Picture credit: Green Apple Photography

There are a few things [...]]]> Your wedding flowers will be one of the most photographed details of your wedding (besides you, of course!), so it’s very important to choose the right florist who will be able to design wedding flowers that truly fit your taste and wedding style.

Picture credit: Green Apple Photography

There are a few things to consider when you talk to the florist:

1.      Always ask your florist what flowers are going to be included in your arrangements. The price for flowers varies greatly. Even the same variety of flower can have a different price – depending on the quality and size of the bloom and also where it was grown (locally or imported). When you are looking at the proposals make sure that you are comparing the same flowers, same quantity of flowers, same size of arrangements, same vases/containers, etc.

2.      How much time florist put in understanding you and your style. Do they give you just a generic quote on one page or do they give you a detailed description of what is going to be included in your floral decor. Do you feel like you are just another bride for them or does your florist really try to understand you, your personality, your vision and style.

3.      How quickly does the florist responds to your initial inquiry. The expected time of response is usually 24 – 48 hours. If takes longer then that – maybe you should consider contacting someone else.

4.       Make sure that you are paying for what you envisioned. Ask your florist to show you examples of what you will receive for your money (pictures of the arrangements, flowers, containers, vases and etc.). Note that florist may charge you for a sample arrangement.

5.      Consider renting the vases/containers for your arrangements – it will help to cut the cost and this option is also environmentally friendly.

6.      Be honest with your florist. When your florist knows your budget, it might sounds strange, but he/she can offer you more options. If you are on a tight budget, your florist can offer you ways to save money while still achieving the right look for your wedding. At the same time, don’t expect to receive a $200.00 arrangement for $50.00. It’s not going to happen.

7.      Ask how much time your florist will spend on site with you during the wedding day. Will he/she just drop off the flowers or will the florist set up everything so you can concentrate on yourself and your special day (please note that additional set-up fees may apply). Will the florist pin boutonnieres and corsages or will your Mom or someone else be responsible to do that.

8.      Ask how many weddings your florist is going to have on YOUR wedding day. If it is 2 or more weddings then make sure that they are happening at a different time and that the florist will have enough staff to arrange and deliver flowers for your wedding.

9.      Does the florist fit your personality? Will it be just a business relationship or will you have fun working together.

10.  Ask your florist if he/she has ever had their work featured in national or local magazines? Ask about the magazine policy when they feature someone: do they give priority to the vendors who advertise with them or do they feature someone that was chosen for the quality of their work.

11.  Did your florist offer you just one option, or were you given a few options to choose from? It shows how much time/effort the florist put into YOUR wedding.

12.  Ask your florist about their sources for flowers: is it just 1-2 wholesalers or do they order flowers from the growers, do they have access to flowers worldwide? The more options your florist has, the greater the chance you will get to have the flowers you want.

13.  Look at the florist’s website. Is it something generic or does the website have personality? Does the florist have a gallery with the wedding images? Does the florist have a blog? Check how often it is updated and what kind of weddings they do. It will help you to understand if this florist is the right choice for you.

14.  Check online reviews: on google, wedding wire, the knot and etc. Talk with other Brides and with other vendors.

15.  Make sure that your florist is professionally equipped with a commercial refrigerator, air conditioned van and special tools.

16.  Make sure that your florist has a business license. Always sign a contract/agreement to make sure that the florist will show up for your wedding day and will create the floral décor that you discussed.

If you have any questions about your wedding flowers please send me an email at olga {@} myfavoriteflowers.com or call at 435.680.2914.

I’m so thrilled to have been featured on Utah Bride Blog (again!) with Karisa & Jarron’s Bridals. This vintage bridals are gorgeous! Absolutely amazing and talented (and my dear friend ) Tiffany Jane photography did a fantastic job! Additional elements that were used: vintage 8mm Kodak Brownie movie camera and black parasol [...]]]>

I’m so thrilled to have been featured on Utah Bride Blog (again!) with Karisa & Jarron’s Bridals. This vintage bridals are gorgeous! Absolutely amazing and talented (and my dear friend ) Tiffany Jane photography did a fantastic job! Additional elements that were used: vintage 8mm Kodak Brownie movie camera and black parasol umbrella.

