The first thing you should do is figure out a budget for your florist.

Second, you need to find three florist to choose from. When I say florist, I mean someone that has worked many weddings, has their own delivery trucks, has a rental room filled with miscellaneous objects and a green house filled with flowers. No party planners or part time flower sellers allowed for your wedding! - AND visit every floral shop you are considering for your wedding.

Third, set up an early Saturday morning appointment. You can view the Wedding Arrangements going out that day and you may even be able to watch some of the employees in action. Look around the shop, notice the health of the plants and ask to look through a photo album of past weddings. They don't have one? Excuse yourself and run!.

What do you ask them now that you've got a contender? Ask about fees first - setup fees, tear down fees, consulting fees, and delivery fees. Next, ask how long they've been in the business, how many weddings do they do a year and is anyone booked for your day.

Ask if they've been to your reception site, do they set up and take down floral arrangements at the ceremony site - is there an extra cost for this? Can they move flowers from the ceremony site to the reception site - is there an extra cost for this?

What time will they arrive? How many of them will be arranging the flowers at the sites and how many will be making sure that the bride, groom and wedding party are in bloom?

Now, time to save money! Use your flowers at the ceremony and reception site, expand their usage. Keep your ceremony flowers to a minimum, less flowers is okay, everyone is looking at you anyway - not the flowers. Check for weddings the same day as yours at your ceremony site, you could share the expense of altar flowers.

Price various items out at each place, prices for basics like a ceremony runner can be doubled by a savvy florist. Don't marry on or near Holidays where flowers are the important aspect of the day, such as Valentine's Day and Mother's Day.

Purchase floral arrangements from your neighborhood grocery store, make sure you assign someone the task of arranging and preparing the flowers at the ceremony and reception site. Borrow house plants and exotic plants from friends and use them at the reception site. Make your own arrangements - make sure you have time. Make your own silk arrangements ahead of time.

Quick note about contracts - if it isn't written, it isn't done!