Whether your wedding style is modern, bohemian, glamorous, or romantic, Kim Horn of Arizona Bridal Source shares her tips for floral success.

1). Find the Right Wedding Florist.
• Get recommendations for a wedding florist from local wedding magazines and local professional wedding planners.
• Check the references of the florist, and see photos of their work.
• Find out if the person you meet with will be the person ordering, designing, delivering, and setting up your flowers for the day of the wedding.
• Find out if the florist stays to distribute and pin on personal flowers.
• Find out if your florist will return to move your ceremony floral décor to your reception so you maximize the décor, then pick everything up after your guests leave, or the following day.
• Will your florist make you a mock bouquet, or a mock centerpiece so you may approve the ‘look’ prior to the wedding day?
• Does your florist have items you may rent versus buying?
• When is your final count due?
• Will you be working with the designer on changes/updates for your wedding, or an assistant?
• When does your florist need to "order" your flowers?
• What is their payment, cancellation, refund, and change of date policy?
• You don't want miscommunication by someone ordering, delivering, and incorrectly setting things up with the wrong flowers on your wedding day!
• Remember, you do get what you pay for!

2). Make a List of Flowers You Need.
• Make a list of what you need for flowers.
• How many are in your wedding party? (maid-of-honor, bridesmaids, flower girl, best man, groomsmen, ring bearer, ushers, etc.)
• How many people are you inviting? (which translates to how many guests per table, for how many centerpieces you will require)
• How many personal flowers do you need (siblings, parents, grandparents, readers, vocalists, other VIPs)?
• What will you need for the ceremony décor (check with rules and regulations at your church, temple, or site first)?
• What will you need for the entry way of your reception?
• Will your caterer need florals for butler passed hors d'oeuvres trays, active stations, or other specialty areas?

3). Be Realistic with Your Budget.
• $1000 will be difficult to work with, as a floral budget, if you are having 10 in your wedding party and inviting 300 guests.
• $1000 will be easy to work with, as a floral budget, if you are having 2 in your wedding party and 25 guests.
• Invite less people, this will normally save you more money than anything -- since you will pay so much per person for everything -- 25 guests versus 300 guests is a huge difference in your budget!
• Don't tell your florist to give you "everything" for a $5,000 budget, when you are looking realistically at only spending $2,000, there will be a big difference in both quality and quantity.

4). Pick the Best Wedding Date.
• Flowers will cost you more at Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, and around Bowl Games.
• If you want a specific type of flower, you will want to get married when that flower is "in season" so you get the best price point.

5). Establish Your Vision thinking of Your Style, Formality, and Type of Wedding.
• Classic/Traditional
• Black Tie Wedding
• Modern
• Theme Wedding
• Beach Wedding
• Time of your wedding - will it be morning, afternoon, or evening?
• Will your wedding be in a church or temple, or will it take place at the same location where you will have your reception?
• Do you prefer a handheld bouquet to a cascade bouquet?
• Do you prefer low centerpieces to elevated centerpieces?
• What is your color palette?
• Are their flowers you love, and flowers you definitely do not want?