From beachfront vows on Florida’s Gulf Coast to whimsical garden weddings in Central Florida, one thing is certain—flowers play a starring role in setting the tone for your special day. As one of Florida’s top full-service floral design teams, we at Farm Nine Weddings understand that planning your florals can be both exciting and overwhelming. That’s why we created this comprehensive wedding flower guide—to help you navigate every floral decision with confidence, creativity, and ease.

Whether you’re just getting started or refining your wedding day vision, this post will walk you through every step of the wedding flower planning process—from budgets to bouquets, trends to timelines. And yes, we even included a customizable Wedding Flower Checklist to help you feel confident, organized, and inspired. Let’s dig in!

Why Flowers Matter for Your Wedding

Flowers set the tone. They communicate your style, enhance your venue, and surround you with color and texture on one of the most photographed days of your life. A lush arch, an artful bouquet, or even a few sprigs on your cake can turn a beautiful moment into something breathtaking.

As Florida florists, we’re fortunate to work with a wide variety of flowers—think tropical blooms, locally grown greenery, and year-round favorites like roses and orchids. Whether you’re marrying in Miami, Tampa, Naples, or Orlando, your florals should reflect your love story, your vibe, and your surroundings.

Step 1: Set Your Floral Budget

Let’s talk numbers. Wedding flowers typically make up about 8–12% of your total wedding budget, though this can vary depending on your floral vision, guest count, and venue needs.

What influences floral costs?

• Guest count and number of tables
• Size and style of arrangements
• Ceremony and reception setup requirements
• Flower types (exotic vs. local)
• Labor and installation needs
• Rentals like arches, pedestals, or candle holders

Be transparent with your florist about your budget. At Farm Nine, we work with all budgets and help couples prioritize where to place statement florals for the biggest impact.

Step 2: Define Your Wedding Style

Before choosing flowers, it helps to define your wedding aesthetic. Your florist will use this to design arrangements that feel cohesive with your theme, color palette, and venue.

Popular Florida wedding styles include:

• Tropical Chic: Think monstera leaves, anthuriums, and bright orchids
• Boho Garden: Pampas grass, wildflowers, and asymmetrical designs
• Modern Minimalist: Clean lines, monochromatic palettes, structured bouquets
• Romantic Classic: Roses, peonies, baby’s breath, and lush greenery

Bring inspiration photos to your consultation—but don’t worry if you’re not 100% sure! A good florist helps you shape and refine your ideas.

Step 3: Know What’s in Season in Florida

Florida’s climate allows for gorgeous blooms year-round, but knowing what’s in season can save you money and ensure your flowers are fresh and available.

Spring: Peonies, tulips, garden roses, delphinium
Summer: Orchids, anthuriums, protea, sunflowers, zinnias
Fall: Dahlias, marigolds, mums, amaranthus
Winter: Roses, ranunculus, hellebores, camellias

Tropical elements (like palms and monstera) are available year-round and are especially stunning in Florida venues.

Step 4: Must-Have Wedding Flowers

Here’s a breakdown of typical wedding flower categories to consider:

Personal Flowers

• Bride’s bouquet
• Bridesmaids’ bouquets
• Boutonnieres for groom and groomsmen
• Corsages for mothers and grandmothers
• Flower crowns or accessories (optional)

Ceremony Flowers

• Arch or arbor installation
• Aisle markers or arrangements
• Entrance arrangements
• Ceremony backdrop or pillars

Reception Flowers

• Guest table centerpieces
• Head/sweetheart table arrangement
• Bar, gift, or guestbook table décor
• Hanging installations or chandeliers
• Cake flowers

Repurpose ceremony flowers at your reception! That dreamy arch can double as a photo booth backdrop or cake table frame.

Step 5: When to Book Your Florist

We recommend booking your florist 9 to 12 months before your wedding, especially if you’re planning a spring or fall date (our busiest seasons in Florida).

