A Guide for Choosing Your Wedding Flowers

An Interview with Winnipeg Florist Oak & Lily

Hey there lovebirds! If you’re in the midst of planning your dream wedding, you’ve come to the right place. We recently had the pleasure of sitting down with the incredibly talented Winnipeg wedding florist, Oak & Lily to chat about how to choose the right wedding flowers.

So, grab a cup of your favourite brew, kick back, and get ready to dive into a bouquet of helpful tips and ideas for planning your wedding flowers. Whether you’re envisioning a lavish celebration or a more intimate wedding day, this interview is your ticket to unlocking the secrets of stunning wedding florals.

Ready to get the inside scoop on your Winnipeg wedding floral guide? Keep reading…

Picking Your Wedding Flower Colours

Choosing a colour pallet for your wedding day is one of the most important decisions. Your flowers will reflect your personal style and they will express the overall mood of your wedding. One of the main influences when choosing a colour story for your flowers is to consider the wedding party attire.

Making sure your personal florals are cohesive with the attire is key. Your wedding party is a major component to your big day and we want to ensure your images are balanced and beautiful with the colours you choose! And hey, if you’re choosing to skip a formal wedding party, the sky is your limit!

Choosing Your Wedding Flowers

There are a handful of details that impact how to choose flowers for your wedding… for starters, know your budget. It’s ok to be upfront, in fact most florists prefer it! We want to avoid you getting your heart set on a Pinterest idea without having crunched any numbers first. Having a starting budget will help us chat in greater detail about your flower options.

Secondly, consider the season. Not every type of flower is readily available year round. If you are insisting on a specific bloom, be prepared to spend more money. Thirdly, keep an open mind. Talk to your florist about what flowers are in season, trust your florist, and be open to alternative options. There’s lots of gorgeous flowers out there!

Where is Oak & Lily Located…

Oak & Lily is a cozy little corner shop located in River Heights in Winnipeg. We offer full service wedding and event florals, including rental options. Our store front currently operates Tuesdays through Saturdays – you can keep up to date with our opening times on our website & social media.

In addition to wedding florals, we also provide our customers with fresh bouquets and arrangements, candles, plants, pots and unique gift items! We focus on supplying locally made goods whenever possible. We’re here to help with all your flower needs!

How Far in Advance Should We Book Our Wedding Florist?

Book Now! We are often booking a year in advance. It is recommended to book at least 10 months prior if you want to secure a specific florist, especially if you are getting married during peak wedding season. 

If you’re looking for more intimate wedding floral services, Oak & Lily also offers an A La Carte wedding option. This means couples can choose specific items from a floral menu, select a colour pallet and leave the rest up to us! We will choose the best in season floral options based on your colour preferences and have your pieces ready for pick up or delivery. We require a minimum of two weeks for A La Carte florals.   

What’s The Booking Process for Wedding Flowers?

Once an event contact form has been completed (found on our website) our wedding coordinator will contact you to set up a phone consultation. The initial phone meeting helps us gather information to provide a detailed estimate. This also gives us the opportunity to answer any questions you might have. 

Once the estimate has been approved an invoice outlining the deposit is sent along with our contract to book your date. We then follow up four weeks prior to the event to finalize any last details! One of our favourite things about wedding season is getting to dream up ideas with our clients! There’s nothing better than bringing your vision to life with the best blooms the season has to offer!

Things to Keep in Mind on Delivery Day for your Wedding Flowers

We carefully pack bouquets and arrangements in vases with water for delivery. It is best to keep all flowers in a fridge or cool space and out of direct sunlight. On hot summer days, it is especially helpful to have vases with cool fresh water sitting on the sideline. Keep your flowers hydrated in between photos or when changing locations to avoid any wilting. 

During the winter months it’s also important to keep in mind flowers are easily susceptible to shock when outdoors in subzero temperatures. Asking someone in your wedding party or a family member to help look after your florals throughout the day can ensure they stay looking their best!

If your wedding also requires installation on delivery day, we do require a minimum of two hours for set up. Know that creating an arbour and hanging installations takes far more than “just flowers”. It takes planning, experience, and a special skill set.

Floral installations are honestly one of our favourite things to execute! Be sure to communicate with your florist, venue, planner and photographer to ensure everyone has the same expectations and timeline for an efficient and smooth set up! Adding in a little extra buffer time on your wedding day for things like floral set up is always helpful!

Happy Wedding Flower Planning!

And there you have it lovebirds! You now have a treasure trove of insights and practical advice to weave the perfect floral tapestry for your big day. So – let the inspiration flow and get ready to embark on your journey to create unforgettable memories surrounded by stunning blooms. Happy wedding planning!

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