A church wedding
1. Find out who is in charge of the flower rota and whether there are any special procedures that must be followed.
2. If you do not worship at the church ask if it is possible to use outside flower arrangers. Some churches are delighted for this to happen while others depend on the income derived from providing this service to fund church flowers throughout the year.
3. Find out if there is a flower arranging room and what equipment is available. Using equipment available at the church means that you will not have to return to collect items. A pedestal is the most common arrangement at a wedding. Check that there is a pedestal stand to your liking in the church and that you can use it. Ideally you want to arrange the flowers , in situ the day before the wedding. Do check if this will be possible and find out where you can get keys as many churches are now locked on some days or for a good part of every day.
4. During Lent and Advent many churches do not allow flowers to decorate the church. You may however be allowed to arrange flowers just before the ceremony, on the understanding that they are removed after the service. Many churches do not allow flowers on the altar.
5. Always check what will happen to the flowers after the event. If they stay in the church will you have to clear them away at the end of the week?
6. Many churches understandably object to flowers being removed immediately after the ceremony and taken to the reception, leaving the church bare of flowers for the weekend. If the bride’s budget will not run to decorating both the place of worship and the reception, it is perhaps better to use less expensive flowers or to have fewer arrangements. However taking away the pew ends to do a second job as table centrepieces is both easy and practical.
7. Consider the color of the altar cloth at the time of the wedding. A gold altar cloth would not be sympathetic with pink flowers. See if an alternative is available and permitted.
8. Check if there is another wedding on the same day. Costs may be shared if the color and style can be mutually agreed.
9. If the bride wants a wealth of flowers ask the vicar, priest, verger or church flower arrangers if pillars and archways may be decorated. If so ask whether small nails can be inserted into the fabric of the building if these are not already in position. This is usually not possible. If you want flowers on the window ledges check if they are sloping. If they are you will need an angled wooden block or shelf attached to the window frame. This is complicated unless the church already has this land of equipment made, so always ask.