Hi -
Thank you so much for getting in touch, and what exciting news about your wedding.
I have checked my diary, and you'll be pleased to know that I do have availability for your wedding date. Great news!
In this email I hope to be able to give you all the information, prices and booking details you need to help you make an informed decision about booking me as your wedding florist, as well as a time-line about how the planning stages work.
Step 1 - Provisionally holding the date.
The first and most important step is to provisionally book the wedding date with us. There's no deposit to pay to do this; it simply holds the date for you until I see you for your first consultation, and ensures that you don't miss out on the availability.
In order to do this please follow this link, complete and submit the form: Click Here
I know what you're thinking ... "but how do I decide whether to hold the date with you?!" ... Let me explain.
- Pricing and costs: Here is my current price-list which should give you a good idea of cost for each item you require in order to form a realistic budget. If you require a price for an item that isn't listed, please don't hesitate to ask.
The price-list gives information on our minimum required investment for our bespoke wedding flowers service.
If you are planning a more modest celebration, do bear in mind that we also offer a special offer package called 'To Have and To Hold'. More about that in a moment ....
- Personality and style: I feel really strongly that finding the best 'fit' florist for your big day is really important (in many ways more important than cost, although budget of course has a part to play), and from my perspective too I need to ensure that each couple's vision aligns with my style and approach. It is essential that my work on the big day reflects you as a couple, and I will work hard getting to know you to make sure that it does. There are many great florists out there, but booking simply the 'cheapest' florist often leads to finding that the flower quality is poor, the customer care inferior and the supplier's skill and experience lacking. My prices are inclusive of detailed consultations, nearly 20-years of advice and experience, being on-hand to answer questions whenever you need me, critical liaising with your other suppliers to make sure everything goes as planned, and sourcing the best quality flowers available. And that is all before I've even started designing! We are also an eco-conscious business, using no floral foam and sourcing as much of our floral material locally as we can, which all involves further planning and consideration. The planning process is just as important as the flowers on the day itself, and our award-winning bespoke bridal service offers all the guidance, knowledge, reassurance and advice that you will need to bring your floral vision into reality.
With all that in mind, it's a good idea to have a Discovery Call with me in the short-term to run your ideas past me, get a bit more of a feel for whether my work and process works for you as a couple, and to ask any questions you may have at this stage. Just let me know if this would suit you, and I can give you a call right away, even sometime today if you are available. I know that many couples feel daunted by planning their flowers, and therefore it is also useful to discuss any worries or challenges you feel so that I can address your concerns, reassure you both, and demystify the process somewhat.
Just remember though that the wedding date is not held safely for you until I have the completed form returned to me, so it is best not to delay too long, in order to avoid disappointment.
Step 2 - Research and Planning.
Once the date is pencilled in, the next step is down to you:
Before you come to see me for a consultation you ideally need to have chosen and ordered all dresses and suits. Don't forget to ask the dress suppliers for colour swatches of the chosen fabrics where possible.
You also need to have done plenty of personal research into the flower types and design ideas that you would like for your big day. To do so, it is easiest to use the internet and social media to collect ideas and then set up an electronic Pinterest board where you can collect all your ideas together in one place. There is no need for you to know all the flower names or technical terms; the pictures will enable you to communicate to me what you do and don't like. This will give us a good starting point for your appointment.
I have written a blog post about planning your flowers, the early stages of decision-making, and progressing your ideas, which may help you. You can find it here: Blog Post - 'Where to Start'
And this second blog about pricing and cost priorities may also be a big help: Blog Post - 'Spending Priorities'
Step 3 - In-person Consultation.
Once you have done all this, you are ready for a consultation. We usually say that 3-6mths prior to your big day is plenty of time for this, though if you're ready earlier you are of course welcome to come to see me sooner.
Just call me or drop me an email to book an appointment when you think you're ready. In the days following the consultation I will put together a detailed and itemised quotation for you, and a deposit will then be required moving forward to keep the date reserved.
Meeting in-person is by far the best and most ideal way to start your flower planning, not just because it makes it easier to share and discuss ideas, but also because it's so nice to get to know you over a coffee.
It is also best to leave your first consultation until that bit nearer the time because flowers are the 'icing on the cake'. They finish off the bridal look, hair-style, tablescape, cake design and venue plans, and it is much easier to start making floral decisions when many other aspects of your wedding have already been considered.
However, I appreciate that this is not practical for every couple. Perhaps you live abroad, or need to move your planning on sooner due to an impending arrival, job relocation or house move. Every client is different, and we are flexible with our planning to ensure that it fits around you and - most importantly - ensures that you feel confident with the process as it unfolds. So let us know about your situation and we can move forward accordingly.
I would also love to tell you about a couple of other things that might interest you -
'To Have and To Hold' special offer package:
This is an alternative to my bespoke wedding service, and is perfect for those couples who are on a more restricted budget - follow this link to find out more.
It is aimed at those couples who know they need flowers but aren't all that interested in deciding on the finer details, preferring to leave those choices to the expert.
It is a low-contact option and differs greatly from our main bepoke service, but if your costs are spiralling and you are open-minded about your flower choices, this could be perfect for you.
Styling and Props:
We are experienced with dressing spaces and rooms, and are more than pleased to be asked to take on any additional styling required at your event. Booking separate stylists and florists can often be confusing for both you and the suppliers, so do consider having us add the decorative and non-floral details too.
I have an extensive hire range available, which is also especially useful to couples who are having a DIY wedding or making certain floral aspects of the day themselves.
It will save you the cost and effort of buying lots of items yourself which you may have no use for afterwards, and our per-item hire prices are very reasonable, starting from just £1.50.
The items available include vases both large and small, urns and milk-churns, candleware and lanterns, signage, mirrorware, and larger installation items such as hanging hoops and arch frames.
To see the full up-to-date range please go here: 'Something Borrowed'
And if you require items that we don't currently supply, we are more than happy to source them for you.
I think that's it for now!
Just remember to complete and return the booking form asap if you are interested in choosing me to create your wedding flowers. It's always worth doing this as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
And please don't hesitate to ask if you have any other questions at this stage.
Talk soon, and best wishes -
Jessie Copper
Creative Director
West Dorset Wedding Flowers
The UK Wedding Florist of the Year at The Wedding Industry Awards 2021
www.westdorsetweddingflowers.co.uk
07740 981765
THE WEDDING INDUSTRY AWARDS
2022 onwards - now proud to be a National Judge
2021 – National Winner - Best Florist
2018 and 2020 – Regional Highly Commended Winner
2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019 – Regional Finalist
2014 – National Highly Commended Winner
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