7 questions to ask a florist before you hire them

Flowers end up in the background of almost every photo you'll keep, and they decide how the tables feel before anyone sits down. A florist is also one of the few Event Pros whose product is alive, seasonal and grown somewhere in particular, which makes the conversation before you hire one more interesting than most. Seven questions to ask.

1. What’s in season for my date?

A good Vancouver florist lights up at this question. Spring means ranunculus, tulips and blossom branches. Summer brings garden roses, dahlias, and peonies for a few precious weeks at the start. Fall is dahlias at their peak, chrysanthemums, and foliage that does half the work for you. Winter leans on evergreens, amaryllis and imported blooms. Asking what's in season tells you what will look best and cost least, and it tells you whether the florist designs with the calendar or against it.

2. Where do your flowers come from?

The Fraser Valley has real cut-flower farms, and some Vancouver florists work directly with them in the warmer months. Imported flowers are normal and beautiful too. What you want is a florist who knows the answer, because sourcing affects price, freshness and how the arrangements hold up through a long day.

3. Can you work with this budget, and where would you spend it?

Say the budget first. The vision can wait a minute. A great florist can do wonderful things with a modest budget if they know it early: one showpiece at the ceremony that moves to the reception, greenery-forward tables, bud vases instead of tall centrepieces. Ask where they'd put the money for the biggest effect. The answer tells you about their taste and about how straight they'll be with you on costs.

4. What does setup and takedown look like?

Who delivers, who installs, how long they need, and whether they'll be around to move ceremony pieces to the reception. Then ask about the end of the night: some florists collect vessels and rentals, some leave everything with you. Late-night takedown fees are common and better discovered now.

5. Can I see real weddings, not just styled shoots?

Styled shoots are gorgeous and controlled. A real wedding in July heat, or in a rainy November, shows you how their designs survive an actual day. Ask for full sets from two or three celebrations.

6. What happens to the flowers after?

Some florists donate arrangements to hospices or care homes, some compost, and some help you send guests home with the centrepieces. It's a small question that tells you a lot.

7. What’s included, and what isn’t?

Delivery, setup, rentals like vases and arches and candle holders, taxes, and the deposit and final-count schedule. Ask when the design can still change and when it's locked. Flowers are ordered on a schedule, and last-minute changes have real costs.

Then hire the one who got visibly excited about your date.