We asked top wedding florists from around the country for the most common mistakes brides make — here’s what your florist wishes you knew.

Flower Mistake 1: Not seeing the big picture

“Couples tend to see the centerpieces and the table setting but do not visualize the whole reception room with their guests in it. For example, couples pay for a room with a wonderful view of the ocean or scenic surrounding and want tall, large centerpieces that will obstruct this view.”

— Faith Cass, Cass the Florist, Inc.

Flower Mistake 2: Not trusting your florist

“Communicate your vision, likes, dislikes, and expectations but have a little flexibility and be comfortable with substitution. We want to make your wedding absolutely breathtaking. So relax, put trust in your vendors and remember why you hired that amazing talent!”

— Alana Guglielmo, Mixed Greens Event Design

Flower Mistake 3: Not reusing ceremony arrangements

“Aisle flowers can become centerpieces and altar pieces can be moved to the buffet table. The ceremony usually only lasts about half an hour — it’s a shame to see so many flowers only being used for that amount of time when they could easily be incorporated into the reception decor!”

— Paula Pritchard, Paisley Petals

Flower Mistake 4: Booking your florist last

“Couples should begin the process of booking vendors by speaking to one vendor from each category before booking anyone. This way they can get an idea of what things cost and perhaps they could budget better.”

— Douglas Koch, Douglas Koch Designs ltd

Flower Mistake 5: Refusing to compromise

“The biggest mistake is for a bride to have her heart set on specific flowers and not be flexible. A florist can do a much better job if the bride asks for an overall look, feel, and color scheme and let the florist create it.”

— Jana Stall, Events in Bloom

Flower Mistake 6: Ruling out pricey blooms

“Don’t be scared of the expensive flowers. Flowers like cattleya orchids and peonies are more expensive, but they also cover more space and have a greater impact. One cattleya orchid can have a greater impact than a bouquet of roses.”

— Erin Drake, Enlighten Events International

Flower Mistake 7: Not communicating with your florist

“Knowing what you like is just as important as knowing what you don’t like. Bring lots of pictures — it is the best way to help convey what you do and do not want your floral designs to look like.”

— Danielle Childress, McKannix Floral Studio

Flower Mistake 8: Using only one color

“A lot of brides try to match the flowers to the bridesmaid dresses. A bridesmaid in a lavender gown with lavender flowers will make for very disappointing pictures. Flowers are a great place to choose an accent color — for example, a lime green against a lavender gown will bring out the best in both colors and make for fabulous photos.”

— Linda Maggert, One of a Kind Events

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