To do this you must first choose a florist and/or a wedding coordinator that will help you achieve your goal. In a way, the flowers you choose for your wedding can represent all of your hopes for marriage. Flowers are more than decorations they are symbols of true love, friendship, faithfulness and passion. Your search for a florist should begin as soon as you have determined the date, location, and color scheme of the wedding. A florist can be the local shop that you’ve always turned to on holidays etc., an event planner that will oversee the visual presentation of the event, or someone who specializes in weddings only. I suppose I’m prejudice since I am someone dedicated to designing just weddings. I had been a retail shop owner for many years, and have spent the last 17 years doing just weddings. The service that a weddings only florist can give has no comparison. For example we eat, drink and sleep weddings every week, we are comfortable with handling every little detail. It is routine for us. Customers, funerals or holidays never interrupt us. We know at least six months a head of time what is scheduled for any given day.
Commonly
flowers can make up 10 percent of the total wedding budget.
It is my belief however that any flowers can be beautiful, if they are
well designed. Of course you can’t expect orchids for the price of daisies.
Often couples are afraid to discuss price initially with their florist. I think that this can sometimes be a mistake.
If I’m given a certain budget, I can then begin to narrow the choices
down to those that will accomplish the dream the couple has envisioned.
For example a brides bouquet could have almost the same look with
bouvardia placed instead of stephanotis, at a much lower cost.
An all white overhead arrangement can be designed at varying
prices…with some alteration in flower choices.
Simple designs with limited variety, such as all roses, can even lower
the price. Naturally wedding dates
that coincide with holidays will increase the cost of your flowers. If the ceremony is in a Church or Synagogue, try to utilize
some of your ceremony flowers for the reception.
If your ceremony is at the reception site, try to use your table
centerpieces down the aisle.
During
your initial meeting with your florist, you should try to look at photos of
wedding flowers that the florist has designed personally, not just pictures from
a wire service wedding catalog. It
is important to find someone that you feel comfortable with and who not only
understands your vision for the wedding but can also expand on it.
Try to bring a picture of your gown and bridesmaid’s dresses.
If the ceremony and reception sites are not local, bring a picture of
them as well. We are in the habit
of giving our clients a detailed computer proposal listing individual flowers
and prices. Make sure you get some
details on your proposal, not just a “white bouquet etc.”.
Very often florists will not give you the design proposal without a
deposit, they fear you can get another florist to copy it at a cheaper price.
That is not our policy, I very much encourage brides to go home with our
detailed typed proposal and think about what we have discussed and then mail a
deposit. We take that risk that they are comfortable with me as their
designer. They may get a cheaper price but they won’t have the understanding
I’ve established with them. (Well
at least most of the time!!)
If you are able to see a florist a whole year before the wedding you will
be able to see flowers that are in season.
We make it a habit of doing a centerpiece sample for all clients since
centerpieces can represent a large portion of the budget.
After all, flowers may not be something you can visualize unless you see
them. We can make changes to the
arrangement with you there and you can come up with centerpieces you love.
We always take a photo of your sample arrangement and attach it to your
folder since this will assure the result. Although
you may request that the florist spell out in detail the names and quantity of
each and every flower in each item, sometimes it is to your advantage to be a
little flexible. You should be able
to trust the designer with your vision. I
go to market personally to choose the flowers for my bride’s (it really makes
my job much easier). At market, I
might spot something that I know they would love if you they were there.
Something that I know would pull the whole look together.
It happens to me all the time and that’s what choosing seasonal flowers
is all about, not just the money aspect of it.
It’s all about color, design, and what hits the eye!
Finalize your contract/proposal with your florist one to two weeks prior to the event and carefully go over all details including the number of bridesmaids, number of guest tables requiring centerpieces and delivery instructions to house ceremony, and receptions sites. Once you have gone over all the details it is time to relax and enjoy the day and leave the rest for those who specialize in its preparation.
Invitations
are usually mailed six to eight weeks prior to the wedding and are usually the
first notification guests have as to the festivities to come.
The invitation will set the tone of the wedding. Your motif can introduce
the spirit, style, and formality of the affair to come.
Both the style and wording of the invitation will differ for each wedding
depending on its location, time of day, and grandeur.
Naturally the wedding on the beach will not have the same invitation as
the Black Tie Affair.
