A Bride's Guide to Wedding Flowers & Decor

When it comes to planning a wedding, it may seem like there exists and overwhelming amount of details to consider. It is no surprise that with the stress of finding The Dress, the venues, and creating a guest list, that flowers get pushed off to the side, until later in the planning process; which is actually not the worst thing, since most florals can be ordered and designed in a relatively short amount of time.  Since most brides usually have little experience with flowers, we have gathered a plethora of information to assist the Bride and Groom on there wedding planning journey!

1. Before you even think about ordering:

The purpose of wedding flowers is largely to compliment the overall look, feel, and theme of the wedding. Therefore, before you walk into a floral shop, it is highly encouraged to make solid decisions on what you want the overall feel of your wedding to be.  Do you want an elegant and sophisticated wedding?  Or maybe a family-styled country themed wedding?  Maybe an outdoor garden look is what you picture?  Once you know the answer to this question, it will be much easier to know the appropriate colors and varieties of flowers to use to translate into your vision.  Florists play an important part in this because they create the overall look and mood of your wedding ceremony and reception.

        
                                         

Another helpful tool in deciding what direction to go is color.  Find and order the Bridesmaid dresses, so that when you walk into the floral shop, you can know for certain that the flowers you choose will compliment the dresses perfectly. If you choose colors that are not grown in the natural world, such as aqua/turquoise, then be prepared to search for a secondary color in flowers to compliment your main wedding colors, or find Permanent botanicals that can be manufactured in your specific color. Another option is to have your florist dye or tint your flowers to match.

                                                                                                                

Question 1: When do flowers and decor need to be planned out and ordered?

Answer: This largely depends on the overall theme of the wedding.  If you envision a large wedding filled with an abundance of flowers and decor, then it is advised to start physically shopping at least 5-6 months before the wedding.  The later you wait, the more rushed the florist will be to reserve the flowers and decor, and may not be able to provide you with the best prices.  The earlier you begin meeting with florists, the better the deals you will receive because the florist will have plenty of time to research rental warehouses, growers, and distributors, to get the best prices and deals. No matter what you envision for your wedding, ordering early never hurts!

If your wedding is more causal or simple, then meeting with a florist 3-4 months before your wedding is sufficient.  Examples of this type of wedding would be a Bride and Groom that are looking for flowers for their wedding party and perhaps a few accents such as a ceremony/altar bouquet and reception centerpieces.

It is possible to order flowers 2 months to even a couple weeks before the wedding, however, there are risks with doing so in such a short amount of time.  The flowers you want may not be available due to not being reserved with the growers soon enough.  Sometimes we already have the maximum amount of weddings booked and can not take any more wedding orders for that specific day, or the rentals may be reserved for another event.  As a florist we completely understand that weddings consist of many details or perhaps the Bride and Groom set a date soon after there engagement to get married. Most florists will bend over backwards to make your special day as amazing as possible, so we all encourage you to save yourself the stress, and order several months in advance to be safe!

Question 2: How do I Choose a Florist?

Answer: If you live in an area with multiple florists, choosing which floral shop to trust your wedding flowers to, is an important task! Do not be afraid to meet with a couple different shops, but know that like anything, too much information can be overwhelming, so try to narrow down your search by doing some research.  What do each floral shops websites look like?  Are they up-to-date?  Do they have pictures of past weddings online, whether on their website or on social media? Do they have online reviews of their work?  Another idea is asking your other vendors (such as the staff at the reception location, your cake person, or your photographer) if they have any recommendations.  Vendor's often cross paths at weddings and will remember a job well done.

Once you have booked a consultation, take note of your surroundings when you arrive.  Is the floral shop organized?  Do they have a separate secluded spot where you can sit down to look at pictures and discuss your wedding flowers privately? A good florist will try to make you feel as comfortable as possible and will have plenty of tools such as magazines and wedding books to look through for examples. You also want a florist who respects your time and understands that you are there not just to give them a floral order, but that they are expected to contribute by answering all of your questions, giving professional opinions/advise, and to problem solve.  Anyone can look at pictures of flowers online, but it is the one-on-one time with a professional that will make your dream wedding flowers a reality.

