I Am Over the Moon!

We Have Chosen a Florist!

(Again!)

As I said in a previous post, I was let down by a florist we had already chosen.

I suppose the problem wasn’t really a big deal. I’d asked for an updated quote and the florist took almost a year to send it. I felt that meant the florist was somewhat unreliable and I decided to cancel.

However! We have now found a florist who seems fairly fantastic! And as a bonus, she had two really friendly Boarder Collie’s who were absolutely gorgeous and wanted lots of fuss! I’m definitely a dog person so that was a huge bonus!

Visitor Questions

Sample Bouquet

In a recent google search, brides are wondering if a florist will make a sample bridal bouquet.

The simple answer is no.

Unless you’ll pay for it.

Bridal bouquets can cost anything from £40 - £100, and take hours to put together, They use countless amounts of flowers and foliage and take a lot of skill to construct, even if you’re choosing a more simple design.

The time and money that it takes to build your bouquet will cost your florist double if they choose to provide you with a sample bouquet.

However, if you pay for the sample bouquet the florist will do whatever you want as it won’t cost them anything.

I think you would be very lucky to find any suppliers that will give you free samples of items you’re actually going to have for your wedding, with the exception of the stationer who should send you a sample wedding invitation for approval.

Saying that though, if you don’t ask you don’t get. Feel free to ask your florist if he or she will make a sample bouquet (for free), they might even say yes!

Impress for Less, Part 2

Wow Your Guests, Don’t Break the Budget

In the current economic climate, making a big impression at your wedding is becoming more and more difficult. Tips for saving money while at the same time creating a big impact are invaluable!

Bathroom Basket

A small basket of toiletries placed in the loo at your reception venue will be priceless! For the ladies, some freshening wipes, plasters, deodorant, perfume and if your budget stretches that far, some disposable flip flops for when guests feet start to hurt. Hair pins and hair spray would also be useful!

My mum would say this is a waste of money but I think your guests will find this really useful and it’s a nice touch to show you’re thinking of your guests.

Less is More

When decorating your wedding, remember it’s the special little touches that make the biggest impact. If you put a sprig of rosemary or lavender on your napkins, or use photos of your guests as children for their place settings, these little touches can create a huge impact.

I’m making some of my own table confetti. My h2b is Chinese and it’s traditional to use double happiness 囍 to decorate Chinese weddings. This is a very subtle touch to the wedding, but I think that it’s one which will make h2b’s parents smile.

Budget Buds

Achieving Fantastic Flowers on a Small Budget

Savvy Saves!

Rule #1

Be honest with your florist. Be clear with what you want but be definite with your budget. If your budget is tight, be aware that some expensive and out of season flowers may not be viable. However, a good, creative florist will be able to create beautiful arrangements regardless of budget.

Rule #2

Plan out your budget! Plan to spend about 60% of your floral budget on your table centres and remember vase prices. Try to spend 25% on bouquets and buttonholes, and 15% on the ceremony. You may be lucky that your ceremony venue will only require a voluntary contribution to the flowers, depending on the time of year, so you could redirect those funds.

Rule #3

Go seasonal! Work with your florist to choose flowers that are in season. Roses tend to cost the same whatever the season but flowers like tulips, gerberas and others will be more expensive depending on the time of the year.

Rule #4

Be aware of hidden costs. Ask your florist for a complete quote, including delivery and set up costs, and the costs of hiring any extras like plates or mirrors.

Rule #5

Don’t get wired! Wired flowers take more time to prepare and are subsequently more expensive than hand tied flowers.

Rule #6

Bouquet or corsage?
If bouquets for your bridal party are too expensive, consider corsages or flower accessories for bags or hair. Bridesmaids look lovely walking down the aisle with their flower accessories and don’t always require a bouquet that will only get left on a table by the evening.

Budget Buds

Flowers are quite expensive, as I’ve found out, but it is possible to get beautiful arrangements if you are flexible on the flowers. More foliage and in season flowers look wonderful, smell great and make a good photographic impact!

I have lots of posts about flowers including bouquets, knowing the name of your style, tips on choosing your florist and must ask questions.

How Long Does It Take for a Florist to Set Up?

Your Questions Answered:

One of the questions that was asked in google to find my blog was, How long does it take for a florist to set up?

This question can only be answered by your florist.

The set up time will depend on the complexity of your flower order. It will depend on where you’re having flowers, how far the ceremony and reception venues are apart and how many flowers you’re having.

If you’re having a flower organza with archways and drapes and stunning table displays, it will obviously take longer to set up than a more simple arrangement.

I strongly encourage brides to ask their vendors as many questions as they need. They vendors are the experts and will be able to answer their questions a lot better than the internet will.

As a rough guide, I would allow at least an hour for a very simple arrangement at your reception venue and at least three hours for a more complex one.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to post as a comment and I’ll do my best to answer them. :o)

Your Florist

Must Ask Questions for Your Florist

Choosing your flowers is difficult. I saw three florists and thought I’d never be able to choose a florist before I finally settled on Flowers by Andrew.

