In the time before your wedding day, you’ll probably be overwhelmed with preparing everything needed to make your day as perfect as you hope it to be. That’s why it’s vital that you find the right florist who can fulfill your requests on time and with precision - a florist that you won’t have to hunt down every time you need to talk to them and who won’t deliver on their promises.

The best time to contact a florist for your wedding flowers is as soon as you have set the exact time of your ceremony and reception, as well as their location(s). Often times, the florist will be able to provide helpful information about flowers and colours appropriate for the season. They may also have knowledge of the site where your ceremony and reception is scheduled to take place. And if they don’t, you can always ask them to visit the location so that they have a better idea of what type of arrangements and how many will be required.

Contacting a florist for your flowers can be anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, or years, before the big day. Generally, the sooner, the better. This will allow you to go over everything with your florist in a more leisurely manner, rather than rushing through everything at the last minute. At 416-Florist.com, one couple even came in 2 years beforehand! Doing so gave them more than enough time to discuss what they wanted and select the flowers that they found conveyed their individual style the most. They were also able to work within the budget they originally set, which can be one of the most challenging obstacles.

Budgeting
Just about every couple has a specific amount of money set aside for their wedding expenses. Unfortunately, this budget is not adhered to and in many cases, the couple ends up spending way more than what was originally planned. You can avoid this by hiring a florist that understands your perspective and has sufficient professional experience to work within your proposed budget. And if you keep in mind that wedding flowers aren’t the main attraction - it’s actually you and your partner that is – than you might not go overboard.

While there are so many flowers to choose from, you may want to limit your selection to the ones that will be in season at the time of your wedding. Flowers in season generally cost less because there are more of them, and they may not have to be shipped from out of town (which can add to the cost). For example, if your wedding is in May choose tulips and daffodils and if it’s in October, sunflowers are at their peak. On the other hand, some flowers, such as roses and orchids, are available year-round.

Another way to stretch your dollar is to choose simple rather than extravagant arrangements which highlight the beauty of each bloom. Designed correctly, simple arrangements can be quite elegant. Or, (if you must) splurge on just a couple of arrangements.

Finally, try decorating the venue(s) with an assortment of potted plants rather than cut flowers. Potted plants not only last longer, but can also double as mementos of your wedding for your guests.

416-Florist.com is a Toronto based florist that has been providing wedding flowers for over a decade.
From start to finish, we’ll be there for you.

This is a checklist of the types of flower arrangements generally presented on one of the biggest days of your life: your wedding day. But remember, because it is your big day, you may want to add or remove any of the items listed according to your preferences.

All of your arrangements will be delivered fresh to the location you request, clearly labeled so that there’s no confusion. We will also set most of them up for you.

There are fine differences in the colour or style of each bouquet, corsage, boutonniere or other arrangement. For example, the boutonnieres worn by the Groomsmen and Best Man may both traditionally be roses, but will most likely be in a different size or colour to differentiate their positions. The corsages worn by the Bridesmaids and Maid of Honour may also be different in this same way.

Confused? There’s no need to be. Let us know and we can clarify what each arrangement generally entails.

Bride’s Party
___Bridal bouquet
___Throw away bouquet (optional)
___Bridal headpiece (optional)
___Bridesmaid’s bouquets
___Different bouquet for maid of honor (optional)
___Other

Groom’s Party
___Groom’s boutonniere
___Groomsmen’s boutonnieres
___Different boutonniere for best man (optional)
___Other

Family
___Mother of the bride corsage
___Mother of the groom corsage
___Father of the groom boutonniere
___Father of the bride boutonniere
___Grandmothers corsages
___Grandfathers boutonnieres
___Godparents’ boutonnieres and corsages
___Other

Ceremony
___Flower girl headpiece
___Flower girl basket decorations
___Flower girl petals to toss - confetti
___Ring-bearer’s boutonniere
___2 central arrangements for the Altar
___Trellis or arch arrangements (optional – usually for outdoor weddings)
___Pew or chair decorations
___Candles
___Aisle Runner
___Corsages or boutonnieres for the organist or other musicians
___Other

Reception
___Entryway arrangements
___Centerpieces for each table
___Arrangement for head table (dais)
___Buffet/Food table decorations
___Bar decorations
___Flowers to decorate passed trays (talk to your caterer about what they’ll need)
___Cake decorations
___Arrangement for sign-in table (optional)
___Corsage or boutonniere for guest book attendant
___Corsage or boutonnieres for musicians

For the Guests
___Thank you bouquet for the Bride’s parents
___Thank you bouquet for the Groom’s parents
___Small bouquets for guests
___Other

Aside from the bride, there’s nothing more beautiful at a wedding than the arrangements of flowers that embellish the event. Remember, though the flowers are necessary to complete the occasion, they should not overwhelm everything else. After all, they aren’t the primary focus of the event!

Things to Consider

Indoors or Outdoors?
While the final decision is always yours, it helps to consider whether your wedding and/or reception is set to take place indoors or outdoors. Some flowers do not fare so well outside, particularly if they’re in the summer heat. A few great blooms that tend to last longer outdoors are well-hydrated daisies, roses and geraniums. Let us know about your preferences and we’ll help you create the perfect outdoor arrangements.

Your Style or Theme
Elegantly timeless or a modern trendsetter? Simple or Over the top? Everyone has an individual style.

Your style may also be determined by a theme, such as one that takes place in a beach setting, has a Victorian flair, or occurs on a holiday like Christmas.

Whatever the style or theme, with so many types of flowers available, we can embody yours with ease.

The Colour
Harmony. When it comes to colour, it’s all about how everything works together. Your selected blooms should compliment the colours of the features of their surroundings, traditionally the clothing worn by the bride, her bridesmaids, and even the flower girl.

But don’t think that you have to stick with a simple colour scheme. Blooms in the most dazzling multitude of shades can still be in harmony.

You may want to consider the season during which your wedding takes place as well. A palette of light pastels may be appropriate for the Spring, but probably wouldn’t as attractive as lush reds, deep greens and metallic shades in the Winter.

Help Us Help You
416-Florist.com is committed to making your vision a reality with personalized service and a high level of flexibility. But we know that sometimes it’s difficult to express what you envision. That’s why it may help to bring in pictures of what you like or anything else that you think may help. You can even show us a photo of your wedding dress and/or the attire of your wedding party so that we may compliment them with the right arrangements.

We’ll be readily available to discuss all of your options, whether it be related to the types of flowers, arrangements, other decorative items, and any budget restrictions you may have.

We are dedicated to providing you with a customized solution that fulfills your needs.