7 Tips for Getting the Most from Your Wedding Florist

Now that you’re engaged, planning your perfect wedding should be exciting, fun and give you a chance to put your unique signature on this big day. All the details can seem overwhelming at first but when you work with professional, experienced vendors that you feel a rapport with, all the details fall in place so you can enjoy every minute. You can make meeting and working with your potential florist much easier if you keep in mind a few of these tips.

A good florist should be able to give you alternatives that keep the feel and color you are wanting from your Bridal Bouquet Design to the Boutonnières all while remaining within your budget.

1. It’s best to wait until you’ve chosen your wedding and reception venues before meeting with your florist. Each location has specific needs and you’ll want the designer to be familiar with your venues.
2. Call and make an appointment a few weeks ahead so the designer can set aside time just for you. Remember that most florists are busy designing and setting up weddings on weekends so try to find a weekday that will work.
3. As with any vendor, it’s a good idea to meet with at least two florists. Take a look at their websites before meeting with them to see if their style compliments yours. Get a written proposal from your potential vendors before making a decision and certainly before putting down a deposit.
4. Your florist will ask you all the possible places you may want flowers, all the people you may want to include and all the details you haven’t thought of. They will want to know what color palette you are working with, how casual or formal your event will be and what your personal style is. It will be helpful to both you and your florist if you spend a little time perusing Bridal magazines and websites to get an idea of what you like and don’t like. Bring in some pictures or send ahead some photos via email. You might be drawn to the shape in one bridal bouquet design, to the colors in another and particular blossoms from several others. Your florist can meld those together to create a unique bridal bouquet design that reflects all the various aspects you desire.
5. It’s a good idea to be a bit flexible, especially if you are on a limited budget. The bridal bouquet design you loved from a magazine may contain blossoms that are out of season, hard to obtain or extremely expensive. Your florist should be able to give you alternatives that keep the feel and color you are wanting while remaining within your budget. If you’re set on one particular bridal bouquet design for yourself, and the flowers are available, then think about using less expensive blossoms for your Attendants and the reception. After all, this is the one chance to have the bridal bouquet design of your dreams.
6. When going over proposals from possible vendors, make sure to ask if there are additional set up and/or delivery fees. Find out if they expect the containers or vases to be returned to them after your event, if they intend to pick them up or if they are included in the cost. You may be able to save on your cost by providing vases to your florist; ask if that is a possibility. If you are having a Sunday going away brunch the table arrangements from a Saturday wedding can be used again there. It’s often a shame when your beautiful arrangements are left after your reception as guests are heading out of town. If this is the case, ask your florist if they can deliver them to a local hospital or nursing home. Not only will you bring joy to the homebound but you can also take a tax deduction of your gift.
7. Finally, while reviewing the various proposals from florists, the bottom line is important but confidence and rapport should weigh equally in your decision making. You’ll want to feel that the designer you choose understands your vision, is detailed and organized, responds in a timely manner, is flexible and makes you feel at ease. Most florists will be happy to provide you with a list of Brides they have worked with in the past and you can also speak with other vendors: photographers, bakers, caterers etc. for recommendations.

As a final recommendation, once you decide on a florist, make your deposit to hold the date. The details can always be finalized as the date gets closer but designers can only do so many weddings in a weekend and you’ll want to be sure they can do yours.

Margaret Bost is the owner and designer of Santa Fe Floral in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Specializing exclusively in weddings, parties and special events, Margaret and her staff focus all their attention on making each Bride’s vision a reality. With over 30 years in the floral industry, Margaret has been honored with numerous awards for her innovative designs and featured in many local and national Bridal publications. To learn more about Margaret and see the work of Santa Fe Floral, please visit www.santafefloral.com.

Wedding Ideas on a Budget for Creating a Stylish Wedding

As mentioned in the first part of this series on Ideas for Creating a Stylish Wedding even when on a budget, couples often fear that a “low-cost wedding” is a “sad-looking wedding”. Well, it is far from it! You can achieve a stylish look without borrowing money from friends, family, and your bank, so you don’t start your marriage in debt. So, let’s put wedding ideas on a budget in perspective and look at more great suggestions for staying within your wedding budget that are primarily focused around the flowers and décor portion of your wedding planning.

