Destination Wedding Florists – Choosing from Near or Far
With wedding flowers accounting for up to 25 percent of a typical wedding budget, it’s even more important today that budget-conscious couples choose wisely when working with a florist. But what about when couples need to choose a florist for a destination wedding? Are there really any distinct advantages to working with a florist located in the city where the couple lives versus choosing a florist located in the city where the destination wedding will be held? The short answer is yes; there are many benefits to be had for couples willing to do a bit of research before the wedding to help ensure that more than a few dollars are left after the wedding.
Destination weddings are an exciting and romantic way to turn a special day into a wonderful experience for the bride, the groom, and their guests. For many couples, the process of planning a destination wedding is both fun and challenging at the same time. As an important part of the wedding planning process, choosing flowers for a destination wedding involves more than just deciding which flowers to choose, it also includes deciding which florist to choose – a local one couples may know or a florist the couple has never met who is located at the wedding destination.
Of the two ways to approach floral décor for a destination wedding—hiring a florist who is local to the destination or working with one close to home who has experience with destination weddings and the travel that is required—there are advantages of both. For couples that live in Indian River County (IRC), the convenience of meeting with a local florist should not be overlooked. However, by the same token, couples located outside IRC—who plan to marry in IRC—also have many local florists to choose from who can easily assist them via phone, video chat, and emails to ensure wedding flowers are just what the visiting couple had in mind.
When it comes to couples that live in IRC who are planning a destination wedding outside the county, there are a few suggestions from wedding industry experts that can help couples decide whether to use a florist from their hometown or choose a florist from their wedding destination. Among the benefits of using a local florist, they will be more familiar with which locally grown flowers will be available at the time of the wedding. For budget-conscious couples, using locally grown flowers will maximize the floral budget and add to the authenticity of the event. However, couples should also keep in mind that the locally grown flowers they choose will need to be shipped to the destination location for the wedding, which will add additional costs to the original price of the local flowers chosen.
Another advantage of using a local florist is that they will be a great asset to the bride and groom with any potential troubleshooting issues that may arise. The local florist will have the ability to pivot and adapt to any last-minute adjustments simply by nature of the fact that they live in the area. For couples who may already be a bit overwhelmed by all the planning required of a wedding, being able to leave all flower concerns and/or potential problems to a local florist can offer one less thing to worry about in the planning process.
As a second florist option, couples that choose to use a florist located at the wedding destination can also leave all floral concerns in the hands of a destination florist. However, when looking to choose a destination florist, industry professionals agree that it’s best for couples to choose a florist that comes recommended by the hotel/venue or a local event planner. One of the first things to consider when planning flowers for a destination wedding is the local flora. A benefit of a destination florist being on-site is that they can discuss the vast array of native flowers with the soon-to-be-married couple, and make suggestions for the best local blooms that ensure freshness and availability, as well as an authentic local touch to the wedding décor.
One important perk of working with a florist based at a wedding destination is that local florists know the seasons in their part of the world. They know what flowers are in season at the time of the wedding, and flowers that are naturally in bloom are more eco-friendly, are always going to look fabulous, and are usually in abundance so they generally cost less.
Among couples that choose a local florist, as well as couples that choose a destination florist, a growing trend in wedding flowers is that couples are increasingly choosing eco-friendly options to make their special day both beautiful and environmentally conscious. This decision goes beyond aesthetics, extending its benefits to the environment, the economy, and local workers. As such, a growing awareness and appreciation for floral sustainability has emerged and continues to grow both in local weddings and those held abroad in destination wedding locations.
Regardless of whether a couple uses a local florist recommended by a friend or a destination florist recommended by a hotel or venue, the most important thing for the happy couple is to choose flowers whose wedding-day bloom matches that of the love shared by the couple.
Photo courtesy of Limelight Photography
Photo courtesy of Wedding Flowers & Designs
Photo courtesy of Events by Paradise