Many
Bridal Magazines will advertise a variety of invitations at reasonable prices
that can be shipped directly to you. They
will send you a sample of the stock, you must then give them the wording you
would like and they will deliver within a reasonable time.
It is my experience however that although the price is good it is not
worth the difficulties. Rarely are couples aware of all the options in wording or the
proper etiquette for each situation. It
is important to sit down with someone who will help you use the proper words to
fit you particular situation. Printers
are more likely to rectify immediately any mistakes, within reason, since they
value the continued business of the retailer.
My experience in seeing many invitation combinations will enables me to
suggest the stock, printing styles, and liners that compliment each other best.
Offering invitations as well as flowers gives me an opportunity to
coordinate yet another aspect of the wedding for a total look.
Favors
are meant to be a thank you, from the Bride and Groom to their guests for their
generosity and participation in the wedding celebration.
Hopefully, they will bring to mind the wonderful time had by all and of
the journey of life that is about to unfold for the happy couple.
For
many years we carried a large line of imported china and silver favors and we
still sell a variety of them. It
has been my experience that all of us have more collectables than we could ever
have room for, so I tend to direct my couples toward something that needs less
dusting, boxing and gift-wrapping. Give
people something they can enjoy but might not have to keep forever like Flowers,
Potpourri, candles, wine, chocolates, (or my favorite) a little box with a few
tulip bulbs in it! I just love the
idea that they can be planted to come up again and again. What a great way to be
remembered. Perhaps if you have the
time you can come up with a special idea, add your own special touch to it and
do it yourself. Go for something
simple, maybe a small felt or velvet pouch holding a sachet or small bottle of
lotion. Tie it with thin velvet
ribbon - done! Some other ideas: a
small sea shell in a mesh bag for a seaside wedding, a custom made CD of love
songs or a small wind chime to lull away the afternoons can be a beautiful way
to say thanks.
Today’s
dresses are simple and elegant with straight lines and the trend in bouquets has
followed along those same lines. For
a while now the look has been small, upright, hand held, hand tied bouquets of
either all roses or seasonal mixed flowers with much attention to detail.
Bouquet handles should accent the already beautiful flowers.
Stems can be accented by braiding the finest ribbon, in the color of the
dress, and trimmed with pearls or satin rosebuds adding that extra touch.
Simple hand tied bouquets compliment the dress, not overpower it. They are light and easy to carry leaving the bride and
attendants smiling. There is
nothing worse than the pained look of a whole bridal party including the bride
wishing they can put that heavy or cumbersome flower bouquet down.
Guests are anxious to see the bridal party, especially the bride, proceed
down the aisle. It is somewhat of a show, like it or not.
Unless it is a very small group, I think it’s nice for the Maid of
Honor to have a slightly different bouquet than the Brides Maid, either in shape
or color. Perhaps something
designed in between the girl’s bouquet and the bride’s bouquet.
It increases the anticipation. I
definitely like the bride’s bouquet to stand out from the girls. A white
bouquet with some green or picking up a little color from the girls bouquet’s,
can coordinate everything and make for great photos.
Most
importantly, a bride should carry any flower or flowers that have a special
meaning to her, those that have significance to her relationship or her life.
She is the star and can have a bouquet totally unrelated to the rest of the
wedding, if she chooses- no rules should apply!
Maybe a bride might want to add a small flower sprig her mother or
grandmother carried or a small object of significance buried within the bouquet.
It is a great way to pay tribute to an ideal or loved one. As far as
I’m concerned the brides in charge and although I offer many suggestions, I
encourage her to go with her feelings.
Boutonnières
originated as a flower or two pulled from a girl ‘s bouquet and pinned it on
the lapel of her suitor. Because of
that I really think the men’s boutonnière should match the attendants
flowers. All white is also always correct but anything you or he loves
can always be made to work. We show
a variety of different ideas for boutonnières but a white rose and/or
stephanotis, is usually the most popular. Following
the attention to detail, a little piece of lilac, hydrangea, or filler from the
attendant’s bouquets can be added to a rose to accent it.
Moms
are also the stars of the wedding and are sometimes why the Bride is doing all
this in the first place. As always, wristlets are usually most favored since there is
no need to put a hole into an expensive dress.