Here’s how the typical floral planning timeline looks:

• 12 Months Out: Book your florist, share your vision and colors
• 6 Months Out: Finalize your flower list and quantities
• 2 Months Out: Confirm timeline, delivery, and layout
• Week Of: Flowers are ordered, arranged, and prepped for your big day

Farm Nine offers a full-service experience, meaning we handle everything from design to setup and teardown—so you don’t have to lift a finger.

Step 6: Current Wedding Flower Trends in Florida

Want to stand out while staying timeless? Here are some of the most requested floral trends we’re loving across the state:

• Tropical Minimalism: Clean white blooms with big-leaf greens like monstera and palms
• Bold Color Palettes: Orange, coral, and magenta blooms bring personality
• Textured Bouquets: Featuring protea, bunny tail grass, and cascading orchids
• Floral Installations: Suspended flowers, meadows, and stairway designs
• Sustainable Florals: Local flowers, foam-free mechanics, reusable containers

Step 7: The Wedding Flower Checklist — What to Discuss with Your Florist

When you’re planning a wedding, details matter—and your flowers are no exception. From bouquets to centerpieces to ceremony décor, it’s easy to overlook something without a clear plan. That’s where a Wedding Flower Checklist comes in.

But this isn’t just a to-do list. It’s your guide to making the most of your floral consultation and ensuring your florist understands your complete vision. Bringing a checklist helps you stay organized, communicate clearly, and make informed decisions about your floral budget and priorities.

What Should Brides Discuss with Their Florist?

During your consultation, be ready to talk through the following floral items and preferences:

Personal Flowers

• Bridal bouquet (style, size, colors)
• Bridesmaids’ bouquets
• Toss bouquet (optional)
• Boutonnieres for groom and groomsmen
• Corsages or posies for parents and grandparents
• Flower girl petals, crowns, or mini bouquet

Ceremony Flowers

• Arch, arbor, or chuppah florals
• Aisle markers (arrangements, petals, lanterns)
• Entrance arrangements or welcome sign flowers
• Unity table or altar florals

Reception Flowers

• Guest table centerpieces (low, tall, or mixed styles)
• Head or sweetheart table arrangements
• Bar, buffet, or cake table florals
• Escort card or welcome table accents
• Hanging installations or floral chandeliers
• Restroom or lounge area touches

Additional Topics to Cover

• Preferred flower types and seasonal availability
• Color palette and theme inspiration
• Floral reuse ideas (e.g., repurposing ceremony flowers for reception)
• Delivery, setup, and teardown logistics
• Any floral allergies to avoid
• Preservation options for your bouquet

Don’t worry if you’re unsure about specific flowers. Focus on your overall style and must-have moments, and we’ll guide you from there!

Print your checklist, jot down notes, and bring it with you—it’s one of the easiest ways to feel confident, prepared, and inspired when meeting with your florist.

Step 8: Real Florida Wedding Inspiration

Still figuring out what you want? Here are a few real wedding floral styles Farm Nine has designed:

• Orlando Garden Romance: Roses, ranunculus, and lush greenery wrapped around a pergola and down the aisle
• Naples Tropical Chic: Bright orchids, protea, and palms for a beachside ceremony and ballroom reception
• Tampa Classic Elegance: White peonies, gold candleholders, and statement centerpieces
• St. Augustine Boho Vibes: Pampas grass, dried elements, and neutral tones for an outdoor celebration

Each design was tailored to the couple, venue, and season—just like yours will be.

Step 9: Don’t Forget the Little Details

• Add-on décor: Think floral accents for signage, photo ops, welcome bags
• Weather planning: Heat and humidity matter! We know which blooms last in Florida’s sun
• Floral preservation: Want to save your bouquet? Let us connect you with preservation vendors

Step 10: Let Farm Nine Bring It All to Life

With so many decisions and details, it helps to have a floral team that not only understands design—but understands you. At Farm Nine, we treat every wedding as a chance to tell your story through flowers.

We design for venues across Florida, from the coasts to the countryside. Whether you’re planning a mountaintop vow exchange (yes, Florida has hills!) or a beachfront bash, we bring the expertise and artistry to make your wedding bloom.

Let’s make something beautiful—together.