Planning a Wedding~
When planning a wedding there is no rule that says how early you need to plan. I have worked with brides who have had over a year to plan and others who set the date 6 weeks in advance. I think that if you have your thoughts and plans organized, either one can work beautifully. The key in any wedding plan is to secure the key vendors as soon as you set your date; venue, caterer, photographer, florist and DJ/musician. The other details will fall comfortably in line.
Booking Your Floral Designer~
As you contract your key vendors, it is important to secure your florist as well. Generally, scheduling your florist 6-9 months ahead is ideal although no need to panic if you are planning with a shorter time frame. As a studio florist, I generally take on one wedding a weekend, unless the size, scale and location of events allow for me to do more than one. I love offering my full attention to each and every bride and am always on hand to personally hand make and deliver the bridal party flowers and set the reception decor. I pride myself on building a relationship with my brides and make sure that everything meets their specifications which is why I do not over book. My consultations are always complimentary and I welcome open and unlimited communication.
Preparing For Your Initial Consultation~
I love to research wedding and floral design and am inspired by photos, fabrics, colors, textures and scenery. Coming to the initial consultation with details of your venue, a few images of flowers, colors and decor you love will help in designing your wedding floral plan and determine cost associated with that design. Often, I have brides e-mail a few inspiration photos or invite me to view their Pinterest board prior to our consultation so I can be well prepared to have a great conversation about design and concept. Paint color chips and fabric swatches that match dress color/theme are great tools in the design process.
The First Meeting~
At our initial consultation at my home office or convenient location, we will complete my Wedding Flower Worksheet which outlines all of your floral and decor needs, share photos and style ideas and talk about budget. We will look at containers that I have available and explore other options to arrive at the design you desire for your wedding. Once our brainstorming is complete, I will draft and email a proposal, complete with sample photos, detailed descriptions, floral selections and pricing. Once the proposal is accepted, I will send my Floral Service Agreement which outlines the terms of our work together and payment terms. Pricing is firm once the contract is signed. The proposal will
outline the details and floral orders will be placed 30 days (or when RSVP's are received) prior to the wedding date.
The Topic of Cost~
Before Pinterest I felt that the national wedding magazines distorted what a affordable wedding looked like with floral design in the 10,000 + range for florals alone. While Pinterest presents it's own challenges with "over pinning" and too many choices, it does present a REAL look at what is
possible. So that being said, budget is a huge concern for most brides. Many contact me for my "price range" which is really challenging since each and every wedding is unique and specially designed. Floral design pricing is determined by the types of flowers and seasonal availability, stem count for the bouquet/arrangements and the amount of time it takes to make it all happen. Many flower selections are available all year round with relatively stable pricing while others are here for a short season. Locally grown Dahlias in August, for instance, are less expensive than the same variety from Califronia in the off season. The floral industry is weather dependent so while there are factors out of our control, there are always great second affordable options.
This and That~
I love what I do and have made such great friends with my brides and their families. I am FB/Instagram friends with many and have been invited to their showers and weddings. The complete wedding experience is what I desire for all of my clients. If I can make a wedding special with an extra "something " I will. This is not a job for me....it is a passion.
