Lost in Flowers

[MalibuStacy1982]

:overreact:I dont even know where to begin. I posted about who needs or should get flowers but thats as far as i've gotten. I know what i like (poeny's, star gazer lilly's, honeysuckle, tulips just to name a few) but do i get silk or real?! Would those together make a pretty boquet?

If i do go meet with a florist i have absolutely not idea what questions to ask, or what they will ask. I'm sort of panicing! We have a very small budget for our flowers.

Any advice or tips or tricks would help me greatly. I would love to have the smell of real flowers but then again i just cant see paying for something that will just die! See my issues?!
:tearhair:
:stomp:
:bricks:
:drown:

[Winter_Bride]

First off, deep breath! :meditate: Secondly, KiaMarie is a florist, hopefully she'll find this and offer her :twocents:

As for meeting with a florist and what you should be asking, this is what I can think of (we used fake flowers, so I didn't have a florist to meet with):

Will my favorite flowers (the ones you listed) be in season? If not, what other ones are?
What do you charge? How do you charge (per arrangement? per hour?)
Do we have to pick them up, or will you deliver?
Can I see a portfolio of what you've done? Do you have any references that I can contact about your work?
My wedding colors are these: What flowers would you recommend that would compliment?
I want a modern/classic/romantic/etc. feel to my bouquet - can you show me examples of what this would look like?


I would meet with a few different local florists to get ideas. You could also talk to vendors you've already booked (like your photographer, or even your reception location or ceremony site) and see if they can recommend anyone. Often different wedding vendors will team up and refer clients to each other.

As for fakes vs real, I personally used fakes because I wanted colors not offered in nature (gold and silver), so that's why I chose what I did. We have other threads on the matter though: http://www.mustloveweddings.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2792 (this one is probably the most likely...)

[Maria 05]

First off :hug99: Kia will have tons of ideas for you I am sure but here is my input for what its worth.
I spent time looking at different boquets, hand tied, cascade etc and wanted to see what would look nice with my dress and what colours would compliment, contrast and clash with my colours.

Then I went to different florists asked them prices for bride bridesmaid flowergirl and for the men. I didn't give flowers to the mothers or grandmothers and then I went to another local florist and did the same to be honest real and silk were coming close in price there was not much difference.

Both have pros and cons. Here are some tips that might help you
When choosing bridal and wedding flowers it is worth taking a sample of fabric from the bride's dress to the florist. This can be a great help when matching colours. This applies even if the bride has a white wedding dress and wants a white bouquet because whites can vary in their shade and intensity.
When choosing the colour of your bouquet, think about your complexion. For example, pale brides may need to add a splash of colour in their arrangements to prevent them from looking washed out.
The bouquet is the most important floral arrangement on wedding day and it is vital to right the right balance between colour, shape and size.
The bouquet must complement the wedding dress and vice a versa. As a general rule large bouquets suit formal, long dresses while smaller bouquets or even a single bloom are more in proportion with a knee-length dress.
If your are having black and white photography, make sure your wedding flowers with a deep, 3D shape that will stand out well.
It is important when designing your wedding experience that you carry a theme throughout the entire day, and one of the best ways to do this is with your floral arrangements. There is nothing lovelier than a reception venue decorated in the same theme as your bridal bouquets.
Check with your church and venue as to any decorating restrictions they may have.

Choose your wedding date carefully, as flowers may cost more at Valentine’s Day or at Christmas. For example choosing roses for a wedding around the 14th of Feb would had greatly to the expense.There is also the season tip of selecting flowers that are in season. Flowers in season cost alot less than out of season varieties which usually have to be imported specially at additional cost.
Book your florist about six months before the wedding. Go through all your ideas with them and get a full breakdown of all costs.
About one month before your wedding hold a final meeting with your florist and go through all the floral details. Reconfirm the number of buttonholes, church arrangements and so on.
Nowadays most churches and hotels have banned the use of conventional confetti but freezed dried flowers can be used as they bio degrade and are not unsightly. Freezed dried flowers can have many uses including confetti and scattering at church or reception venue
Freeze dried rose petals they retain their size, shape and natural scent and simply look like real rose petals and not the dried, shrunken bits that you may have seen before! Unlike fresh petals, freeze dried rose petals do not go brown or wilt, so they can be purchased months in advance of your wedding day, eliminating last minute worry.

As for the silk V real
Whether you chose silk or real flowers, you should weigh your options and make your choice based on your budget and what type of wedding you are having. Silk flowers do have the advantage of not wilting, which is something to consider if you are having a warm-weather wedding or if you are partial to very delicate flowers that tend to droop quickly. Likewise, they won't freeze in cold weather. Silk flowers are very lightweight, making bouquets much easier to handle and to transport. They don't need watering and are much more durable (no worrying about delicate blooms falling apart, sagging, or being stomped on by your flower girl!). And, silk flowers can be scented to smell like the real thing, without the drawback causing sneezing! Another plus -- a silk bridal bouquet will retain it's beauty and look just as gorgeous on your 25th anniversary as it did on your wedding day.


