Written by Curator Paula Jimenez, co-owner of Cresco Stems

Planning a wedding, choosing vendors and envisioning the way everything comes together can be an easy fear for some but can also become stress-indusing for many couples. You book vendors, months pass and you’re absorbing hours of social media inspiration content and adding dozens of images to your mood board. You may be second guessing your choices, or you might simply feel the urge to get a glimpse of how things will look on your wedding day. If you’re able to get a visual of almost everything, can you also see your floral arrangements before your wedding day?

Yes, flower mockups are often ordered by couples that want a preview of their arrangements before their special day. Flower mockups are a trial run of your floral arrangements. Usually, fresh floral mockups are limited to bridal bouquets, bridesmaids’ bouquets and centerpieces. The intention is to give the couple an overall idea of the color story, size, shape and texture of their floral arrangements.

Although many floral designers and florists do provide this service, there are plenty that do not. If you’re considering or questioning the purpose and need of a floral mockup, here is some information that you might find helpful.

What is the purpose of a floral arrangement mock -up?

The mock-up allows you to get to see the arrangement in person before your wedding day. You can get an idea of the size and the overall look of the floral piece. This may help calm any nerves or doubts about what you can expect on wedding day.

Will the mock-up be an exact copy of my floral arrangement?

The mock-up is usually a very close to identical replica, but this depends on the overall vision. Seasonal or specialty stems might not be available at the time of your mock-up order. Most floral designers will never promise a specific variety. Dealing with a live product means that it’s subject to availability or lack thereof often influenced by weather or transportation issues. This means that the flower varieties can vary depending on when the mockup is ordered.

Do I have to pay for a mock-up?

Every floral designer and/or florist has a different way to approach this. Some floral vendors include the cost up front for the specific floral piece. Other floral teams will include a mockup, at no additional cost, to clients with a certain spend – usually high budget designs. While other floral teams will charge you for the wholesale cost of all of the inventory needed to create the design.

For example, a florist with a retail shop might have most of the flowers needed in stock and can charge the cost for the floral piece alone. A floral designer that works solely on events likely keeps only the flowers for whatever event is scheduled for that week and might not have the specific flower varieties in stock needed for the design. In that case, all of the flowers needed for the arrangements will need to be ordered.

Do all floral teams offer a mockup?

No, not all floral vendors provide this service. There are many reasons but two of the most frequently given reasons are cost and modifications. As previously discussed, some floral teams focus on events and don’t keep flowers on site other than those being used for that week’s event. If all of the flowers for the mockup need to be ordered, it’s usually don’t through wholesale. Wholesale sells in bulk which means that the cost of the entire floral order often significantly exceeds the cost of the floral arrangement. Another reason is simply availability. Creating a mock-up when certain flower varieties are unavailable can create confusion or other issues with the couple. The arrangement might need some substitutions that might change the overall look of the arrangement.

What can I expect once I order the mock-up arrangement?

This also varies from vendor to vendor. Many, if not most, floral vendors will schedule a date when the arrangement is picked up by the couple. They can enjoy it at home and give the floral team their feedback or notes, if applicable. Other floral teams might be a part of a walk through or tasting and schedule the floral arrangement to be delivered at the site of your tasting/ walk through appointment. This allows you to see the arrangement in the space of your venue. Other floral teams offer an in-studio appointment.

What is a digital mock-up?

Many floral teams that do not offer fresh floral mock-up arrangements will instead offer digital rendering. This allows you to see a digital version of the way that the florals will look on your wedding day. They can sometimes tie in the entire tablescape.

Are digital mockups a realistic representation of a fresh flower mockup and the wedding day florals?

Absolutely! Truth be told, the most important thing for almost all wedding vendors is to make their couples happy on wedding day. We know the importance of the day and want to contribute our best work to such a special day. Ensuring that clients are overjoyed is a priority. Digital renderings are simply a cost effective and convenient alternative to fresh floral arrangements.

In closing…

Choosing a floral team that is in line with your style and overall needs is the best starting point to a collaborative floral design experience. Choosing your flowers and creating a cohesive design that is both beautiful and unique to your day should be a fun process. Spend time browsing the floral designer’s website, look over their social media platforms, take the time to read comments and reviews and most importantly, hire based on who most closely understands your vision. Although making a budget-based decision might seem like the most practical decision, it can often lead to disappointment. It’s so important to work with a team that you trust! If you trust your vendor, they will work above and beyond to deliver what you’ve dreamed of and more.

Photography by @v_isforvanessa

To Mockup or Not, A Guide to Understanding Flower Mock Ups