Booking a wedding florist is one of the bigger line items on your whole budget, and almost certainly the one you've had the least practice at. You've never hired a florist before. You'll probably never do it again. So you hand over a real chunk of money, cross your fingers, and hope you asked the right things.
Here's the part that helps. There are only a handful of questions that genuinely matter, and the answers tell you almost everything. Ask these before you book, fresh florist or faux, and you'll know exactly who you're dealing with.
What we're covering: What's included · What you'll see beforehand · What happens after · How far ahead to book · Custom or ready-made · What happens if something goes wrong
💰 the money one
What's Actually Included in the Price?
A florist's headline figure and a florist's final invoice are often two different numbers. Delivery, setup, styling, pack-down, hire fees on vessels, a travel charge to your venue: any of these can sit on top, and not every florist spells them out upfront.
Ask for an itemised breakdown before you commit, and ask plainly whether there's a minimum spend. A good florist will answer without dancing around it. If the answer stays vague, that tells you something too. It also helps to know what wedding flowers actually cost going in, so you can tell a fair quote from an inflated one.
👀 the reassuring one
Can I See Exactly What I'm Getting Before the Day?
With fresh flowers, there's always a degree of trust involved. You're booking a vision, and the blooms arrive on the morning. With faux, you can do better than trust: the pieces are made ahead of time, so they can be photographed and approved before anything is final.
Ask how much you'll actually see before the wedding. Mood boards and inspiration are one thing, preview photos of your actual flowers are another. The more you can see in advance, the fewer surprises on the day. And surprises are the last thing you want at 9am on a wedding morning.
What Happens to the Flowers After the Wedding?
It's the question almost nobody thinks to ask, and it's worth real money. Fresh flowers are done by the weekend. Faux florals are not, which means they have a life, and a value, well after the day.
Ask whether the flowers are yours to keep, and what couples usually do with them: styling them at home, gifting them, or reselling them. If the answer is "they go in the bin on Sunday," that's a one-day spend. If the answer is "they're yours, forever," you're looking at something much closer to an investment.
How Far in Advance Do I Need to Book?
Good florists book out, and the best dates go first. But timing matters for another reason too: rushing a floral design rarely does it any favours.
Ask how far ahead they recommend, and what their cut-off is for your date. With faux in particular, ordering early is a quiet advantage. Your flowers can be made, approved and safely stored long before the wedding, so the week of, florals are simply not on your list.
Custom, Ready-Made, or Both?
Some florists only design from scratch. Some only sell set pieces. Plenty do both, and knowing which you're dealing with shapes your budget and your whole experience.
Ask what's on offer. Custom gives you a design built entirely around your palette and venue. Ready-made is faster and friendlier on price, and with faux you can see the exact piece before you buy. Neither is better than the other. The right one for you depends on how specific your vision is, and how much you want to spend.
What Happens if Something Goes Wrong?
It's not the fun question, but it's a revealing one. Flowers can be damaged in transit. A brief can be misread. A good florist has thought about this long before you ask.
Ask what their process is if something arrives not quite right, and how changes are handled once you've booked. You're listening for a clear, calm answer, not a brush-off. How a florist handles the rare problem tells you exactly how much they'll care about the everyday details.
"The questions matter less than the way they're answered. A florist who answers plainly is a florist who'll treat your wedding the same way. 🌸"
Booking a Wedding Florist: FAQs
When should I book my wedding florist?
Earlier than most couples expect. Popular florists book out well ahead, and rushing a design rarely gives you its best version. As a general guide, start the conversation once your date and venue are locked in. With faux florals there's an added reason to move early: your pieces can be made, approved and stored safely long before the day, taking florals off your plate entirely for the final stretch.How do I know if a wedding florist is any good?
Look at the work first, the price second. A strong portfolio shows consistency, not just one or two lucky photos. Read reviews from real couples, and pay attention to how the florist answers your questions: clear, direct answers are a good sign, vague ones less so. With faux especially, ask to see close-up images so you can judge the quality of the materials, not just the styling.What's the difference between a fresh florist and a faux florist?
They're related crafts, but they're not the same. Fresh floristry works with seasonality, conditioning and a same-week timeline. Faux floristry is about sourcing premium real-touch and silk stems and designing pieces that hold up to close, all-day, all-photo scrutiny. A florist who specialises in faux will know that material world far better than one who works mostly with fresh and occasionally dabbles.Do I need to meet my wedding florist in person?
Not necessarily. Plenty of beautiful weddings are designed entirely online, particularly with faux, where the pieces are made ahead and shared as preview photos. What matters far more than meeting in person is clear communication, a portfolio you trust, and seeing your actual flowers before the day. For the record, Sonder + Stone is 100% online, whether you're ordering from the website or booking a custom design. There's an honest reason for it: we deliver florals Australia-wide, and we're a small team with a full production schedule, hands deep in flowers most of the day. Email is simply how we run our process, and it works in your favour, every detail written down, nothing lost, all of it there to refer back to whenever you need it.Ask Us These. We Mean It.
We wrote this guide knowing full well you might ask us every question on it, and we'd genuinely rather you did. When you're ready, there are two easy ways to start: send through a custom enquiry for a design built around your day, or browse the ready-to-order range and see exactly what you'd be getting.
Enquire about custom florals · Shop the ready-to-order range
