea for the overall colour palette for your wedding, and if there is a "theme" or specific vision for your wedding, consider how that might play into your florals. 

Think about other areas where you'll need flowers. Do you envision a floral altar, or something lining the aisle? Do you like tall or short centrepieces? What type of decor would look good in your venue?

START WITH PINTEREST - CAUTIOUSLY

Chances are, you've already got at least 1 secret wedding board on Pinterest. Head over there and take a good look at it, and here's a great hint: Don't be afraid to hit DELETE! Your engagement is the right time to start with Pinterest, but don't rely on it throughout your planning process. It's better to create that wedding board, and then a few weeks from now, go through and start deleting everything that doesn't fit into your vision. If you end up with 3-15 images, that's great. Much more than that, and you won't really be looking at your "favourites" anymore, but just a large selection of things that you like.

Here's why it's important: your wedding in an amazing opportunity to celebrate your unique relationship and your decision to commit yourself to your fiancé, honouring and supporting each other throughout your lives. Pinterest shows us a lot of awesome ideas on how to do that, but the thing is, once you've seen something on Pinterest, it's no longer unique. It's much better to find ideas that you love on Pinterest, and consider WHY you're attracted to them. Then, think about how you can personalize that to your own wedding! "When you replicate things seen on Pinterest, you are doing what was right for THAT bride, not what is right for YOU" - Every Last Detail (more on why you don't want to have a Pinterest wedding, here).

SET YOUR BUDGET AND YOUR EXPECTATIONS

I know that setting your budget can be incredibly tricky. After all, you've never planned a wedding before! A general rule of thumb is to allot 10% of your total budget to your flowers. If you want floral decor at your reception, you'll probably need to increase, but if you just need bridal party and family flowers, you can probably get away with less. It all depends on what your floral needs are. 

Knowing what to expect can be even harder, again, thanks to Pinterest. I have spoken with brides who have a $20 budget/table centrepiece, while the image they're showing me that they want is at least $500/table. Ouch. That sucks for all of us. We'll talk more about budget specifically in your consultation, once I get a good feel for what you're looking for, but in general, be flexible. If you don't know what to expect, just tell me. I'll do everything I can to come up with some awesome ideas that you'll love, that fit your budget, and that create the look and ambiance that you're looking for. Being flexible with your expectations will go a long way. 

Keep your eye out for Part 2 next week: What to look for when researching local florists and inquiring! 

Planning your wedding flowers? I'd love to help. Click the button below to connect with me!