I'm Engaged - When Do I Book My Florist?

This is a question Julie and I often get asked and the answer really depends on how long you have to plan your wedding. Years ago the general guideline was to start talking to a florists about 4-6 months before the wedding. As many florist produced similarly styled wedding flowers you didn't worry that a florist would be booked, if they were you could just go on to the next one.

Today, all that has changed and all for the better. Modern brides are looking to personalize their weddings and have so many color choices as well as styles to choose from. Finding the "right floral designer" among all the options can be daunting. So in my opinion the earlier you find your floral designer the better, that way you have more options. Otherwise you may find a florist that you love, who meets your budget and everything else, only to find that they are booked for your date. Some floral designers only do 1 to 2 weddings per day so that they may give you all the attention that you deserve.

If you don't already have a favorite floral designer, talk to friends, go to bridal shows, or simply search the web.

Inspiration - Red & White Part II

Here's a second version of the inspiration board I posted yesterday with some design changes. You'll notice the colors are the same but, look how modern and sophisticated the colors look with the changes. The designer cake by Lovin Sullivan; an updated classic red bridesmaids dress; textured stylized monochromatic flowers; Hermes plates; invitations by Alannah Rose

What ever colors, theme or style you choose for your wedding - have fun with it!

posted by Cindy

Inspiration - Red & White

Red and white aren't just for Valentine's Day or Christmas anymore. Weddings pop with these versatile colors. Casual summer fun as as in this board or go sophisticated with red and white (see Part II tomorrow) . Have your bridesmaids wear vibrant red dresses and carry white bouquets of Gerbers, Daisies and Dahlias. To modernize the look choose bouquets and arrangements in monochromatic reds and whites with a hit of green. The red and white dishes were the inspiration for this crisp red and white board.

Theto die for shoes are Christian Louboutin; stationary by Betsy White; teacup and saucer via County Living; vintage red truck Danno 3 via flicker


post by Cindy

Summer Bouquet Idea

Periwinkle blue, orange, purple, hot pink, white and green, make me think of the warm days of summer.
I
love the bright vibrant colors in this bouquet, it's warm without being too hot. It's the prefect balance of hot colors with cool ones, like a beautiful summer day at the beach with a long cool drink.

That sounds so good, I think I've talked myself into a little drive to the beach.

What are your favorite summer colors?

post by Cindy

The 10 Most Popular Wedding Flowers

[the] Earth laughs in flowers. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Calla Lily - as one of the most elegant and simple of all blooms, the Calla Lily has been a popular wedding flower for ages. The simple lines of callas are ideal for modern designed weddings. Its hardy texture and tropical origin also make it an ideal choice for warm summer weddings. Callas come in white, pink, yellow and purple. Depending on the season, you can find mini-callas varieties in shades of red, mauve-pink, ivory and golden-yellow.

Casablanca Lily - these flowers (along with Star Gazer Lilies) are one of my personal favorites. They are very fragrant with a sweet perfume and one of the largest blooms among all the lilies. The huge flowers are pure gleaming white, delicately flocked in a way that adds a richness and texture. Many lily experts call the Casablanca the "perfect white lily". To prevent permanent staining of petals and clothing - remove the anthers. Handle carefully, open flowers crease easily.

Hydrangea - blooms can make for fabulous floral arrangements and add texture and romance to a bridal bouquet. The mophead varieties are so large, the can fill a vase. However, hydrangea can be a bit tricky to work with. Sometimes they last for days and other times they wilt almost immediately after being added to an arrangement or a vase of fresh water. Julie and I won't use them in bridal bouquets in warmer weather as they will wilt. They come in a range of colors and hues such as creamy whites and soft pastels, there are brilliant blues, vivid pinks, and even fuchsia.

Lilacs - prized for their delicate blooms and their deliciously sweet fragrance. Generally available January through March (available other times of the year at a premium). Lilacs don't last well in floral foam and wilt quickly out of water. Available in hues of purple, lavender, mauve, pink and white. The purple-flowered varieties, which have the stronger scent, are only available in spring for a very short season of only around 6 weeks.

Gardenias - are very fragrant creamy-white to cream flowers with glossy, dark-green leaves, either single or double and up to 4 inches in diameter. Although they are a popular flower for corsages, the petals are extremely sensitive to touch which may cause bruising and browning.

Lily of the Valley - have small bell-shaped flowers that infuse the air with a mild sweet fragrance throughout the day. In the Victorian classic, The Language of Flowers, the LOTV is said to symbolize the return of happiness and sweetness. Available year-round, peak season is October - May.