• While most popular bridal flowers are available year-round, some traditional ones – for example, peonies and lily-of-the-valley – can be difficult to find and expensive out of season. Choose blooms that are locally available, rather than ones that must be shipped in from afar. Just ask your florist for help choosing blooms
• Keep in mind that approximately half of your florist’s bill will be for labor: try to select bridal bouquet ideas that are hand-tied (wrapped at the base with a ribbon matching your color scheme). Elaborate, cascading bridal bouquet designs will cost significantly more because they take more time to make
• For great bridal bouquet ideas without flowers, consider carrying candles, books, bibles, a rosary (like Melania Knauss-Trump did at her wedding), a single flower trimmed with ribbon streamers, wicker baskets or a decorated fan
• Talk to your venues and see if any other brides have booked for the same day. If the two of you can coordinate flowers and split the cost, you will save a lot of money. Just make sure that your styles match
• Make floral arrangements do double duty. If ceremony flowers are an appropriate size, they can serve as centerpieces on your reception tables; otherwise you can use them to decorate guest-book, seating-card, and favor tables. Bridesmaids’ bouquets will be perfect on the cake table
• Instead of decorating tables with large arrangements, float a few flowers in a variety of shallow bowls or glass cylinders filled halfway with water
• Reuse your pew markers to decorate doorknobs or other areas of your reception site
• Bowls or containers filled with seasonal fruits or vegetables can replace expensive floral presentations at a garden-style wedding
• For a winter wedding, mix berries, pine cones, and other economical non-floral embellishments with costlier blooms to fill out bridal bouquets and table arrangements
• As an alternative to traditional flower centerpieces, group favors together on the table. Wrap them with a paper matching your color palette or some of your stationery pieces (use a rubber stamp with your monogram, for instance)
• Flowering bulbs, such as amaryllis, narcissus, and hyacinth, often cost less than regular flowers and look great rising from a layer of stones set in clear containers
• Your florist won’t have to supply (and charge for) vases for your centerpieces if you have a collection of containers, such as urns that belonged to your grandmother, jelly jars or milk jugs. Filled with flowers, such vessels make pretty displays that tell about you and your family
• Consider renting large potted plants such as tropical palms or ficus: it is definitely less expensive than buying large flower arrangements. They visually fill a lot of space, and will enhance the setting at your ceremony site or warm up your reception. If you decide to purchase these large plants, you can use them in your backyard afterwards.
• Instead of costly escort cards, print a list of guests’ names and table assignments on elegant papers and display them in embellished frames, matching your color scheme
• Votives, tapers and lanterns are inexpensive, particularly when purchased in bulk, and they have an exciting effect on party décor. Place votives alongside your centerpieces to cast a soft glow, and add tapers to give the arrangements greater height. Rows of hanging lanterns are ideal for dramatically illuminating any outdoor path or walkway
• You don’t have to use those white tablecloths that come with your reception site. Some venues offer options: explore them and, if possible, select linens in a bright hue or with plenty of texture (stitching, beading and so on) to create a personalized look
• Raid stores like IKEA, Pier One and Cost Plus for things like candle holders and charger plates. It is cheaper than renting them, and then you can sell them online after your wedding
• Colored ribbons, tied around wine and champagne glasses and cake serving set for accent, add a distinctive touch without a greatly added expense
• Have a calligrapher letter only the cover of the ceremony program; print the interior pages using favorite fonts on your own computer. Consider creating menus, seating cards, and place cards with your computer as well

As you can see there are many ways to look at things for Wedding Ideas on a Budget and still create a stylish wedding. Check back for Part III where we go over money saving tips for the catering portion of your wedding plans, or better yet subscribe to YourWeddingDollars.com so you will be notified when Part III is published.

Weddings that tell a beautiful story: Yours. This is what Sabrina Cadini, Professional Bridal Consultant^TM, and owner of La Dolce Idea in San Diego, California, is passionate about. Each wedding should reflect the couple’s personality, and Sabrina adds that magic touch to make it an event that couples and their guests will always remember. By offering truly personalized service and money-saving solutions for every budget, she fuses creativity, Italian-style (where she’s from) and professionalism into impeccably planned celebrations. Find out more about Sabrina at www.ladolceidea.us

Proper Techniques for Carrying your Bridal Bouquets

On your wedding day, you’ll be the center of attention. As you walk down the aisle on the most important walk of your life, all eyes will be fixed upon you. Of course you want to be an elegant bride who makes a smooth entrance and gracefully glides down the aisle without looking uncomfortable, feeling awkward, or dropping your bouquet.