                                  

     The best consultation spaces have a seating area, and samples/examples of flowers!

Don't be afraid to ask questions! How long has this florist been in business?  Has he/she had a lot of experience with your tastes and style? Does he/she have a signature style?  Ask to see their wedding portfolio of past weddings. Choose a florist that is excited to create your floral designs, and is confident that they will deliver quality work.  Ask them what makes them different, unique, and special as a designer. This is one of our favorite questions to be asked, because our shops' motto is to "create a more personal touch for your floral needs".  So our designs are always personalized and unique, just for your wedding.  We do not do cookie-cutter wedding bouquets!

Communication is a huge part of our business! A lot of times, brides have an idea, but don't really know how to describe it. Listening closely, and deciding exactly what the bride does, and doesn't like is so important in executing her vision! Being able to clearly describe the floral designs will leave both florist and wedding couple confident in the quality of work. Listen to the florist, if they are describing something that isn't quite right, let them know right away so that they can pinpoint your vision. Leaving the consultation, you should feel confident and excited about your decision to hire your florist!

Question 3: Ok, lets talk about price...How much do wedding flowers cost?

Answer: This is definitely an important topic because many Brides and Grooms are on a budget. it is also one of the main reasons to have a wedding flower consultation; to get price quotes.  Ordering flowers is a little bit different than walking into a conventional store that sells items with a price-tag, however.  This is why most florists only give average prices during the consultation.  There are many factors that play into what you will pay for your wedding flowers.  There is no one answer to this question, and a quality florist will tailor your price to match your budget and specific flowers.  Feel free to ask your florist for recommendations on how to maximize your floral budget; we have a lot of resources for bringing the price of flowers down to match your prices!

Many florists also include a note in their contract that the original price quoted may change during the course of ordering your flowers.  This is because growers can change their prices.  For example, we sold Hydrangea for a certain amount, but a few months after we quoted several brides an amount for their wedding bouquets, the growers experienced a loss in crops due to a drought in that region of New Zealand, where the particular variety of Hydrangea we needed was grown. The Growers doubled the warehouse prices. Luckily, this doesn't happen too often!

The first factor is the flower itself. Some flowers are just more expensive than others. The 2nd factor is how many flowers you need to create the design or size of bouquet that you desire.  With the internet and media showing pictures of extravagant bouquets and towering centerpieces, it is important to remember that florists are magicians.  We can create the same look and feel as what you see on tv and the internet, but by scaling down, and using different flowers, we save you lots of money. For example, a large bouquet filled with roses can cost hundreds of dollars.  But a large bouquet filled with hydrangea, and dotted with roses gives the same impact, but for much less!

                                                                                                       
Another factor is the season.  Flowers, like all crops, flourish only during certain seasons, and when you order a flower that is not in season, the price will be higher.

As another note: be sure to ask about deposits and extra fees such as set-up fees and delivery fees.  Some florists charge for having a consultation (We do not) and most require a down payment to secure the date. Always remember to ask when the finale payment is due, and what the florist's refund policies are, just in case the date changes.  These fees should all be listed in the contract that the florist mails to you.

 One of the questions we get on occasion is whether we create samples of wedding arrangements so that they can be previewed.  Some florists flat-out refuse, some require that the couple pay for those flowers, and some require a partial fee. We personally do not recommend previewing samples of flowers because each flower grows differently, and so the bouquets you see in the preview will be slightly different then the ones you receive on your wedding day. In our experience, it is a bit of a waste of money, all the way around, and if the florist is experienced, has a good reputation, and able to communicate exactly how the designs will look, then there really is no need to physically see the floral arrangements.