A new innovation is a corsage made on a magnet holder - with no pins
needed. They work great for orchids
or other light flowers but I don’t recommend them with roses or other heavy
flowers- why take a chance! Many
moms this year are carrying flowers; either very small hand tied bouquets or
small single flower arm bouquets. Our most exciting look for moms is a Duchess
Rose. It is made from a single
closed rose in the center with additional rose petals added around the edge to
create the look of a large, perfectly open rose.
It can be made with either a long braided stem or placed in a small
silver or gold tussie mussie holder. You’ve
got to see it!
Although the traditional ceremony can still take place in a church or
synagogue it is now often taking place outdoors or at the reception site.
A chuppa style canopy draped in satin, tulle, and flowers once reserved
only for Jewish ceremonies can create a marriage setting where there isn’t
one. Remember that although the
time spent at the ceremony is short in comparison to the reception it is why the
party is taking place. It will hold
a predominant place in your photographs and needs to be decorated.
With the increase in weddings there are more flowers delivered to
churches and synagogues. Very often
they do not mind if you take your ceremony flowers with you, giving you even
more reason to decorate. We usually recommend two altar or bema arrangements on
each side, preferably raised on rented columns or stands.
This rental is usually well worth the extra cost since it enables the
arrangements to be seen from the back and makes them look twice the price.
Bows of satin, tulle or lace on the first four pews on each side either
with flowers or plain really sets the stage.
I’m sure your florist will show you some new & unique ideas for
decorating the pews, for example colored ribbons, hydrangeas, cones of flowers,
wreaths, and candelabras. Draping
the pews together with tulle is a popular look but it makes it very difficult
for ushers to seat the guests or for the guests to follow you out to the
receiving line. Speaking of ushers:
Make sure your ushers are aware that they have a job to do.
See that they arrive a half hour early so that they can see to the
guests’ questions and seating.
Now
is the party that everyone has been waiting for, the one you’ve planned for
over a year or possibly a lifetime. It
is important to see to the details ahead of time so when the day comes you’ll
know you did your best and you can just enjoy it. We know the food is important
so make sure you go for a tasting and you plan the menu carefully.
Music can also be something that will make or break a party so go and
listen to a few bands or take the time to select some music for your DJ.
You
also want the guests to be wowed when they walk into the room. You want to set
the mood and the tempo for the party to come.
Probably nothing does this like flowers, with your centerpiece playing
the biggest part. Centerpieces can vary as much as your imagination, and if
designed well can reflect your style and the style of the wedding.
Overhead arrangements are probably our biggest seller and really have a
presence when you enter a room. Great
for high ceilings, to fill up a room when it is a little too large for the
number of people, or just to make a statement.
We carry many rental vases and the arrangements vary from all white to
bright in color and from traditional to exotic.
There are many styles in low table arrangements, which are easy to speak
over and elegant to gaze at with candles, or glass votive sticks.
Others are in glass vases, bubble balls or baskets.
Different colored metal containers with a renaissance flair are also
quite popular now. Probably our most dramatic arrangement is hanging from the
ceiling over each table from tulle or mysteriously suspended invisibly from
fishing line. Surprisingly this amazes everyone. I think one of my favorite ideas is to change the
centerpieces from table to table. For
one spring wedding we went with bubble balls of fresh cut flowers but used a
different spring flower for each table. You
can also have some table with low arrangements and some with overheads all in
the same color and flower choice. Thirdly,
you can use a combination of small bowls of low flowers on the table with a
taller arrangement.
There
are so many other little touches that make the reception site special such as
flowers or comfort baskets in the men and ladies room.
You can place a tall vase of flowers or even just Rose petals on the card
table to greet the guests as they enter. Try
some tulle and or ivy on the head table with little clips to hold the girls
& your bouquet upright for all to see.
There are also many edible or non-poisonous flowers as well as petals or
ribbon that can be placed on your cake for a fresh and lovely look.
Bring a picture of your cake to your florist so he may create something
special.
If
you have any special ideas that you think are unique E-mail them to me
Floral Expressions by Maria and Larry, Event Designers of Weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvah & Corporate Party Decorating. Serving-NJ Bergen, Passaic, Hudson. Essex, Union, Sussex-NYC & Rockland Counties. Click the doors of our Cyber Office and enter our world and our extensive photo gallery of over 100 real wedding pictures .Washington Township, NJ 07676 Tele.201-664-8474 www.FloralExpressionsOnline.com