Merry Brides: Flowers

Showing posts with label Flowers. Show all posts

What Are Your Wedding Flowers Saying About You?

Picking flowers for your wedding can be an educational experience!

Below are some of the most popular flowers used in weddings, and what “messages” they can send.

Roses are a near-universal symbol of love, but they also come in a wide variety of colors that convey specific ideas, such as: white – purity or innocence; red – love or respect; pink – happiness or grace; peach – modesty; and yellow – joy or friendship.

Carnations symbolize devoted love, and like roses, certain colors have specific connotations: white – good luck; pink – a woman’s love; purple – whimsy; red – admiration.

Daisies symbolize loyalty and good cheer.

Irises symbolize wisdom, valor, or faith. Yellow irises signify passion.

Lily of the Valley symbolizes sweetness and humility.

Lilies symbolize honor and purity of heart. Calla lilies symbolize beauty.

Ferns symbolize magic or fascination.

Zinnias symbolize the memory of an absent friend.

Violets symbolize modesty or virtue.

Bells of Ireland symbolize good luck!

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QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR WEDDING FLORIST

By: Jasmine Macdonald

1. Is my date available?

If it is, check to see if a deposit is necessary to hold the date. Also ask if there is any consultation fee. Inquire as to whether you can receive a price proposal before deposit its placed.

2. Do you have actual photographs or samples of your past work?

It's important to see the work of the actual florist not air brushed photos from a FTD book. There is no better way to see if their style complements your tastes and verify just how skilled they are.

3. Is there a delivery or set-up fee?

Watch out this can be a substantial extra charge. Most florists will charge a delivery and set-up fee especially if you have either complex flower arrangements or a site that is a long distance from their shop. If the charge is high, consider finding a florist closer to the site or cut back on the complicated decorations.

4. Do you offer any silk or dried flower arrangements?

This may be important to you if you want to save your bouquet or want an unusual look for a table centerpiece. Sometimes these two options may be less expensive than fresh flowers, especially for some exotics like orchids. A table centerpiece idea: dried rose topiaries double as an elegant keepsake.

5. How many weddings do you do in a day?

The biggest problem with some florists is that they become over-extended trying to do too many weddings in one day. A florist can probably do two or three events a day if the events are held at different times or the florist has plenty of help. If the florist schedule looks crowded for your wedding date, they may arrive late or deliver the wrong flowers. Be sure to look for someone focused on your wedding not just your checkbook.

6. Are you familiar with my ceremony and reception site locations?

If not, will you visit it with me? It may be a good idea to introduce your florist to the ceremony or reception site if they have never seen it. Ask if there is any charge for this on-site visit.

7. What rental items do you have? How are they priced?

Some things you many want to rent include a candelabrum, aisle standards or urns. The best florists don't over charge on rentals. One way to find out is to compare prices with a local rental store. A common markup for florists is about 10% for their time to coordinate this detail. If you would prefer to rent the items yourself because you can get a better price, be sure you have the time to pick up and return the items.

8. Can I attend one of your weddings during set-up for a look at your designs?

Here is another way to determine how professional and talented your florist is. You will need to visit during set-up and leave before the wedding party arrives. Try not to interrupt the florists or their staff while they work (save your questions for later.) Look for timeliness, freshness of the flowers, and how well the florist and staff work together.

9. What time will you be at my ceremony and reception sites to set up my wedding?

Confirm this time constantly throughout your planning. Many florists set up weddings a couple of hours in advance. If this is the case with your wedding, make sure the temperature at your site will not be too hot for the flowers.

10. Will you merely drop off my flowers or stay through the ceremony?

The degree of service here differs dramatically from florist to florist. Some just drop off the flowers for the ceremony and leave, while others will stay to pin on corsages, make sure nothing is missing etc. There will be an extra fee of generally $50-75 for this service; however this could be a worthwhile investment.
11. What happens if the flowers I pick are not available for my wedding?

How will you determine what flowers to substitute?

12. What is the policy if i want to add extra items such as another table centerpiece or boutonniere at the last minute?

About the author: Jasmine MacDonald is the editor of Fun Weddings and Merry Brides which will provide you with daily ideas and tips to help you plan the perfect wedding while staying within your budget. Jasmine can also help you design your very own wedding website to keep your friends and family updated about your wedding plans. Check out a Free Trial offer at Merry Brides Wedding Window. No experience is necessary. Within 15 minutes you can have your webpage online.

Wedding flowers

CL) - Some say that a wedding without flowers is like a birthday without a cake. Without a doubt, flowers frame and enhance a marriage celebration in a very special way. But not everybody thinks this way, and many couples prefer to save on the cost of flowers and invest that money in the honeymoon. It is a question of taste or-in some cases-of limited budget.

Sometimes people try to save some money by buying the flowers, preparing the flower arrangements, and decorating the church and reception area by themselves. Although not a bad idea, it is simply not worth the risk for such a special and memorable event as a wedding.

It is highly advisable that a professional florist be hired to prepare the flower arrangements and decorate according to his or her judgment. Remember that flowers are delicate and demand certain conditions in order to remain fresh. Professional florists have the necessary equipment for this task.

In order for your flowers to stay fresh, they must be prepared on the day of the wedding. Will you and your family have the adequate time to carry out all this heavy work, and also make the bride look beautiful, radiant, and refreshed for the wedding? Almost certainly not, and trying to achieve this may turn into a nightmare and lead to bad memories of this unique day in your life. The only exception might be if the flower arrangements are so simple that they do not require professional labor.

Once you decide to hire a florist, there is a series of steps to be followed before dealing with him or her. The florist must be hired and notified at least four months before the wedding in order to ensure that he or she is available on the wedding day, as well as to give you enough time to discuss the details. Here are some timely, practical, and useful tips for making this important decision:

· If you are planning a wedding on a budget, you should get several estimates or quotes from various suppliers, including a breakdown of what items are included in the cost. There are many items that, although part of the decoration, do not belong to the bride and groom once the event has finished, such as candlesticks, vases, amphoras, tablecloths, and cutlery, among other things. Decorators often lend these items, or they may rent them. Therefore, if the bride and groom want their guests to be able take the centerpiece or flower arrangement home with them, they should make sure that they will not have to pay an additional amount later on.

· Select the florist through friends or family references.

· If you do not know the florist and do not have any references, you should ask for samples with pictures of decorations and flower arrangements from previous weddings. This will help you judge the type of work of which the supplier is capable, and samples will reveal his or her taste, talent, and-even more importantly-the quality of his or her work.

· In order to get a better picture, you should ask for the contact information of other couples who have hired this florist before. This will enable you to get references from a closer, more direct source.

· Most florists are willing to do some practice floral arrangements before the wedding, according to the bride and groom's taste and the details agreed upon.

· Do not forget to ask for recommendations regarding color combinations and flower selection. Remember that many flowers are seasonal and often more expensive if purchased outside their season.

Likewise, try to select flowers that tend to stay fresh and attractive longer

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