Love In Bloom!
You can't have a wedding without flowers, whether it's a single modest bridal bouquet or an all-out floral extravaganza. Here you will find tips and advice on how to find the best blooms for your wedding.
Finding The Right Florist For Your Ceremony
Book a florist at least six months before your wedding. Ask friends and family for references. It's great if you could use someone whose arrangements you've admired at a wedding you've attended. Ask other wedding professionals you're working with (photographers, caterers, bridal gown shops) for recommendations. They may know florists who put together beautiful arrangements and with whom they've had an easy time working.
Then call around and get at least two or three estimates. And don't avoid a florist just because you assume s/he will be too expensive. You may be surprised - some of the better and more unique florists are affordable.
Wedding Flower Checklist
Here is a standard checklist of flowers for a standard wedding. Feel free to pick and choose what you want.
For people
Bride's bouquet (plus a smaller bouquet to toss)
Bridesmaids' bouquets (maid/matron of honor may be slightly different)
Groom's boutonniere
Ushers' boutonnieres (best man's may be slightly different)
Mother-of-bride and mother-of-groom corsages
Father-of-bride and father-of-groom boutonnieres
Grandparents' corsages and boutonnieres
Flower girl's basket
Ring bearer's boutonniere
At the wedding
Pew decorations
Altar decorations
Candelabras, if appropriate
Guest book
At the reception
Table centerpieces
Cake table
Arrangement for buffet table
Guest book
Floral Financing
Many florists will tell you that wedding flowers should be 10 percent of the overall wedding budget (for a $20,000 wedding, you would spend $2,000 on flowers). But if you shop around, you can usually hire a florist and arrange flowers for much less (3 to 5 percent). Prices can range from $200 to $2,000 or more. Sometimes you can get a deal on flowers by ordering them online.
Use These Budgeting Tips:
Figure out your budget ahead of time. Then give it to the florist and ask what s/he can do with it as opposed to choosing flowers and then asking what the cost will be.
Make sure that delivery and setup are part of the florist's fee and not an additional charge. Get written receipts for all deposits and payments
Use flowers that are in season (e.g., lilac, daffodils and lilies in the spring and daisies, asters, straw flowers and roses in the summer) or flowers that are readily available all year round (e.g., carnations and baby's breath). Stay away from expensive, imported blooms such as spray orchids.
Consider having the bridesmaids carry a single flower and greenery wrapped with a ribbon. Or choose smaller bouquets and arrangements since size affects the overall cost.
Florists don't have to arrange flowers for the whole wedding. You can get wholesale flowers for the table arrangements and just have the florists handle the bouquets, corsages and boutonnieres. Reuse arrangements for both ceremony and reception.
If there's another wedding on the same day at your church or synagogue, consider sharing flowers (and their cost) with another bride.
If you want the feel of a lot of flowers, but can't afford the floral fees, choose a garden location for the ceremony.
If you choose from a book of arrangements and then want to change the flowers used, ask what the fee for changing flowers is. Changing standard arrangements could carry an extra fee.
To decorate the church, use a few large flower arrangements and then fill up the rest of the space with greenery, such as trees with white lights that can be rented from the florist or a local greenhouse. Use greenery with candles on the windowsills of the church. Use affordable plants such as ivy for centerpieces on the tables. Balloons are a great way to liven up a reception site.
If you're lucky enough to live in an area covered with wildflowers or have generous friends with abundant gardens, you may want to decorate the church or reception site with handpicked garlands and bouquets. Just make sure you delegate responsible people to do the flower-gathering on the morning of the wedding (or the day before). You should probably do a trial run of this first, to make sure you get the right amount, color and type of flowers.
Questions To Ask Your Florist
Good communications with your florist is the key to getting exactly the bouquets and displays you want. Here's a checklist of questions to have ready when you meet to discuss your needs:
How much will the flower arrangements, bouquets, etc., I want cost? Do fees include delivery, setup and breakdown? Do you transport flowers from the church to the reception? If so, are those fees included in the cost?
