Selecting the perfect florist for your wedding is easy when you know the right questions to ask.

In this article we provide 10 essential questions to ask when interviewing your perspective florist.

1. (The obvious)
Is my date available?
If your date is available, the next thing to do is ask what deposit is required to hold the date. If you are interviewing multiple florists (and we hope you are), be sure to write this information down!

2. What is your cancellation and/or reschedule policy?
It may seem like a negative question but you need to protect yourself and your investment. Cancellations can happen for many, many unexpected reasons. Maybe you decide on a different florist later, you have a death in the family, you reschedule the date of th wedding, and so on ... You definitely need to know the answer to this question and have it in writing once you sign the contract.

3. Do you charge a delivery or setup fee?
Some floral designers will charge a separate fee for setup and/or delivery, while others will include it in the cost of your flowers. Just make sure you have all the costs up front so there are no surprises later.

4. Have you done wedding flowers at my ceremony and/or reception venues before?
If they have, they may have some photographs from other events. This may give you some wedding decorating ideas you haven't thought of. If the designer has never done your venue before, it is not necessarily an issue. Simply request that he/she arrange a time to meet with you at the venue so you can discuss the layout and your floral needs together.

5. Do you stay to help distribute the corsages, bouquets, etc? You'd be surprised how many brides never think to ask this question. Somone will need to be in charge of getting the flowers to the right people at the ceremony site (and you will not have time to figure that out the day of). You may also enlist someone in your family help with this task. At a minimum, ask the florist to label everything so whoever is responsible for this will know who gets what.

6. What time do you arrive at the venue(s) to setup?
You just want to make certain that things arrive on time, but not so early that your wedding and reception flowers aren't fresh when the event begins. An experience floral designer knows this and will most likely do a fabulous job for you. However, ask if you can get references from recent brides - it never hurts to do your homework.

7. Do you rent decorative items or work with someone who does? Some florists will arches, candelabras, runners, and other decorative wedding pieces for your venues. Shop the local rental companies, as well.

8. Do you offer silk arrangements?
If you want to keep your bouquet beyond the wedding, you might want to consider silk or dried arrangements. Another alternative is to have your bouquet preserved with a reputable bouquet preservation company. Check out our vendor directory for companies who provide this service.

9. What (if any) items need to be returned after the wedding, and what is your return policy?
You will have to return any rented items and you may also be required to return plant stands or other items not included in the cost of the actual arrangements. Be sure to ask and get a list. Find out the times/days for return so you can assign someone to take care of this while you are away on your honeymoon.

10. Do you have references that I may contact?
Other brides are your best source for real information about how fabulous a florist is (or isn't). Ask the florist for references. Contact your local Better Business Bureau to be sure they don't have complaints filed against them. Due diligence is the secret ingredient to a perfect wedding day!

Selecting a florist is like selecting any other professional. Be sure to comparison shop and take good notes at each interview. We know budget is an issue with most brides, but don't necessarily go for the "cheapest". Remember, you usually get what you pay for. After you have met with three or four florists, you'll be able to make a well-informed decision and get the most for your wedding $$$.

Visit WhereBridesGo.com for reception table centerpieces, wedding favors, and reception decorations!