To feel confident and self-assured, you’ll want to make sure you are holding and carrying your bouquet appropriately. Not every bouquet is carried the same way. Typically, the type of bouquet and features of your gown will determine the way your bouquet should be carried.

Not all bouquets are carried alike! Determine the proper technique for carrying bridal bouquets based on the style, shape, and size of your bouquet and the features of your wedding gown.

Round, heart, cascade, and crescent bouquets are normally held and carried in front. These types of bouquets should be low enough to reveal the details on the neckline and bodice of your gown and are held with both hands as if your arms are resting on your hips. Although the natural tendency when excited or nervous is to bring the bouquet to your waist, chest, or even higher, try to avoid this so your arms are not held in an awkward, uncomfortably position and so everyone can see the beautiful details of your gown.

Small, lightweight and delicate bouquets, such as nosegays, clutch bouquets or single blossoms, can be carried to your side with one hand and are generally held at the same level as a bouquet held in front. If your nosegay is mounted in an elaborate or family heirloom tussy mussy (a small, Victorian style, metal or glass, cone-shaped holder), you may choose to proudly display it by holding and carrying your bouquet in the front instead of the side. If you choose a tussy mussy holder for your bouquet, you’ll notice that there is generally only enough room to hold it securely with one hand. For proper positioning, carry the tussy mussy upwards in your hand with your forearm bent slightly so it is horizontal (parallel to the floor) while your elbow rests comfortably on your hip.

Floral pomanders (bloom-covered balls or cones suspended from a ribbon) can be carried to the side in the same manner as a nosegay or in front in the same manner as a round bouquet. Typically, adult attendants carry pomanders to the side with one hand while children carry them in the front with both hands.

Arm bouquets feature long floral stems and should rest naturally and comfortably across the inner bend of your elbow so that the bouquet is cradled in your arms with the blossom end of the flowers facing away from your body. This holding and carrying technique is not only comfortable, but it also allows guests on one side to see the open blossoms as you walk down the aisle and guests on the other side to see the open blossoms as you walk back up the aisle.

Specialty bouquets such as fans, baskets, and prayer books should be carried according to their size and proportion. Smaller specialty bouquets can be carried to either your front or side, while larger baskets should be carried down and to your side.

Whatever style you choose, it’s always best to hold and carry your bouquet in the most appropriate and natural way. You will not only look regal and confident as you walk down the aisle, but you will also avoid disappointment with your wedding portraits by ensuring that all photographs capture you holding your bouquet comfortably without raising it too high and covering portions of your neck, face, or the exquisite details of your gown.

Kim McMullen is the owner and lead designer of Something Floral and Something Spectacular Custom Floral Design, both based in the metro Detroit area. Formally educated in fine/visual art, floral design, interior design, and communications, she is best known as “The Picky Bride’s Florist™” and “The Premier Silk Floral Designer™”. Specializing in weddings and special events, Kim creates award-winning floral artistry, in both fresh and silk/artificial mediums, for clients across the United States and Canada. Her designs have been published most recently in Florists’ Review, Woman’s World, and The Bridal Bouquet Book. For local or out-of-area special event floral design services, visit www.SomethingFloral.com and www.SomethingSpectacular.com

How to Make Wedding Centerpieces in 5 Easy Steps

Many folks believe that unless you have some magical or mystical artistic talent, creating flowers for your wedding or special event is something beyond their  abilities. That is simply not so. Just as you can learn to drive a car or speak a foreign language, flower arranging is a skill that can be easily learned. It does however, require a little instruction. If you have the desire and time management skills to juggle flowers plus the other demands for your very special day, do it yourself centerpieces for your party or event can be fun. It can save you a lot of money if you can do it yourself, and it can be emotionally quite fulfilling. There is a lot to be said for the bragging rights you earn when you can tell your family and friends that YOU made those designs!!  In this brief article we are going to teach you how to make wedding centerpieces; well, one simple one anyway. I believe that you will really enjoy this brief mini lesson in floral designing.