Orchids - come in many varieties, are long lasting, quick to open, do not fade, and do not bruise or spot easily (avoid water on petals). Orchids such as Cymbidiums are thick and heavy, almost waxy in texture; orchids of this heavier substance will generally last longer than more delicate blooms. This is especially true if you will be using single blooms in corsages, bouquets or boutonnieres. They are sensitive to ethylene and cold temperatures.

Rose/Garden Rose - roses have probably been around since the Garden or Eden but, Garden Roses are one of the newer kids on the block as far as wedding flowers go. English/David Austin roses are hybrids of Old Garden Roses and modern hybrid teas and floribundas. Roses are a standard in weddings and come in a wide range of colors and sizes. For a more modern look use fully-opened roses, Garden roses are a bit more expensive than the standard roses, yet they gave a more romantic less formal look to them. Roses symbolize love with each color taking on a special meaning.

Stephanotis - small white lightly fragrant flowers; tubular, star-shaped, waxy blooms, They're sold stemless (off the vine) and packaged in air-tight boxes or bags. Handle with care to avoid bruising. Available year-round; symbolizing happiness in marriage, desire to travel, and good luck.

Tulips - affordable and abundantly available through the spring. I'm particularly fond of the more expensive French tulips' with their long stems and graceful bloom shape. Tulips come in a vast array of colors (except of true blue) so it's easy to find a color to match any wedding scheme. Tulips also come in several different forms, there's the classic style, the ruffled peony-flower, fluffy parrot, and the stately lily flowered tulips. Peak season is January - April; colors: red, pink, white, yellow, orange, purple, and bi-colors. Tulips symbolize perfect love.

posted by Cindy

Peonies Are Here!

Oh, be still my beating heart! I so love these frilly, fluffy, voluptuous flowers. They are without a doubt one of my favorites. Are they yours?

Their full romantic blossoms,intoxicating fragrance and limited season (May-June) also makes them a popular choice for many brides - and rightfully so.

If it isn't Peony season but, you still want the full and romantic look - try David Austin or Cabbage roses. While they're not Peonies, they are a great substitute.

Posted by Cindy

When Do I Give Up My Bouquet?

One of the helpful tips Julie and I like to give to our brides is when to give up their bouquets during the wedding ceremony.

And since many brides give up their bouquets to soon (probably out of nervousness), I thought I share this tip with our readers.

While the order of ceremonies does vary, what is consistent is the exchange of vows and rings. So we advise our brides to keep their bouquets until they turn to face each other to exchange vows (often holding hands for this). The exchange of rings then follows. You can either give your bouquet to your maid of honor to hold, or place it in a vase on a small table (today's bouquets can be heavy - so for her to mange hers and your may be to much). If you use a table, make sure the vase is weighted down with stones or glass marbles, something to keep it upright with the weight of the bouquet.

Remember, pick up your bouquet or have your maid of honor hand it back to you before you exit down the aisle as Mr. & Mrs. for those beautiful photo ops!

Faves

Although most couples have picked many of their wedding vendors by the time they come to Julie and I for their wedding flowers, we occasional get asked for vendor referrals.

So from time to time I'll post some of our favorite vendors in a post titled "Faves". We are so blessed to work with some wonderfully gifted and nice people!

This post is all about an amazing photographer - Susan Yee of en pointe photography. Susan's background is in graphic art which may explain her eye for composition (or maybe she was just born with it!) . Susan switched career paths and then moved from San Francisco to San Diego about 5 years ago. She choose photography as her new business and art form. She is also the sweetest person, low keyed - (she won't stress you out on your wedding day) and mega talented photographer you want to meet. Here are just a few of her photos from her blog. You need to go to her website to see the rest of this wedding and loads of her other wedding & engagement work.

If you have any vendors that you'd like to share with us - send an email with their info and why you think they're so special - we'd love to hear from you.

Posted by Cindy

Flower Pricing Category Part II

OK, now let's take the categorized flowers from yesterday's post to the next level as we look at the overall visual size of the bloom.