Here are some must ask questions for your florist:

1. Can we see examples of your work?
   It is essential that you see some examples of their work just to check that they can actually do what they say they can. Look at their arrangements, are you impressed? Do you think it’s beautiful?
   
2. What ideas can you give me within my budget?
   Your budget is a huge factor in every element of your wedding. Finding a florist that can work within your budget is essential. Your florist will also be the expert in providing a service that fits inside a budget, so this is a very important question.
   
3. Would you be prepared to do a mock-up of a bouquet before the day?
   Not all florists will do this as it will cost them money. It might be included in your quote. However, it does give you an idea of how your bouquet will look and feel for The Day.
   
4. Will I have to pay travel costs?
   This will depend on the distance the florist will have to travel. I would always recommend choosing service providers that are either local to your reception or ceremony venues.
   
5. When would I need to make payments?
   You will be expected to leave a deposit when you book the flowers and then a final payment would be at some point before your wedding day.
   
6. How far in advance would I need to place my order?
   You know from reading my blog that I believe booking as early as possible means cheaper prices, however that’s not always true. Ask your florist for advice on when the best time is to book.
   
7. What will be delivered, when and where? Will you need access to water?
   The answer to this question will depend a lot on what you want for your wedding day. The main things you will want delivered will be the buttonholes and the bouquets. To save money on delivery, you could ask a friend to collect the buttonholes to get them to your fiancé and his groomsmen.
   
8. Who will set up the flowers?
   Usually the florist will set up the flowers themselves. A good florist will show pride in their work and will want to display it to its best. Some florists will deliver the flowers to your venue and allow your venue people to put the flowers out.
   
9. How long will you need to set up?
   Your florist will no doubt ask you what time your wedding is, to ensure the bouquets are delivered well in time. S/He will want to know what time your reception starts to ensure that everything is set up at your venue well ahead of time.
   
10. Do you charge for breakages?
    The answer to this question will more than likely be: yes.
    
11. Do you provide bay trees and other accessories?
    You might want other little touches to your wedding such as mirror plates and tea lights which some florists provide. There may be a charge but some florists will throw those in for free.
    
12. Can you get flowers in unusual colours such as green or black?
    A good florist can. A friend of mine wants green gerberas in her bouquet and her florist will provide them. She is going to have to use ink to change the colour of the flowers but it can be done.

Good luck choosing your florist! You could leave a comment here to tell me about your florist experience.

Florist

How to Choose Your Florist

The flowers are one of the main aspects of the day along with the venue, the dress and the photographer. Your guests are going to be looking at your flowers as the flowers and arrangements you choose will reflect your preferences and your personality.

My h2b could not be less interested in flowers so I’ve been very lucky and had free range to choose the flowers and the colours by myself! Yay!

The first thing you do is:

Look through wedding magazines or flower magazines and choose arrangements that you like. If you’re anything like me, you wont know a narcissus from a delphinium, all I knew were the colours I wanted and the pictures from a magazine.

A florist can put together a beautiful display for your wedding but she won’t know the flowers you like. This is why it is essential that you put together an ideas collage of flower arrangements you would like to have. They will be able to expand on the ideas you give them, offering cheaper options if necessary. They will also be able to tell you if the flowers  you’ve chosen are in season.

Next:

Go to wedding fayres and look at the flowers the florists bring to display. This will help you get an idea of what the different florists are offering. You will be able to speak directly to the florists and give an idea of your budget and what they can offer you. I will also help you to get a feel of whether or not you’d like to work with this person.

You can also trawl the internet. I spoke to Lynn at Fine Flowers at a wedding fayre, and then looked her up on the internet. I was impressed with the range of flowers she was able to tell me about, and then I was able to check out what she was saying through her website.

If you google for florists in the West Midlands you will find a range of different service providers. My advice is to look through their websites, get a feel of whether or not you want to work with them, and then arrange an appointment to discuss your requirements.

Meeting with a florist:

I spoke to three different florists before I decided to book the fourth florist, and each time I spoke to a florist, I had a better idea of what I wanted for our wedding.

I would absolutely recommend speaking to your florist face to face. Your flowers are a key element to your wedding, you don’t want them to go wrong. Its fair enough to email your florist but for a real discussion and a real understanding of what you want, I think you can’t beat a face to face meeting.

Look at their previous work:

Do you like the arrangements they show you in the pictures? Do the pictures look up to date and modern or are they a bit old fashioned? Are they willing to work with you or do they keep saying that your idea is wrong? Are they paying attention to you and seem interested in what you’re saying? Do you feel comfortable with this florist? A gut feeling is always a good indicator. Go with your gut.

Questions to Ask

• Ask if arrangments in the pictures have been done by the person who will be arranging your flowers.
• After giving your florist your ideas, ask for their opinion or ideas. You don't have to take their advice but at least take the time to listen. You never know, you might like their ideas better then your own.
• Additional costs? Delivery charge? Setup costs?
• Will they rent you the vases, mirrors and candles?
• If you change your mind, what is the cut off point for having what you want?
• What times will the flowers be delivered to each location?
• Will the florist transport ceremony decorations to the reception location? Is there a fee?
• Can they make a sample of your bouquet and centrepiece? Some florists will, some won't.
• Will they write you up an itemized quote? Some won't in fear that you will bring it to other florists for a better deal.
• Are the flowers you've chosen in season? What flowers are in season for your date?
• You're on a tight budget, can the florist work with a mixture of silk and fresh flowers?
• Are there any additional or hidden costs?
• Is the florist familiar with your reception and ceremony locations?
• 1 month before your wedding date, call the florist and ask them if they can get the type and colour of flower you wanted?