For Homemade Wedding Centerpieces, ideas from Rittner School can help you create beautiful do it yourself centerpieces. Let’s get to it. How to Make Wedding Centerpieces in 5 Easy Steps:

Step #1 – You will need:

• Container-Glass Cube (approximately 4″)
• Foam
• Ti Leaves or Aspidistra Leaves
• Baker Fern (3-4 stems)
• Roses (9-10)
• Mini Sunflowers (6)
• Carnations (4-5)
• Alstroemeria (6)
• Daisy poms (two or three stems)
• Miniature carnations (two or three stems)

Step #2 – Choose your container

Every vase arrangement starts with a container. The choice of the container is very important for it sets the entire mood of the design. Will the arrangement feel contemporary? Classical? What colors will be incorporated into the container? This becomes especially important when planning flowers for wedding reception centerpieces. Your container could be the same color as the linen or a contrasting color. It could be part of a color harmony that you are trying to achieve. It could incorporate some of the colors of the flowers, or it could simply be achromatic or neutral. For these do it yourself centerpieces, we are going to use clear glassware. The use of a clear cube gives the clean linear look of today! Although we are using glass here, we could have just as easily created this design in a silver revere bowl or other opaque kind of container. The flower part would remain the same. The visual effect of the completed design would vary depending upon the base.

Step #3 – Put the foam in the container

For homemade wedding centerpieces, ideas are flowing in this design where we are going to play with a neat illusion. We have taken some foam, in this case a third of a block for our 4″ cube, and wrapped it with some foliage.

Step #4 – Add foliage

The foliage used here could be Ti leaf, or alternatively aspidistra. On the other hand other kinds of foliage (eg. croton) would give other really neat looks to your design. Sometimes the container will hold the foliage in place. If the foliage does not easily stay for you, you may take florist wire in a #20 gauge, and make little upside down U shapes. We call these hairpins. A couple of hairpins through the foliage into the foam will easily hold the leaves as desired. Pouring water around the foliage/foam provides a magnifying glass effect to the base! Play with this effect. It is fun to experiment with different shapes and sizes of glassware, and with different foliages. The overall shape of this arrangement will be a roundy, moundy, hemispherical shape, so popular in both arrangements and bridal bouquets. One quick and easy way to achieve that shape is to first create it with foliage and then fill in with flowers. The foliage that we are using here is baker fern or leather leaf. It is a very popular foliage and quite easy to use to cover a lot of space quickly. Start by placing smaller pieces in a circle around the top of the container. The stems of the baker fern may be inserted into the foam above the large decorative leaves, or right through them. Then place more pieces of fern on the top of the foam to create that gentle moundy shape. Don’t fuss about covering every single inch of foam. Plenty of flowers will be used to fill in should there be any small areas of foam showing.

Step #5 – Add your flowers of choice

You never can go wrong with roses. They are one of the most popular flowers and are available in so many varieties and colors. Take five of them and make a diagonal line from one side of the top of the arrangement to the other as shown in the photograph.

The next step for how to make wedding centerpieces is to place two more roses in front of the first five as shown in this photograph. Place two or three more roses on the side of the arrangement facing away from the camera in a similar configuration. This gives us a “backbone” to the design. All other flowers will go around this center core.

Three mini sunflowers, bright and cheerful, add contrast as they fill in the bottom section of the arrangement. Add three more to the side of the arrangement facing away from the photograph.

Carnations are enjoying renewed popularity and a great choice for do it yourself centerpieces. They are now available in a rainbow of colors. They fill space quickly and easily and are reasonably priced. It is a great flower to mix in with more costly materials to present an expensive look yet control costs. Four or five carnations are placed in close, one facing towards the camera, several upwards, and several over towards the other side of the design.

Alstroemeria are one of my favorite flowers. Like carnations, they are also available in a wide variety of colors. There are usually a number of florets on a stem, meaning that one stem cut short can fill in a design like this very quickly and efficiently. Distribute two or three alstroemeria on both sides of the arrangement you see here, and on the opposite side of the design.The roses looked dominant in the beginning, didn’t they? Notice as we fill in with all of the other various flowers, that everything blends well together like pieces of a puzzle. When it comes to figuring out how to make wedding centerpieces, you really can’t go wrong with these kinds of designs.

