A Complete Guide to Selecting the Perfect Wedding Flowers and Services

Making the right decisions for your wedding can be overwhelming, especially regarding your flowers. Colors, styles, types of arrangements and bouquets, and quantity are just the tip of the iceberg.  Sometimes, the most challenging part of choosing your flowers is selecting the perfect package or set of services. From full-service designs to a la carte and even DIY, how do you know which option is best for you? Here at Griffin’s Floral Design, our experts are here to guide you on your journey through wedding planning with ease. To begin, consider the big picture of your wedding day and answer a few of these questions. How much time do you have leading up to the big day? What is your wedding style or aesthetic? How many guests are invited or attending? What does your budget look like? Then, look at our guide below to figure out which route is most ideal for you and your partner to embark on.

Types of Wedding Flowers

To figure out which floral services make the most sense for your wedding, it is critical to understand the many kinds of arrangements and bouquets available.

The bride's bouquet and the groom's boutonniere of delicate rose flowers tied with pink ribbons lie on the glass table in the hotel room.

Personal Flowers

Personal flowers are hand-held bouquets and wearable florals created for brides, grooms, bridal parties, parents, godparents, and others you want to recognize on your wedding day. Some say personal flowers are the most important because they will likely be in most of your wedding photos.

Arch for the wedding ceremony, decorated with white and pink flowers. Wedding day.

Ceremony Flowers

Your wedding ceremony sets the scene and tone for the rest of your celebrations, and ceremony flowers often make the first impression. From floral arches and arbor swags to altar arrangements and aisle markers, you can dress up your wedding ceremony with the most brilliant blooms.

Luxury wedding table decoration. Special event table set up. Fresh flower decoration.

Reception Centerpieces

Moving into cocktail hour and the wedding reception, centerpieces are another essential floral item. From small arrangements on cocktail tables to large and inviting arrangements on guest tables and either a head table or sweetheart table, no wedding feels complete without alluring centerpieces.

Artificial Flowers Hanging from Ceiling

Flower Installations and Special Décor

Other showstopping flower designs you can choose for your wedding are flower installations, floral walls, hanging arrangements, and more creative and out-of-the-box pieces that your florist will help you imagine and bring to life. These types of floral elements are sure to wow wedding guests and make a statement.

Types of Wedding Flower Services

Florist at work: how to make box with flowers, step by step, tutorial. Proposal or wedding gift idea.

DIY Wedding Flowers

DIY, or do-it-yourself, wedding flowers are the most cost-effective way to dress your wedding in beautiful blooms. Once you gather your supplies, you create and set up your own personal flowers, ceremony arrangements, centerpieces, and more that will reflect your vision. Choose a DIY flower package if you have simple wedding flower ideas, are hosting a small or micro wedding, want to keep your wedding flower cost at a minimum, enjoy having the freedom to design and create, and are planning your wedding in less than six months.

Flower table decorations for holidays and wedding dinner. Table set for holiday, event, party or wedding reception in outdoor restaurant.

A La Carte Wedding Flowers

A La Carte wedding flowers are a popular path for brides and grooms since you pick and choose only the flowers and décor that are most important. This package or service allows you to work with a professional florist without committing to an extensive wedding design. Select a la carte if you are having a medium size wedding, are looking for flexibility, want to control or customize your budget, need the essentials plus a little extra, have time to set up your flowers, and are planning your wedding within a year to six months in advance.

Luxury decorated with flowers roses and orchids celebration hall in palace

Full-Service Wedding Design

Full-service wedding designs take all the pressure off you as a bride or groom. With a full-service package, your florist will design and create the wedding of your dreams without you needing to lift a finger leading up to your wedding or the day of. In addition to personal, ceremony, and reception flowers, full-service designs include rentals and décor like candles, lanterns or cylinder vases, linens, chairs, or flower installations, depending on your style, theme, and ideas. A full-service wedding design is right for you if you are having a large wedding, want all the bells and whistles on top of the basics and essentials, want your florist and designer to guide you every step of the way, prefer your florist to deliver, set up, and breakdown your flowers and décor, and are planning your wedding at least one year in advance.

Boutonniere on the groom's jacket

Wedding Flower Costs to Keep in Mind

You probably already have a good idea of which route you want to take for your wedding flowers. However, before committing to a package or service, consult your budget and ask your florist some critical questions. While the flowers will cost one thing, the services you choose, in addition to each bloom, will help determine the overall price for your wedding. Some packages may already have built-in service fees, such as labor, design, and set-up fees, while others may not. Before sending in a deposit, check if your package deal includes all the services you need or is simply charging stem by stem or arrangement by arrangement.

Wedding arch at the restaurant. Round flower arch. Trend in the wedding banquet room is a white arch decorated with flowers and greens, in the background white cloth.

Wedding Flower Timeline

Timing is a significant factor that will lead you to the ideal type of floral service for your wedding. The more time you have to work with a florist, the better. Having at least one year before your wedding date will open the door to more options and services you can take advantage of. Check out the timeline below to see how far in advance you need to order your wedding flowers.

  • Planning and Consultations – One year to nine months
  • Putting Down a Deposit – Nine to six months
  • Choosing Flowers – Nine to six months
  • Ordering Flowers – Six months
  • Creating and Arranging – Week of
  • Setting Up at the Venue – One day or day of

We know that planning a wedding isn’t a piece of cake, but the experts here at Griffin’s Floral Design strive to make your wedding planning process as fun, easy, and stress-free as possible. If you are still unsure which package or direction to go in, reach out to our wedding professionals for more insight, to discuss your personal needs, or to set up an event flowers consultation.