Question 4: What if I want a specific flower (lily of Valley, Peony) 

We always advise brides and grooms to fall in love with the overall look and feel of their wedding flowers, not each and every individual flower. With the growth of the internet, an overwhelming amount of ideas can be presented to a bride and groom, some of which are misleading or even not even possible. For example, a picture we found on Pinterest the other day had a description that read "gorgeous cascade bouquet of Orchids".  The bouquet was in fact, a gorgeous cascade of Stargazer lilies.

                                   

A bride may find a beautiful bouquet for her fall wedding, but the picture might not say that the flowers used only bloom in the spring. Another often-absent piece of information on internet pictures is where the flowers in the bouquet are grown.  England is very prominent in the floral business-world and photos of exquisite English flowers often appear online and in bridal magazines, but they are simply not available in the United States. It is always best to check with your local florist before settling on a particular flower.

                                            
                     Orange Ranaculus and Freesia: Spring flowers in a fall bouquet.
                                     
                                        White Flannel Flower: Australia

Florists will do their best to create the closest possible thing to the bouquet of your dreams. If it is a specific look and style you desire, they can often easily find a substitute that looks almost exactly the same.  If you want a specific flower because it holds special meaning, perhaps a florist can find a replica in permanent botanicals. A common flower we use for weddings are Peonys. Since they only bloom in the spring and early summer months, we often suggest David Austin Garden roses as an alternative because they have that same, soft, cushion look and feel to them.

                   
                         Peony Bouquet                               David Austin Garden Rose bouquet

                          
                               Permanent Botanical: Silk lily of the Valley


Question 5: Besides flowers for the wedding party, what other kinds of decor do I need?

Wedding flowers can be as simple, or as extravagant as the bride and groom want! Here is a list of everything we can think of that one could possible include flowers. Of course, the bridal party should have bouquets and boutonnieres, but branching out from that is extra, and a decision that each Bride and Groom will have to decide based on how extravagant they want their celebration decor to be.

The Bride
the Bridesmaids
The Groom
The Groomsmen
Flower Girl
Ringbearer
Junior Bridesmaid
Junior Groomsmen

The Mothers of the Bride/Groom
The Fathers of the Bride/Groom

The Grandfathers of the Bride/ Groom
The Grandmothers of the Bride/ Groom

The Great Grandfather/Mothers of the Bride/Groom

The Personal Attendants

The Ushers

The Pastors/Officiants

The Singers/Soloist/Pianist (any musician that plays during the ceremony)

The Hosts
The Hostesses

The Guestbook Attendants

The Punch Pourer

The Cake server

The Gift Table Attendants

Ceremony Decor:

Bouquets at the entrance of the Church/Ceremony space
Petals down the aisle
Pew/Chair Bows/decor
Altar bouquets/Ceremony bouquets
Arch w/flowers
Unity Candle flowers
Presentation roses/flowers for the mothers of the Bride/Groom

Reception Decor

Bouquets at the entrance of the Reception space
Table Centerpieces
Cake Table flowers/decor
Head table flowers/decor
Guestbook table flowers/decor
Flowers for Women's bathroom
Flowers decorating any other tables (Candy table, gift table, buffet line tables)

Of course, the most important thing is to tweak your wedding flowers and decor to suit your individual needs and taste.  Enjoy it! This is the most creative and fun part about planning a wedding!

Countdown to Valentines Day!

Valentines Day is right around the corner, and while many are just beginning to make plans for spending the day with their loved ones, Florists around the globe have been preparing for this day since the end of Christmas.  For most, Valentines Day is considered to be a day to celebrate love, whether that be dining out at a fancy restaurant, exchanging gifts, or simply appreciating and spending time with a loved one.




For florists, Valentines day begins with a countdown that begins the day after Christmas.  Here is a backstage look into what goes into the biggest day in a Florists calendar!