Daisy poms have multiple flowers on each stem. This means that you can get great value from this flower as you prune the individual stems and distribute some of the flowers through the top and sides. It really does give a rich effect, and the cost is minimal!

The overall look that we are seeking here is that of opulence and abundance. Miniature carnations, like the daisy poms feature a number of flowers on one stem. This means that you can get great coverage from only a few stems of flowers. Randomly place a few miniature carnations as shown, on both sides of the arrangement.

A final thought about content, as you begin creating your homemade wedding centerpieces, ideas will flourish! Remember, you may use a wide range of flowers in this kind of design. Using carnations, poms and miniature carnations can save you a lot of money. However, this design can be made much more elaborate and more expensive depending upon your budget. Substituting hydrangea or lilies can make this kind of design far more upscale, but will add to your total cost.  If you’re looking for more information on how to make wedding centerpieces, please visit our school.  You might even find a career in there somewhere, but that’s another story.

Dr. Stephen Rittner is director of The Rittners School of Floral Design in Boston. Rittners School of Floral Design attracts students from all over the world with a wide variety of courses in Floral Art. If you want to learn floral skills, or if you want some well deserved fun and reduce stress, consider taking a course at Rittners. Rittners Floral School also has a number of inexpensive Distance Education Lessons available for purchase online. See www.floralschool.com

Wedding Reception Flowers – 6 Ideas to Save Money

To save money on your wedding reception flowers, ideas can be as simple as recycling! Over the years I’ve given a number of money-saving tips to brides, mothers, wedding planners, and anyone else involved in the budgeting and planning of a wedding. The following reception flower money saving tips focuses primarily on the reception arrangements and table centerpieces rather than bridal bouquets.

Money Saving Tip #1 – Reuse Bridal Bouquets
After all formal photographs are taken, reuse your bridal and bridesmaid bouquets to decorate your head table, gift table, guest book table, cake table, cocktail tables, bar, etc. This is an excellent way to stretch your budget and ensure that your bouquets are seen and enjoyed at the reception as well as the ceremony.

Money Saving Tip #2 – Reuse Ceremony Arrangements
To save money on decorating costs, reuse ceremony arrangements at the reception. If designed properly and in a style that will transition well, your ceremony flowers can perform double-duty at both events. Many florists will safely transport your flowers after your ceremony and set them up at your reception location so they can be enjoyed and photographed in both locations.

Money Saving Tip #3 – Use flowering plants as centerpieces
During the spring and summer when home and garden shops have a plentiful amount of flowers, purchase and use flowering plants in pretty, decorative pots for your reception arrangements and table centerpieces. Most plant varieties are larger than equally-priced, formally arranged centerpieces. After your reception, guests can take the plant centerpieces home as a living favor, always to remember your special day.

Money Saving Tip #4 – Use fewer, but larger arrangements
Larger, but fewer, floral arrangements offer more visual impact and “bang for the buck” than lots of smaller arrangements scattered around the reception facility that are likely to be overlooked. This is especially true if you’ll be having a dimly-lit or candle-lit reception. A qualified, professional designer can assist you in finding the most visually strategic locations at your reception facility, and will place your large arrangements there.

While I already mentioned these next two tips in my article titled “9 Tips for Saving Money on Your Wedding Flowers,” paying attention to these suggestions can be a real money saver, so they are worth repeating and remembering when creating your table centerpieces as well.

Money Saving Tip #5 – Be flexible when selecting flower varieties
Season aside, certain varieties of fresh flowers are consistently more expensive than others based on a number of factors (how they grow, how fast they grow, where they grow, how many are grown, how they are harvested, etc). Use this guide as a general rule of thumb when selecting fresh flowers for bouquets, centerpieces, and other wedding arrangements:

Lower Cost Chrysanthemums Daisies Carnations Gladiolus Button Mums

Average Cost Roses Gerbera Daisies Hydrangea Dendrobium Orchids Asian Lilies

Higher Cost Calla Lilies Mini Calla Lilies Stephanotis Orchids (most varieties, incl. Cymbidium) Stargazer and Casablanca Lilies

Money Saving Tip #6 – Consider selecting flowers that are in-season
Fresh flowers that are in-season at the time of your wedding are always fresher, more vibrant, plentiful, and much less expensive than out-of-season blooms. Seasonal flowers produce the most consistent and reliable results, and they are often grown locally, significantly reducing shipping/transportation costs as well as providing revenue to local growers and the local economy. Specialty and out-of-season flowers are more expensive and must be imported, traveling long distances with high shipping costs. There is always the risk they may arrive too mature or in wilted condition and the costs for the flowers themselves, not including the shipping, can be very expensive. If your heart is set on higher priced, specialty varieties that must be imported or on out-of-season blooms that are unavailable at the time of the year when your wedding takes place, silk/artificial flowers are likely to be the most cost-effective option for you.