Have you worked in the venue I'm using before and what arrangements did you provide for the space? If you have not worked there, are you willing to go to the venue and check it out with me?
What flowers are readily available when I am getting married? (Certain blooms are cheaper at certain times of the year.) Are my favorite flowers available?
How long have you been in business? May I have the names of references? May I see sample wedding floral arrangements you've done?
Do you schedule more than one wedding a day? What happens if there is an emergency on the day of my wedding? What is your contingency plan? How do you ensure coverage?
What happens if on the day of my wedding, a key flower that I've chosen does not look good or is not available?
What is the most successful wedding you've done and what contributed to the success of that wedding? What can I do to ensure the success of my own wedding?
Can I review a copy of the contract you use? Can I get a written proposal of exactly what you will deliver?
Can you preserve the bridal bouquet after the ceremony? How much will it cost?
If I want to use candles in my centerpieces, is there a fire code that prevents the use of candles in the wedding or reception place?
Things To Avoid
Here's a list of common mistakes to keep in mind when making the floral arrangements for your wedding. Keep the bloom on the rose and steer clear of the following pitfalls:
If you want something unique, avoid standard FTD arrangements. Pick a creative florist who can play off your style. Ask florists how many different designs they can make.
A florist who doesn't use a contract.
A florist who is late for your appointment.
A florist with whom it is difficult to schedule time.
A florist who disregards your ideas.
Disregarding the weather. Be careful when planning a summer or outdoor wedding. Some flowers, like roses, wilt quickly in heat. Either ensure that the florist prepares the roses at the last minute or choose a different flower.
Not discussing alternatives. Some people are allergic to flowers. Candles, balloons, plants, ribbons and bows might work just as nicely for some arrangements.
Floral arrangements that aren't coordinated with the color scheme for your wedding (take in garment swatches, photos from magazines, etc.).
Paying for all the flowers up front. Reserve the bulk of the payment until after you have received the flowers.
Overpowering floral fragrances. Consider the scent of the flowers as well as the color and design of the arrangement. For example, lilies have a potent aroma and many people are allergic to them.
Your 10-Point Checklist:
With all of the options and varieties available, it can be rather daunting to order flowers for someone special. Here are 10 tips to help you make a lasting floral impression. We'll review your options, flag hidden costs, tell you which flowers last longest and which are most
fragrant, how to care for a bouquet, how to get the most for your money, and how to make the blossoms suit the recipient.
1. What are your options?
Today you can order flowers for almost anyone anywhere using on- and offline (e.g., 1-800 telephone-ordering services) merchants. There are two basic types of on- and offline flower-ordering services:
Grower directs broker deals between you and the flower growers. These services usually offer lower prices, but deliver flowers using Federal Express or slower mail carriers, which means flowers may be en route for a few days. It also means the flowers will most probably be delivered in a box, rather than a vase, requiring the recipient to put the arrangement together.
Wire services, such as FTD, broker orders between customers and local florists. Flowers are prepared in arrangements chosen by the customer and hand-delivered to their destination. These services are generally slightly more expensive than grower directs, but they're usually your best bet for last-minute orders and fancy floral arrangements.
2. Beware of hidden costs
Check to see if the shipping or delivery charges (same-day delivery, for example) are clearly stated. A reputable online florist should display this information with the cost of your order.
Are there any additional service charges? Some merchants may increase their profit with add-ons, like a $2 vase they'll mark up to $8.
Watch out for additional guaranteed delivery charges, especially during peak times and holidays. A reputable company will ensure the delivery date, and eat any costs that local florists may add on to ensure delivery. Less reputable companies will try to pass this on to you as a service charge.
It's common practice among florists to use replacement flowers when the type ordered runs out. A reputable company will prompt you for a second option when you place your order, replace flowers that are no longer available with an arrangement of comparable value and make it clear that the arrangement you select may not be exactly the same as the one delivered. Obviously, the likelihood of a replacement bouquet increases during peak times and holidays.
