Every Little Girl Dreams Of
Her Big Day...
...and those dreams
always include flowers. What have you always wanted? Simple and natural,
or elaborate flowers? Subtle or striking? Minimalist? Tightly arranged?
Monochromatic, traditional (whites or pastels), multicolored, or modern
(dark hues and bright citrus shades)? Do you dream of old school roses
and lilies or new school berries, grasses, greens, and herbs? It’s your
big day...enjoy the creative journey!
Work Your Floral Plan
Remember, you’ve got two, and possibly three events to "florally
plan" for. At the very least, you’ve got the wedding day itself, but
don’t forget about the rehearsal dinner the day before. Re-purposing
flower arrangements for your various events will not only save you some
cash, but (logistically-speaking), save you some brain-damage. And for
many brides-to-be, don’t forget to florally-plan for a bridal luncheon
during your wedding week/weekend.
C
olors
Flowers in matching shades or cool contrasts are breathtaking, but
make sure they suit your wedding. Bring a bridesmaid dress fabric swatch
when you meet with your floral designer (to illustrate your wedding
colors), and provide a wedding dress photo to give the designer a sense
of your personal style. And keep rehearsal dinner and bridal luncheon
color schemes in mind while you’re at it.
Seasonal Savings: (Or
Black-Holes For Your $$$?)
Local, in-season flowers will guarantee freshness
and affordability, so choose a couple of seasonal staples (orange
blossoms, lavender, or tulips, for example) and use them as a base for
bouquets, boutonnieres, and decorative arrangements. Incorporate them
into huppahs, arches, or pew adornments, too.
Be Realistic About
Fulfilling Your Floral Dreams
Love the idea of luxe imported orchids or dreamy
white peonies in the middle of February? Be prepared to pay at least 25%
more. Some blooms normally priced at $1.00 per stem cost $8.00 each in
the off-season.
Floral Coattails?
If you’re getting married outside in a naturally flowering park or
garden, you might not have to bring in many flowers or plants at all.
And a bonus for getting married around Christmas or Easter? Your church
may already be beautifully decked out flowers of the season, such as
poinsettias or Easter lilies.
Beware of the Floral Budget
Buster Times of the Year
Is your big day on (or near) Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day? Expect
to pay higher prices– rose prices in particular will be sky high. And
let’s not forget another fact of life: Your florist’s time and
availability might also be a pricey issue. Discuss any potential
problems early in the game!
Paper Up The Deal
Your florist should have written up your exact
proposal, itemizing the number of arrangements, the kinds of flowers to
be used, and any set-up or clean-up fees by your second meeting. If
you’re planning for an elaborate display such as a floral huppah,
topiaries, or any special/themed-arrangements, your florist should be
ready to show you sketches/actual samples by the second meeting.
And now’s also the time to finalize prices: If sample arrangements
seem skimpy, consider allotting more of your budget to flowers or making
other adjustments...like finding a different florist altogether.
Put Your $$$ Where Your Heart Is
So you’ve gotten to the point of signing the line with your floral
expert. Be ready to pony-up 50% of the total cost upon signing a
contract/committing to the date. And don’t whine about it: You’re asking
them to commit one of the most important days of the year to your event,
so put your money where your mouth is. But do your homework, first.
Check ’Em Out First!
Do the obvious background check first. Contact the
Better Business
Bureau and make sure they’ve gotta clean bill of wedding
day health. And consider spending a little extra time checking them out
if you’re inviting over 250 people: An hour invested in your county
courthouse could save you a world of heartache...and a bunch of dough.
Check out the company, as well as the owner of your floral provider and
see if they’ve ever been sued–and why. See how the suit was
resolved...but do this phase of your homework before you sign at
contracts/put any cash at risk!!!
Avoid The Background
Checks: Deal With The Best
Piece of (wedding) cake, Ladies:
Call
Lucy Rivas at (972) 445-1200
or
e-mail her directly and relax. You're in great hands.
Click here for flower-related photos from Ben's wedding day