Kim McMullen is the owner and lead designer of Something Floral and Something Spectacular Custom Floral Design, both based in the metro Detroit area. Formally educated in fine/visual art, floral design, interior design, and communications, she is best known as “The Picky Bride’s Florist™” and “The Premier Silk Floral Designer™”. Specializing in weddings and special events, Kim creates award-winning floral artistry, in both fresh and silk/artificial mediums, for clients across the United States and Canada. Her designs have been published most recently in Florists’ Review, Woman’s World, and The Bridal Bouquet Book. For local or out-of-area special event floral design services, visit www.SomethingFloral.com and www.SomethingSpectacular.com

9 Tips for Saving Money on Your Wedding Flowers

As an experienced wedding and special event florist, I’m often asked for floral advice. One of the most frequent questions I’m asked is, “How can I save money on my wedding flowers?” Over the years I’ve given a number of money-saving tips to brides, mothers, wedding planners, and anyone else involved in the budgeting and planning of a wedding. I’ve compiled a few of the most common ways to cut wedding flower cost and listed them below.

Money Saving Tip #1 – Keep the number of bridesmaids and other attendants to a minimum
I’m always amazed by the number of brides who say they have a very tight floral budget yet they have a very large number of bridesmaids participating in their weddings. One of the most effective ways to immediately reduce wedding flower costs is to keep the number of attendants, particularly bridesmaids, to a minimum. For an example of how the number of attendants can quickly inflate or reduce your wedding floral costs, take a look at this comparison. A bride who selects an average $65 bridal bouquet design for 8 bridesmaids will spend $520 in bridesmaid bouquets, whereas, a bride who selects the same $65 bridal bouquet design for 3 bridesmaids will spend only $195. That’s a savings of $325!

Money Saving Tip #2 – Select a florist who offers, and is accomplished, in both fresh floral and silk/artificial floral design
One of the biggest misconceptions a bride or wedding planner can have is that silk/artificial flowers are always cheaper than fresh flowers. That is not always true, especially when you want the most life-like faux flowers available. A florist who works in both fresh and faux mediums can recommend the most cost-effective solution for your budget and floral preferences. If your preference is for silk flowers or if you feel there’s a strong possibility that silk will work best for your wedding, it is very important to select a florist who works with both fresh and silk. Silk florists familiar with the properties of fresh flowers can better select and arrange floral materials to make your bridal bouquet design and other wedding flowers look very realistic and most like fresh floral designs.

Money Saving Tip #3 – Consider selecting flowers that are in-season
Fresh flowers that are in-season at the time of your wedding are always fresher, more vibrant, plentiful, and much less expensive than out-of-season blooms. Seasonal flowers produce the most consistent and reliable results, and they are often grown locally, significantly reducing shipping/transportation costs as well as providing revenue to local growers and the local economy. Specialty and out-of-season flowers are more expensive and must be imported, traveling long distances with high shipping costs. There is always the risk they may arrive too mature or in wilted condition and the costs for the flowers themselves, not including the shipping, can be very expensive. If your heart is set on higher priced, specialty varieties that must be imported or on out-of-season blooms that are unavailable at the time of the year when your wedding takes place, silk/artificial flowers are likely to be the most cost-effective option for you.

