Planning Wedding Flowers? Start Here.

If you’ve recently booked your venue and are beginning to think about wedding flowers, you might be realizing that florals are one of the few elements that affect almost every part of your day — from the ceremony backdrop to your reception tables, and even how your photos feel when you look back on them years from now.

But for most couples, figuring out where to begin can feel overwhelming.

How many arrangements do you actually need?
What’s considered “normal”?
What can be repurposed?
And how do you make an impact without overwhelming your space?

Here’s what we recommend if you’re just starting to plan your wedding flowers.

When Should You Reach Out to a Florist?

Ideally, couples should reach out to their florist 8–12 months before their wedding date, once their venue has been secured.

Your venue plays a major role in determining:

where flowers will be placed
how much décor your space requires
what scale of designs will feel appropriate
and how your overall floral concept should come together

If you’re working with a wedding planner, they can help you gather important details, develop a cohesive décor plan, and keep everything aligned with your overall vision.

If you’re planning your wedding yourselves, we recommend connecting with a florist once you:

have chosen your venue
have a rough layout of your ceremony and reception space
and have a general idea of the overall atmosphere or “vibe” you’re hoping to create

What to Have Ready Before Inquiring:

Before reaching out to a floral designer, it’s incredibly helpful to have a few foundational details in place.

We recommend having:

your ceremony setup in mind
your reception setup or venue floor plan
and your colour palette or design direction

For example — guest table style can drastically influence your floral plan.
Are your tables:

round?
rectangular?
or long farmhouse-style tables?

Each of these layouts calls for a different approach when designing centrepieces and installations.

The more information your florist has about your space and layout, the easier it is to develop a concept that feels intentional and harmonious.

What Happens After You Inquire?

Once you submit an inquiry, your florist will first confirm availability for your wedding date.

From there, most designers will schedule a consultation to learn more about your vision, priorities, and how you’d like your day to feel. Following your consultation, a custom proposal is typically created based on your venue, layout, and overall design preferences.

After booking, additional steps may include:

site visits
detailed design briefs
digital mockups
or even fresh floral mockups if you'd like to preview your florals in a tabletop setting prior to your wedding day

What Happens Behind The Scenes

Wedding flowers require a significant amount of planning long before your wedding week arrives.

Behind the scenes, your florist is:

sourcing the most appropriate seasonal blooms
colour-balancing floral varieties
planning mechanics for installations
sourcing containers and vessels
coordinating delivery timelines
and organizing the design team responsible for processing, hydrating, designing, and transporting your flowers

This ensures your florals arrive fresh, hydrated, and picture-perfect on your wedding day.

Designing for Your Venue:

Every venue presents its own unique opportunities and challenges.

For example:

A venue with a permanent archway structure may not require a rented floral structure for your ceremony backdrop.
A large ballroom may benefit from elevated centrepieces to create visual impact and soften the scale of the room.
A narrow aisle may call for slender arrangements instead of larger aisle markers.

Your venue’s architecture is part of your décor — and your floral designs should feel complementary rather than competing with your space.

Outdoor and Mountain Considerations:

Couples getting married in Edmonton, the Canadian Rockies, or other outdoor settings may also need to consider:

full sun exposure
wind
travel distance
load-in access points
timing between ceremony and reception
and whether florals are being transferred from one location to another

For destination or mountain weddings, your florist will also plan for:

safe transport of delicate designs
installation timing
and weather contingency plans

With proper preparation, outdoor installations and remote locations are absolutely possible.

Can Ceremony Flowers be Repurposed?

Many couples hope to repurpose ceremony florals for their reception — and in some cases, this can work beautifully.

However, it’s important to note that:

timelines between ceremony and reception may be limited
some designs may not translate well from one location to another
and florals exposed to heat or direct sunlight for extended periods may not remain fully hydrated

For example, arrangements designed for pillars or plinths may block sightlines when placed on reception tables, while centrepieces are intentionally designed to allow for conversation across the table.

Your florist can help you determine what repurposing options make sense for your timeline and layout.

Translating Your Vision into a Concept:

Many couples struggle to describe what they’re looking for using visual language.

You might find yourselves saying:

“We’re hoping for something whimsical and seasonal for summer…”

…while sharing inspiration photos of early spring blooms.

A floral designer’s role is to interpret the feeling behind your inspiration and guide you toward options that are seasonally appropriate and aligned with your venue and overall aesthetic.

This may include:

curated inspiration boards
adjusted floral palettes
digital mockups
or tabletop previews of your designs

A Note on Sustainable Floral Design:

Sustainable floral design isn’t simply a trend — it’s an approach that prioritizes longevity and responsible sourcing.

Whenever possible, we:

work without traditional floral foam
repurpose mechanics
and source locally grown flowers

Locally grown blooms are often of higher quality and tend to last longer, as they haven’t been shipped long distances prior to your event.

Serving Weddings Across Alberta & The Canadian Rockies

We design wedding florals for couples across Edmonton, Alberta, and the Canadian Rockies, and are open to travel for mountain weddings throughout Western Canada.

If you're beginning to plan your wedding flowers and would like guidance on where to start, we’re always happy to connect.