Interviewing florists for your wedding - and flower shop software

When it comes to decor that sets the mood for your wedding, nothing is more important than your flowers and floral displays. Flowers not only add tons of wonderful color to your ceremony and reception locations, but they provide a freshness and newness that symbolizes your new start in life as a married couple.

With that said, hiring the right flower shop for your wedding is a big decision that should not be taken lightly. This means that you will need to interview at least a couple wedding vendors (unless you already have one in mind that you like and trust with your wedding day) to make an educated decision. Here are just a few questions you should ask during these interviews.

How many years have you been in business? You might be a little less inclined to go with a shop that hasn't been around long, has a short track record or just seems a little too "fly by night."

Do you have wedding experience? A must. Designing flowers for a wedding is a rather involved task, so if this is someone's first rodeo, you may want to look elsewhere.

How many events are you scheduled/will you schedule to work on our wedding day? You want to make sure that the florist isn't overbooked for that day and can take the time to service you properly.

Can we see photos of weddings you've done and get references? Also very important. Any vendor without a portfolio and good references is one not really prepared to be in business.

Will the flowers we want (if known) be in season at the time of our wedding? You want to know ahead of time if certain flowers are or aren't available so you can make proper substitutions, and any good florist will know the answer to this question quickly.

Do you use flower shop software? You want your florist to be organized and on top of all your detials, and flower shop software helps them manage all their business and client details. In addition, some flower shop software programs also let them give you tools to help plan your big day.

What time would the flowers be delivered and when will you/your team arrive to set up? Also a critical question, because you will be so busy on your wedding day that you won't have time to follow up with every vendor and you will need to trust them to do what they promise.

How much is the deposit and when do we need to give it to you by? You should never pay the full tab upfront, so negotiate a decent deposit (up to half of the full fee) as well as when they will need it by.