Mastering Floral Language: Key Terms Defined

Florist Translator – “Can you repeat that like someone who doesn’t know floristry”

The team and I have the privilege of talking to newly engaged couples nearly every week. The biggest advantage that gives us is seeing the most common areas where our couples need guidance. One of the most consistent things I’ve observed over my years as a wedding florist is that there’s often a language barrier between the florist and the couple.

I know when I first stepped into the world of floristry, I was nervous about learning the language of florists. I used to keep the notes app open on my phone and write down terminology I overheard other florists saying to each other. Later, I’d come home and Google what it meant and how I could do it too.

I still do it, if I’m honest — usually while I doom‑scroll at night, watching industry veterans and newcomers from different countries. So I can only imagine, and genuinely sympathise with, how you might feel reaching out to a florist for the first time.

As a florist who is constantly learning new terms, flower names, styles, and mechanics on the daily, I’m here to tell you: you don’t need to speak “florist” to tell me your wedding floral dreams.

My team and I have put this document together so you can understand some of the words we use every day. Our hope is that it helps you feel confident walking into a florist’s studio and communicating your vision, knowing you’ve done the image in your head justice.

All I really want to know is how much you love flowers — and which ones are your favourites.

How to use this guide

Planning wedding flowers should feel exciting, not overwhelming. Our industry has its own language, and it’s completely normal for newly engaged couples to feel unsure about the terms florists use. This guide is designed to bridge that gap.

Your Florist Translator breaks down common industry terminology into simple, everyday language so you can communicate your vision clearly, understand what your florist is describing, and feel confident throughout the planning process. Whether you're dreaming of lush garden-style arrangements or trying to understand why certain flowers aren’t available year‑round, this resource helps you speak the same language as your florist — making the whole experience smoother, clearer, and more enjoyable.

Seasonality description:

This is one of my favourite words to use. I probably sound like a broken record to those who know me, but it is the most important one to me and the business:

In floristry, Seasonality refers to the natural periods of the year when specific flowers are at their peak availability, quality, and abundance. It speaks to the cycles of growth and bloom, guiding us florists in choosing the freshest, most sustainable, and cost‑effective flowers for arrangements.

Why is seasonality so important to us?

·       Seasonal flowers are fresher and higher quality. They tend to have better colour, scent, and longevity because they haven’t been forced to bloom or shipped long distances.

·       They’re usually more affordable. When a flower is in season, it’s more plentiful, so the price drops. (Supply vs. Demand)

·       We use seasonality to guide style and spark inspiration. Seasonal blooms help create arrangements that feel natural, local, and connected to the time of year.

·       Sustainability matters. Using in‑season flowers reduces the environmental impact of refrigeration and long‑haul transport.

All things that are at the core of our business’s values here at RBF.

Key word descriptions:

