Most people call a florist when something big is happening.
A birthday. A new baby. A wedding. A funeral. When it's that important, you want the person on the other end of the phone to get it right.
And if you've ever typed "best florist in Erie, PA" into your phone at 4:45 on a Friday, you know the results don't tell you much. Lots of listings, lots of stars, not much about the flowers.
We're a flower farm and florist in Millcreek, so yes, we're biased, and we'll say that up front. But with many growing seasons in, we've learned what separates flowers that look tired by Tuesday from flowers that are still opening on Saturday. This is what we'd tell a friend.
The short answer: the best florist in Erie, PA for you is the one whose style you love and who can tell you exactly where the flowers came from. Look at real photos of their work, read a few recent reviews, and ask what's in season. If that last question makes them light up, you're in good hands.
What makes the best florist in Erie, PA?
The best florist depends on what you need this week.
If you need a get-well arrangement at UPMC Hamot by noon, you want a shop with reliable same-day delivery. If you're planning a September wedding and your heart is set on dahlias, you want someone who knows when dahlias actually bloom here, and what happens if an early cold snap gets them first.
So before you compare star ratings, get clear on the occasion, the date, and roughly what you want to spend. Everything else gets easier after that.
Types of florists around Erie
Erie has more kinds of flower people than most folks realize. Here's how they tend to break down.
Traditional flower shops
The storefront florist with a cooler full of buckets. Most handle walk-ins, same-day delivery, sympathy work and the big holidays, and some have served Erie families for generations. Their flowers usually come through wholesalers, so a lot of what's in the cooler was grown far from here (not that there’s anything wrong with that - as a farmer-florist, we also source premium products when the occasion calls for it).
Online order sites and wire services
You order on a national website, and a local shop (or a warehouse somewhere else) fills it. It's convenient, especially if you live out of town. The catch is that the photo you clicked on is a catalog shot, what arrives depends on what that shop has on hand, and part of what you pay goes to the network instead of the flowers. If you can, call the local shop directly.
Wedding and event florists
Many work by appointment, with no walk-in shop. They handle consultations, full designs, setup and teardown. Some serve Erie from Cleveland, Buffalo or Pittsburgh and charge travel fees, so ask about that early. Click here for more information about our own wedding offerings.
Farmer-florists
These are florists who grow much of what they design with. That's us. You get flowers cut close to the day you see them, plus varieties that don't ship well, like dahlias. The trade-off is real: we usually only have what's blooming. There are no peonies in October. We checked. However, we do have the option to source premium products from a wholesaler when the occasion calls for it, adding an additional element to what we do for some flexibility.
DIY flowers by the bucket
If you like arranging, some farms sell flowers by the bucket. Ours are called Buckets of Blooms, and they're made for showers, parties and DIY weddings.
Looking for growers near you, wherever you live? The ASCFG's LocalFlowers.org directory lets you search for flower farms and farmer-florists by city or ZIP code.
7 questions to ask a florist before you order
1. Where do your flowers come from?
Colombia is the largest supplier of the flowers the US imports, according to the USDA, and imported stems can spend days in boxes and coolers before they reach a shop. That's normal for the industry. A good florist still knows their sources and won't get cagey when you ask. Although we always advocate for and prefer locally grown flowers, we do source premium products from a wholesaler when the occasion calls for it.
2. What's in season right now?
Seasonal flowers are usually fresher, and they look like the time of year you're in. Around here that means peonies and ranunculus in late spring and early summer, snapdragons, rudbeckia and strawflowers in midsummer, then dahlias and lisianthus until frost closes the field. For example, in mid to late October The Studio is filled with dahlias of all shapes, sizes, and colors. Those arrangements may also contain marigolds, celosia, strawflower, dried grasses, and more locally grown elements that really add something special to a fall design.
If a florist can tell you what's blooming locally this week, they're really paying attention.
3. Can I see real photos of your work?
Look for their own photos on Instagram or Facebook, not catalog images. Then read reviews from the last year or so, since shops change hands and staff over time. Notice how the florist responds to the unhappy ones.
4. How long should these flowers last?
An honest florist will tell you. Dahlias are gorgeous and short-lived, usually just a few days in a vase. Lisianthus can go much longer. Vase life for dahlias can vary by variety, but on average our dahlias can be expected to last anywhere from 5-7 days as long as you use our tips to nurture your blooms. Lisianthus, on the other hand, can have a vase life of up to two weeks and even more!
If someone promises every flower in the bunch will last two weeks, be a little suspicious.
5. Do you deliver where I need it, and by when?
Ask about the delivery area, the delivery cost, and the same-day cutoff. Hospitals, funeral homes and offices often have their own delivery rules, and a local florist will know them. We deliver to many zip-codes in Erie County, but we do not offer same-day delivery in most cases.
6. What will my budget get me?
Say your number out loud. A good florist would much rather design something lovely for $60 than guess and miss. Ask what changes as the price goes up: more stems, a vase, bigger or harder-to-find flowers.
7. What do you need to know about the person?
The best florists ask questions back. Who is it for? What colors do they love? Is this a "congratulations" or a "thinking of you"?
If you say "I'm not sure what I want" and the florist gets curious instead of impatient, you've found your person.
Choosing a wedding florist in Erie
Wedding florists book up fast. Erie's outdoor wedding season is short, and summer and fall Saturdays fill early. We book as early as two years out, for instance.
Bring photos you love to the first meeting, and a few you don't. Ask what will be in season on your date and what happens if a flower they planned on isn't ready.
Want to see our wedding work first? Browse our wedding gallery, or read about wedding flowers from our farm.
From our field: what we've learned since 2022
We planted our first rows in Millcreek in 2022. Since then we've learned a lot about Erie weather (feet of lake-effect snow, late frosts, a July that tests everyone's patience) and a lot about what people are really hoping for when they’re looking for flowers.
A recent customer told us, “I had never found joy in flowers, until I was gifted one of your bouquets.”. Comments like these from our customers continue to blow us away, and on many days it can be the fuel that keeps us moving forward.
Here's what we'd pass along. The florist who asks you questions is usually the one who cares how it turns out. That's who you want, whether it's us or the shop down the street.
FAQ
Who is the best florist in Erie, PA?
It depends on what you need. For same-day delivery, look for an established shop with good recent reviews. For weddings or local, seasonal flowers, look for a florist who can tell you where their stems are grown.
How far ahead should I book a wedding florist in Erie?
As early as you can, especially for a summer or fall Saturday. We are booking weddings as far out as two years from now, so it really is never too early to start the search.
Should I order from a local florist or an online flower site?
If you can, call or visit the local shop directly. You'll talk to the person making your arrangement, hear what's actually fresh, and skip the additional fees that come with many online orders from national wire services.
How do I make cut flowers last longer?
Start with a clean vase. Trim about 1 in (2.5 cm) off the stems with sharp shears, strip any leaves that would sit underwater, and add the flower food if your bouquet came with some. Change the water every day or two, and keep the vase away from heat vents and the fruit bowl, since ripening fruit gives off ethylene, a gas that ages flowers faster.
Whoever you end up calling for your next arrangement, we hope you walk away with flowers that make somebody's whole week.