Money Saving Tip #4 – Be flexible when selecting flower varieties
Season aside, certain varieties of fresh flowers are consistently more expensive than others based on a number of factors (how they grow, how fast they grow, where they grow, how many are grown, how they are harvested, etc). Use this guide as a general rule of thumb when selecting fresh flowers for bridal bouquet ideas, centerpieces, and other wedding arrangements:

Lower Cost Chrysanthemums Daisies Carnations Gladiolus Button Mums

Average Cost Roses Gerbera Daisies Hydrangea Dendrobium Orchids Asian Lilies

Higher Cost Calla Lilies Mini Calla Lilies Stephanotis Orchids (most varieties, incl. Cymbidium) Stargazer and Casablanca Lilies

Money Saving Tip #5 – Avoid scheduling your wedding on or near a holiday
Fresh flowers are more expensive near holidays due to supply and demand. For example, florists stock more flowers to meet the demand for holiday (such as Valentine’s Day) orders, however, flowers are a natural, perishable product and only a certain amount are ready to harvest at the time they are needed. Because there’s a limited supply available and demand is greater near a holiday, prices rise as wholesalers and florists each “compete” for a share of the limited supply. If your wedding is scheduled two weeks before to two weeks after a major floral holiday, such as Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and Sweetest Day, fresh wedding flower cost are typically higher and varieties are more limited in supply at that time. If your heart is set on a wedding date close to a holiday (particularly one of the three mentioned above), silk flowers may be the most cost-effective option for you.

Money Saving Tip #6 – Choose simple vs complex designs
The price of flowers is only one part of your total floral costs. Labor is another factor. Larger, more complex designs, such as cascade and waterfall bridal bouquet designs typically are more labor intensive and costly than simple, round designs composed of long-stemmed flower varieties. Also, flowers that require tedious wiring and taping, such as stephanotis, orchids, and thin, short, or brittle-stemmed floral varieties, are more labor intensive and add to your floral costs.

Money Saving Tip #7 – Know when to select a hand-tied bridal bouquet design vs one created in a holder
If you’re looking for the illusion of larger, fuller bridal bouquet designs and more “bang for your buck,” choose bridal bouquet ideas created using hidden, slant-handled, holders. The holder places flowers at the proper angle for full visibility, this bridal bouquet design is lighter in weight (no heavy, bulky long stems), and all the flowers comprising the bouquet are visible with the viewer’s focus on the flowers and not on the stems.

Hand-tied styles are very popular right now for both fresh and silk bridal bouquet designs, but the style makes petite and smaller-sized bouquets look even smaller to the viewer because not all flowers comprising the bouquet are seen at the same time. The viewer’s vantage point is of the side of the bouquet so the viewer’s focus is split between the stems and the half dome shape of flowers. To dress up the stems, an elaborate stem wrap is often required and that increases your labor and material costs. Note that a hand-tied style silk bridal bouquet design may require more labor (equating to higher cost) than a hand-tied fresh bridal bouquet design as any visually unappealing faux flower stems require either replacement/substitution with new, more visually appealing stems or complete stem coverage with ribbon.

Money Saving Tip #8 – Minimize the accessories and “bling” from your bridal bouquet design
The past few years have seen an explosion of bridal bouquet designs featuring jewels, crystals, pearls, rhinestones, crystal butterflies and dragonflies, feathers, bows, ribbons, and other add-in accessories. When used in moderation, the additional detailing and sparkle are beautiful, but if you’re on a tight budget, this is one easy way you can reduce costs. If you’re trying to make a small budget stretch further, go for the natural look and let your bridal jewelry be the “bling” that sparkles. If your flowers are well-designed and of top quality, they will command attention all on their own, without the use of add-ins.

Money Saving Tip #9 – Skip the bridal bouquet and garter toss
The bouquet and garter toss, popular in the 1970s and early 1980s, are fast becoming antiquated wedding customs as perspectives change and fewer single guests feel comfortable participating in the activity. As such, increasing numbers of couples are opting to skip the bouquet and garter toss altogether, eliminating the worry that few, if any of their guests, will participate when the event is announced, and eliminating the need to purchase a separate toss bouquet and garter.

Kim McMullen is the owner and lead designer of Something Floral and Something Spectacular Custom Floral Design, both based in the metro Detroit area. Formally educated in fine/visual art, floral design, interior design, and communications, she is best known as “The Picky Bride’s Florist™” and “The Premier Silk Floral Designer™”. Specializing in weddings and special events, Kim creates award-winning floral artistry, in both fresh and silk/artificial mediums, for clients across the United States and Canada. Her designs have been published most recently in Florists’ Review, Woman’s World, and The Bridal Bouquet Design Book. For local or out-of-area special event floral design services, visit www.SomethingFloral.com and www.SomethingSpectacular.com

How to Keep Wedding Flower Cost Manageable

It is rare that I have an opportunity to talk with a bride at the very beginning of her planning process. Generally by the time I meet with a bride she has come up with a tentative guest list, has her “look” in mind, settled on a ceremony and reception location, perhaps chosen a photographer and picked out a cake. All which makes perfect sense, yet if you bring your wedding florist in at the beginning, you would be surprised how much their input can help make the process easier and less stressful and create a wedding that not only reflects who you are, but is beautiful and will keep your wedding flower cost within budget.

