Wedding Floral 101

When to Book Your Florist

Most couples book 6–18 months in advance, especially for May–October weddings, when demand is highest.

Booking early helps you:

  • Secure your date. Most florists take on only a limited number of weddings per week to ensure each couple receives the time, care, and attention their day deserves.
  • Allow time to source specialty or seasonal blooms. Early planning gives us flexibility to explore the best flower options available for your wedding date and make thoughtful substitutions if needed.
  • Give your vision space to grow and evolve naturally. You do not need to have everything figured out right away — booking early allows your floral design to develop alongside the rest of your wedding planning, without pressure or rush.

What to Prepare Before You Book

You do not need a full plan — just a few guiding pieces:

  • A colour palette (even a general direction is helpful)
  • Overall style or mood — romantic, airy, modern, whimsical, classic, organic
  • Inspiration photos (they do not need to be perfect or exact)
  • A rough list of floral needs — bridal bouquet, bridesmaids, boutonnieres, centrepieces, ceremony décor
  • Venue details — indoor or outdoor, arch setup, table layout, ceremony backdrop

And the more information you are able to share, the more thoughtfully we can shape your florals:

  • Bridal dress style
  • Hairstyle inspiration
  • Bridesmaids’ dress colours
  • Groom and groomsmen’s outfits
  • Décor elements such as linens, stationery, candles, or overall theme direction

A note on budget

Sharing a comfortable budget range early helps your florist design intentionally and avoid back-and-forth later. There is no “right” number — just what feels right for you.

When you work with a florist like Thorn & Petal, every design is customized around your budget and priorities. We are always transparent about what is achievable within your range, and we will guide you on how to allocate your budget in ways that create the most impact.

For example:

Priorities the bridal bouquet. It is the most personal piece and appears in many close-up photos throughout the day.

Invest where photos happen most. Ceremony backdrops, arches, and sweetheart tables often become focal points in your gallery.

Repurpose thoughtfully. Ceremony florals can often be moved and reused at the reception — aisle arrangements, arch pieces, or statement arrangements can transition seamlessly and beautifully.

Simplify elsewhere. Smaller centrepieces, bud vases, or greenery-forward designs can balance the budget while still feeling full and elegant.

Delivery, Setup & Logistics Awareness

Logistics play an important role in wedding floral planning and are often overlooked early on.

Sharing details such as delivery timing, setup needs, venue access, and coordinator contact information helps everything run smoothly on the day. If you have a wedding planner or venue coordinator, their contact details allow us to coordinate timelines and logistics directly.

It is also helpful to let us know where the bride is getting ready and when and where photos will be taken. If getting ready at a different location, wearable florals (bouquets, boutonnieres, corsages) may need to be delivered separately. If you plan to take photos at the ceremony setup before the wedding begins, the floral delivery and setup timeline may need to be adjusted accordingly.

Clear logistics allow your florals to be not only beautiful, but perfectly timed and stress-free.

Tips & Tricks

  • Trust seasonal expertise — your florist will guide you toward the freshest, most beautiful flowers for your date.
  • Embrace natural variation — slight shifts in tone make arrangements look organic and romantic.
  • Start with the bridal bouquet — it anchors the whole floral story.
  • Repurpose when possible — arches to sweetheart table, aisle florals to entrance pieces.
  • Keep your timeline flexible — final details can be confirmed 1–2 months before the wedding.
  • Share what you do not like — just as helpful as sharing what you love.
  • Bring colour swatches — fabrics are more accurate than photos.
  • Think about impact areas — ceremony backdrop, head table, and entrance pieces often create the biggest “wow.”
  • Communicate changes early — it helps everything flow smoothly.

Q & A

Q: Do I need to know all my flowers before booking?

A: Not at all. Most couples book with just a colour palette or general style. We fine-tune the flower choices together closer to your date.

Q: What if my inspiration changes halfway through planning?

A: Totally normal. Just let us know — we are happy to adjust the design as long as it aligns with your timeline and budget.

Q: Can I book last-minute if my wedding is small?

A: You are welcome to reach out, but availability is limited. Even for simple weddings, booking early helps with sourcing and scheduling.

Q: What affects the cost of wedding flowers the most?

A: Scale, bloom choice, and labour. Large installations, premium flowers (like orchids or anthurium), and complex designs typically increase the budget.

Q: Should I choose specific flowers, or trust seasonal blooms?

A: We always encourage couples to consider seasonal flowers whenever possible. They are often more cost-friendly, fresher, and beautifully aligned with the natural feel of the season. Seasonal blooms also give us the opportunity to support local growers, and they tend to create arrangements that feel more cohesive and effortless.

A Gentle Reminder

No matter the details, your wedding day will be beautiful simply because it is yours.

It is a day filled with love, emotion, and the people who matter most.

Flowers, by nature, are already beautiful. They are living, breathing pieces of the earth — and on your wedding day, they simply add that quiet magic and emotional softness that makes moments feel even more alive. A bouquet held in your hands, petals brushing your dress, blooms framing a ceremony — these are small touches that become part of your memories.

Trends will come and go. What matters most is choosing something that truly reflects you — your personality, your story, your heart. When your florals feel like you, they will always feel right.

One day, when you look back through your wedding photos, we hope what you feel is not stress or second-guessing — but warmth, joy, and happy tears. The kind that comes from knowing everything unfolded just as it was meant to.

Trust your instincts. Follow your heart. And allow the professionals to do what they do best — so you can be fully present, soak in every moment, and simply enjoy the beauty of your day.