A rose will classically take up anywhere from 1" to 3" in diameter in a bouquet. This is the same amount of space that a carnation will take up but, the carnation will cost about 1/3 of what the rose cost (garden roses are even more) as noted in the yesterday's 3 different price point categories. On the other hand a hydrangea will take up 7 - 12 or more inches (yes some are 12"+ in diameter!) depending on the grower and the variety of the flower. So where it might take 25+ roses to make a small hand tied bouquet, you could have a bouquet of 1 hydrangea with a few roses that would make a beautiful mid-range bouquet for 1/3 to 1/2 the price. In this situation the hydrangea is actually a better value per inch than the roses are.

In yesterday's post you'll notice that a few of the larger flower heads were marked with a * to let you take a second look at them. Below is a picture to show an illustration of what I'm talking about. Notice the size of the hydrangeas, they are some of the smaller hydrangea heads. You can see the size difference between the roses and hydrangeas in this picture.

The flowers from yesterday's post marked with a ** are to draw your attention to the accent flowers. While they may seem like they are in the more affordable "premium" class on a per inch basis they are very expensive.

There has been a trend away from floral fillers over the years - which is not all bad (I personally can't stand baby's breath!). Today's bouquets have a cleaner modern look. However, while you may want a large bouquet of all roses or French tulips, your budget may say otherwise. If you consider a mixed floral bouquet not only will you get a better dollar value, you'll also get a more interesting bouquet!

As you can see flower choice is about more than just color and style, it also about the price point of your flowers. This is also a good example of why you want to work with a florist/floral designer that is knowledgeable and one you can trust.

He or she should be willing to work with you to determine the best value for the look you are trying to achieve.

Posint by Cindy

Flower Pricing Categories

As you begin to plan your wedding, the question of how much do wedding flowers cost is sure to come up as you begin thinking about a budget. Understanding how to prepare for this expense can help you prepare and manage you wedding floral budget.

The cost of you wedding flowers will be in part based on the types of flowers used. It is important to understand there are two primary factors that drive price; labor and materials (flowers, etc). Because beautiful flowers are a part of our everyday world, we tend to forget that they are a product. One that takes time, care and labor.


We have divided the more popular wedding flowers into 3 separate categories: High Premium, Premium, and Value. Remember prices will vary due to the quality, season, your location and availability.

High Premium - $10+/stem

Gardenias, Delphinium hybrid, Hydrangea*, French Tulips, Calls Lilly, Dahlias*, Cymbidium Orchids, Peony*, Lily of the Valley **, Casablanca Lily*, Magnolias

Premium - $4-$10/stem

Rose, Asiatic Lily, Glorsia Lily, Sun Flowers, Freesia**, Marguerite Daisies, Stephanotis**, Bells of Ireland, Larkspur, Spider Mums, Tulip, Phlox, Dendrobium Orchids, Solidago, Bouvardia**, Thistle, Stock, Star of Bethlehem, Gerbera Daisy, Lilac, Snap Dragon, Gladiolus, Lisianthius

Value - $3/stem

Baby's Breath, Carnations (mini and full size), Wax Flower, Chrysanthemum, Alstromeria, Sweet William, Queen Anne's Lace, Asters, Lavender

*Large size flower head, better value per inch

**Flowers may seem like they are in the affordable "premium" class, but on a per inch basis they become more expensive

Posting by Cindy

Nature Inspired Brown & Green

Here's some more eye candy for you to enjoy! Meanwhile do you have an inspiration board for your wedding you like to share with us?

Do you have any questions about your wedding flowers, or do you have a tip you'd like to share?

Send us an email with your questions, comments, inspirations, or pictures and we'll share them with our readers.

Until next post...

Post by Cindy

How to Hold Your Wedding Bouquet

You probably don't carry bouquets of flowers all that often...so why would your know how to carry it?

Knowing how to handle your bouquet makes you seem at ease and lets the flowers do their job - namely, drawing the viewers' eye to you. You want your bouquet to be a beautiful accent to your dress, not the first thing your guest notice when they watch you float down the aisle.

Yet many brides and bridesmaids have a tendency to hold their bouquets to high. This pose not only blocks the view of the bodice of that perfect wedding dress you've found, but it also causes the arms to tire in about 15 minutes or so. So unless, it's for a close up photo, there's no need to hold your bouquet up high as in this photo.

When walking down the aisle hold your bouquet low, pelvis/hip high at a 45 degree angle pointing outward. that way your guests get to see your perfect accessory - your bouquet and not the stems.


For full length photos, again hold you bouquet at your pelvis/hip. This forces the elbows away from your body and shows off those beautiful curves at your waist. It elongates your torso and has a slimming effect while hiding any imperfections. Now if we could always walk around with a bouquet!