Word/ Phrase	Description
Hand-Tied	A bouquet made entirely in the florist’s hands, not arranged in a vase. Designed to be placed in water at home or held. There are many different styles and shapes a florist can make with a hand-tied arrangement. *Be sure to let us know it intended purpose so that we can design appropriately
Filler Flowers	Small, delicate flowers used to add texture and fullness (a favourite of ours is Queen Anns Lace). They’re not “cheap,” just supportive players.
Foliage/ Greenery	Leaves and greens used to add shape, contrast, and structure. They’re an important part of the design.
Frog / Kenzan	A heavy pin holder used to anchor stems in foam‑free designs.
Conditioning	The prep work florists do to make flowers last longer — trimming stems, hydrating, and removing leaves.
Reflexing	A technique where rose petals are gently flipped outward to make the bloom look bigger and more open. This can be done with other types of blooms
Bud Vase	A small vase designed to hold just one or a few stems.
Compact vs. Loose	Compact: Tight, round, structured arrangement. Loose: Airy, natural, garden‑style with movement.
Asymmetrical	A modern design style where the arrangement intentionally isn’t perfectly balanced.
Budding vs. Blooming	Blooming: Flowers are open. Budding: Flowers are still closed and will open over time.
Variegated	Greenery or petals with multiple colours or patterns.
On Mass	Refers to using a large quantity of the same flower grouped together to create a bold, impactful look. Instead of mixing lots of varieties, this style celebrates one bloom type in abundance for a clean, modern, luxurious feel.
Boutonniere vs. Corsage	Boutonniere: A small floral piece worn on the lapel, usually by the groom, groomsmen, or special family members. Aussie refer to it as a buttonhole Corsage: A slightly larger floral piece traditionally worn by mothers, grandmothers, or special guests. Corsages can be worn on the wrist or pinned to clothing and often include more detail than a boutonniere.
Flower Cloud or Mound	A flower mound is a low, rounded arrangement designed to look full and abundant from every angle. It’s typically created with flowers placed closely together to form a soft, dome‑like shape. Flower mounds are often used for centrepieces, plinth arrangements, or as part of larger installations where a lush, sculptural look is desired.
Compte arrangement	A compote arrangement is a floral design created in a low, footed bowl. It’s often used for centrepieces and allows for a loose, garden-style look with flowers flowing naturally over the edges.
Ground Meadow	A ground meadow is a low, garden-like floral arrangement placed directly on the ground. It creates the look of flowers growing naturally from the earth and is often used to frame aisles, altars, or photo moments.
Plinth Arrangements	Plinth arrangements are floral designs displayed on tall stands or pillars. They add height and drama to a space and are perfect for framing entrances, ceremonies, or key moments without blocking views.
Cascade	A cascade refers to a floral design that flows downward in a natural, waterfall-like shape. You’ll often see this in cascading bridal bouquets or installations where flowers trail gracefully toward the ground.
Style	Style describes the overall aesthetic or vibe of your floral design — for example, garden-style, modern, minimalist, romantic, or whimsical. Your preferred style helps guide flower choices, shapes, and the overall feel of your arrangements.
Mechanics	Mechanics are the behind‑the‑scenes tools and structures that hold floral designs in place. This includes things like chicken wire, floral tape, reusable armatures, and other supports that help create shape, stability, and height.
Lead Time	Lead time refers to how far in advance florists need to order flowers or prepare designs. Some blooms require weeks of notice, especially if they’re seasonal or in high demand.
Premium Blooms	Premium blooms are high‑value flowers known for their size, rarity, or luxury appeal — such as peonies, orchids, or garden roses. They elevate the look of an arrangement but often come with a higher price point.

 

Sustainability vs Traditional:

No two florists are the same. Everyone specializes in a different style of floristry and its important that you choose one the aligns with your values.

Sustainability in floristry focuses on environmentally conscious practices such as using locally grown, seasonal flowers, reducing waste, and avoiding single‑use plastics.

Traditional floristry often relies on imported blooms, floral foam, and resource‑intensive materials to achieve specific designs year‑round.

The contrast highlights a shift toward eco‑friendly methods that prioritise lower environmental impact without compromising creative expression.

Quote Terminology Breakdown

Every florist quotes differently and breaks down their quotes in their own way. Here are some terms we use in ours that don’t relate to the flowers themselves. You may see them across other florists’ quotes or something similar:

Labour Charge: This line item includes everything that happens before we even touch a flower — admin, planning, communication with you (the couple) and our suppliers, and design work. Every wedding we do at RBF is completely unique and designed from scratch. We’re happy to take inspiration from Pinterest or your friend’s wedding; however, we will always design something unique to you.

On‑the‑Day Labour Charge: For us, this includes everything we do on your big day. Every florist will be different, and you may not even see this line item if you’ve selected the pickup option. If it is included, we’ll write a brief overview of the tasks for the day and note if multiple team members are required to complete the work.

Some of the activities might include delivering floral items to multiple locations (e.g., where the bride and groom are getting ready, then the ceremony), creating installations on site, and/or having a florist stay on site to relocate ceremony florals.

Bump Out: At the end of the night, once the last song has been sung and the lights come on, the florists return to the venue, pack away all the flowers and mechanics, and take everything back to the studio. We offer a couple of different bump‑out services:

• Standard Tier: Removal of florals from the venue. Once we’ve cleaned the venue florals, we care for them overnight and wrap them for you to collect from the studio.
• Mid Tier: Same as the Standard Tier, but with delivery to your chosen address the day after your wedding.
• Lux Tier: We come into the venue early and create arrangements for your guests to take home at the end of the night.

GST: We all know this stands for Goods and Services Tax in Australia. However, some people are surprised that it’s included in the final quote amount. We put it in here so you aren’t caught off guard when you receive your first quote from a florist.

 

What's Next:

Our team takes on a limited number of weddings each season to ensure every couple receives a deeply personalised experience. If you’d like to explore working together, reach out to check availability and begin your design consultation

Follow the link here to our enquiry form.