3. Which flowers last longest?
All blooms must fade, but generally bulb flowers (tulips, irises, daffodils) wilt first. Roses typically last a little longer. Carnations, daisies, gladiolus, chrysanthemums and certain types of lilies stay fresh for a number of days. Check with your florist when ordering. And of course, dried flowers and potted plants last for as long as you properly care for them.
4. How to care for your bouquet
Most bouquets last four to seven days, but you can do a few things to extend their freshness and scent:
When you get the flowers, trim their stems as soon as possible. (If you're gathering the bouquet from your garden, it's best to cut flowers early in the morning.) Fill your sink with clean, tepid water, place the stems beneath the water and cut an inch or so off the ends with a sharp knife or scissors. (Doing the surgery underwater prevents the stems from developing air bubbles that may block the flow of water.) If the stems are thick, scrape a little bark from the base to help them absorb water.
Strip all leaves from the stems that will be underwater in the vase. Otherwise they decompose and create bacteria that shorten the life of your blooms.
Arrange flowers in a clean vase filled with fresh tepid water, adding any floral preservative that may have been included with the bouquet.
Change the water in the vase every one to two days - more often if it becomes cloudy. (Clean the vase too.) This is also a good time to trim another inch or two from the stems and to remove any blossoms that have seen better days.
Always keep flowers in a cool place, especially at night, and away from direct sunlight, air conditioners, heaters, televisions and other sources of heat.
5. Which flowers are the most fragrant?
Some flowers smell as good as they look and are thought to be the ultimate in natural aromatherapy. The scents of lavender and roses, for example, are said to create a sense of tranquility and calm, while romance and passion may be ignited by the sensual smell of lilies, lilacs and sweet peas. Other flagrantly fragrant flowers include freesias, hyacinths, dianthus, lilies of the valley, ylang-ylangs and carnations.
6. Get the most bloom for your buck
Flowers that are in season generally cost less than hothouse exotics. Ask your florist if there are any seasonal specials - daffodils, lilies and tulips, for example, are often good spring buys, whereas wild flowers are more plentiful during the summer. Many florists feature specials around certain holidays, like Valentine's Day and Mother's Day. And keep in mind that more modest and common flowers like daisies and carnations will always be a lot less expensive than long-stemmed roses or exotic blooms like orchids.
7. The secret language of flowers
Some flowers have long been associated with certain sentiments and months. Send a subliminal message via this secret language …
The flower. . and the sentiment
Red roses and orchids. . love and respect
White roses, daisies and freesias. . innocence
Yellow roses. . joy and friendship
Dark pink roses. . gratitude
Calla lilies and amaryllis. . beauty and pride
Daffodils. . you're the only one
Dogwood. . love in the face of adversity
Irises and gladiola. . wisdom and strength of character
Lilacs, peonies and violets. . humility, bashfulness and modesty
Tulips.. perfect lover
Flowers for each month - to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and special timely occasions:
January carnations
February violets
March jonquils
April sweet peas
May lilies of the valley
June roses
July larkspur
August gladiola
September asters
October calendula
November chrysanthemums
December narcissus
8. Fight floral phobia
You don't have to be a horticulturist to order the perfect bouquet. Most people know the names of only a few flowers, so don't be afraid to ask questions and give your florist something to go on. What's the occasion? What sort of personality does the recipient have? What colors does he or she like? Are you thinking formal or informal? Masculine or feminine? Bold or subtle? Your florist can fill in the blanks with the appropriate blossoms.
9. Save time when ordering
When you're ready to place an order by phone or on the Web, make sure you have all this information at hand: your credit card number, the address and phone number of the recipient, the date and time you'd like it to be delivered and the message you want to enclose. (Spend a little time thinking up that message before you place the order - it's always tougher to think of something to say off the cuff.) It's also a good idea to find out what the service you choose will do if it's unable to make the delivery for some reason.
10. Guarantee your satisfaction
Ordering flowers can still be a tricky business, especially in the budding online market. Before you click, make sure that:
Your online florist offers a 100 percent satisfaction policy, which should be clearly stated on the site. Most qualified on- and offline florists offer a money-back guarantee, or they will replace unsatisfactory orders.
Make sure the florist offers a freshness guarantee.
