Wedding Design Building Guide

Wedding design is a world of endless possibilities! You have an opportunity to create a fully custom event that perfectly reflects you and your fiance’s personalities. The best part is there are no right or wrong answers! There are, however, some steps to getting started on your wedding design and guidelines to refer to throughout the planning process that will make developing and implementing your design simpler and fun. Follow the guide below for a smooth wedding design building process. 

This blog is divided into 11 sections:

1. Where to start with wedding design

2. How to select a color scheme

3. What comes first, the venue or the design?

4. Furniture and design consistency

5. Where to find decor

6. How to select decor

7. Utilizing lighting to accentuate your design

8. Utilizing florals to accentuate your design

9. You, your fiance, your bridal party, the guests & your design

10. How to budget for wedding design

11. Tying it altogether

Where to start with wedding design-

Budget- The absolute first step will be settling on an overall wedding budget and deciding how many guests you will invite (more info on budgeting specifically for decor in the second to last section of this article). While neither of these two factors are inherently design oriented, they are the building blocks to wedding planning and will help guide the design process! As you work through the next steps, keeping your budget and guest count in mind will help manage your expectations and ultimately narrow down exactly what design elements are financially attainable to achieve your desired aesthetic. Click here for guidance on building your wedding budget!

YOU- After your budget is decided, start building your wedding design by turning to yourself for ideas. Your own mind is already chalk full of your likes, dislikes, interests, etc. Although your wedding style can vary significantly from design choices you make in other areas of your life, your vision should start with you (and your fiance, of course)! Thinking through what kind of colors, textures, and styles you are already drawn to will help you shape and maintain your vision as you move through the design process.

The Internet- Next, turn to the internet for some guidance! Pinterest has had a massive impact on the wedding industry, especially when it comes to design. Since Pinterest first launched, we have seen wedding styles become increasingly more diverse and creative. In addition to Pinterest, Instagram and wedding blogs offer loads of inspiration! Find a few pages that you like and keep up with their latest information and ideas. It is easy to get lost in the rabbit hole of Pinterest and Instagram and the further in you go, you may find that your vision is shifting from what you initially thought you wanted. That is okay! Save the inspiration pictures you love along the way and then look at them all together. Find what works, doesn’t work, or simply needs to be adjusted to fit into your evolving vision.

Consult a Professional- Finally, consult with a professional. A professional wedding planner or wedding designer can help develop your vision. If you have a few loose ideas they can help you fill the gaps and tie everything together. If you have no idea of what you’d like, they can gather some general information about you and your fiance in order to build your perfect wedding that you couldn’t quite envision in your mind. If you have a very specific vision, these professionals will be able to take your wants and needs and turn them into reality!

Pro-tip #1: Be aware as you search the internet that a lot of the beautiful designs you come across will come at a price. This may seem obvious, but Pinterest has a way of captioning very beautiful things in ways that make them seem very attainable budget-wise. Just take the ideas with a grain of salt until you do your own research to decide if it will work with your budget.

Pro-tip #2: Often Pinterest will depict DIY projects with incredible results. It is totally possible to break out the hot glue and create some amazing decorations for your wedding! Know your strengths and proceed accordingly. Budgets are easily blown on failed DIY attempts. If you want to try a project, try a smaller project using similar materials to gauge how the bigger project will go! When in doubt, look up a video tutorial!

Pro-tip #3: Keep your Pinterest boards organized! Instead of having one large “our wedding” board, divide the board into sections. Having a designated space for each design element is convenient, not only for yourself, but also for the vendors you will share these boards with. A lot of planners, designers, hair stylists, makeup artists, florists, bridal boutiques, etc. will ask to see your inspiration to understand your vision. Providing a streamlined and up-to-date vision board is a must!

How to select a color scheme-

How many colors?- Typically selecting between three to five colors total for your wedding is suggested. Anything less can be understated or non cohesive, anything over has the potential to become busy or non cohesive. There are, of course, a million and one exceptions to this, but having this range in mind is helpful when starting your color selection process! Ideally you will have two main colors and two to three accent colors. The main colors don’t necessarily need to go together on their own, because the accent colors will bridge the gap between them. Stick to one consistent factor among your colors (tone, hue, base color, etc.) your end result will be lovely!

Season- Season is a great place to start when considering colors for your wedding. If you are hosting a fall wedding deep reds, burnt oranges, and mustard yellows will be your friend! For a winter wedding, deep forest green, red, white, and even charcoal work beautifully! If your wedding is in spring softer colors like blush pink, denim blue, and champagne gold are perfect! For a summer wedding bright colors are perfect! 

Pro-tip #4: Seasonal colors are a great guide for more than just being fashion forward. The seasonal colors are common in the flowers and decor available during that time. By choosing “in season” colors, your corresponding flower options will be less expensive and your decor options will be more readily available.

Venue- It is also beneficial to consider what colors will work with the venue you have chosen. If it is an outdoor venue, the season will impact what colors are naturally occuring and therefore alter your overall aesthetic. An indoor venue will have existing design elements such as carpeting, wall colors, furniture, or even specific styles of lighting fixtures that are worth considering.

Mood- Colors also help to set the mood for your wedding, so talk with your fiance about what message you want to send to guests. If you want something more traditionally romantic, lighter pastels will help convey this. For a more dramatic and passionate vibe, deeper darker tones will help create this atmosphere. No matter your desired mood, there are some great color options to help set the tone.

NO RULES… except one- While all of this is great in guiding color choice, you certainly don’t need to base your color choice on any of it. If you are choosing to theme your wedding (more on themes in the next section) pick colors that are prominent and relevant to your theme. If you have a favorite color use it and choose accent colors that will accentuate it. If you have a favorite flower, choosing the colors based on this flower will work! If you just really love typical “winter” colors, but are having a summer wedding, GO FOR IT! The only real rule of thumb is finding some kind of common factor to create a sense of cohesion for an aesthetically pleasing wedding.

Pro-tip #5: When in doubt, head to the paint aisle of a local store and check out some splotches! If you want to play around with colors and see how they work together, the paint strips at hardware stores are a great place to try different combinations out!

To theme or not to theme-

Inherit themes- Weddings have a way of inherently developing a broad “theme” as the design vision starts to take shape. Some of the more common themes are rustic, boho, minimalist, modern, and traditional/romantic. Oftentimes these inherit themes will coexist with one another. The key is keeping the design elements cohesive as you blend these themes. You don’t have to necessarily title your theme, but it can help you when it comes time to select decor and describe your overall aesthetic to vendors. For example, as you look back over your developing vision board you may notice that you are drawn to romantic, whimsical, boho designs. Congrats! That is now your “theme.”

Full-on niche themes- Some weddings have very specific niche themes that will shape the design vision. Themes can be anything! For example, beachy, Disney, Jurassic Park, Halloween, Star Wars, baseball… the options are endless! When a theme like this is chosen it is usually meaningful to the couple. If you love a theme, but your fiance isn’t quite on board, you can always use this theme for your engagement party, bridal shower, bachelorette party, or even rehearsal dinner instead!

Subtle themes- Not all specific themes have to dictate the entire wedding design! If you love Jurassic Park, you don’t have to fully commit. Instead of going all in to the point the groomsmen are in inflatable dinosaur costumes, consider just having a dinosaur cake topper, perhaps a few dinosaurs on signs, and maybe order more lush, prehistoric feeling fauna from your florist! A common trend for book lovers is using stacks of books for the centerpieces. Disney lovers often will include a Mickey Mouse charm on the bride’s bouquet and a few quotes from Disney movies displayed. If you don’t want to have a full on themed wedding, a simple nod to your passion is more than enough to convey the message.

