Wedding flowers do far more than decorate a venue. Local experts know that choosing the right floral arrangements is ultimately about helping a couple tell their story as they begin their life together.
Often, couples have a vision before the planning process even begins. They’ve been looking at websites and building Pinterest boards. Couples should bring these inspiration pieces to the first meeting with their florist. However, Kim Starr Wise, owner of Kim Starr Wise Floral Events, advises against using AI to create these inspiration pieces, as AI often generates misleading floral designs.
During the first meeting, couples may not necessarily settle on the flowers themselves. As owner and designer at Antigua Floral Sara Perez Ekanger explains, early meetings are about selecting the color palette; florists will then recommend flowers and designs that complement the broader color scheme and mood of the wedding. Echoing this sentiment, Kenny Rabalais, owner of The Plant Gallery, says “While the bride should absolutely incorporate her favorite flowers or colors into her bouquet to reflect her personality, the overall floral design needs to complement every other element of the day.”
Like the bridal bouquet, flowers carried or worn by the wedding party and other special guests should pair nicely with their attire. When choosing these flowers, couples should check in with their loved ones about pollen allergies. If the couple has chosen a high-pollen flower but is aware of an allergy, the florist can recommend a substitute flower in the same color scheme.
These substitutions should be included in the contract, which should be done six months to a year in advance. The contract should also list the date, ceremony and reception locations, delivery/setup and pickup details, price, payment schedule, and an itemized list of the floral pieces. Ekanger also recommends having a postponement or venue change clause, adding that communication is the key to ensuring the big day is stress-free.
Having a plan for where the flowers will go after the wedding will also help keep the day stress-free. Many couples gift them to guests or to the wedding party. Rabalais reminds couples gifting flowers to remove them from the containers or glassware, as those items often belong to the florist. Pam Georges, owner of Pamela Dennis Flowers, points out that some local organizations will accept them as donations to beautify areas such as Manning Children’s Hospital. If the celebration is continuing the next day with a brunch or farewell party, the flowers could also be repurposed for that occasion.
Many couples also choose to preserve some special flowers. All four experts recommend hanging flowers upside down to dry naturally. Wise notes that some flowers simply do not preserve well. If having this memento is particularly meaningful, the couple can ask their florist to recommend flowers that will stand the test of time.
Above all, Georges says, a couple should simply choose what they love and trust that they are in good hands with their florist. She also reminds couples that their day–and the planning leading up to it–should be joyful: “This is your wedding time, so have fun with it!”
Antigua Floral
3220 Pine Street, New Orleans
antiguafloral.com
@antiguafloral
Kim Starr Wise Floral Events
437 Philip Street, New Orleans
kimstarrwise.com
@kimstarrwise
Pamela Dennis Flowers
The Rink, 2727 Prytania, Ste 16, New Orleans
pameladennisnola.com
@PamelaDennisNewOrleans
The Plant Gallery
1620 Airline Drive, Metairie
theplantgallery.com
@theplantgallery