But keep in mind that while silk flowers can be more practical than real flowers, they can also be just as expensive, if not more so. Though you also won't end up paying more for certain types of flowers that may be out of season when you get married -- silk, in every shape and color is always in season -- a silk version of a more common flower will likely be significantly more costly. Remember to ask for pricing up front. All of that said, everyone agrees that fresh flowers are breathtaking, and even the best silk flowers can't replace the look of a live orchid or the scent of a real rose.

[MsJessica07]

Another thing...when I went in to my florist, she said she'd had a budget bride that she worked extensively with and they figured out something beautiful that didn't cost a lot. It might be something to consider to be very up front about your budget and working with that to create something small.

The other thing might be to go for real for the girls bouquets and fake for the mens, since I think it's generally less noticeable if they are fake, and more noticeable if the boutennier starts to wilt (one flower) versus one flower in the bouquet (many flowers, usually).

[Mimzy]

Great advice from everyone! Just adding -

Take some of the favorite flowers listed and do a Google search. Find a few BRIDE bouquets that you love. Once you have the Brides bouquet settled, things fall into place. Then go from there.

I like fresh flowers best for wedding.

[Mimzy]

Stick to your budget! It is easy to get into a florist and get sold on much more then you needed.

With Peony you can use three or four just by themselves and have an gorgouse bouquet. You could even buy them bulk and tie them yourself.

Use candles for centerpieces. It's just as elegant and will keep the cost down. There are lots of great DYS projects.

Here is a idea:
http://images1.snapfish.com/347785%3B64%7Ffp347%3Enu%3D3239%3E2%3C5%3E3%3C5%3E WSNRCG%3D3233997%3B62696nu0mrj

Use greenery and filler flowers. Lots of beautiful ones and it will help with the cost.
Lemon Leaf
Ming Fern
Maiden Hair Fern

Heather
Wax Flower
Statics

Green Hydrangea, Shades of Pink Roses, Lycoris Lilies and Stephanotis with Pink Rhinestone Accents

http://www.flowersbyanne.com/wedding-flowers/570.jpg

Hand-tied bouquet of pink and green hydrangea, pale pink peonies, pink mini Callas, pale pink roses, rununculus, green viburnum and white lisianthus with whimsical dragonfly accents.

http://flowerchildfloraldesign.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/bouquet_closeup.102162317_std.JPG

Lavender Mums. Purple Tulips, Lavender Freesia, Purple Lisianthus

http://www.flowersbyanne.com/wedding-flowers/852.jpg

[km]

:aww:


Don't even think of signing on the dotted line unless all of these items are included in your flower contract.

Name and contact information for you and the vendor


Date, times, and locations of your ceremony and reception


An itemized list of all the flower arrangements you're buying -- from bouquets to centerpieces -- with exact names, amounts, and colors


Flower alternatives (in your price range) should a specific bloom be unavailable on your wedding day; also include unacceptable substitutions, if any


A list of items the florist will supply -- centerpiece vases, trellises, other accessories


Arrival times for setup at the ceremony and reception sites


Where and when bouquets and boutonnieres should be delivered, if not to the ceremony site (to your home, for example)


Name of the florist who will be on hand during the wedding


Total cost and payment schedule


Sales tax, overtime charges, delivery fees, and setup fees


Deposit amount and due date


Balance amount and due date


Cancellation/refund policy


Florist's signature


Your signature
For me, flowers are one of the most important aspects of a wedding. They bring color, life, and aroma to a wedding. They help make table settings more beautiful, and can transform a formerly dull space into a beautiful personality-filled one. Yet they can also be confusing for a beginner, and a budget breaker for many, as well as an excuse to spend your wedding sneezing for some.
Picking wedding flowers in season can save you a bunch of money. Sure, growers are now able to fly almost anything in from the other side of the world, but you'll pay a premium for that. .
While the average price of weddings in the United States has risen to more than $20,000 (and $40,000 in large cities such as New York

Top Ten Questions to Ask Your Florist
Make sure your flowers are beautiful and fresh on your wedding day, ask your florist these Top 10 questions.



Do you have some samples of your work I can see? Reference? Looking at samples of their work with give you a sense of their style and their range of work. Check for variety. The more variety you see, the ore likely you will get flowers that fit you, and not the same bouquet every bride gets. Seeing samples of their work can also give you a few ideas for your own wedding. Always check on their references, especially bride's that are being married in the same location or at the same time of year.



Can you make suggestions based on my color scheme? A good florist can make suggestions that will care out the theme and formality of your wedding. The florist should be able to provide several suggestions for not only your bouquet, but the corsages and ceremony and reception flowers.
Don't be afraid to tell your florist if their first suggestion isn't what you had in mind. Letting them know while you are in the planning stages gives the opportunity to suggest something more appropriate for you.

