Top 5 Questions about Florals, Hailly Lucas

5Top Questions

Couples Have About Florals with Hailly Lucas of Hailly Lucas Floral Design

How much do flowers cost?

1. There isn’t a simple answer to this question. Based on my experience, I’d say a bit more than the average client thinks they do. There are many factors that go into the costs of flowers. Here are some of the common contributing factors. • Flower varieties: some simply cost more than others • Design style: if you are looking for a wedding with a lot of flowers it will cost more • Arrangement sizes: larger ones will cost more because they use more product • Vendors: some vendors that work on a larger scale tend to have a minimum and don’t take on smaller orders There are calculators out there that tell you how much you should be spending on flowers based on your overall wedding budget. It all comes down to what you think is important. I express to my clients that flowers can really transform a space and be an amazing mood setter.

Also worth noting is that simple designs don’t necessarily mean cheap. An example of this would be table garlands. It is correct to assume that greens cost less than flowers, however, in order to make greens look full, you have to use quite a bit of them which increases costs.

Overall, if flowers are important to you, you will likely have a bigger budget for them and vice versa. If you are a client on a budget, check out question 5 for tips.

Connect with Hailly Lucas Floral Design www.HaillyLucas.com @haillylucasfloraldesign

Where should I start when it comes to flowers/When should I book my

2. florist? There are a couple of approaches you can take to booking your wedding flowers. • Start with some research about what you like and what vendors you like. Collect images using tools like Pinterest and Google Images to see what’s out there and develop your aesthetic. Once you have a clearer vision of your aesthetic, colour palette and the different floral pieces needed; bring your inspiration to a floral designer and start the quoting process. To find a designer you can use Google, Wedding Wire, wedding forums or even social media platforms. • If you need help narrowing down your vision, contact a floral designer whose work you like. They can guide you and will think of things you might not have considered. Let them do what they do best in helping to create a cohesive vision.

If you are in the latter category be sure to be mindful of designer’s time. This is an art form in which a lot of designers bring their own perspective and expertise to your creations. Some designers might require a retainer fee before diving into the consultation process. Trust that they are worth that investment because of their experience. Some might take a deposit after an agreed upon estimate; it is important to be open and courteous with the vendors you are chatting with.

Don’t leave booking your flowers to the last minute. I recommend booking a florist at least 12 months prior to your wedding and no later than 8 months. The roll over effect from the pandemic is still high with a large volume of new couples. Booking in advance can be the difference between working with your 1st vs your 4th choice florist with dates getting booked up quickly.

Can we use local/seasonal flowers?

3. A well-rounded florist should have connections to provide you with both local and imported product. Here are some of the benefits to working with a local farm and a large wholesale importer.

I spoke to Janette from Four Boys Flower Farm to see what she had to say about sourcing from local growers. “A bouquet of seasonal flowers is usually fresher, prettier and more striking … quality depends on the season and where the flowers come from.”

Product also varies from grower to grower, you might get different varieties, colours and blooms from each grower. “Growing flowers on a small-scale farm is hard work, but worth it. When we harvest, we think of you. When I see our florists’ photos of the weddings, I remember harvesting those same flowers, watching the butterflies flit from one to the next or racing to bring everything in before it rains. We know that by trusting your florist, you’re ultimately trusting us—and we’re so grateful. We love what we do: growing

organically, contributing to our local ecosystem, and seeing these beautiful, precious blooms shine on your special day.” says Janette. By allowing your designer to use what is freshest and in season, you will get some gorgeous blooms that are not available through larger wholesalers and therefore not often seen in mainstream Pinterest inspiration pictures. This is often a nice surprise for clients. An added benefit when sourcing flowers from local farms is supporting small-scale flower farmers in your area and reducing the environmental impact that comes with importing flowers.

On the wholesale importer side of things, most can bring in flowers from around the world. The amazing thing about this is the large variety of product options available, almost endless. “Being a large wholesaler, we import flowers from all over the world. Our buyers work through emails/skype/ zoom because of different time zones to secure product. We get product from Ecuador, Columbia, Holland, Africa, Israel, Peru, Italy, Thailand, and the U.S to name a few.” said one of our wholesalers. “The cold chain must be in place to make sure that the product does not get too warm or cold in its travels to ensure we get the best product when it arrives.” Wholesalers also work with local growers to bring in local product which sometimes make them a one-stop-shop.

There are pros and cons everywhere in this industry, especially when working with perishables such as flowers. It’s important to keep in mind is that there are great options for florists who can ensure that you are getting amazing product and even better designs.

Here are some seasonal flower lists I was provided with, from local farmer Janetter from Four Boys Flower Farm, which can help guide your design: • In spring - Peonies, Apple blossoms, blowsy double Tulips, Forget-me-nots, Spirea, scented Stock, Ranunculus and Anemones, Agrostemma, Poppies, and blush Lilacs if you’re especially lucky. • In mid-summer – Sweet peas, ruffly Lisianthus, Cosmos, Zinnias, Astilbe, Larkspur, Lily-of-the-valley, China asters, Foxglove, Scabiosa and Gomphrena—they’re two of Janette’s personal favourites from Four Boy Flower Farm. • In fall – Dahlias, textural blooms, rust tones, bronze foliage, berries, seedpods and dried blooms, Japanese Anemone, Celosia, grasses and Eucalyptus. Large scale wholesale importer: Although most flowers are now available all year round there are always flowers you think of seasonally. • In Spring - Daffodils, Hyacinth, Lily of the Valley, Crocus, Muscari, Tulips, Peonies. • In summer - Peonies, Dahlias, Lisianthus, Ranunculus, Sweet peas. • In fall - Chrysanthemums, Cattails, fall foliage, Sunflowers, Dahlias, wheat/ straw flowers, Carthemus. • In winter - winter greens, Amaryllis, rosehips, Skimmia berries, Freesia.

When should I use silk/faux flowers instead of fresh flowers?

There are a few reasons I would recommend using silk flowers 4. over fresh ones. • Flower allergies • Unique colour schemes where fresh flowers don’t come in certain colours • Large scale installations such as a ceiling installation or very full, lush archways • Needing flowers that are not in season • You want them to last forever

What should I prioritize if I am on a tight to mid-range budget?

5. If this is you, here are a few questions you should ask yourself to guide you. • What is most important to you on your big day? • What will be in showcased in photos the most? • What will set the right atmosphere/overall guest experience? Answer the questions that mean the most to you and start brainstorming from there. I personally start with what will be photographed the most, since those will be everlasting memories. Other designers might have other recommendations as well. There are ways to get around being limited, for example you can use larger pieces in a few key areas. This is often more impactful than smaller touches spread everywhere. An example of this is florals on an arch for the ceremony versus small bundles of greenery on every pew marker. The arch has a greater impact for both ceremony pictures and guest experience as all eyes will focus on those features during the ceremony. You can also think about re-using items from the ceremony in the reception such as the head table, centerpieces and more.

It’s always helpful to know what you are comfortable spending on florals. If your budget is strict, that is information to share early on so that your designer can make suggestions that fit within in it. When in doubt ask your designer how you can use your budget to its fullest potential whilst creating the biggest impact.

Page 56 & 57 Photographs by Tia Kristina Photography www.TiaKristinaPhotography.com @tiakristinaphotography