What comes first, the venue or the design?

This will depend on you and your unique situation. Some people will quickly develop an overall desired aesthetic for their wedding and search for venues that will accentuate their intended design. Others will choose to let the budget determine their venue and plan the design around the venue they select. There are no wrong approaches, but there are advantages to thinking through what aspects you value the most and then using those to guide the planning process.

Either way, it is beneficial to think through at least some general design ideas before venue shopping. If budget is going to be the absolute determining factor on the venue, keep your vision flexible! Even if money is no object, you may find a venue that steals your heart, but requires a shift in your design vision! Until your venue is booked, have a loose design vision but, keep an open mind.

Pro-tip #6: Don’t count out a competitively priced venue just solely based on the existing aesthetic. Draping and lighting can easily be added to any space to completely alter the look!

Furniture and design consistency-

Furniture rentals: Going the rental route is going to give you the most control over achieving the exact look you want. There is no shortage of rental companies out there, which means one way or another you will have access to the exact furniture pieces you envisioned for your wedding. However, these options may be limited based on your budget. 

If the gorgeous furniture you want isn’t financially feasible, a compromise may be finding something at a lower cost that is closer to your vision than what the venue offers, but not exactly your dream furniture. There are plenty of ways to play with the other design elements, to make the furniture cohesive with your vision. If this is still not going to work with your budget, then it is time to get creative!

Getting creative: If you cannot swing replacing the furniture at the venue, then it is time to turn those lemons into lemonade. Take a look at other weddings that have a similar aesthetic to what you are going for. There may be some more inspiration that you overlooked before, because you already had your mind set on a different look. Think of different table cloths, centerpieces, table runners, etc. that would be consistent with the look and feel you want to achieve. When considering table cloths, think about their texture, shine factor, and, of course, color. Table runners have a great way of adding dimension, which can make your tables feel fuller and more high end. 

Transforming the chairs at your venue can be a little tricky, but it is doable! The basic white folding chairs are the easiest to modify. Drape a blanket over the back (this doubles as a guest favor and climate control, too!), add some sort of embellishment to the back, or wrap them completely. It should be noted that all of these options will be the same cost or more expensive than renting chairs! The most cost effective way to work with these chairs is to dress the table up enough that the chairs aren’t even a factor. The white folding chairs blend in easily to any aesthetic, which is why they are so common for venues to have. 

Metal folding chairs and banquet chairs are harder to hide. Banquet chairs can be hidden with chair covers, but this has a very specific formal/traditional feel. You can consider draping something over the back to incorporate them into your design, or you can leave the chairs as is. If you leave the chairs alone, take a very calculated approach to how you decorate the table so that the chairs aren’t even noticed!

Metal folding chairs aren’t common at wedding venues, but if you are ballin’ on a budget, you may just have to work with them. If you can’t beat them, join them! The easiest way to work with folding metal chairs is to play into their industrial look. Incorporating other industrial elements, such as matching metals and clean lines, into the wedding will make the chairs feel more like a purposeful design decision rather than a budget-driven compromise. 

Pro-tip # 7: If your chairs aren’t going to match perfectly with the rest of your aesthetic, making the other design elements full yet consistent will keep the overall look from becoming messy. Consider expanding your color pallet to 5 colors, but don’t surpass 5. Avoid super bright colors and go for either deeper tones or more dusty light tones. Pick a texture or two to incorporate several places throughout the reception space. The best way to work around any chair is to make those tables beautiful and keep the rest of your design very, very consistent and cohesive.

Where to find decor-

Wedding decor can be sourced in a variety of ways and you don’t have to select just one sourcing method. Decor is often rented from rental companies, wedding planners, venues, florists, or wedding decorators. Decor can also be purchased from craft stores, the internet, local boutiques, or any store that carries items that work with your design vision.

Decor can also be handmade! Personal touches are a great way to achieve your desired look and make the decor meaningful. If you aren’t personally crafty, find someone who is! There are plenty of professionals and hobbyists who are willing and able to custom make the decor of your dreams!

Pro-tip #8: Be sure to check out Facebook Marketplace, thrift stores, garage sales, etc. for gently used wedding decor. Millions of couples are married every year and purchase decor that will only be used once. You can find essentially brand new items at a fraction of the cost by being creative with where you source these materials!

How to select decor-

With so much access to inspiration and physical decor items, committing to just a few ideas can be challenging. Before actually purchasing any decor it is best to run through your budget and decide how much money you will allocate to decor. 

Research accessibility & pricing- Once you decide on an overall amount, begin researching the cost of your favorite design ideas. If you can’t find the exact items you are searching for, look into commissioning those pieces! There are plenty of talented professionals out there that can create exactly what you are looking for! If your initial ideas don’t immediately fit into your budget, brainstorm alternatives that would produce the same effect for a lower cost. 

Mentally map it- Mapping out your venue and mentally placing the decor pieces will give you a clear idea of how many pieces you need, what size your displays should be, and how full the space will look. Doing this after running through your budget, but prior to making any decor purchases will provide valuable insight into how your design elements will work together and how your ideal decor will fill out the space. Click here to visit our details blog for support on mapping out these areas!

Collect your items- After you have everything mapped out, begin purchasing, crafting, and/or renting the items you would like. This may take some time to find the exact pieces you want at a price you are comfortable with, so ideally this process should begin at least three-four months prior to your wedding, if not sooner!

Try it out!- This is the exciting part! After collecting your items, clear your dining room table and make mockups of how the centerpieces, accent tables, and other decor you’ve chosen will look. This will give you an idea of how full and cohesive your design is. Once you put everything together, you may decide to leave something out or add additional items to complete the look. If you go the decor rental route, the rental company will typically do this for you, either with you present or send pictures if being physically there to offer feedback isn’t an option. You will create or approve a mock up and they will implement the design on the day of your wedding!

Pro-tip #9: After creating your mock up centerpieces, accent table arrangements, etc. take pictures! Make sure they are clear and include all elements of the design. Whoever is in charge of setting up your decor on the wedding day will be able to recreate the exact look you are going for! Even if you are the one setting up your decor for the actual wedding, the pictures are still incredibly beneficial. You will have a lot of things running through your mind on that day, and you don’t want to stress yourself over trying to remember the design you wanted. 

Pro-tip #10: If you don’t find exactly what you are looking for at a price you are comfortable with immediately, be patient! Check back with stores and second hand websites regularly as these items may become available or their price might drop as you get closer to your date! Don’t wait too long on items you feel particularly passionate about. If there is a decor piece that will make or break your day, commission the project so you are guaranteed to have it!

Utilizing lighting to accentuate your design-

In many ways, lighting is the single most important aspect of your wedding design. Lighting has the ability to make massive statements at a relatively low cost. This isn’t to say lighting is cheap, it is simply cost effective when considering the impact it will on the overall aesthetic. The main lighting categories you’ll need to consider include functional lighting, ambient lighting, dance floor lighting, and lights as decor.

Functional lighting- Guests and vendors will need to be able to see, so functional lighting is a necessity. This does not mean you need aggressively bright fluorescent lights, though! The functional lighting you choose can be beautiful and enhance your overall wedding design. 