1. November

Venders, Warehouses, Growers, and Other floral/decor companies begin calling, mailing, and visiting us with Valentine flower choices, Ribbon, Vases, and gift-ware.  We must then make our choices and order everything we need for the upcoming Valentines Day.  Many companies, especially growers, hike prices up for this holiday, so ordering early is essential to get the lowest prices. We can then offer lower prices to customers, which is appreciated. It is helpful to have records from the previous year as to what we all sold, and what supplies we currently have in stock, so we know what to order. That gives us a base to start with.  We also begin research as to what might be popular in the next year.  Large Online floral companies, such as Teleflora and FTD carry specific bouquets with specific flowers and vases.  It is vital that we estimate the most popular trends because if we pre-order a certain type of vase or flower that no one orders, we will be left with a pile of flowers, and if we underestimate the vases and flowers that become popular, we will run out too early and have to turn people away.  A great example of this is that in 2014, the most popular arrangement that we sold on Valentines day was a bouquet in a lavender custom vase with lavender roses and purple/white stock.  We sold out.  Thankfully, many of our customers were just fine with substituting the vase and using other lavender flowers.  So this is a very important step in the planning of Valentines Day.
                                                                                                                                                                 
                                     

2. End of December/ January

For most of December, we are preoccupied with Christmas.  However, at the end of the month we turn our focus to Valentines Day.  The slow task of unpacking all of our previous year's supplies begins. Immediately after New Years, our Valentine's Supplies begin arriving. It is a lot of fun to open up the boxes and see the shiny new red and pink vases, as well as some of the designer vases from FTD, which boasts quite a few designs from Better Homes & Gardens.  We also unpack all of the new Ribbon, Red, Pink and white baskets, Stuffed animals, and greeting cards! It is time or us to slowly turn our shop over from a winter wonderland, into a Romantic-themed atmosphere! Much of this happens after hours, so that we are not inconveniencing our customers.  We also start pre-making and organizing as much as we can.  Valentine picks get separated into containers, vases and ribbon get stocked onto shelves so they are handy, and ribbon bows get made and placed onto special holders so they don't get smushed.  We also bring out boxes of balloons and set them up in our balloon room. By mid January, most of our giftware and supplies are set up and organized!

              

It is in Mid-January that we also hold our annual "VALENTINES STAFF MEETING" where we discuss the role of every employee and designer.  That way, each florist has a game-plan and knows what to expect on the big day.  For Valentines Day, We have designated designers to create bouquets, front desk florists to assist walk-in customers and answer the phone that won't stop ringing, and delivery drivers to bring the beautiful bouquets all over Hutchinson and the surrounding area! We discuss all of our morning routes to schools, businesses, and special early A.M. requests.  Our designated "Front Desk" florists are briefed on all of the new items we have available this year, the most popular bouquets, and the names of all of the online bouquets, (Because we get a lot of men asking for specific bouquets, and aint NOBODY got time to be lookin that up on Valentines)!

                           

                                                 

January is the perfect time to begin letting all of our customers know about the new exciting vases and giftware we have available!  Our hope for this is that men will enjoy getting creative when it comes to choosing their Valentine's gifts, and start planning early.  It is so much fun to see guys taking the time to tell us about what makes their girlfriend or wife special to them!  We learn about their personality, favorite colors, flowers, and whether they like to go "big and blingy" or "sweet and simple". At Crow River Floral, we love adding a personal touch to your floral needs, so the more unique we can make it, the better! We let people know what we have available through our advertising and social media and our plans for this begin in early January, once we have a solid idea of what we all have to offer.  Our advertising is primarily done by broadcasting through local radio stations such as KDUZ, and also through visual ads printed in the Hutchinson Leader. Planning our ads is fun because we get to share all of the new, creative things we have to offer!

                                         

3. February 1st-7th:

By February, our ads are all out, and the shop is completely ready for Valentine's Day!  By Feb. 1st, We have already received several orders for Feb 13th & 14th. We encourage pre-ordering in our ads because they do stack up, and we create bouquets, and deliver them first come, first serve. When we receive an order, we immediately reserve the vase and other giftware that go with it.  That really helps to keep things organized on the big day!  By the 7th, we have a large pile of orders to fill! We also use this time to do all the last-minute organizing and making sure that we have enough boxes, bags, and cards for everyone.


