Floral Designs and Tips from the Ones Who Know Best

By Katie Pollard

Two of Cary Magazine’s Elegant Weddings Gala Floral Sponsors: Flower Station and English Garden

Tips for when you should begin looking for your florist:
English Garden: Our recommendation is five to seven months (before the wedding date). However, it is crucial for couples to visit their florist when you have your core wedding colors set in stone and your venue secured. You will only put more stress on yourself if you jump right into your floral scheme and then decide later to go in a different direction.

Flower Station: Couples should start looking for their florist six to nine months in advance.

The top things every couple should know or consider when choosing a florist:
1) Word of mouth referrals are always important. A referral from a friend or associate who has used a particular vendor carries a lot of weight while trying to make a decision. English Garden

2) A couple should feel very comfortable with the florist of their choice. Flower Station

3) While there are some wonderful vendors in our industry who operate their business out of their home, a bride should do her research before selecting a vendor who chooses to do so, especially when it comes to flowers. Flowers have to be held in specific types of refrigeration. A vendor who truly invests in their occupation will have a showroom/design studio, a professional staff, a business license and insurance. English Garden

4) They should evaluate the florist’s work and should feel comfortable that their needs have been heard and will be incorporated into the design. Flower Station

5) It is absolutely essential that you meet with your florist. You can (can’t?) feel a connection with him or her through e-mail. Flowers are an integral part of your wedding décor; you want to know you can trust your florist! English Garden

Advice for brides on a budget:
1) Learn to trust your florist and event designer to help you make decisions based on where you get the most bang for your buck. A good florist can help decide the types of flowers to use and where they are best placed. English Garden

2) The quality of the work should never suffer regardless of a person’s budget. A great florist should be able to work with the couple using alternate flowers and creative design. Flower Station

What are the new trends?
English Garden: Our favorite both for maximizing budgets and also creating a custom look is the trend of using two or three variations of a centerpiece on guest tables. A mix of tall dramatic floral designs paired with a lower scale bouquet on some tables looks great and is budget friendly.

Flower Station: Textured bouquets and very vivid colored schemes are popular trends we’ve worked with.

The four seasons and what flowers work the best:
For a spring wedding: Couples can never go wrong with tulips, either alone or mingled in with other spring blooms like hyacinth and daffodils.

For a summer wedding: Try using locally-grown zinnias, bee balm, celosia, cosmos, gladiolus and Echinacea.

For a fall wedding: Use mango callas, integrated berries, wheat, sorghum, millet and other seasonal treasures.

For a winter wedding: Try snowy white lilies, roses, berries and hydrangea