While flowers are my specialty, like every vendor associated with your wedding, I want every aspect of your big day to flow together in a coordinated manner that looks effortless to your guests and creates the perfect day you’ll never forget. As a florist, if you’ve chosen an elegant hotel ballroom for your reception complete with shimmery gold table linens and chiavari chairs, I immediately see floral displays that will complete the look. If you’ve chosen to have a garden reception with white garden chairs and wicker arbors, my mind sees a completely different set of blossoms to set off the location and feel of your event. The same is true for an outdoor barbecue wedding reception, a church reception hall or a local museum.

“Consider your natural surroundings as well to help keep your wedding flower cost down.”

The most important and first decision you make is your budget. Every bride has one, whether it’s $5000 or $125,000, and sticking to that budget can be difficult. Your budget determines your guest size, location, menu choices, flowers ~ every aspect of your event. For some brides flowers are not high on their priority list, while for others they are right up there at the top. While I cannot be anything but biased, I truly believe that flowers pull your whole wedding together. When you and your guests walk into your reception, flowers add the wow! They add color, freshness, fragrance and life to every venue. So, my advice when looking at your budget is to be realistic and set your priorities. If having 300 guests is of the utmost importance and your budget is $15,000 then a beach side resort is out of range, but a lovely champagne and dessert buffet would fit this size guest list and budget perfectly.

Consider your natural surroundings as well to help keep your wedding flower cost down. For instance, next week I’m doing an outdoor wedding that the bride timed it perfectly. The lilacs will be in bloom, the bearded irises abound and it will be warm enough for dinner outside under the stars. Each table will have a blue speckled Coleman coffee pot filled with lilac, nepeta, lamb’s ears, cottage yarrow and ladies mantle complimenting the setting, the time of year, and the style of this country bride. The coffee pots have been collected from various Aunts, Uncles and Cousins, none exactly alike and all with a story to tell — all beautiful and all within a modest budget.

In the past few years the number of Bridal magazines seems to have multiplied to take over huge swaths of the racks at the local book stores, Bridal shows have grown to include shows not only about weddings costing up to a million dollars but shows specifically about the cake, finding the right dress and losing weight just for that day. Wedding websites abound as well, with each offering a multitude of ideas on the perfect guest book, place cards, gifts for your guests, advice on bridal luncheons, rehearsal dinners, designer stemwear and cutlery. The photography is gorgeous and each story of the wine country wedding or the ranch wedding or the botanical garden wedding transport you there and we all want our weddings to be as unique and gorgeous as those we read about. It can be overwhelming. And it can make us forget what this wedding is really all about, which of course is about a new beginning for two certain people.

In my 30+ years as a florist, I have done thousands of weddings. I absolutely love weddings! I have done amazing productions complete with hand painted dance floors and a waiter for every guest. I have done weddings in parish halls, backyards, on mountains, by the ocean and in art galleries. I can honestly say that my favorite weddings did not become my favorites because of the size or location or budget. Without sounding ridiculously trite, it is the love between a bride and groom, the love of family and friends coming together to support two people who mean so much to all of them, committing to support them in their journey, and welcoming a new family with love. None of this can be fit into your budget, no matter how large.

So my advice for beautiful flowers and to help you keep your wedding flower cost within your budget – it’s really quite simple — don’t have 30 mediocre flower arrangements; have 5 gorgeous ones!

Margaret Bost is the owner and designer of Santa Fe Floral in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Specializing exclusively in weddings, parties and special events, Margaret and her staff focus all their attention on making each Bride’s vision a reality. With over 30 years in the floral industry, Margaret has been honored with numerous awards for her innovative designs and featured in many local and national Bridal publications. To learn more about Margaret and see the work of Santa Fe Floral, please visit www.santafefloral.com.