Start thinking about your wedding flowers early on in the planning process. This will ensure you have time to enjoy planning your wedding flowers and you have plenty of time to book in your first preference of florist. Remember that some florists are booked well over 12 months in advance so it is worth gauging their availability as soon as you can.

The right florist will play a very special role in your wedding. The florist should be highly experienced in wedding design, have extensive knowledge of flowers and styles, and most importantly be able to understand and fulfil your every need.

Being prepared to meet in person with your florist always helps the briefing process to be more productive. Items you should bring with you include invitation concepts, fabric samples, and pictures of inspiration. All of these items will help the designer to create a wedding concept beyond your expectations and ensure the planning is on track from the very beginning.

During the consultation ask as many questions as possible. Never feel rushed during the consultation and arrange for a second consultation if you are not completely comfortable.

When it comes to delivery and set up, ensure that your florist is doing this personally or at least has someone qualified to do so. It is all too common for this task to be 'palmed off' to a delivery service that is unlikely to deliver on time or with care. If the quote to do this sounds too cheap, beware. The delivery of your flowers have either been given to a delivery service or come at the cost of flowers and design time.

And finally, always choose a florist that you connect with and feel confident in. When a florist can truly understand your wishes anything is possible.