For half length photos and shorter, hold your bouquet nearer to your face/chest as this again enlarges the upper torso while reducing the waist, it also frames your face beautifully.

Hope this little tip helps you future brides to end up with photos of you and your bouquet that you'll love!

Posted by Cindy

Create Your Own Wedding Inspiration Board

First let me say that even if I wasn't a floral and event designer, I still would believe in creating an inspiration board for any and all weddings.

Here's the why:
1.) It provides you and your wedding vendors with a vision of what you want your wedding day to
look and feel like.
2.) It gives the wedding cohesion and flow.
3.) It makes for a less stressful wedding planning process and you won't be sidetracked by well meaning friends and family member's ideas.
4.) A little color & theme planning ahead of time helps you stay on budget - really.

So if you don't plan to hire an event designer for budget or other reasons, you can make your own inspiration board.

While some future brides are happy to cut and paste to their hearts content creating their dream wedding on paper (or computer), other brides are intimidated by the process. If you're a bit hesitant keep reading. Even if you think to yourself, I don't have a creative bone in my body - you too can become a design diva!

Start with something you love, it doesn't matter what it is so long as you love it. Do you have a cherished tea pot (maybe from your grandmother or a friend), or another loved collectible? How above a favorite dress or place, maybe a vintage 60's record album cover, or a wine label? Maybe you can't think of anything else but the colors you love, or have already picked for your wedding - that;s a start. This is the beginning of your Wedding Inspiration Board!

Now do some thinking about that item. Is it the color(s) of your favorite dress, or is it the style, or both? About that favorite place, do you love it because of the feeling you get when you think about it, the memories it conjures, perhaps the colors, or smells? Once you've got a few questions figured out you can go from there.

For example, for the board above I was doing some research on the web and came across this image of Nine West shoes and bags via Career Fashion's blog. It's such a vibrant set of spring colors that make me happy! Next I began an image search for the colors orange pink and green. You can search for specific items, of just the colors. Keep in mind you're also looking for a theme when you're searching for a cohesive look. Remember your inspiration board is a tool, so there's no right or wrong way to create it. It's purpose is to inspire you and your creativity. so play with colors, themes and just have fun with it - I know I do!

Orange & Slate Grey Inspriation Board

Choosing Your Wedding Colors

Your color scheme is so important; it alone has the ability to set the tone for your wedding.  We’ve all been to a wedding like my Cousin Besty’s.  She had 18 months to plan her wedding with a decent budget, but there is no flow in décor, color scheme or the flowers.  That being said choose your colors thoughtfully.  Here are some of the important elements to consider in select your colors - the basis for your wedding flowers, linens, bridesmaids dress and decor.

Your Fiancé:  Even if your fiancé doesn’t have a strong opinion about any of the other wedding details he might have a glaring reaction to the color(s) you’d like.  If you’re just crazy in love with hot pink, but the color makes him gag (literally), find another color you both can agree on.  After all this is only one of the many compromises you’ll be asked to make in your life together as Mr.  & Mrs.

Your Venue:  Unless you’re planning an outdoor wedding, your venue should be considered.  Look at the colors used in your location’s décor - carpeting, chairs, drapery and paint colors.  If the site already has strong colors, it’s best to select a color scheme that complements, or at least doesn’t clash.  What if you have your heart set on a certain color that you can’t make work with the venue?  You just might have to consider selecting a more neutral site.

Your Favorite Flower:  If chocolate cosmos are your favorite flower of all time (at least currently), there’s no reason why they shouldn’t make it into your décor scheme.  Incorporate the flower color – by making it the dominant color or using it as an accent.  Your floral designer will be able to make it come together, if they say they can’t look for another designer. 

The Season:  Going with seasonal flowers is a natural choice no matter what time of year you’re tying the knot.  It’s also a very effective way to keep to your floral budget.  So let the colors of the season be your inspiration.  This doesn’t mean that you’re stuck with pastel colors during Spring or brown and orange during Fall.  Think outside the box when it comes to the seasonal flowers, such as orange and purple for a contemporary fall wedding.  Or bright blue and yellow for a vibrant Spring wedding, your floral designer should be able to guide you into discovering the possibilities for your florals and more. 

Your Favorite Color:  Still not sure what color to go with?  Look around your home or in your closet for color clues.  What dress, pair of shoes, or collectable do you love the color of?  If you go with a color you love, surrounded by friends and family you love, to marry the man you love – what could be more perfect.