Floral arrangements

How to check a florist can deliver at your event's scale

Check a florist's capacity for your event size by reviewing portfolios, calling references from similar-scale events, and asking detailed operational questions.

Hiring a florist for an event isn't just about taste — it's about logistics. A florist with exquisite Instagram may fold under the pressure of 300 guests, while one used to weddings might feel overwhelmed by a corporate gala with seven distinct floral stations. The gap between ambition and execution widens fast when scale changes. Finding someone who has actually delivered at *your* event size is the foundation everything else sits on.

Check their track record at similar scale

Start by asking for a portfolio of events close to your guest count and venue type. If you're hosting 150 people and they show you mostly intimate dinners for 30, that's a real warning. Ask directly: "Show me three events you've done in the last 18 months with a guest count between X and Y." Specificity matters because a florist comfortable with smaller, curated work may not have the systems to manage bulk ordering, multiple installation points or delivery timing across a larger space.

When they share examples, ask not just what the flowers looked like, but the logistics. How many staff did they bring on the day? How early did they arrive? Did they need to adjust the design because of space constraints they hadn't anticipated? A florist used to your scale will have clear answers about their setup and team size. If they seem vague, that's a sign they haven't done it before.

Request references from recent, similar events

Don't just accept their word. Ask for the contact details of at least two clients from events in the last two years that were genuinely similar in size and complexity. Phrase it clearly: "Can I speak to the event organiser from that 200-person wedding you did in March?" When you call them, ask specific operational questions: Did the florist deliver on time? Were there enough flowers to fill the space? Did they handle last-minute changes? Did the arrangements stay fresh through the event duration?

References reveal what portfolio images cannot. Someone might say the arrangements looked perfect, but what you actually need to know is whether they were perfectly *managed* — arrived intact, didn't wilt mid-event, were installed without drama.

Verify their operational capacity

A florist's scale capacity shows in their answers to these questions:

How many events do they take on simultaneously during your date?
Do they work with a team or alone?
How far outside town will they travel and deliver?
What's their contingency if a supplier runs short on a particular flower type?
How do they manage flower freshness for events more than four hours long?

If they're juggling four events on your wedding day and you're the second installation, you need to know that upfront. If they source from multiple suppliers, that's usually a strength — it means they can pivot if one runs out. If they rely on a single supplier for signature blooms, ask what happens if that supplier fails. A florist who's done this at scale will have systems in place; one who hasn't will improvise.

Understand what happens on the day

Before you book, nail down the practical detail of execution. How many hours before your event will they arrive? Will they need a quiet corner to work, or can they arrange on-site in front of guests? For a 200-person reception with multiple table centres, ceremony arrangements, entrance displays and cocktail hour installations, setup could take six hours. If your venue only opens the morning-of and they arrive two hours before the first guest, the math doesn't work.

Ask them to walk through their timeline for your specific event. A florist experienced at your scale will have built a realistic schedule into their quote. If they seem uncertain or vague about the day's flow, that's a yellow flag.

Verifying capacity isn't glamorous work, but it's the difference between florals that transform your event and florals that become a crisis. You can find florists experienced at your event's scale and logistics on Strove — filter by reviews and ask the hard questions about past projects before you commit.

Common questions

What counts as 'similar scale' when checking a florist's past work?: Look for events within 50 guests of your count and with similar complexity — a 150-person dinner is not the same as a 150-person wedding with ceremony florals, so match both size and event type. Ask to see three recent projects (last 18 months) that stack up against yours.
What should I ask when I call a florist's references?: Focus on execution, not aesthetics: Did they arrive on time? Did arrangements stay fresh? Were there enough flowers to fill the space? Did they handle changes or problems smoothly? A reference can tell you if the florist actually managed the scale, not just designed for it.
How early should a florist arrive for my event?: This depends on your event size and complexity, but a florist experienced at your scale will give you a specific timeline in their quote — often 4–8 hours before guests arrive for large events. If they can't estimate the setup duration, they likely haven't done events your size.
What's a red flag that a florist might not handle my event's scale?: Vagueness about their team size, how many other events they're doing that day, their contingency plan for sold-out flowers, or how they'll manage the on-site timeline. A florist who's worked at your scale will answer these with confidence and detail.

Find a verified provider on Strove

Compare vetted floral arrangements providers, check their credentials, and book or request a quote — all in one place.

Find a Business

More on Floral arrangements

Check their track record at similar scale

Request references from recent, similar events

Verify their operational capacity

A florist's scale capacity shows in their answers to these questions:

How many events do they take on simultaneously during your date?

Do they work with a team or alone?

How far outside town will they travel and deliver?

What's their contingency if a supplier runs short on a particular flower type?

How do they manage flower freshness for events more than four hours long?

Understand what happens on the day

Common questions

What counts as 'similar scale' when checking a florist's past work?

Look for events within 50 guests of your count and with similar complexity — a 150-person dinner is not the same as a 150-person wedding with ceremony florals, so match both size and event type. Ask to see three recent projects (last 18 months) that stack up against yours.

What should I ask when I call a florist's references?

Focus on execution, not aesthetics: Did they arrive on time? Did arrangements stay fresh? Were there enough flowers to fill the space? Did they handle changes or problems smoothly? A reference can tell you if the florist actually managed the scale, not just designed for it.

How early should a florist arrive for my event?

This depends on your event size and complexity, but a florist experienced at your scale will give you a specific timeline in their quote — often 4–8 hours before guests arrive for large events. If they can't estimate the setup duration, they likely haven't done events your size.

What's a red flag that a florist might not handle my event's scale?

Vagueness about their team size, how many other events they're doing that day, their contingency plan for sold-out flowers, or how they'll manage the on-site timeline. A florist who's worked at your scale will answer these with confidence and detail.