Photo: ©Tahni Candelaria-Holm

Let's Talk Flowers

If you don’t know the difference between a calla lily and an orchid, don’t worry. A good florist will help translate your personal style into the perfect arrangements for your big day. Charlottesville florist Natalie Easterly of Flowers by Natalie describes her job as the art of interpretation. “I am the one who makes it happen the way you want it,” she says.

With Easterly’s help, we’ve created a stress-free guide to get you from the florist’s studio to the altar.—Taylor Harris

The Consultation
When?
Easterly suggests booking your first meeting with a florist one year out from your wedding date. She and others, however, do work with clients who have less time to prepare.

How long it takes
Plan to spend 45-90 minutes getting to know each other.

What to bring
Magazine cutouts: Bring pictures of arrangements you love and even those you don’t love. Florists look for repetition among these images to decipher the shapes, sizes, and feel of what you like. Easterly also uses books and her online portfolio to see what excites the bride-to-be.

Dress swatch: Your dress says a lot about you. Do you like beading and jewels or simple lines and textures? The color of your gown also plays an important role. “For instance, I would never pair off-white flowers with a white dress,” explains Easterly.

Planning notes: Jot down as many specifics as possible beforehand about your budget, the number of wedding guests you expect, the size of your bridal party, and where and when your ceremony and reception will be held. Also count the number of ushers, greeters, and special family members who will need flowers.

Cost and selection
Obviously, you’ll want to know what you can get for your money. Planners often advise that couples will spend 10-15 percent of their budget on flowers. While some florists offer packages or price lists online, Easterly prefers to e-mail a price range to prospective clients after the consult. She plays with the number and type of flowers in order to meet the bride-to-be’s budget.

Here’s a basic price list:
Bridal bouquet: $100-$350
Bridesmaids’ bouquets: $35-$100 each
Boutonnieres: $3.50-$15 each
Corsages: $12.50-$30 each
Table arrangement: $35-plus each
Large table arrangement: $150-plus each

The type of flowers you want and whether they are in season will also impact your overall cost.

Flowers by season
Fall: Hypericum, dahlias, thistle, fresh bittersweet, sunflowers, and berries
Winter: Hollies, roses, ivy, amaryllis, carnations, and narcissus
Spring: Peonies, daffodils, hydrangeas, sweetpeas, and magnolias
Summer: Daisies, snapdragons, poppies, orchids, and herbs
Year round: Tulips, irises, and mini calla lilies

Sometimes getting the look you want means substituting your first pick for a close second. Take peonies, which peak in May or June. “I can get you peonies in July from Israel, but you may not like them,” Easterly explains. She holds her thumb and index finger together. “They’ll be about this big.” Instead, she would suggest ordering a garden rose, which has a similar form and feel.

Centerpieces
You’ll want to choose containers for your arrangements that, like your flowers, reflect your unique style. Easterly rents several vases and decorations, including fountains, marbleized pedestals, rustic urns, and gold candelabras. And if her client doesn’t see what she has dreamt of, Easterly will make it. Other brides choose to use their own family heirlooms or even quirky, mismatched vases for the reception.

One last look
Once you’ve chosen every flower—even down to the hydrangea placed by your guest book—your work is not quite done. Easterly suggests you see your flowers once they arrive in-house. Roses, for example, should be in full bloom—not tight. Easterly spends the days leading up to the wedding nursing her buds.

“I think of it as the flowers are making their debut,” she says.