What is the purpose of a Florist???

No you are not crazy! I am using a florist because she works with the venue all the time. She will come in the day of the wedding and put everything together. I have heard of people bringing their flowers to a florist for them to put together but you must make sure you have enough, etc.

I am doing most of my flowers (buying wholesale and putting together my self). I am going to have a florist do the corsages for the Mothers (we have 4 sets of parents). I have worked in a floral shop before and feel very confident about doing boutonnieres, but not corsages.

I am pretty sure a florist will not take flowers bought elsewhere and assemble arrangements. I could be very wrong on this though.

Go to Pintrest for ideas and you really can do them yourself. Dollar stores are great to get the glassware.

Florists can help you select flowers. They also make arrangements and know what kind of flowers will compliment each other. They are responsible for setting up and taking down all flower arrangements, except for the ones you are giving away. They also can rent you vases and other items. Floristry is an art and not to be taken lightly. Yes, if you want very simplpe centerpieces you can buy them, cut the stems, and stick them in some water- the same way you could paint a picture if you buy some paint and put it on a canvas. But they are professionals in their art form.

No, you don't need a florist. If you buy flowers from costco or another place you can always put them together yourself. Just takes a little patience if your making bouquets, centerpieces, and the whole shabang. Maybe check out youtube videos on how to arrange them. Maybe do some trial runs before you purchase all the flowers you need.

I am not having any centerpiece flowers, because well...I am cheap and because flowers aren't original to me.

I am however having bouquets and bouts. I spoke with the florist at my local grocery store. She was able to give us a much better deal because she is paid by the grocery store to do whatever (she picks being the florist because she likes it). Meaning, she would be there whether she is doing my flowers or not. With typical flower shops, you have to pay the florist for their time. At a grocery store, you don't. That may be a good way to cut costs without having to wrap a bouquet yourself.

Lynzey U., I agree 100%! To add to that, they take a lot of the stress away with setup. They'll make sure all the centerpieces and bouquets are just right. It's one less thing you would have to stress about.

To save on florist costs, we are only doing personal flowers (bouquets, boutonniere, and corsages for the wedding party, parents, and grandparents). I'm using vases and candles for centerpieces because they can be assembled ahead of time.

There are florists that will assemble Wholesale flowers you buy yourself. The main benefit of a florist is that you, your bm, mom, etc are not assembling flowers the night before or day of the wedding. Flowers should be done pretty close to the wedding, but that is the time you want your family and friends to be relaxing and enjoying the moment, not feverishly doing centerpiece. Unfortunately I have seen way too many stressed bridesmaids putting together flowers and not having fun at all.

I have a decorator, because I am doing silk flowers. Not real ones. My choice. Our decorator will set up, break down do all decor set up place cards, gift table, sweetheart tables all centeripieces and candy buffet for 900 dollars. I can't imagine worrying about this myself. So its a reasonable price to have someone else do it.

As for bouquets, using silk also, bought them on amazon LOL and bridal bouquet

I'm really glad we got a florist, since I don't know much about flowers. She knew which ones would hold up well in a bouquet and which ones can't be out of water, and which flowers you can get at each time of year. We have kind of a large wedding which means lots of floral arrangements that I do not have time to DIY! Plus transporting all of them to the venue and setting up is a headache I didn't want to deal with. To me it's worth paying someone else to do all that.

I don't think you need a florist. If you can arrange your own centerpieces and bouquets that is. I have done it before, it's not hard and you save a great deal of money.

Thank you ladies! Your comments are very helpful! Just understanding what a florist is actually needed for and what they will do is a start. I'm am very picky when it comes to things looking nice and put together well. I can imagine doing simple centerpieces w/out flowers myself. But I have no experience with bouts or corsages. So I'll be looking into a florist. Thanks again!

@Hot Chocolate...having a decorator sounds like a super idea!

A florist also has the proper tools to prep and store the flowers before actually arranging them.

I had simple vases of flowers at my reception, but had a florist do them. I would not have wanted to arrange them the morning of the wedding and transport them to the venue.

I don't think a florist is necessary, but I really loved mine. I don't know anything about flowers so I just told her my colors & budget and let her come up with everything. It was also nice not having to worry about anything the day of the wedding. The flowers were delivered & my venue set them up.

I disagree I think you do need a florist. Even if you are creative florist know what types of flowers will hold up in the seasons, they know what compliments each other and as prevoiously mentioned it is an art form, flowers are one thing that sis really important to me that and photographer was where I spulrged (well splurging for us anyway :0)

My budget for my florist was 1, 500 for the bridal party flowers, center pieces, and ceremony decor as far as ribbon and flowers on the chairs blocking off the aisle. For the small tables like the guest book table etc I'm doing those myself

I think flowers are a great way to add decor and color if that's what you want. The florist will set up all flower decor day of and will make sure it is done beautifully and most of all stress free for you. Day of i'm sure you will be spending getting ready, being with your bridal party and parents and making sure you have everything else you need to get married. Worrying about flowers, set up and time constrictions is the last thing you want.

Yes cutting flowers is a good way to cut expenses off your budget but then you have to add in time to do all of it yourself. So its a give and take really. I'm sure there is somebody in your area that can do it with bulk flowers that you get and help you really stay on a tight budget.

I was able to find somebody in my budget which was like half of what is asked in my area and they did a beautiful job and made it so that i can enjoy the morning and day of the wedding stress free.

That's a good point M2H you really can find someone in your budget mine is only 5k and I found a great florts $625 for everything. Hydrangea and roses and includes ceremony decor. I am not doing floral centerpeices to save on money, you can always do less expensive flower choices too.

I....don't even....this is real?

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-does-a-florist-do.htm

I am having a florist assemble the bouquets, bouts, and corsages. I haven't decided if I want flowers as table centerpieces since I am not a huge fan of them.