Florist Tips

• Decide on a budget for your flowers. Flowers are very beautiful but can easily become a bigger expense then expected.
  
  
• Meet at least two or three florist
  
  
• Take along swatches of the bridesmaid's dresses and a picture of your dress.
  
  
• Cut pictures out of magazines of floral designs you like and take them with you to each florist.
  
  
• Ask your florist for photos of weddings they have done, also see examples of their work.
  
  
• By looking at their portfolio is there evidence of a creative mind or are all the floral designs similar?
  
  
• Get an estimate in writing that outlines everything that they will be doing. This should include any delivery charges and setting up fee.
  
  
• Ensure they are available for your chosen date.
  
  
• Keep flowers and decorations at the church to a minimum. Churches in general will want them removed afterwards.
  
  
• What time will they arrive to set-up?
  
  
• Have you handled events of my type and size before?
  
  
• Is a deposit required? If so, how much?
  
  
• When should the deposit be paid?
  
  
• How much of a deposit do they need?
  
  
• When is the balance due?
  
  
• Marrying on or around flower holidays like valentines can cost you two or 3 times more for your flowers.
  
  
• Do you provide a written contract and guarantee that flowers won't fall apart?
  
  
• Remember, just because a florist does not have a shop and is self employed, it does not mean they are no good.
  
  
• Don't forget boutonnieres for the ushers and fathers as well as corsages for the mothers.
  
  
• Dropping flower petals down the aisle is beautiful but clarify this with the church first.
  
  
• Don't forget the flower girls' basket and the page boys'(ring bearers) boutonniere.
  
  
• Flowers that are in season are cheaper than flower that are not. Simply because these flower would have to be shipped in from overseas which is an additional cost.
  
  
• Are there any additional charges?
  
  
• What is the policy on refunds and cancellations?
  
  

We have been asked on many occasions about the meanings of flowers. We have compiled a list with their meanings next to them.