Dripping string lights hanging from the ceiling or suspended by strings over the dining area help light up the dinner portion of your evening and translate into photographs beautifully. 

Tivoli market lights have been very popular over the past decade! They are a great way to increase visibility, correspond with a large variety of themes, and look amazing in pictures. They are so popular, in fact, that a lot of venues already have them and include them in their site fee.

Full “light canopies” are a more recent trend that can be accomplished in several ways. They are typically created by using smaller string lights placed closely together hung in a way that mimics a canopy. This look creates a “starry night” effect that works well with any theme! 

Large light up hanging lanterns or globes are also gorgeous and versatile. You can choose to select one size and color or use a variety of lanterns to add depth and dimension. The hanging lanterns are usually paper globes with light bulbs inside, but depending on your venue and desired aesthetic, larger metal lanterns can also be used! The paper globe lanterns are typically used for a more playful, whimsical design. The metal lanterns can be boho, rustic, vintage, or woodsy depending on the specific lanterns you find. Since there are so many lantern options, this approach is perfect for any theme! A recent trend is for lanterns to be used on tables in addition to an alternative overhead lighting option. 

Chandeliers are available in an array of styles and add a touch of elegance. Chandeliers are even being used at outdoor events! By bringing a typically “indoor” element to the outdoors you add an element of interest with your lighting.

No matter what lighting you go with, be sure that the bar, catering station, buffet table, water station, coffee station, and restrooms (including lighting on the way to the restroom) have plenty of lighting! Not only do the vendors at each respective station need to see particularly well, so do your guests when they are in these areas! If possible, add additional lighting (such as pinspot lights, overhead lighting, or a lamp) in these areas, to ensure everyone has plenty of visibility in order to do their job to the best of their ability.

Ambient lighting- Lighting is the perfect way to create ambience and complete your wedding design. While the functional lighting can be used to create ambience, there are several niche lighting options that can be added to set the mood!

Candles can be used in so many ways and send a lot of different messages. They are often placed on dinner tables to accent the centerpieces. They can either be free standing, in candelabras, candle votives, lanterns, or any other candle display you find! Since candles and the devices housing them come in so many colors, shapes, sizes, and styles they work well with any design theme. 

Candles can also venture right off the tables and into other areas of your wedding! Large lanterns, candelabras, wall sconces, floating candles, and free standing large candles displayed in clusters are just a few more unique ways to utilize candles. A more recent and unique trend is to create “candle gardens” with an array of large free standing candles for guests to either exit or enter through!

Uplights (lights that shine upwards on walls, trees, draping, etc.) can add to the overall ambience by adding pops of your wedding colors around the room. Most professional uplights can be set to whatever color you choose or even change colors if you prefer variety.These are an efficient and effective technique to incorporate your color scheme into the physical wedding venue. They truly have the ability to transform any space dramatically from one event to the next!

Pro-tip #11: It should be noted that lighting solely intended to enhance the ambience does not usually provide enough visibility on their own and should be used in conjunction with another overhead lighting source. 

Dance floor lighting- When the dancing portion of the evening arrives, dance floor lighting will communicate to guests that it is time to party! Typically your DJ or musician will provide these or offer them as an upgrade. There are a lot of options when it comes to dance floor lighting! Dance floor washes are great because they encompass your dance floor in colorful lighting creating a big impact with a single light type. Laser lights are fun for guests, because they can play with the light strands as they dance! Pulsing dance floor lights, rotating lights, or light shapes are some more fan favorites! There are also entire dance floors that light up and change colors to the beat of the music! Talk with your DJ or lighting professional to see what will be best to create your desired level of “party vibe.” 

Pro-tip #12: Avoid strobe lights if possible. Many people have strobe light sensitivities that you (and potentially even they) aren’t aware of. With so many dance floor lighting options available, choosing to leave out the strobe lights won’t take away from the dance party at all! If you absolutely adore strobe lights, by all means have them! Just be sure to have a strobe free space for guests to retreat to if they start feeling uncomfortable.

Lighting as decor- Certain lights can be utilized on their own as decor or to highlight other design elements. These lights are definitely “extras,” but if you have room in your budget to include them, they will add a lot to your wedding design!

Pinspot lights (mini spot lights) are perfect for accentuating specific design features. These are much smaller than standard spotlights, which makes them ideal for drawing attention to your cake, desserts, sweetheart table, or other areas you worked hard to design.

Gobos are a great way to add a level of customization to your wedding. This is a light that projects monograms either on a wall or the dance floor usually of the newly weds’ initials and sometimes the wedding date. Depending on your venue size and desired effect, usually one or two Gobos will be plenty!

Neon signs can be placed anywhere around the venue as a sign, photo op, or just a pretty piece of decor. The more generic ones that say things like “love,” “cake,” “drinks,” etc. are readily available for rent. Alternatively, you can commission a custom neon sign that says your names or whatever else you like. Going this route will leave you with a fun souvenir from your wedding to use somewhere in your home! If you are interested in having a custom sign created check Etsy and Amazon.

Pro-tip #13: Be sure that you have a way to hang or prop up your neon sign if necessary! Most venues won’t allow you to add nails or any other hanging technique that may cause permanent damage, so if your intent is for them to hang, create a plan to do so. 

Metal marquee letters are beautiful and can serve a variety of purposes. The small-medium ones can be used on or in front of your sweetheart table, dessert table, welcome table, etc. The large ones can either be used behind any of these tables, the dance floor, or any other area as a photo opportunity for your guests. 

Small string lights, or “fairy lights” can be incorporated into your centerpieces or other accent arrangements on special tables to achieve a whimsical feel. These are a great option if your venue does not allow candles!

Pro-tip #14: A huge bonus of lighting is how it impacts your photos! Photographers often account for a large portion of your overall wedding budget, so making sure those pictures are beautiful throughout the event is important! Adequate and particularly lovely lighting features will ensure your photo quality and content is consistently worth the expense all evening long!

Pro-tip #15: When placing lights be conscious of the effect they will have on photos. For example, placing large marquee letters directly behind the sweetheart table may create a backlighting effect on your faces. Talk with your photographer about the lighting you are planning to ensure your photos won’t be affected by your light placement. 

Pro-tip #16: Some lighting features require an outlet in order to operate. Take this into consideration when choosing placement, as they will need to be close enough to reach a power source. If they require an outlet, you will want to make sure the cord is not visible as this will take away from the rest of your beautiful design!

Utilizing flowers to accentuate your design-

Flowers are the perfect touch to complete your design and provide cohesion between your other decor pieces. Even if you choose to go a minimalist route with the flowers, they are still making a statement. By using flowers that have complimentary colors to the rest of your design, they will often bridge the gap between otherwise miss-matched pieces!

Personal flowers- Bouquets and boutonnieres help to incorporate you, your fiance, family members, and your wedding party into the overall design. The flowers will help make you and the VIP attendees appear cohesive with the rest of the colors and overall style without being too “matchy.” This is great for pictures and the general aesthetic as you walk around the celebration to greet guests. 

Centerpieces- The flowers in your centerpieces make the table feel fresh, full, and help spread your design across the reception area. They also assist in conveying the mood of your wedding to your guests! If you are having a formal wedding, a beautiful arrangement of roses on each table will help maintain the beauty and formality. If you are having a casual wedding, a bouquet of wildflowers spreads the vibe throughout the space. 

