Wedding Florist Consultation: How to Run Your First Client Meeting

The Meeting That Makes or Breaks Your Booking

Your consultation is not a sales pitch. It is a design conversation where the bride decides whether she trusts you to execute one of the most important aesthetic elements of the biggest day of her life. Get it right, and you have a client who will pay your asking price without negotiation. Get it wrong, and she will ghost your follow-up email.

At CHIC Flowers, consultations are the foundation of our booking process. Here is exactly how we run them, and what we now teach in our Chic Academy course.

Before the Meeting

Preparation separates professionals from amateurs:

• Research the venue. Look up the wedding venue online. Study photos of past events there. Note ceiling heights, lighting conditions, architectural style, and outdoor elements. If you have never worked there, do a drive-by or ask to visit.


• Review the inquiry form. You should have collected basic details when they first reached out: wedding date, venue, estimated guest count, budget range, and style preferences. Review these before the meeting.


• Prepare your portfolio. Curate 15 to 20 of your best images that align with the client's stated style. If they described their wedding as romantic and garden-inspired, do not lead with your modern minimalist work.


• Bring samples. If possible, bring a small arrangement or a few loose stems that represent what you would propose. Nothing sells flowers like flowers.

During the Meeting (60 to 90 Minutes)

The first 15 minutes: Listen

Ask open-ended questions and let the couple talk:

• What is the overall feeling you want your wedding to have?


• Are there specific flowers or colors you love? Any you dislike?


• What is the most important floral element to you — the bouquet, the ceremony backdrop, or the reception design?


• Have you been to any weddings where you loved the flowers?


• What is your overall wedding budget, and how much have you set aside for florals?

The middle 30 minutes: Show and tell

Walk through your portfolio, pointing out arrangements that match their vision. Explain your design process — how you go from initial conversation to mood board to proposal to installation day. Show them your ceremony structures if you own them. Explain what sets you apart from other florists they may be considering.

The last 15 minutes: Set expectations

Be transparent about:

• Your minimum investment and typical range for their type of wedding


• Your payment schedule (deposit plus installments)


• Your timeline for delivering a custom proposal


• What happens next in the process

After the Meeting

Send a proposal within 48 hours. Speed signals professionalism and respect for their time. Your proposal should include:

• A summary of the design vision you discussed


• Itemized pricing for each element (bouquets, ceremony, reception, personal flowers)


• Total investment with payment schedule


• Contract terms and next steps

Follow up once. If you have not heard back in five to seven days, send one friendly follow-up. If they do not respond after that, move on. Chasing clients signals desperation.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Talking too much about yourself. The consultation is about them, not your awards.


• Not asking about budget. If you do not discuss budget, you will either propose something they cannot afford or leave money on the table.


• Showing too many styles. Curate your portfolio to match their aesthetic. Showing everything dilutes your positioning.


• Not having a clear next step. Always end with "Here is exactly what happens next."

Want consultation scripts, proposal templates, and real examples? Enroll in Chic Academy for the complete system.