How to Choose Your Wedding Florist

Your wedding flowers appear in almost every photograph, from the bouquet you carry down the aisle to the arrangements on every table. Choosing the right florist is one of the most important decisions you will make when planning your day, and in a city as big as London, it can be hard to know where to start. Here is our guide to finding a wedding florist you can trust.

When should you book your wedding florist?

Many couples book their florist six to twelve months before the wedding, especially for popular dates in spring, summer and December. If your wedding is sooner, it is still worth asking, as florists can often take on smaller weddings at shorter notice. Booking early gives you time to plan your flowers properly and secure your date.

Start with your style

Before you contact any florists, gather a few images of flowers and arrangements you love from Instagram, Pinterest or real weddings. You do not need a complete plan, but knowing whether you like a wild, garden-style look, classic elegance or something bold and modern will help a florist understand you quickly.

Look at their real work

A florist's portfolio tells you more than any description. Look at photographs of real weddings they have created and check that their style matches yours. Reviews from other couples matter just as much, as they tell you what the florist was like to work with, not just how the flowers looked.

Why a local florist makes a difference

Working with a local florist has real advantages. They often know your venue, understand travel times across London and can deliver and set up on the day without stress. A local florist is also easy to visit, so you can see and smell the flowers in person before you decide.

Questions to ask at your consultation

• Are you available on our wedding date?
• Which flowers will be in season for our wedding?
• Can you work within our budget, and where would you suggest we focus it?
• What is included, such as delivery, set-up and collecting vases and stands afterwards?
• Have you worked at our venue before?
• When do you need our final numbers and decisions?

How to make your flower budget go further

• Choose flowers that are in season, as they look their best and often cost less.
• Focus on what matters most to you, such as the bridal bouquet, and keep other arrangements simpler.
• Reuse ceremony flowers at the reception, for example by moving aisle arrangements to the top table.
• Use foliage generously, as it adds fullness and texture at a lower cost.

Wedding flowers by Clapham Flowers

Clapham Flowers has been a local florist in South London since 2002. We provide bridal bouquets, bridesmaid bouquets, buttonholes, corsages, flower crowns and venue decorations, for intimate weddings and large celebrations alike. Every wedding starts with a consultation, where we talk through your ideas, requirements, pricing and which flowers will be in season, and create a personal mood board together, from the first ideas to the finishing touches.

Visit our wedding flowers page to see our work, or send us a wedding enquiry to book your consultation. You can also call us on 020 8673 2958 or pop into our shop at Clapham South station. For more inspiration, read our summer weddings in London inspiration guide and our ideas for wedding cakes with fresh flowers.