One of the most common questions we hear from couples planning their wedding is, “When should I book my florist?”
As with most wedding vendors, sooner is always better. At J.Blu Design, we value each couple we work with so much that we typically take on only one wedding per day—and, whenever possible, just one wedding per weekend. This allows us to give each couple our full attention and ensure every detail of their floral vision is thoughtfully executed.
Because of this personalized approach, our calendar can fill quickly. Before you inquire with us, there are three things we ask that you have secured:
1. Your Wedding Date
First and foremost, we need your date so we can determine whether we are available for your wedding.
2. Your Venue
Your date and venue go hand-in-hand. Knowing your venue allows us to check our availability and pull up examples of our work there to share with you. It also gives us an opportunity to review any venue-specific guidelines or restrictions that may impact your floral designs.
3. Your Floral Budget
You don’t need to have an exact number, but having at least a general idea of how much of your overall wedding budget you’d like to allocate toward flowers is important. This helps us determine whether you meet our minimum and gives us a starting point for understanding the overall scope of your floral design.
Helpful Details to Have in Mind
Our Inquiry Form also asks for a few additional details that can help us prepare for a productive consultation.
Guest Count – Your approximate guest count gives us an idea of how many guest tables you’ll have and helps us determine how to get the most out of your floral budget.
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Intimate: Fewer than 100 guests
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Average: 100–200 guests
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Grand: More than 200 guests
Wedding Party Size – Most couples choose to have flowers for each member of their wedding party. Knowing approximately how many people will be included helps us estimate how much of your budget may need to be allocated toward personal flowers.
Style & Theme – Different styles call for different flowers, designs, and overall floral scope. Sharing your vision allows us to pull inspiration and come prepared to suggest specific flowers and arrangements. Your style might be elegant, romantic, modern, contemporary, whimsical, classic, timeless, playful, or something completely your own.
Color Palette – Your color scheme is another helpful detail that allows us to prepare for your consultation in advance. If you’re still searching for inspiration, be sure to explore our portfolio and Pinterest boards.
What Should We Discuss Before Our Consultation?
Once you submit our Inquiry Form, we’ll get back to you by email to schedule your consultation. While we love meeting couples face-to-face in the J.Blu studio, we understand that traveling to us isn’t always convenient. We’re just as happy to get to know you through a video consultation.
Before we meet, there are a few things you can discuss as a couple. You don’t need to have all the answers—just having a few ideas in mind will help us make the most of our time together.
Bridal Bouquet
Think about the size and shape you’d like. Some possibilities include natural and organic, round, cascading, oblong, light and airy, or contemporary.
Bridesmaids
Consider what your attendants will be wearing and whether you have a preferred bouquet style for them.
Men’s Boutonnieres
Would you like boutonnieres? Are you envisioning a traditional boutonniere or a pocket-square style? And who would you like to include—groom, groomsmen, fathers, ring bearer, ushers, grandfathers, or others?
Mothers & Grandmothers
There are lots of options beyond the traditional wrist corsage. Consider petite handheld bouquets, flowers incorporated into a clutch, floral jewelry, or something completely unique.
Flower Girls
Would you like your flower girl to toss petals, carry a basket, or wear a floral crown or halo?
Ceremony
Think about whether your ceremony will be indoors or outdoors, your ceremony location and backdrop, and any floral installations you’d like. Possibilities include arbor flowers, pedestals, ground arrangements, broken arches, and aisle flowers.
Reception
Consider whether you’ll have long tables, round tables, or a combination of both. You can also start thinking about centerpiece styles and whether you’d like to incorporate candles or candle rentals.
Miscellaneous Floral Details
There are so many opportunities to incorporate flowers throughout your wedding! Think about your welcome sign, foyer, dance floor, hanging installations, seating chart, bar top, cocktail tables, banisters, cake flowers, and more.
Don’t Feel Like You Have to Have It All Figured Out
That list may seem a little daunting, but don’t get overwhelmed! You absolutely do not need to have everything figured out before your consultation. Even a vague idea is enough to get us started.
That’s what we’re here for.
During your consultation, we’ll walk through each of these elements together. We’ll answer your questions, offer our expertise, and help you hone in on design details you may not have even considered yet.
While we won’t replicate an exact design, we absolutely welcome your Pinterest boards and inspiration photos. These references help us understand what you’re drawn to, and we’ll work together to translate that inspiration into a floral design that feels uniquely yours while staying within your style and budget.
If there’s a particular flower you absolutely love, let us know! And if there’s a flower you absolutely don’t like, tell us that, too. If your favorite blooms are seasonally available, we’ll do our best to incorporate them into your designs.
And remember: nothing is set in stone until closer to your wedding day. Don’t stress. Let us guide you through the process one piece at a time.
The more information we can gather before creating your floral proposal, the more accurately we can price your designs and make sure we’re building something that truly reflects your vision.
We Can’t Wait to Meet You!
Your wedding flowers should feel like you—whether your style is romantic and timeless, modern and minimal, playful and colorful, or something entirely your own.
We’re here to walk alongside you throughout the planning process and bring that vision to life, one beautiful detail at a time.
If you’d like to learn more about any of the topics we’ve touched on here, keep an eye out for future blog posts where we’ll dive deeper into each one. In the meantime, explore our portfolio and Pinterest boards for more inspiration.
We can’t wait to meet you!
— Julie & the J.Blu Team