                                 

4. February 8th-12th:

Our orders really start pouring in!  A large portion of our custom vases are reserved for pre-orders.  By the 12th we have received the bulk of our greenery and flowers.  We do receive a lot more on the 13th and a special delivery early on the 14th to help us not run out. It takes all day to process the huge floral delivery on the 12th.  Every spare container is used to put flowers in, and every square inch of our coolers are packed full!  All of the stems on the flowers are full of leaves (and some thorns!) so it takes a lot of time to strip the foliage off of all the stems.  It is important to do so, because when leaves sit in water, bacteria can grow. By the end of the day, our hands are scratched and raw, but the coolers are a beautiful sight to see after it is all finished!

                                   

Many people assume that the 14th is the only crazy day for florists when working for this holiday.  However, the 12th-14th are all very busy days.  We usually stay up late (11pm-12am) on the 12th creating bouquets for the 13th, as many many customers request delivery the day before the holiday.  We usually go shopping for a personal stash of chocolates, candy, pop, and other snacks to munch on during these days, because meal breaks just don't happen!

February 13th:

The 13th is a very long day for every florist in the world! The day starts very early for us as we begin delivering flowers for everyone who has requested delivery for the day before. We usually receive such a high volume, that deliveries continue well past our store-closing hours. Our phones are also busy, ringing non-stop all day and into the night.  By this time, the marjority of our custom vases are sold out, along with the most popular flowers for those particular designs. A team of designers also comes in to focus soley on the next day.

By 5:00pm closing time, we begin our "PRE-VALENTINE FLORIST PARTY" which starts out fun.  Pizza is ordered, Caffiene flows freely, and some of the chocolate boxes get cracked open.  Our goal for the 13th is to create all of the orders for the next morning, so that the first couple delivery runs go smoothly.  Once that is completed, we begin on all of the other orders. By 9:30pm, it is usually suggested half-jokingly, that the phones get unplugged, since they have continued to ring non-stop. In 2014, we recieved so many orders for Valentine morning, that all we did on the 13th was create orders for the morning runs! Slowly, huge portions of flowers dissappear from our coolers and are replaced by finished designs. Our pizza is gone, and the caffeine is starting to wear off.  We usually work until 2-3am.  Do we get tired? Yes. Do we get delusional? Yes. Do some florists spend the night at the shop? Yeah..... Do we enjoy it? Absolutely!

                                 

Valentines Day:

The morning begins with taking a deep breath.  Here we go! Running on low levels of sleep, and high levels of caffeine, we are ready to tackle the day! All hands are on deck by 7-7:30am getting things ready to be delivered asap! We open at 8:00am on Valentines day, so it is nice to get the delivery people on their way before customers start pouring in.  Our designers dig in to the pile left from the night before and continue throughout the day.  Some work on orders that get faxed to us through the internet, some work on regular orders, and some work on designing for walk-in customers.  The front desk florists have their hands full with answering the phone and assisting walk-in customers.  Because of all the pre-organizing, things go pretty smoothly, but we do get very very busy! It is an endless stream of designing throughout the day! This is also a fun day, because it is a treat to see a lot of guys walk in, and be able to help them choose the best arrangement to communicate their love and appreciation.  Sometimes, it is something as classical as a dozen red roses, and sometimes we get special requests for unique bouquets!

 A wonderful friend of ours brings in some food for us, but the volume of walk-in customers is so high that we usually don't get a break until 4pm.  Instead, we graze on leftover assorted chocolate boxes and coffee from the night before. (It's still good, right?) It is all worth it though, to see our customers happy, and enjoying the process of personalizing their floral arrangements! Much of our floral supply and vases are running low by the end of the night, and deliveries usually wrap up an hour or two after we have closed.  Every customer has been helped, and gone home with a beautiful bouquet! A lot of hard work has been spent on this holiday, but we wouldn't trade this crazy day for anything else, and it is always a privilege to be able to play such an important part in celebrating love!