You'lll want to know the grounds, the history and everything you can about it, really. Learning the ins and outs of a place can tell you if it is new or old, if the grounds are kept up, will they allow you to forage the property, is there a place to create arrangements the day of the even or will they need to be brought to the venue. You can research through internet searches, talking to florists, and locals or the venue manager.

Here is a lovely description easily found through a quick search from the Wedding Spot of the Swan House Gardens that are the back drop for the floral shown here.

"the venue rich with history as you create a family history all your own. Let beauty and serenity set the scene for your event in the glorious Swan House Gardens. The Atlanta History Center Swan House Gardens offer variety, elegance, historical appeal, and natural beauty for your wedding celebration. Outdoor gatherings at this iconic 1928 mansion with stately columns rise to unforgettable heights on a private lawn with majestic cascading fountains and the beautiful Boxwood Garden. Pledge your love in a romantic ceremony on the impeccably-manicured lawns of the Swan House Mansion. After your ceremony, stroll across the bridge to enjoy the elegance of the Grand Overlook ballroom for a magnificent dinner reception. Or enjoy an al fresco cocktail reception out on the expansive lawns, which can accommodate 50 to 750 guests. Because Swan House is a historic house museum, parties and receptions are not allowed inside the mansion, but your guests can tour the mansion for a few hours during your event; and you can consider adding a costumed interpreter that will perform historical character narratives."

Begin planning the floral recipe six months to a year ahead and plan to spend up to 20% of the overall budget. Ask the venue manager, florists and friends for recommendations. Talk to gardeners, wholesalers, grocery stores and farms. Scroll through vendors Instagram feeds to see what florals are usually used at the venue and at that time of year. Unless you love a specific flower a plan with an array of options is ideal to compared to a single look. Knowing the couples aesthetic and knowing what works well at the location give you the creative freedom to get the most remarkable floral outcome

The time of year and location are important considerations in your floral design decision. They are great influencers of what recipe and what installations are possible. For instance, a beach setting and a wintery ballroom have opposing feels. Inspiration can come from anywhere I recommend collecting images of your favorite places decorated with your favorite blooms. I also recommend including images of your favorite artwork as it an drive even simple decisions like color palettes. Be sure to consider your dress, your attendants attire and shoe selections. It's also important to incorporate blooms that have personal meaning to you or to the venue. 

Entrances and prominent architecture are excellent places to create dramatic installations. Fire places, water fountains are good places to go big. Typically each venue has several focal points. Don't go overboard because a few amazing things can be way more special that a ton of designs messily placed everywhere. Centerpieces are important because they are impactive, for example, compared to the the restroom flowers. They'll get more attention. You want to go where you get the most bang for your buck. Simplicity and quality are key. Save all the broken stems and flower heads for small arrangements that can be placed in the areas that are less important like floating in a water fountain.