12 questions to ask a wedding florist before you book.

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1. Will my proposal break down what each piece costs?

You should get a line-item breakdown — bridal bouquet, each bridesmaid bouquet, boutonnieres, ceremony pieces, each table centerpiece. Not "wedding flowers: $4,200." A florist unwilling to itemize is hiding pricing power they don't want you to use.

2. How do you handle flower substitutions?

Real, professional answer: "We design with flexibility for substitutions, and we'll only swap to maintain visual and color integrity. We'll tell you in advance if we're making a planned swap and call you the morning of if we need to swap for quality." A bad answer: "We just substitute as needed." That's a recipe for showing up to all-white-everything when you specified blush.

3. What does your contract actually cover — and what's extra?

Ask specifically about: delivery, setup, breakdown/strike at end of night, return of rented vessels, mileage for further venues, and overtime if the ceremony runs late. These can each be $100–$500. They should be in writing.

4. How many weddings will you have on my day?

Not all wedding florists tell you upfront. Some take 4–6 weddings on a peak Saturday with a team of staff. Some take only one. There's no wrong answer — but you should know. If you're one of six, ask who specifically will be handling yours and when.

5. Have you worked at my venue before?

Familiarity matters more than couples realize. A florist who's worked your venue knows where the loading dock is, how the ceremony space is set up, where the head table will be, and what the lighting looks like at the time of day you're getting married. If they haven't worked there, ask if they'll do a site visit.

6. What's your payment schedule and cancellation policy?

Standard is a retainer (often 25–50%) at signing, with the balance due 2–4 weeks before the wedding. Cancellation policies vary wildly. Read the fine print.

7. Can I see a portfolio of weddings similar to mine?

Florists often have a "house style" — loose and garden-y, tight and structured, classic and traditional, etc. Their portfolio should show consistency across multiple weddings, not a Pinterest board of styles they like. If everything looks different, they may not actually own a style; they're just chasing trends.

8. What happens if you get sick or your team has an emergency?

A real answer involves a backup plan — a partner florist, a second-in-command, an agreement with another studio. Wedding florists do get sick. The good ones have arrangements.

9. Will you provide a final timeline before the wedding?

About two weeks before, you should get a delivery and setup timeline that includes when bridal bouquets arrive, when ceremony pieces go in, when reception florals are set, and when the team leaves. This document also helps your wedding planner or venue coordinator align everyone.

10. Do you offer rentals (vases, candleholders, arches)?

Some florists include vases in their pricing; some rent them; some require you to source your own. Same with candle holders, ceremony arches, and other props. A high "flowers" price isn't necessarily bad if it includes a lot of rentals — just make sure you know what's included.

11. How early should I book?

Peak season (May, June, September, October in Central PA): book 9–12 months out. Off-peak: 4–6 months. Many florists won't take on bookings within 8 weeks of the date. If a florist with strong work has availability inside 60 days for peak season — ask why.

12. What's the consultation experience like?

Your first consultation should be conversational. They should ask about your vision, your venue, your dress, your colors, your priorities, and your budget. If they hand you a printed package list and ask you to pick one, you're not really getting custom florals — you're getting a template. That's fine if it's what you want, but you should know.

What we tell our own couples

Ask all of the above. Ask other questions. There's no such thing as too many questions during a first consultation — the florists who get frustrated by your questions are exactly the ones you don't want.

Want to ask us all of this? Book a free consultation →