Things to bear in mind:

If your wedding is, like mine, around a flower time of year such as Valentine’s day, mother’s day and Easter, your flowers will be a bit more expensive.  This can’t be helped. Also, your florist may be a bit busy around this time.

You don’t have to book right away. I took the quotes from the florists I spoke to and compared them to quotes from other florists. This way I felt that I was getting the fairest deal.

If you choose flowers that are out of season and need to be imported from Holland, this will cost you more as it will cost your florist more. I’ve tried booking flowers that are in season for my wedding. Besides, I have chosen to have a spring wedding, why not have spring flowers!

I hope this helps you in your search for a florist. Please feel free to share your experiences and leave a comment below!

Flowers

Bouquets

It’s difficult enough to choose your flowers for your wedding, however your bridal bouquet will be the centre piece of your outfit. There are mountains of flowers to choose from, and many different bouquet styles. I’m going to give a quick over view of all the different bouquet types.

Cascade Bouquet

Also known as a tear drop bouquet or a shower bouquet, this is the type of bouquet I’m going to have. It’s also the most expensive type of bridal bouquet, depending on the number and type of flowers you want. A tear drop is a tighter, more shaped bouquet and a shower is a looser flower arrangement. It depends how perfect you want your bouquet to be and which flowers you’ve chosen.

These bouquets became popular in 1910 and got quite exaggerated until the 1930’s when WWII broke out.

This bouquet is best suited to a bride with a big dress. The idea of a bouquet is that you can see the dress behind it. With a small dress, a cascade bouquet would simply swamp it. This bouquet is for the bride who wants an A-line dress, or a ball gown dress, or a dress with a large skirt.

Also, there are only certain flowers that look good in a cascade bouquet. A lot of the flowers used will also have to be wired which adds to the price of the bouquet. Your florist can tell you more about that.

Posy Bouquet

This is your most popular, most traditional arrangement for a wedding. The posy can easily be held in one hand, it is small and round. In general, there are two types of posy, although florists can be very creative. One is a loose, hand tied bouquet that’s fairly unstructured and the other is a formal, wired bouquet where flowers are constructed to make a lighter bouquet.

The natural flowers are then wrapped in ribbon and sometimes detailed with diamantes and the like.

This type of bouquet generally suits a small-ish dress. If you’re a bride who doesn’t want a wedding dress, or has a short wedding dress at the knee, this could be the bouquet for you. It works really well with those 60’s wedding dresses.

Again, only certain flowers will look nice in a posy bouquet. If you speak to your florist they will be able to tell you exactly which flowers will look best.

Nosegay Bouquet

You may be thinking what’s the difference between a nosegay and a posy. Well, I’ll tell you! A posy is just flowers, a nosegay has flowers, herbs and more greenery than other bouquets. It’s not much of a difference but there is one!

Nosegays went very much out of fashion but came back in the 1980’s and I think they are lovely, My bridesmaids will be having tulip nosegays. It’s been reinvented using ribbons and satin and larger arrangements.

A nosegay suits any type of dress, and the herbs and greenery really add a romantic touch to any wedding.

Typically, if you choose a nosegay for yourself and for your bridesmaids, the florist will make your bouquet larger than your bridesmaids’.

Arm Sheaf Bouquet

This is a bouquet that rests in your arms, a bit like a baby would. They became popular in the early 1900’s inspired by bouquets given to actresses.

Only certain flowers look good in these bouquets, flowers with long stems like lilies and irises, daffodils, gladiolus, orchids, long-stemmed roses, delphiniums, and larkspur.

It is a stunning alternative to the traditional style of bouquet, however it is best suited to modern weddings. This type of bouquet only suits a few types of dresses. Usually, brides who have sheath or mermaid dresses tend to go for this type of bouquet.

It is a beautiful style of bouquet, very unique and stands out as a different choice.

Pomander Bouquet

Cute, unique and different, often chosen for flower girls or younger bridesmaids, the pomander is a lovely style of bouquet.

A pomander is a ball of flowers suspended from a pretty ribbon. Some are adorned with a variety of sparkly diamantes and ribbons and look very different.

This sort of bouquet would sort a 60’s style wedding dress, or a fun and different wedding dress. This isn’t the sort of bouquet a bride would have at a traditional wedding but then I believe a bride should choose the bouquet she wants on her special day!

If you have a flower girl or younger bridesmaid, this would be a lovely idea for something different that she could carry.

Which ever bouquet type you decide to choose, remember to consider your wedding colours and choose flowers that you like. Your florist should have heaps of ideas and be ready to give advice where needed.

Leave a comment and let me know which flowers you used in your wedding. How did you choose them?