Altar/Aisle flowers- The ceremony space is usually the first designated area of your wedding that guests will see. This is a great chance to set the tone for the rest of the day! Wedding ceremony altars are often plain in order to provide each couple the opportunity to customize and make it their own. With an arrangement or two the altar is suddenly a gorgeous backdrop that you will be excited to be married in front of. Some people choose to add arrangements either at the front, back, or along the aisle to fill the space and incorporate more of their colors. Some florists will even repurpose the arrangements lining the aisle for your centerpieces and the arrangements on your altar for your sweetheart table!

Sweetheart table- You and your fiance are the stars of the show (for better or worse!) at your wedding, which means your sweetheart table will be getting a lot of attention! This space should not only be beautiful for aesthetic reasons, but also for your own happiness. Floral arrangements on and around your sweetheart table will help make this space a personal oasis to pop in and out of throughout the night!

Accent arrangements- To complete the wedding design, accent arrangements are often used on the dessert table, welcome table, gift table, and bar. Having these touches of color will help carry the design throughout your wedding!

Signage- Signs on their own have the potential to be a bit lackluster. If you have a simple sign, but your overall design isn’t minimalist, adding a garland or other floral arrangement will add a pop of color and make the sign feel like a more significant piece of the overall design.

Though flowers are a great addition to any design, they aren’t always necessary. Some people choose to skip them and only use greenery, and some people even choose to skip any kind of flora and fauna altogether!

Pro-tip #17: If you are working with a limited floral budget it is better to invest in a few special arrangements that you love, instead of spreading your budget thin and feeling disappointed by all of it! When you look back at your wedding photos you will see the bridal bouquet, the altar, and the sweetheart table over and over. Make sure you are happy with what you see!

You, your fiance, your bridal party, the guests & your design

Certain attire, hair, and makeup works better with different aesthetics. How everyone is dressed matters in relation to making everything cohesive! 

The bride- The bride’s dress, hair, and makeup are such special components to a wedding. All eyes will be on the bride, and by proxy, the dress. Choosing a dress that works with the overall aesthetic is important for the final wedding design. This doesn’t mean your colors or even textures need to match, per say, but rather that the dress style should match your design style. For example, a boho wedding needs a boho dress; a formal wedding needs a formal dress; a minimalist wedding needs a minimalist dress. There are so many options within each category, so your options are certainly not too limited! The bride’s hair and makeup should also be taken into consideration. While you do have more wiggle room on how these aspects will play into the overall design, it is still important to think about how they will work with the overall design and feel of the wedding day.

The groom- Much like the bride, the groom has a spotlight on him so the groom’s attire will be a focal point of the evening. It will look the best and complete the wedding design if the attire works with the rest of the aesthetic. Often, to make the groom stand out next to his groomsmen, his suit will be slightly different. This is a great opportunity to play even further into the wedding design. Both the groom and groomsmens’ suits should work with each other and the overall design, but they can do so in different ways! In addition to his attire, the groom should be groomed. Grooms don’t typically have their hair and makeup professionally done on wedding day (though it does happen!), but a fresh haircut and beard shaping is key! 

The wedding party- The wedding party gets a lot of attention, so what they wear matters for the overall aesthetic. Their attire should complement the bride(s) and/or groom(s) attire without distracting from or overshadowing it. Their attire is typically the two main colors of the wedding aesthetic, though occasionally one side of the wedding party will wear an accent color. In more recent trends, bridesmaids have been wearing mismatched dresses which provides the opportunity to incorporate all of the colors! Their attire should be flattering so they are comfortable and distractions inspired by an ill fitting wardrobe are minimized. Their attire should also match the formality of the event. Tuxedos and super formal evening dresses are not appropriate for all weddings! You can’t control the color or cut of your friends hair (though some people try!), but you can request they be freshly groomed and appropriately styled!

The guests- The exact attire the guests will wear is up to their own discretion, but you can (and should) specify the level of formality your wedding will be. This not only looks better and affects the overall aesthetic, but it also will make the guests more comfortable. No one wants to show up to a casual wedding in a ball gown! You can suggest or request colors and styles of attire for immediate family and Ushers who are participating in the ceremony and/or taking formal pictures with you, but typically people don’t suggest attire colors for the rest of their guests.

Pro-tip #18: The best accessory of all is a big, beautiful, genuine smile! Make sure everyone is feeling their best and going into the day in good spirits! 

How to budget for wedding design-

You can budget however much you are comfortable with spending on decor, but a good place to start is 6-8% of the overall budget for flowers, 5-10% on lighting and/or other rentals, and 2-3% on miscellaneous decor. 

While these percentages are a good starting place, in reality your own allocation of money may look very different. Your design budget will depend on what kind of aesthetic you are going for, the specific decor pieces you want, and what your venue or other vendors already include in their packages. 

Since lighting and flowers create such an impact and require their own respective vendors, they typically earn separate places on the budget breakdown aside from the rest of decor. However, it should be noted that florists often offer decor rentals, so some of your decor may be lumped into the florist category of your budget.

Table linens, chargers, special drinking glasses, centerpiece components aside from flowers, and signage will usually be the next largest cost for decor. A lot of venues, caterers, florists, wedding planners, DJs, or any combination of these vendors may include some or all of these items in their packages or offer them as upgrades. If this happens, these elements may fall into a separate category on your overall budget.

Candles, votives, or other smaller decor pieces are usually the smallest portion of the design budget. Again, one of your vendors may include these items in their packages or offer them as rentals. 

As you piece together your decor, track where each decor element is sourced from and reallocate money in the budget if needed. 

Tying it all together-

Design vision can, and almost always will, shift as planning moves forward. It is important to keep the design cohesive as the vision evolves. When certain aspects are altered, added, or removed be sure to consider how this change will work with your other design elements.  

As decor pieces are purchased, created, or rented be sure that new pieces will complement the existing pieces. This is most easily done by keeping the items or pictures of the items organized in one location so everything can be compared and contrasted as they are added to the wedding design!

Consult with your wedding planner, decorator, or florist as your vision evolves for a second opinion on your evolving vision. These professionals can offer valuable insight into how everything will work together, keep you on track if necessary, and provide advice on how to turn your dream into reality!

For More info & Helpful resources -

https://bumblebeelinens.com/blog/wedding-resources/

Bridal Shower Planning Guide

A bridal shower is a great milestone in the wedding preparation journey for the bride to enjoy the company of friends and family before the wedding! The bridal shower is different from the bachelorette party in that it is typically shorter and a more “tame” gathering. Follow the guide below, or share it with the event host, for a smooth bridal shower planning experience!

Why have a bridal shower-

A bridal shower is a party where friends and family gather to shower the bride with gifts! Much like a baby shower functions as a chance to prepare an expecting mother for a life transition, the bridal shower is meant to provide the bride with gifts that will help prepare her for the upcoming life changes that marriage will bring. While the primary function of this event is to dote upon the bride, it is also a fun opportunity to play games, introduce friends from different walks of life, and build memories!

When should the bridal shower be?

Bridal showers typically occur in the final few months, or even weeks, before the wedding. It is best to schedule this just before the final stages of planning take up all of the bride’s free time! Scheduling this party 30-45 days prior to the wedding is ideal!

The bridal shower will typically occur during daylight hours as opposed to being a nighttime event. 

Example bridal shower planning timeline-

3 months prior to wedding- 

Set a budget for the bridal shower

Create a guest list for the bridal shower

Gather addresses or email addresses of the guests

Decide on the general “feel” for the bridal shower (formal, casual, something in between?)

