As a wedding photographer, it’s the moments that matter most of all with a bride and groom on their special day. It’s important for newly engaged couples to remember that and to cherish those moments, especially because it’ll all be over before you know it!

Today I want to talk about the flower component of a wedding and wedding planning. Each vendor that’s involved in a wedding is important, but there are SO many floral details that go into the design of a wedding that simply cannot go unnoticed.

I’ve had the pleasure of seeing and photographing so many beautiful flower arrangements over the years. Whether it’s a bright bouquet of summer flowers or a wild flower bouquet for the fall, it’s pretty obvious how lucky we are to have such talented florists in our area to provide brides with exactly what they’re looking for to celebrate their special day.

When a bride asks for referrals to local florists in the Capital Region, I always try to refer them to a florist that has the same type of work ethic as myself. For me, it’s really important that I recommend vendors who work just as hard and care about the couples they’re working for as much as I do.

I’ve never looked at my career as just a job, but rather more of a relationship that we all form in the wedding industry with our clients. I love being on a personal level with my brides and grooms, and from my experience, that’s the best way to capture their personalities and know what their style is. The same goes for all other wedding vendors, including florists.

I got together with three local florists to offer brides or people looking to decorate events an inside look into the industry and to get some potential ideas for their future wedding flowers. Follow along to read a series of Q&A’s from David Michael Schmidt ofRenaissance Floral Design, Jordane Baker at Heavenscent Floral Art, and Rena of Rena’s Fine Flowers:

 

First, we sat down with David Michael Schmidt, an Albany, NY based florist, from Renaissance Floral Design.

 

Q: What is currently trending in the Florist Industry?

A: Looser, more organic designs. Less tailored sculpted arrangements. More unusual garden cuts rather than the standards.

 

 

Q: What flowers are best/worst in what seasons?

A: Spring blossoms are best in spring time. Winter weddings should be dense with green and hard type flowers that will not freeze so easily if photos will be outside or transitioning from one location to the other.

Q: Have you ever had a bride and groom that challenged you to do something that you absolutely loved?

A: 90 % of my clients leave the final meeting by saying “I totally trust you. Do whatever you think is best”. There is always guidance. From a client with color and things that appeal to them as well as things that they are not keen on. Each of my clients are individuals and it’s my job to create something that suits their style, not my own.

Q: What’s your current favorite flower?

A: Eucoris lily 

Q: How do you work with clients to develop bouquets/centerpieces/tablescapes?

A: Private boards on pinterest that we share. This allows me to pin on their board and also give me an idea of what they like when we start the conversation. Because we are a full service event design company we also have the unique situation when meeting with clients to pull chairs, linen, chargers, and many other specialized items into the design space as we work to ensure the entire look comes together, not just gorgeous flowers which we are known so well for.

Q: If you could offer advice to a newly engaged bride and groom embarking on wedding planning, what would you say?

A: Find teams that work well together and know each other, always use professionals rather than a friend or a friend of a friend. Be careful of grocery store flowers and national chain stores for attire. It is always best to use smaller businesses that specialize in their art rather than having a lot of turn over or a less caring individual who is guiding you through the process on such an important day. It’s not just your wedding day, it’s also the reputations of the professionals you have chosen for your big day. If they have an incredible reputation, chances are they care about it and want you to have the perfect experience so they can hold their head high and say they were a part of it.

 

 

 

Next we have the Q&A from Jordane Baker from Heavenscent Floral Art in Saratoga Springs, NY.

 

Q: What is currently trending in the Florist Industry?

A: Everything this year will be all about a whimsical, fresh picked, natural, organic and romantic feel. Lots of greenery in soft muted greens and grays, soft and romantic flowers in blush, champagne, peach, or even warm corals.

 

Q: What flowers are best/worst in what seasons?

A: Peonies are best locally in June and are very popular wedding flowers, but I wouldn’t take a chance on them in the warmer summer months.

 

Q: Have you ever had a bride and groom that challenged you to do something that you absolutely loved?

A: Decorating a 20 foot high chandelier in heavy greenery, more of a fear factor than a worry it wouldn’t look gorgeous! 

 

Q: What’s your current favorite flower?

A: I have favorite seasonal flowers like cafe au lait dahlias are my absolute favorite autumn flower right now, double petaled tulips in spring, peonies in late spring as well as a peachy colored astilbe, and paper whites in the winter!

 

Q: How do you work with clients to develop bouquets/centerpieces/tablescapes?

A: Pinterest is a wonderful way to get a sense of a brides style and botanical dreams for her wedding, as well as sitting down to discuss the details of her day at length. We offer a complimentary consultation to begin the discussion of the flowers for a wedding day, from which we create a detailed proposal, which includes flower choices, themes, colors and pricing. Nothing goes unanswered in our proposals! 

 

Q: If you could offer advice to a newly engaged bride and groom embarking on wedding planning, what would you say?

A: Break all the rules and listen to your own heart when it comes to colors, themes and flower choices! It’s your day!

 

 

   

Finally, we sat down with Rena from Rena’s Fine Flowers in Saratoga Springs, NY to discuss the current trends in the wedding industry.

Q: What is currently trending in the Florist Industry?

A: There are a few current trends that we’re continuing to see in the floral design industry… One being table and center pieces selection, many brides are seeing our photos and using round mixed with rectangle tables. In turn we play with the shape, texture and height of the flowers with each size tables. For example 1/2 high tall center pieces and 1/2 low to stretch a long table. 

Q: What flowers are best/worst in what seasons?

A: Best / worst flowers in each season I would have to say is kind of irrelevant. As a flower designer we have so much more at our fingertips year round now from other countries growing to accommodate the wedding industry! Of course we do try to use as much local as we can so with that we have to stick to what’s available in the season. 

Q: Have you ever had a bride and groom that challenged you to do something that you absolutely loved?

A: I did have a bride that was getting married at Fasig Tipton, who had chosen beautiful farm tables and simple florals running along the tables. A couple months before the wedding we met and she had seen a photo of a wedding. There were large floral balls of flowers hanging from the ceiling. We changed the entire plan and we came up with a design to do that dispensed large flower balls over the round tables and did a long vase full of the same flowers to stretch the long farm tables! It was absolutely amazing! 

 

Q: What’s your current favorite flower?

A: I would have to say the Garden rose is one of my favorite flowers. Their true full shape and texture is so beautiful and they have the old garden rose smell that’s to die for. They make an amazing base for a bouquet. 

Q: How do you work with clients to develop bouquets/centerpieces/tablescapes?

A: We work with each bride individually for their day. Starting from any ideas and colors that they have, and then we work in our ideas from photos they see from our collection and come up with a design to fit their day and venue. 

 

Q: If you could offer advice to a newly engaged bride and groom embarking on wedding planning, what would you say? 

A:  I would say the biggest advice I have for a newly engaged bride and groom… That would be to hire the best vendors that they feel comfortable with! When you hire the right vendors, your day will go smooth and wonderful, the way it should.

 

Whether you’re looking to go big with your bouquets or have simple floral arrangements at your wedding or next event, remember one thing. This is YOUR big day, and you deserve to feel confident and comfortable with whoever you choose to be a part of your day. Find a florist that you can trust and don’t be afraid to speak your mind and let them know exactly what you’re looking for, and even what you don’t want. At the end of the day, your happiness is number one, so find the right vendors for you and the rest should all fall into place!