Flower	Meaning
ACACIA	Concealed Love, Beauty in Retirement, Chaste Love
ALMOND BLOSSOM	hope
ALYSSUM	Worth Beyond
APPLE BLOSSOM	good fortune
AMBROSIA	Your Love is Reciprocated
AMARYLLIS	Pride, Pastoral Poetry
ANEMONE	Forsaken
ARBUTUS	Thee Only Do I Love
ASPHODEL	my regrets follow you to the grave
ASTER	Symbol of Love, Daintiness
AZALEA	Take Care of Yourself for Me, Temperance, Fragile Passion, Chinese Symbol of Womanhood
BACHELOR BUTTON	Single Blessedness
BARBERRY	bad temper
BEGONIA	Beware
BELLS OF IRELAND	Good Luck
BITTERSWEET	Truth
BLUEBELL	Humility
BURDOCK	touch me not
CACTUS	Endurance
CAMELLIA (PINK)	Longing for you
CAMELLIA (RED)	You're a Flame in My Heart
CAMELLIA (WHITE)	You're Adorable
CARNATION (GENERAL)	Fascination, Woman Love
CARNATION (PINK)	I'll Never Forget You
CARNATION (RED)	My Heart Aches For You, Admiration
CARNATION (PURPLE)	Capriciousness
CARNATION (SOLID COLOUR)	Yes
CARNATION (STRIPED)	No, Refusal, Sorry I Can't Be With You, Wish I Could Be With You
CARNATION (WHITE)	Sweet and Lovely, Innocence, Pure Love, Woman's Good Luck Gift
CARNATION (YELLOW)	You Have Disappointed Me, Rejection
CATTAIL	Peace, Prosperity
CHRYSANTHEMUM (GENERAL)	You're a Wonderful Friend, Cheerfulness and Rest.
CHRYSANTHEMUM (WHITE)	Truth
CHRYSANTHEMUM (RED)	I Love You
CHRYSANTHEMUM (YELLOW)	Slighted Love
CROCUS	Cheerfulness
CYCLAMEN	modesty, Resignation and Good-bye
DAFFODIL	Regard, Unrequited Love, You're the Only One, The Sun is Always Shining when I'm with You
DAISY	Sharing, Innocence, Loyal Love, I'll Never Tell, Purity
DANDELION	Faithfulness, Happiness
FERN	Magic, Fascination, Confidence and Shelter
FIR	Time
FLAX	Domestic Symbol
FORGET-ME-NOT	True Love, remembrance
FORSYTHIA	Anticipation
GARDENIA	You're Lovely, Secret Love
GERANIUM	Stupidity, Folly
GLADIOLI	Give Me a Break, I'm Really Sincere, Flower of the Gladiators
GLOXINIA	Love at First Sight
HEATHER (LAVENDER)	Admiration, Solitude
HEATHER (WHITE)	Protection, Wishes Will Come True
HELLEBORE	scandal
HELIOTROPE	devotion
HOLLY	Defence, Domestic Happiness
HONEY FLOWER	Love, Sweet & Secret
HONEYSUCKLE	Fidelity
HYACINTH (GENERAL)	Games and Sports, Rashness, Flower Dedicated to Apollo
HYACINTH (BLUE)	Constancy
HYACINTH (PURPLE)	I am Sorry, Please Forgive Me, Sorrow
HYACINTH (RED OR PINK)	Play
HYACINTH (WHITE)	Loveliness, I'll Pray for You
HYACINTH (YELLOW)	Jealousy
HYDRANGEA	Thank You for Understanding, Frigidity, Heartlessness
IRIS	Health, Fleur-de-lis, Emblem of France, Your Friendship Means so Much to Me, Faith, Hope, Wisdom and Valour, My Compliments
IVY	Wedded Love, Fidelity, Friendship, Affection
JAPONICA	loveliness
JASMINE	Amiability
JONQUIL	Love Me, Affection Returned, Desire, Sympathy, Desire for Affection Returned
KING'S CUP	I wish I were rich
LARKSPUR (PINK)	Fickleness
LEMON BLOSSOM	Fidelity in love
LILAC	youthful innocence
LILY (WHITE)	Virginity, Purity, Majesty, It's Heavenly to be with You
LILY (YELLOW)	I'm Walking on Air, False and Gay
LILY (CALLA)	Beauty
LILY (DAY)	Coquetry, Chinese Emblem for Mother
LILY (EUCHARIS)	Maiden Charms
LILY (TIGER)	Wealth, Pride
LILY OF THE VALLEY	Sweetness, Tears of the Virgin Mary, Return to Happiness, Humility, You've Made My Life Complete
MAGNOLIA	perseverance
MAIDENHAIR	discretion
MARIGOLD	Cruelty, Grief, Jealousy
MEADOW SAFFRON	my best days are past
MIMOSA	sensitivity
MISTLETOE	Kiss me, Affection, To Surmount Difficulties, Sacred Plant of India
MONKSHOOD	Beware, A Deadly Foe is Near
MOSS	Maternal Love, Charity
MYRTLE	Love
NARCISSUS	Egotism, Formality, Stay as Sweet as You Are
NASTURTIUM	Conquest, Victory in Battle
OLEANDER	Caution
ORANGE BLOSSOM	Innocence, Eternal Love, Marriage and Fruitfulness
ORANGE MOCK	Deceit
ORCHID	Love, Beauty, Refinement, Beautiful Lady, Chinese Symbol for Many Children
ORCHID (CATTLEYA)	Mature Charm
PALM LEAVES	Victory and Success
PEACH BLOSSOM	captive
PEONY	Shame, Happy Life, Happy Marriage
PETUNIA	Resentment, Anger, Your Presence Soothes Me
PHLOX	Togetherness
PINE	Hope, Pity
POPPY (GENERAL)	Eternal Sleep, Oblivion, Imagination
POPPY (RED)	Pleasure
POPPY (WHITE)	Consolation
POPPY (YELLOW)	Wealth, Success
PRIMROSE	I Can't Live Without You
PRIMROSE (EVENING)	Inconstancy
ROSE (BRIDAL)	Happy Love
ROSE (DARK CRIMSON)	Mourning
ROSE (HIBISCUS)	Delicate Beauty
ROSE (LEAF)	You May Hope
ROSE (PINK)	Perfect Happiness, Please Believe Me
ROSE (RED)	Love, I Love You
ROSE (TEA)	I'll Remember Always
ROSE (THORNLESS)	Love at First Sight
ROSE (WHITE)	Innocence and Purity, I am Worthy of You, You're Heavenly, Secrecy and Silence
ROSE (WHITE AND RED MIXED)	Unity, Flower Emblem of England
ROSE (WHITE-DRIED)	Death is Preferable to Loss of Virtue
ROSE (YELLOW)	Decrease of Love, Jealousy, Try to Care
ROSEBUD	Beauty and Youth, A Heart Innocent of Love
ROSEBUD (RED)	Pure and Lovely
ROSEBUD (WHITE)	Girlhood
ROSEBUD (MOSS)	Confessions of Love
ROSES (Bouquet of Mature Blooms)	Gratitude
ROSES (Single Full Bloom)	I Love You, I Still Love You
SMILAX	Loveliness
SNAPDRAGON	Deception, Gracious Lady
SNOWDROP	hope
SPIDER FLOWER	Elope with Me
STEPHANOTIS	Happiness in Marriage, Desire to Travel
STOCK	Bonds of Affection, Promptness, You'll Always Be Beautiful to Me
SWEETPEA	Good-bye, Departure, Blissful Pleasure, Thank You for a Lovely Time
TULIP (GENERAL)	Perfect Lover, Frame, Flower Emblem of Holland
TULIP (RED)	Believe Me, Declaration of Love
TULIP (VARIEGATED)	Beautiful Eyes
TULIP (YELLOW)	There's Sunshine in Your Smile
VERONICA	fidelity
VIOLET	Modesty
VIOLET (BLUE)	Watchfulness, Faithfulness, I'll Always Be True
VIOLET (WHITE)	Let's Take a Chance
ZINNIA (MAGENTA)	Lasting Affection
ZINNIA (MIXED)	Thinking (or In Memory) of an Absent Friend
ZINNIA (SCARLET)	Constancy
ZINNIA (WHITE)	Goodness
ZINNIA (YELLOW)	Daily Remembrance