Find a venue to host the shower

2 months prior to wedding-

Plan the food and drink menus

Send out invitations to bridal shower

Find decor for bridal shower

Select attire for bridal shower

Book any necessary vendors

Plan activities for the bridal shower

1 month prior to wedding-

Purchase bar and food materials

Purchase flowers & decor

Host bridal shower

Who hosts the bridal shower?

More often than not the bridesmaids, bride or groom’s mother, or another close friend or family member will host the bridal shower. It is uncommon for the bride to host this event for herself since the primary function is to shower the bride with gifts.

How should I invite people?

As always, there are no set rules. Sending formal invitations by mail is great if you have the time and budget, but not necessary by any means! For bridal showers, it is a more recent trend to create a cute virtual invite that is distributed via email. This bridges the gap between official invitations and something that requires less effort. This also provides the opportunity to link a registry directly on the invitation so guests can conveniently click the link and purchase a gift!

Who should be invited?

The etiquette guru, Miss Manners, says you can only invite people who are invited to the wedding and I have to agree with her on this one. Unlike the engagement or bachelorette party, the bridal shower’s main purpose is for people to bring you gifts. Inviting someone to give the bride a gift, but not the wedding is a bit rude.

Traditionally this is a women only event, but this is changing more and more everyday. The invites can be extended to all the womyn invited to the wedding who are particularly close friends with the bride. The best rule of thumb is to limit the guest list to only the bride’s closest family and friends. Remember, the bride’s family is growing with the wedding! It is completely normal and acceptable to invite people from the groom’s side of the family if the relationship allows!

Here is a general outline of who is typically invited:

• The bridesmaids

• The womyn the bride is close with in her immediate families 

• The womyn the bride is close with in her extended families

• Close friends in the area who are also invited to the wedding. This isn’t an event that people would typically travel for, so if you have close friends in the area add them to the list!

Pro-tip #1: If you invite some immediate or extended family, you DO NOT have to invite them all. Invite whoever makes sense in the bride’s unique situation.

Pro-tip #2: The groom doesn’t usually attend the bridal shower. He often will make an appearance at some point, but typically doesn’t stay for the duration of the party.

What information should the invitations include?

As always, names, date, location, and time will need to be included on the invitation. The host should also specify what kind of refreshments can be expected (appetizers only, full dinner, hosted bar, BYOB, no alcohol, etc.). Depending on what kind of theme you are going with, the headline on the invitation can communicate this information. For example, “Brunch and Bubbly Bridal Shower” or “I Do BBQ.”

Guests are expected to bring gifts, so be sure to include the bride’s wedding registry on the invitation.

Who should pay for the bridal shower?

The cost of the bridal shower typically will fall on the hostess(es). This can vary on a case by case basis depending on financial situations. The bride is never expected to pay for any portion of the bridal shower, though, on very rare occasions may be asked to contribute on certain items. For example, if the person hosting the event does not personally drink alcohol and doesn’t feel comfortable paying for it for guests, the bride may be asked to provide the alcohol. Typically the host would ask someone else close to the bride before coming to the bride with this request, though. Much like the actual wedding, budget isn’t what defines the day. The most important aspect is celebrating your love while surrounded by the people who mean the most to you! (See the end of blog for full example budget breakdowns.)

Where should the bridal shower be hosted?

The bridal shower can be hosted in any venue, it will just depend on the size of the guest list and access to space. While the event can be as formal or informal as the hostess(es) would like, the shower is often thrown in the maid of honor or a family member’s home or backyard. If the hostess(es) does not have space, or just isn’t into the idea of having this kind of gathering in their personal space, a restaurant or smaller venue is always an option! Since this event doesn’t typically include a full meal, choosing to host at a venue might add unnecessary cost.

The bridal shower is usually thrown in the city that the hostess(es) is local to. This may not be the city the bride lives in, so she will need to travel to party. This isn’t typically an event people besides the bride would travel for, so potential guests living outside of the hostess(es) city may not make sense to invite. That is okay! Communicate with those friends and family so they understand why they aren’t receiving an invitation!

What should we do at the bridal shower?

Opening the presents is the primary activity of a bridal shower. Typically around ⅔ of the way through the party everyone will gather around the bride as she opens gifts. Since dinner isn’t usually provided, a few other activities will take place to keep guests entertained and engaged. Since the guests are generously offering gifts to the bride, the groom will often make a quick appearance to say hello and thank everyone. During his appearance, there are several games to play that will include him! Some ideas include the shoe game, a Q & A with the bride(s) and groom(s), or a date night guessing game! For a full list of ideas, click here to visit our Pinterest page! No matter what kind of activities are planned, it is always nice if the guest of honor can make a quick thank you speech. The bridesmaids and/or the bride’s family have typically offered a lot of support leading up to this point aside from hosting the shower and it is always nice for the bride to show her appreciation!

Example bridal shower timeline

• 1pm- Guests arrive. Everyone mingles, make appetizer plates, grabs their drinks, and makes anonymous date night suggestion.

• 1:30pm- Game 1: “Guess the Dress” game

• 1:45pm- Host reminds everyone to enter ideas into the anonymous date night suggestions

• 1:45pm- Toasts from mother of the groom, mother of the bride, grandma, and bridesmaid who won’t give a toast at the wedding

• 2pm- Slide show of friends/family pictures viewing

• 2:15pm- Game 2: Bride reads anonymous date night suggestions aloud and guesses who made each suggestion

• 2:45pm- Groom arrives, says hello

• 3pm- Game 3: Shoe game with Groom

• 3:15pm- Groom leaves

• 3:15pm- Bride opens presents (maid of honor tracks gifts for thank you notes)

• 3:45pm- Group picture

• 4pm- Bridal shower concludes

Is a full dinner expected at the bridal shower?

Everyone appreciates a nice full meal, but it isn’t expected nor is it the norm at bridal showers. Just be sure the hostess(es) specifies either way on the invitation so guests can plan accordingly!

Typically light refreshments are offered. Some ideas include a cheese board, fruit/veggie platters, chips and dips, cupcakes, cookies, or anything else that is easy to grab and snack on. If you want something cost effective, but a little more filling consider thinly sliced pizzas, pasta salads, hamburger sliders, or even mini tacos! For beverages, a few common trends are mimosa bars, pre-batched cocktails or mocktails, wine and/or wine spritzers, or build your own Bloody Mary bars. For a list of food and beverage ideas and display inspiration click here!

What should be included in the budget?

This completely depends on what the hostess(es) chooses to include! Below are some typical things to consider budgeting for:

• Catering/food

• Tables, chairs, plates, cups, flatware, napkins, etc. 

• Bar/drinks

• Cake/dessert

• Invitations

• Decor

• Miscellaneous 

Of course there are endless approaches to maximize any budget! Below are 3 example budgets for Bridal showers.

