Expert Tips from a Wedding Florist

Planning your wedding florals can feel overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to be. That’s why we teamed up with Shannon Babinsack of Crimson Clover Flower Farm, a wedding florist known for her artistic arrangements and personal approach. In this post, Shannon shares her story, process, and best advice to help you feel informed and inspired as you plan your dream wedding.

Shannon’s journey into floral design began with part-time work at a local flower shop in her early 20s. Over the years, she gained hands-on experience at several shops, eventually managing one full-time. After moving to Newville, Pennsylvania, Shannon combined her love of gardening and design to start her own flower farm! Over time, she transitioned into full-time wedding floral design and preservation.

“I am most fulfilled when creating beauty and feel very passionate about what I do.”

A Personalized Approach to Wedding Florals

What kinds of florals and arrangements do you offer for weddings, and how do you tailor them to each couple’s vision?

I offer full-service wedding florals, so that means everything from the bridal bouquet to centerpieces and everything in between. Every wedding is unique to the client, and therefore will be completely customized. I don’t have a one-size-fits-all formula for anything.

What is the process like for couples working with you to design their wedding florals?

It all starts with an inquiry form on my website. From there:

1. I’ll set up an introductory call to get to know you and your vision.
2. Then I prepare a proposal with mood boards, inspiration photos, and an itemized cost sheet.
3. After a follow-up call to review the proposal, you can secure your date with a contract and deposit.

I am available for check-ins throughout the timeline until the big day. We also set up a final consultation 6 weeks out to make any final adjustments to the order.

When should couples book their wedding florist?

A good timeline for booking a florist would be at least 6-12 months before your wedding. If you already know you are interested in working with a floral designer, you don’t want to wait too long only to discover they are booked!

What are some common misconceptions couples may have about working with a wedding florist?

Probably the number one item here is the cost in general. Flowers are expensive, and we work hard behind the scenes to make your vision come to life. There is so much preparation and planning that goes into creating your flowers from conception to delivery.

Another misconception is that just utilizing greenery and candles will be much less expensive than centerpieces. It really depends on what the inspiration looks like, and how voluminous you want the foliage to be. All of these items are very time consuming to lay out on every table. Therefore, this style comes with a higher setup fee than simply placing a centerpiece in the middle of the table.

How do you collaborate with other vendors to create a cohesive wedding design?

I love working with talented wedding planners because putting everything together is truly an art form! Being privy to the types of linens, dinnerware, and types of utensils being used helps a floral designer make more informed design decisions.

Floral Trends and Color Palette Ideas

What are some of your favorite floral trends for weddings this year?

I am seeing a lot more requests for large statement arrangements in urns for ceremony flowers as opposed to arbors. They are so dramatic and can be much easier to transition to the reception space following the ceremony.

Couples seem to be embracing color—bright vibrant oranges, reds, yellows. Another sweet trend are petite bouquets, especially for bridesmaids. Even bridal bouquets are being requested on the smaller side, and I actually really love it. It looks very organic and lowkey.

Lastly, I have seen a lot of continuous guest tables, whether it be multiple rectangular tables pushed together to form one long table, or round tables whose table edges are next to each other, like a caterpillar.

Are there specific flowers or color palettes that you think work especially well for spring weddings?

In the spring, I think most people think of softer colors, so pastels will always be winners. I truly love a combination of musted pastels with a vibrant pop of color. Since I have a background in growing, I really love using flowers that are naturally blooming in spring.

Some of my favorites:

• Daffodils
• Tulips
• Fragrant hyacinths
• Blooming branches (one of my FAVORITE design elements)

How about summer weddings?

For summer, I love an eclectic mix of colors and like to think of what is happening in nature. Yellow is a gorgeous summer color and can really go with almost everything.

Some of my favorites:

• Rudbeckia
• Cosmos
• Lisianthus

For the in-between stage of late spring/early summer, give me all the peonies, lilacs, and agrostemma!

Can you share an example of a recent wedding where the floral design stood out?

My mind immediately goes to the 24-foot king’s table. We ended up deciding on one long continuous “table meadow”. The table was in the center of the reception space and complimented the surrounding guest tables while making a dramatic impact.

What are some timeless floral choices that you recommend for couples who want a classic and elegant look?

I think when it comes to timeless and elegant, white and green will never go out of style. You can incorporate a lot of greenery to really fill it out and add depth for a classic look. Or you could go for a more modern approach by minimizing greenery and utilizing negative space, leaving the designs fresh and airy. Either way, it is always clean and crisp and there are some amazing flowers available in white!

Advice for Your Floral Budget

What should couples consider when setting their floral budget?

Come up with a list of items you know you want, as well as additions that you would love to have but don’t necessarily need. For example, I have never talked to a couple that didn’t want a bridal bouquet, but I have worked with plenty of couples that skipped all of the boutonnieres.

The more materials and labor involved, the higher the cost will be. When it comes to your dream wedding, do you see yourself walking down the aisle in an explosion of flowers? Or do you want the “oh and ah” moment to be your reception space? Decide what elements matter the most and focus on making that spectacular!

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to couples planning their wedding florals?

Try to have a solid idea of what you want before you contact a wedding florist. Inspiration photos are always helpful. Have a conversation with your partner about a realistic budget, and let your designer know right from the start—this will help them give you direction.

Trust your designer. If their unique style aligns with yours, give them a little bit of creative freedom to do their thing! I produce my very best work when I can get into my creative zone and let loose!

If you’re dreaming of florals that are uniquely you, head to Crimson Clover Flower Farm to start planning your one-of-a-kind wedding flowers today!

Want to hear more expert tips from wedding vendors? We’ve also interviewed Larita Fisher Photography, Spring Lane Event Planning, and Weddings by Lisa Yarbro. Get all the best advice here on our blog!