Planning a big party or wedding? If you need flowers, make sure to take some time to shop around. There are different types of florists, and your local retail shop may not be right for a big event. They may make beautiful arrangements, but for any event that needs more than six flower arrangements, consider a special event florist.

This type of florist is one that does large events exclusively. Some will even limit themselves to resort parties or weddings only. They generally do not have a retail shop where you can walk in and buy an arrangement or gift. But why should that be such a huge advantage over your local florist?

Primarily because of space. You will usually find this type of florist in a warehouse or other large building. At first the advantage is not apparent, but let's say you need fifty arrangements. A large space means that containers can be prepared and laid out ahead of time. As the time for your event approaches, the florists can come in and make the arrangements quickly. The chances that they will deliver on time increases greatly.

A small shop, by contrast, has limited space. Imagine you have, say, fifty arrangements ordered. In a regular flower shop they will have to start early and work longer to get the job done. Then where will they store the finished arrangements? Will they be stacked and crushed? Or, worse yet, will they get distracted by the retail traffic and be late bringing your flowers? As you can see, something as simple as inadequate space can cause many problems down the line.

This leads us to another advantage. Refrigerator space. You may have noticed that flowers are kept in coolers. That's because flowers stay fresh longer under cool conditions. Here's how it works: the florist orders flowers from a grower, and the grower ships them in large boxes. How the flowers are treated once they arrive can make a huge difference in how they look and how long they last.

Because cooler space is limited in a small shop, your flowers may have to sit in a back room, maybe for days. A specialty florist, however, is used to handling large volumes of flowers. They probably have more than enough cooler space and can get your flowers in optimum conditions immediately. This means they'll be fresher and last longer for your guests to enjoy!

Delivery is a challenge for a big order. Flowers can be fragile. Getting them safely to their destination takes specialized equipment and knowledge. Instead of cramming the arrangements into a small delivery van designed for just a few, specialty florists have systems and equipment designed to handle this kind of job.

One more possible advantage to hiring this kind of florist is that they may rent containers and other decorative items. Small shops may have some rentals, but limited space means limited selection. Your special event florist may also have things like pillars and mirrors you can rent. Renting these things rather than buying them can save you a lot of money!

Check your local business directory and ask around. If you have bridal fairs in your area, it is worth checking them out. It's a good place to find special event florists, even if you are not planning a wedding. Just make sure you ask if they do only weddings. Good luck with your party!