Example 1 (the “bells and whistles” example)- overall budget $9k

40 guests, 3 hour party

• Party Planner- $850

• Venue (mother of the bride’s backyard)- FREE

• Caterer (Cheese/fruit grazing board)- $2k

• Bar (mimosa & bloody mary bar w/ bartender)- @ $15/person = $600

• Cake from speciality bakery (2 tier 6” base, 4” top tier)- $450

• Cupcake and macaroon display- $200

• Ice cream caddy & attendant- $200

• Photographer- $500

• Music/entertainment (Live guitarist & singer)- $625

• Rentals- $500

  • 4 large floor tables (low the the ground)- $120

  • Festive carpeting to go below table- $150

  • Cushions for everyone to sit on- $120

  • 1 large wicker peacock chair- $50

  • Delivery- $60

• Invitations (mailed invitations, w/ stamps & envelopes)- @$2/household = $70

• Decor- $1,650

  • 2 large balloon displays @$200/arrangement = $400

  • 2 small balloon arrangements to accent bar and dessert table = $200

  • Florist (4 centerpieces & 4 small accent arrangements for signs & special tables)- $800

  • Signage (custom neon welcome sign, bar sign, cards and gifts sign etc.)- $250

• Miscellaneous- $1,150

  • Photo booth (2 hrs)- $250

  • Party favors (ex. Spa goodie bags)- @$20/each = $800

  • Gift & activity table (sign, card box, etc.)- $100

TOTAL: $8,795

Example 2 (the “mid range backyard” example)- overall budget $1.2k

40 guests, 3 hour party

• Venue (MOH backyard/patio/living room)- FREE

• Veggie/fruit/easy apps- $200

• Bar (DIY mimosa bar & pre batched cocktails)- $350

  • 1 pre batched cocktail (ex. Vodka/Grapefruit)

  • 2 handles of mid-range vodka @$40/handle = $80

  • Grapefruit juice $30

  • 1 case mid-range champagne @ $15/btl $180

  • Orange juice/guava/other juice $40

  • Ice for cocktails = $20

• Cake (single tier cake from local grocer)- $35

• Cupcake display (homemade)- $15

• Rentals (tables, chairs)- $300

  • 4 tables & table cloths @$30/table = $120

  • 40 chairs @ $3/chair = $120

  • Delivery- $60

• Music/entertainment (make your own playlist and play through your own speaker)- FREE

• Invitations (Send out email with curated digital invite)- FREE

• Decor- $50

  • DIY Flowers (Trader Joe’s flowers) 5 bushels @ $5/bushel = $25

  • Dollar store vases 1 per table @$1/each = $4

  • Candles & dollar tree candle votives (2 per table)- $2/each = $8

• Miscellaneous- $250

  • Party favors (ex. Goodie bag)- @$5/each = $200

  • Gift table (sign, card box, etc.)- $50

TOTAL: $1,200

Example 3 (the “ballin’ on a budget” example)- overall budget $300

40 guests, 3 hour party

• Venue (MOH backyard/patio/living room)- FREE

• Veggie/fruit/pretzels/hummus/chips/dip- $50

• Bar (DIY mimosa bar & pre batched cocktails)- $170

  • 1 pre batched cocktail (ex. Vodka/Grapefruit)

  • 2 handles of inexpensive vodka @$20/handle = $40

  • Grapefruit juice $30

  • 1 case inexpensive champagne @ $5/btl $60

  • Orange juice $20

  • Ice for cocktails $20

• Tables/chairs (use MOH existing furniture) FREE

• Disposable plates & napkins- $5

• Cupcake & cookie display (homemade)- $25

• Music/entertainment (make your own playlist and play through your own speaker)- FREE

• Invitations (Send out email with curated digital invite)- FREE

• Decor- $50

  • DIY Flowers (Trader Joe’s flowers) 3 bushels @ $5/bushel = $15

  • Amazon decor purchases $20

  • Print signs from computer FREE

TOTAL: $300

As you can see, the cost of the third example can easily decrease by skipping the alcohol, only offering BYOB, cutting out all decor, and/or skipping dessert. Basically this is all to say, no budget is too small!

Note: These numbers may seem intimidating. Usually, all of your bridesmaids will split the cost of these items. If you have 6 bridesmaids, the price per person is much more manageable. Also keep in mind, 40 guests for a bridal shower is on the larger side of average. Invite less people to get the cost down! 

Save the Dates, Invitations, and a bit on RSVPs

Sending out Save the Dates and Invitations are SUCH fun parts of wedding planning. For so many people this is the first step that makes everything feel real. Soak in these vital steps, and feel confident you are doing it right by reading the information below!

Before reading on, here are two super useful tips!

Pro-tip #1: A common mistake people make is ordering for guest count instead of household.

Mistake: ordering 250 invitations for 250 guests

Pro planning: ordering 1 invitation per household (i.e average household 3 people/house: 250 divided by 3 = ~83 Save the Dates and invitations)

Pro-tip #2: Order extra! You may want to invite additional people and you will probably want one for keepsake. While you still don’t need to order one for every single guest, rounding up is always good in case you make new friends, have people drop out that you want to replace, or just want a few extra for your own (or parents, family, close friends, etc.) keepsake! Another huge pro to this- the big name stationary sites base their discounts on round numbers, so ordering 100 vs. 84 will end up being less expensive.

Mistake- Ordering 84 save the dates/invitations for ~83 households.

Pro planning: Ordering 100 save the dates/invitations for ~83 house holds.

Save the Dates

Save the Dates are a great way to mentally prepare your guests for your upcoming wedding. You might not have all the details like time, location, attire, meal plan, etc. hammered out, but a Save the Date will let guests know the most basic information about the wedding to plan for. While these are helpful with communicating this information to guests, they do add some cost to your wedding and aren’t necessary for every situation.

When are Save the Dates REALLY needed?

Save the Dates can be useful for every wedding, but you don’t HAVE to have them for any wedding. If you are tight on money, time, or simply just don’t want them you can skip them altogether. Save the Dates are most useful when planning either a destination wedding or when planning a wedding where most of your guests will be traveling. In a situation where guests will need to be traveling it is useful to let everyone know ahead of time. Save the Dates allow guests the opportunity to save money/sent money aside for travel and gifts, communicate with work, and plan for childcare (if necessary).

When should I send my Save the Dates out?

Save the Dates can be sent whenever you have solidified a date and location. You can technically send them before a venue is booked if you are 100% positive of the city and date the wedding will be held, but it is best to send them once the venue is booked. Couples will often fall in love with a venue that isn’t available on their desired date, so they change the date to accommodate the venue. If the date you have chosen means a lot to you and you are positive you will be selecting a venue based on the date and not the other way around, go ahead and send the Save the Dates!

If you are having a lot of out of town guests or planning a destination wedding Save the Dates ideally will be sent a full year in advance. If your wedding is more intimate and still requires a majority of guests to travel, Save the Dates should be sent in the 6-8 month prior range, if possible. If you are planning a more intimate wedding in a shorter time span it may be more efficient to skip the Save the Dates, touch base personally with guests to give them a heads up, and send invitations a little sooner than you would typically.

What is the latest I should send a Save the Date?

This, again, will vary depending on the situation. The absolute latest in any situation that you should send a Save the Date is 2 months out from the wedding (and this still only works for a really intimate wedding with short planning period). For a larger wedding this deadline should be by the 4 month mark. For a larger travel heavy wedding this deadline should be 5 months out. If you can’t make this deadline, skip the Save the Dates altogether and just send an invitation. Even for an intimate wedding, 2 months would be cutting it pretty close. Keep in mind, you will need to confirm with the venue and caterers the final headcount about a month prior to the wedding so you need to have time for people to receive their Save the Date and invitation and then RSVP.

What information should my Save the Dates include?

