YOUR wedding flowers

So you've gone into a florist and ordered your wedding flowers. How long did it take? What did you talk about? What are you going to get on the day? Don't know? You wouldn't be the first! Finding out what some one wants for their wedding should be fun and exciting. A florists job isn't just to provide flowers but to provide the flowers you want to make your day as beautiful as it can be for you. How can a florist know what that means for you if they don't take the time to find out? Flowers by design should mean just that. To design something you have to go through a design process.

So many people order their wedding flowers and walk away having spent hundreds of pounds and not having a clue what they are going to get and they don't find out until the morning of their wedding when the bouquet arrives. Which is great if you are into surprises... Indeed my brother just got married and whenever he was asked about any details of the wedding he simply said 'I don't know, its going to be a lovely surprise' which was great for him but not necessarily for his lovely bride to be. She put an enormous amount of effort in to get the perfect day she had been planning for a year and probably dreaming about for a lot longer!

Some tips

1. Think about what's going to be the biggest visual focal point on the day. Usually its the bride and the dress – everything else should flow from there – or at least fit in.

2. Once you have your focal point sorted - think about what it is you like about it. Is it elegant and classic? Fifties fun? Casual and summery,? All these things can help pin point how you want the rest of the event to look.

3. Start a scrap book – collect anything – pictures of flowers – material – anything that captures the look you want to create and don't just limit yourself to wedding magazines – some of the most original and exciting ideas can be found in the strangest places!

4. Be prepared. Have all your ideas to hand when you order your wedding flowers. Pick out several florists and find out what they can do for you. Ask them to put some time aside to talk about exactly what you want. They should then go through the process of designing your floral look with you.

5. Be flexible – a florist should work with you to find out what you want. They may come up new ideas you hadn't thought of – they will also tell you if what you had in mind is feasible and affordable but don't be bamboozled into accepting a vague idea, a few flower names and a colour. If you walk into a florist and say you want pink roses and don't clarify what that means you could end up with any one of a thousand different pinks and looks for your day. And remember it is your day!

6. If you are happy with a bit of surprise but it needs to fit in with other parts of the event – make sure you have all the relevant details with you.

7. If you have gone for a very specific look be prepared for small changes in flowers used. Flowers don't always arrive from the wholesalers exactly the right colour which means in order to make sure it fits with the rest of your event changes may have to be made to the type of flowers used– but make it clear to the florist you would rather they make small changes in flowers than end up with the wrong colour/ look entirely!

8. Most venues will have a florist that they use regularly. That means they will be used to the space and know how to get the best out of it but that doesn't mean it should limit your in-put and remember you don't have to use their florist.

9. If you do want to use another florist make sure that they are prepared to deliver the flowers and make sure the flowers are set up properly. You don't want to be running around picking up table decorations on the morning of your wedding!

10. Going to a florist to order your wedding flowers should be an exciting fun thing to do. I offer a free design consultation for all my clients in order to explore ideas and make sure they get exactly what they want.