Florist vs Wedding Stylist: What’s the Difference and Do You Need Both?
Florist vs Wedding Stylist: What’s the Difference and Do You Need Both?
Planning your wedding often means pulling together a dream team of suppliers, but with so many titles floating around, it can be tricky to understand who does what. Two roles that are often confused are the wedding stylist and the wedding florist. While both play a huge part in bringing your wedding vision to life, they have very different focuses.
If you’ve ever wondered “Do I need both?”, this guide breaks down the differences so you can decide what’s right for your day.
What Does a Florist Do?
A florist focuses on one very beautiful element: the wedding flowers. Your florist is the creative expert who designs and arranges the event flowers that bring colour, texture, and atmosphere to your day.
From bouquets and buttonholes to ceremony arches and reception centrepieces, a florist ensures your flowers are not only stunning but also fit the season, budget, and venue space.
A florist’s role typically includes:
● Designing your bridal bouquet and bridesmaids’ bouquets
● Creating buttonholes, corsages, and flower crowns
● Dressing ceremony spaces with arches, pedestals, or pew ends
● Styling reception tables with floral centrepieces, runners, or bud vases
● Offering advice on seasonal blooms that will look their best on the day
What Does a Wedding Stylist Do?
A wedding stylist is all about the overall look and feel of your wedding. They create a cohesive design concept that runs through everything - from your ceremony backdrop and reception décor, to the way your table settings and lighting tie together.
Think of a wedding stylist as the person who sets the stage:
● Designing the mood, theme, and aesthetic of your day
● Sourcing props, linens, lighting, and decorative details
● Styling spaces such as the aisle, welcome area, top table, and cake display
● Coordinating how all elements (flowers, décor, stationery) complement each other
They’re the big-picture designer, making sure everything looks seamless and polished.
As a Yorkshire wedding florist covering the North, I’ve had the pleasure of bringing floral dreams to life at a wide variety of weddings, from elegant country houses to stylish venues across the region.
My focus is always on creating wedding flowers that reflect your vision, while ensuring every detail works seamlessly within the overall wedding styling.
Florist vs Wedding Stylist: The Key Differences
● A florist focuses on flowers, while a stylist oversees the entire wedding look and feel.
● Florists work with fresh (and sometimes dried) blooms; stylists bring in props, fabrics, candles, lighting, and more.
● Florists specialise in floral design; stylists ensure everything ties together visually.
● Many couples choose both, allowing the stylist to handle the bigger design picture and the florist to provide the flowers that make it pop.
Do You Need Both?
Not every wedding requires both a florist and a wedding stylist - it depends on your vision.
● If you want: timeless floral arrangements and are happy to handle the décor yourself → a florist may be enough.
● If you want: a full design concept, mood boards, prop sourcing, and someone to style every last detail, a wedding stylist will be invaluable.
● If you want: a truly cohesive, professional look where flowers and décor flow seamlessly together → booking both a stylist and a florist is the dream team.
Some of the most memorable weddings happen when a florist and wedding stylist collaborate. The stylist brings the big-picture design, and the florist weaves flowers through it, creating spaces that are stylish, personal, and unforgettable.
If you’re based in Yorkshire or across the North and want to explore flowers that complement your styling plans, I’d love to chat. I regularly team up with local wedding stylists, and together we can help you bring your unique vision to life.
Next Step: Browse my wedding flower portfolio or get in touch to discuss how flowers can fit into your overall styling plans.