Save the Dates are just a quick, formal heads up to guests that you will be hosting a wedding on a particular date in a certain city. At minimum the Save the Date should include your names, date, and city. A lot of couples will build a wedding website and include that on the Save the Date as well. Even if the wedding website isn’t 100% completed (and frankly at this point it probably won’t be) providing the link will give guests a resource to check in to for more information as it is made available. If you have your venue locked in you can also include this in the Save the Date.

What should my Save the Dates look like?

Like everything else with a wedding, this completely depends on what you want. A common trend is for people to use a photo from their engagement session as the background of their Save the Date. Another common trend is for people to make their Save the Dates magnets so people can keep them on their fridge or somewhere convenient to find the information.

Invitations

What information should I include in my invitations?

Invitations should be a quick snapshot of all the vital information guests need to know in order to show up to the right place at the right time on the right day. They should include the who, what, when, where, and why of the day (not necessarily in that order). Include both the bride(s) and/or groom(s) names. If someone other than yourselves are paying for a chunk, the majority, or all of the wedding it is common to word your invitation: “X and X invite you to the wedding of their [son/daughter/other- name] to [fiance name here].” The name and address of the venue is vital. They will also need to know what time to arrive. If you have a wedding website you can include the website and let people know that they can RSVP and find more info there. If you don’t have a wedding website, you’ll need to include an RSVP card and pre-stamped envelope for guests to send back. You’ll also need to include a meal card if necessary, attire expectation (even if super casual, let them know!! No one wants to show up in a ball gown when everyone else is in sun dresses!), whether kids are invited or not, hotel block information (even if you don’t have a room block, they will need to know!), transportation accommodations, and information on events surrounding the wedding (pre-wedding welcome event, after wedding brunch etc.). Again, if you have a wedding website, you can list all of this info on the website and have your invite include just the very basics.

Pro-tip: directing guests to a wedding website for more info is a great option if possible. You can update information as plans evolve, include an FAQ page so guests can refer to this instead of having everyone individually reach out to you with questions, and, last but certainly not least, you can have your registry on your website so when guests visit to RSVP they can conveniently purchase a gift.

What should my invitations look like?

Again, the aesthetics of the invitations completely depend on your taste. If possible, it is ideal to have your invitations aesthetic inline with your wedding. Chose colors, shapes, and fonts that are relatively similar to those that will be at your wedding. This will help with a few things. First, this will give guests an idea of what to expect. It can set the tone of formality and give them an idea into color scheme. If you don’t want people to dress in the same colors as your bridal party or vice versa, let them know! Either way, invitations are a great ay to start communicating what those colors will be. Second, photographers love to capture your invitation as a prop on the wedding day. Having this match the overall aesthetic will create for some more cohesive pictures. Again, this is just a suggestion. It is your wedding and there are no rules; do literally whatever you want.

When should I send my invitations?

This will vary depending on a few factors. Some things to consider: when do you need to confirm numbers with the caterer and venue? How many people will be traveling for your wedding? How many people are you inviting (the more people you invite, the more people you will need to track down to confirm RSVP status!!)? For reference, for an average wedding of 150 guests with 33% traveling domestically, you should send the invitations out 2.5 months prior to the wedding, with the RSVP date 1-1.5 months prior to the wedding depending on catering and venue requirements.

When should I have guests RSVP by?

For your own sake, it is best to set the RSVP date at least 1 month prior to your date. Guest count will alter your seat/table count, plate count, party favor count, etc. Never have I ever been a part of a wedding of any size where 100% of the guests RSVP on time on their own without a nudge. Giving yourself some extra time will help alleviate some of the planning that just can’t be done until the final headcount is in. While a month is the minimum, I highly recommend giving yourself at least 1.5 months so you have a full 2 weeks to track people down and get all RSVPs. If you are having a wedding with over 250 guests, give yourself a full 2 months. Even if you are having a wedding of 1,000 don’t give yourself more than 2 months, though. Expectedly, things happen in our guests lives and anything longer than 2 months will allow for too many unforeseeable variables in guests lives and you’ll have to do a lot of adjusting as people’s plans change.

Some great resources to purchase your Save the Dates and/or invitations

There are plenty of boutique vendors that can create incredible custom pieces for you. Everyone will have a different niche aesthetic. If you are looking for something on the less niche and more affordable end check out the following:

www.vistaprint.com

Why I love them- you can really create whatever look you are going for. There are some preset templates you can use if you are ~creatively challenged~ or you can fully customize your own cards if you’re into DIYing the design. Their prints are consistent and good quality. Another huge plus, they are CHEAP.

Pro-tip- Google discount codes before ordering! They are almost ALWAYS running a special. If you can’t find one, create an account BEFORE creating your cards. Save your design and then sit back and wait. Within a week they will email you a discount code.

www.minted.com

Why I love them- Their designs are lovely, their prints are consistent, and they give my clients a discount. Use my code: WEDPLLA for 35% off Save the Dates and 25% off all wedding things.

www.basicinvite.com

Why I love them- My very favorite thing about this site is they offer clear invitations for about $1 each. The next least expensive clear option I have found is $8/each. The price is unbeatable. They offer plenty of other designs or fully customizable blank slate options as well. The prints are consistent and good quality. They allow you to fully customize the invitations and Save the Dates.

Pro-tip- look for discount codes! They aren’t as common as Vistaprint discount codes, but their prices are already lower so it balances out. It is still worth looking for a code though!

Have additional questions? Feel free to reach out via email! theweddingplannerla@gmail.com

As always, happy planning!!

Florists- Everything You Need to Know in One Place

Flowers bring life and color to weddings in a way that is unparalleled. Even if you are taking a minimalist approach, your floral arrangements help make this statement! While florals are my personal favorite part to decor, it is admittedly a vendor I struggle to recommend. There are just so many factors to determine which florists are going to be a good fit with which couple! I have spent a lot of time sifting through what makes a good match and in the meantime come across a lot of other valuable information that can help guide your wedding florals journey. Below I have compiled all of the information you need to know, the questions you need to ask before hand, and information on how to proceed after booking your florist.

This blog is divided into 3 sections-

1. Things to consider when looking for a florist

2. Questions to ask your florist

   1. The basics

   2. The details

   3. The logistics

3. Things to do/consider after booking your florist

Things to consider when looking for florists:

1. Florals are expensive! There is a lot of time and artistry that goes into creating your arrangements, so a lot of florists will have cost minimums in order to make any particular job worth their while. Not all florists have minimums, but IF a florists does have a minimum most will start in the $2k range and go alllll the way up from there.

2. Even if you don’t have a massive budget for a florist, you are still paying for a service and you want to be happy with the service they are providing! Be sure to look into portfolios and provide a lot of example pictures so they can tell you honestly if a) they are confident they can create the look you are after and b) accomplish this within your budget. If a florist doesn't ask for examples/inspiration photos before providing a quote, it is typically a big red flag!

3. A florist should always, always provide an itemized order list with exactly what you’ve paid for. You can typically finalize this once you are within 45-30 days of your wedding (depending on the company), but this list is as fundamental as a contract!

4. Talk through the flowers and greenery that will be in season at the time of your wedding. If you chose flowers in season, you will save big time and get more bang for your buck!

5. Make sure to check exclusivity clauses in your contract! If you want to do any DIY arrangements or use fake flowers anywhere make sure this is allowed in your contract. If it is not, discuss the possibility of them adding these pieces into the quote for the cost you would have spent DIYing those arrangements. They may not be able to do this, but it is worth asking!