Can you keep within my budget? What cost-cutting suggestions can you offer? Most florists should be able to work within your budget. If you are wanting something that will put you over your budget, they should be able to offer some alternatives to keep you within your range. For example if you are wanting an out-of-season flower, they should be able to offer an in-season option that will give you a similar effect.

Can you coordinate all the personal flowers? Make sure that your florist can coordinate all the personal flowers (corsages and boutonni�res) to go with the your other flowers (bouquets, ceremony and reception arrangements). You will also want your personal flowers to vary depending on the role of the person wearing it while still maintaining your theme.

Are you familiar with my ceremony site? Reception site? Familiarity with your site(s) will help your florist offer suggests that will best suit your site. If your florist has not worked at your site before, see if he/she will meet you there to review possible arrangements.

What rental items and other decorations do you offer? Many florists will also offer some rental items and decorations that you might also need, such as arches, candelabras and pew bows.

Is Delivery Included? If not, what is the cost? Not all florists will deliver your flowers. Make sure your does or your might be making an extra trip across town on your wedding day! Others will deliver for an additional charge, make sure you know about the charge.

Is setup of the flowers at the ceremony and reception sites included? Just because a florist delivers, doesn't mean that the florist will setup your arrangements at your site. Don't be caught short-handed on your wedding day. Make sure your florist includes setup or make sure you know if they don't so you can appoint some one that duty.

What deposit is required to reserve you? When is final payment due? If you find a florist you like, make sure you know what it takes to reserve them. Also make sure you know when the final payment is due and their cancellation policy.

Do you handle flower preservation? If you'd like to keep your flowers make sure your check on your florist's ability to preserve your flowers.

[km]

there is a lot of information here so don't get overwhelmed either just stick to what is the most important aspects.

Maria05 has some very good points...................

[MalibuStacy1982]

Wow, that is all very wonderful advice! Thank you to everyone so much!!!

I brought this over from my 2009 journal just to be sure Kia saw it!!!

Ohh the flowers. If i could freaking make a FINAL decision about them it would be a freaking miracle. I have decided...i think...that i want to have peonies and tulips for my bouquet.
Pink Peonies....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/PrincessStacyM/Wedding/pinkpeony.jpg
Yellow Tulips
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/PrincessStacyM/Wedding/Yellowtulips.jpg

I'd like the guy's bouts to be made with Cattleya Orchids
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/PrincessStacyM/Wedding/CattleyaOrchid.jpg

So perhaps my bridesmaids could carry bouquets of tulips and Daytons
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/PrincessStacyM/Wedding/Dayton.jpg
(its a type of lilly)

My idea for centerpieces is to have submerged flowers in various sizes of vases i have been stumped on which flower to submerge. Until.......I was amazed when i was googling honeysuckle. They actually come in pink and yellow!!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/PrincessStacyM/Wedding/honeysuckle.jpg
Can you believe that?! I think they'd be the perfect submergeable flower. tee hee.

Now if i could only find these specific flowers in silk or even real for reasonable prices!! If anything i'd like to atleast have the honeysuckle be real so i wont have to worry about the threads being magnified or colors bleeding into the water.

Where's Kia?! She can help me with these thoughts! :blush: :shuffle:

[~Sherry~]

I love pink and yellow!! I hope you can find what you want!

(I even painted Breanna's room "Fruit Punch" and "Banana Split" :lol: )

[*Diane*]

The secret to submerging silk flowers and making them look real... ginger ale. Fill the vase with ginger ale. The bubbles will disguise the silk flowers.

[Winter_Bride]

Diane, that's a really neat idea!!!

[~Sherry~]

:grad:

[km]

:aww:

This is the information I think would be helpful:

Peonies-- availability May to June

Tulips March-June -inexpensive

Oriental lilies bloom later in the summer, other wise must be flown in and can be pricey, they are a pricey flower anyway

Honeysuckle---- Blooms in late summer. Pricey as well.

Orchids are expensive as well, but do check that particular color when you start getting into shades like that it can be expensive and orchids are expensive anyway.
Sorry, not familiar with a Lily called Dayton, but if you want to submerge the flowers in water you can pick a pink flower that is not expensive available in your month, you can check with your florist. There are so many pretty pink flowers. As far as submerging flowers in water I would stay with the fresh flowers as I do not really trust dyes they use in silks when they get wet, You could buy a bunch and get them wet and see what happens, but the dye lots are alway different because silk flowers are consenting turning over.

I'll keep looking for that lily, but if I had to guess it is not a variety that would be inexpensive..

:dust:

[Amy]

There are some great tips in here! Thanks in advance! :redflower:

[km]

oh one thing I wanted to say was when you are using flowers to submerge I would stay with fresh, some silks will go limp after a while if not sooner.

:wavey: