I met with Tom at the actual place where the flowers are constructed. He talked to me about what my bridesmaids would be wearing (4 of them, and their small daughters) and even went so far as to make suggestions when I was a little overwhelmed....
We looked at a few magazines, but then also, I brought in fabric sashes that I would be giving my bridesmaids, and we took it back to the coolers and tried out some different colors, based on what I had in mind.
He wasn't offended that I made artificial arrangements for my toddler-jr.-bridesmaides, and even incorporated the Gerbera Daisies that I had gotten from Michael's in my groom and father's boutonnies, knowing that "daisies" were a hippie theme of my husband and I...
I did NOT shop around for florists, but selected them based on the fact that they were a "preferred vendor" of the ceremony site. For initially being opposed to anything too grand for flowers, this vendor reminded me that flowers and photos were part of "the moment" and if something was half-done, it would be half-done forever...immortalized in photographs. It was pricey to get $75 arrangements for each of my girls, but then the guys were each less than $15...
The flowers were beautiful , lasted all evening and included all the things that I asked for.