6. Sometimes it is better to go big on a few items instead of thinly spreading the budget to include more pieces. If you have to adjust the items you are ordering in order to stay in budget, I highly recommend spending more on your bouquet, the sweetheart table arrangement, and the altar arrangements. These will be in SO MANY of your photos which means you'll be looking at them for years to come! You want to be happy when you see them!

7. If you really like someone's style, tell them! Everyone loves when their work is appreciated! If a florist knows that you are a big fan of their work they will be more apt to work with your budget!

8. A great way to cut costs is by repurposing the arrangements from the ceremony area later in the evening. Depending on the size and quantity these can be moved to your sweetheart table, dessert table, or anywhere else you want to spruce up!

9. Ask all of your questions, but go for quality questions over quantity (this is true for all vendors, actually). It is so, so important to get all of your questions answered, but you want to make sure you are asking the right questions. The list of questions I have included below is very comprehensive, but not 100% of the questions are necessary in every situation. Pick and choose what is relevant to you and that particular vendor!

10. You more or less get what you pay for. If someone quotes you $2k and someone else quotes you $10k for the exact same project, there is probably a reason. Take my warning with a grain of salt, though. There are plenty of florists out there on both ends of the budget spectrum that would prove me wrong on this. Avoid feeling like you wasted money by thoroughly vetting your florists. Look through portfolios, check reviews, and make sure your contract protects you, the client, and not just the florist!

Questions to ask your florist:

The Basics-

1. Are you available on my date?

2. Can you work within my budget? Be sure to list exactly what pieces you need and explain the overall aesthetic you are going for so they can properly gauge this!

3. How long have you been working with florals? How long have you been a wedding florist specifically?

3. How would you describe your typical go-to style of florals?

4. Have you created similar looks to what I am going for in the past? Can I see examples?

5. Do you have a full portfolio and/or Instagram I can look through?

6. Do you personally create the pieces for my wedding? If not, can I speak with the person who will be taking charge and can I see examples of their work?

7. Do you personally arrive to set up my arrangements and deliver the personal flowers? If not, will I be able to contact the person responsible for this beforehand?

8. Will you have any other events on my wedding day? If they do, this shouldn’t immediately count them out, but if you have a lot of moving pieces and need them throughout your wedding day, this vendor won’t work for you.

9. Are you familiar with my venue? If not can you do a venue walk through before hand to get a feel for the space?

The details-

1. Is this your full time job or do you do something else? (Note- a new or “hobby” florist is not necessarily a bad thing! Just be sure they are ready to fully commit to your wedding. Have this commitment in writing via a contract and be sure you are protected in this contract should they need to cancel).

2. Where do you source your flowers from?

3. How are the flowers transported? Will they be kept cool and out of direct sunlight so they don’t melt?

4. Do you offer drop off’s at multiple locations (i.e. if you are getting ready somewhere besides your venue or if your ceremony and reception are in separate locations can they do multiple drop offs)?

5. What flowers will be in season at the time of my wedding? Can you make some recommendations to maximize my budget while still staying true to the style I like?

6. Do you provide vases or will I need to supply them? If you do provide them, will they need be returned to you, will you pick them up, or are they mine to keep at the end?

7. Do you have any other decor rentals available?

8. Will you help me with preserving my bouquet after the wedding? If not, can you provide insight into what I can do to preserve my bouquet?

9. I want to add some flowers to my wedding cake. Can you work with my baker to make this happen?

10. Can you create a sample centerpiece and bouquet before booking so I can see that we are on the same page? If so, will this cost extra?

The logistics:

1. Will the types of flowers I am hoping to use hold up in hours of direct sunlight?

2. Will you need access to a water source?

3. Can the arrangements on my arbor be repurposed later in the event?

4. Will you stay onsite throughout to day to remove/move my altar arrangements and clear the florals at the end of the night? Is there an extra fee for this?

5. How long does it typically take you to set up this amount of florals?

6. When will I need to finalize the order?

7. How much is the deposit?

8. When is the final payment due? Do you find that this amount typically varies from the initial quote? If so, by how much?

9. Do you charge any travel/delivery/set-up fees?

10. What is your preferred method of payment?

11. If the you are renting any decor items to me, can I see an itemized price list beforehand of what I would be charged if any of those pieces go missing, are not returned at the end of the night, or are damaged?

Things to do/consider after booking your florist

1. Don’t forget to finalize your order! The florist wouldn’t let this happen anyway, but it is good to keep it in mind. Be aware of when you need to finalize your order so you can fully think through exactly what you want beforehand.

2. Keep your florist in the loop as your vision evolves. Make sure that the new ideas you want to incorporate won’t drastically change the overall cost. Something as simple as falling in love with peonies for your December wedding can easily double your quote!

3. Print out your finalized order list and delegate someone reliable to confirm everything is accounted for on the day of. If you have a planner or day of coordinator then that is the person you want to give the list to. If you don’t have a coordinator, find some one you trust who can thoroughly go through the checklist and make sure everything has been delivered and set up. If something is missing, they will need to make a note of it so you get your money back for the missing item.

4. Label bouquets and corsages. Organization is key when it comes to keeping everything running smoothly on your big day, and florals are no exception! Labeling personal flowers (and even the bigger arrangements) is a great way to guarantee all of the florals are accounted for and get to who/where they need to be! Most florists will take care of this aspect for you, but it is always good to confirm with them that they will take care of this. if you are choosing to DIY your flowers it is a great idea to bring small tags to clearly mark each bouquet, boutonniere, corsage, etc.

5. Ensure the florist has a water source (if applicable- it almost always is). The florist will usually inquire about this beforehand, but it is always a great factor to cover with your venue beforehand!

6. If you can give away your centerpieces, make sure no centerpiece is left behind! 2 ideas for this:

1. One great way to guarantee your centerpieces aren’t left behind is by having guests compete for them in a friendly “centerpiece game.”  Usually these games are played amongst each table which also encourages conversation between guests who may not already know each other. Make sure the DJ/MC announces that the winner of the game at each table wins the centerpiece! There are several different games you can have guests play, so be sure to look into the options and personalize where you can! Click here for a few great ideas for centerpiece games!

2. Another, simpler, way to encourage guests to take centerpieces is to have the DJ/MC announce that they can be taken. In this scenario, guests will just take the centerpieces based on a first come (or leave in this case) first serve bases. Pro tip: make sure the DJ makes this announcement really early in the evening at a point when guests very clearly understand that the party isn’t over yet, and then remake the announcement in the last 15 minutes of the reception (if they make the announcement at the beginning of dancing, people may feel pressured to leave, but if they wait until the absolute end too many guests may be gone and not all of the centerpieces will be taken).

7. If you need to return your centerpieces, make sure your centerpieces aren’t accidentally taken by guests! If you are not giving away your centerpieces, have the DJ/MC make an announcement early in the reception and in the last 15 minutes. It is no fun to have a sad florist/decorator and extra charges at the end of the night because they are missing some of their beloved vases! Avoid this by clearly communicating with guests via your MC, and delegate a few people to retrieve any centerpieces wandering away with guests who may have missed the memo.

8. Look into ways to preserve your bouquet BEFORE your wedding. Have an idea of what you want to do with it so you can take quick action following the wedding so that it keeps as best as possible!

Did I miss anything? Let me know! Feel free to reach out with questions or comments!

As always, happy planning!!