Click here to see more pictures of this vintage style bridals.

Beautimatasticly Yours,
Olga Goddard.

Here are [...]]]> I know that sometimes it’s so hard to find the perfect inspirational pictures of your dream bridal bouquet – you want to make sure your florist knows the exact flower(s) and color(s) you want. It always helps when you have some pictures of your favorite bouquets when you go meet with your florist.

Here are a few of my favorite fall wedding bouguets.

Flowers included in this fall bouquet: orange Carnations, Calla Lily “Mango”, orange Tulips, orange Roses “Circus”, orange Roses “Voodoo”, orange Alstromeria.

Flowers included in the fall wedding bouquet: green Hydrangea, orange Tulips, Calla Lily “Mango”, chocolate Dalia, green roses “Jade”.

Flowers included: purple Dalia, green Cymbidium Orchids, orange roses “Voodoo”, purple Lisianthus, red Hypericum (Coffee beans), yellow Freesia, red Freesia, white Lisianthus, Calla Lily Mango”.

Fall Bridesmaids pomander was created with orange Roses “Voodoo”

Fall wedding bouquet with red roses “Freedom”, Sunflowers, red Gerbera, seeded eucalipthus, peach Hypericum (Coffee beans).

Here are a few links to the website were you can find more Fall inspired wedding bouquets:

Autumn Sonata by Brides.com

Grace Ormonde wedding style Bouquets gallery

If you like this post please leave a comment! Thanks for being my guest!

Beautimatasticly yours,
Olga Goddard.

Recently UtahBrideBlog featured a couple florists’ experiences that could be considered floral disasters. I wrote up an experience I’ve seen recently. Here it is:

911

I once received a call from a bride-to-be just one week before her wedding. She said that one of her relatives was going to do flowers for her, [...]]]>

Recently UtahBrideBlog featured a couple florists’ experiences that could be considered floral disasters. I wrote up an experience I’ve seen recently. Here it is:

911

I once received a call from a bride-to-be just one week before her wedding. She said that one of her relatives was going to do flowers for her, but she then found out that it wasn’t happening because this “dear” relative decided that she could not come to the wedding. As you can imagine, this poor bride was in a panic… So, she ordered all of her personal flowers and the flowers for her ceremony décor through me. She insisted, however, that her mother would arrange the centerpieces and all I needed to do was to provide her with the fresh flowers for her mom to arrange.

I delivered all of the flowers to the wedding and when I gave the mom flowers for her to arrange in the centrepieces she rolled her eyes and screamed: ”I don’t know anything about flowers, I have never arranged flowers in my life, why did she want me to do the flowers?” As you might suspect, they didn’t have any tools for trimming and preparing the flowers, and so the bride’s father brought some pliers from the toolbox in his car to cut the flower stems!

Ooops, time to call 911. I just couldn’t standback and watch these beautiful flowers get trimed with pliers from the dad and arranged by the hysterical mom. So, of course, I grabed my floral knife and went to work to help them arrange the flowers for the centerpieces… just to save the Bride from all the stress…a screaming Mom who had no clue how to do the flowers and a Dad who wanted to cut the stems with pliers. This dear girl seems like the person who “stepped on the same rake twice”…trusting a relative to do the flowers only to have her, at the last minute, decide that she couldn’t come to the wedding and then insisting that her mom could do the centerpieces. And in both cases, it was a professional florist who stepped in to help her get through the crisis! Perhaps she could have saved herself an awful lot of stress if she had just contacted me in the first place! In these tough economic times it is easy to “waste a dime to save a penney.”

Here are what my collegues have to share:

Floral Disasters by UBB
Floral Nightmares by Blossom Sweet

Dear Brides, I hope these real floral disasters stories will help you not to “step on the same rake twice”…just call to professional florist and enjoy your wedding day!

Talk to you soon,
Yours Olga Goddard.

Absolutely! There are [...]]]> What to choose: silk or fresh flowers for a wedding? What will look better? Is it affordable to have a fresh flowers? To help you to make a decision I tried to answer for some of the questions Brides ask. Lets talk today about fresh flowers.

Absolutely! There are so many different varieties of flowers – with so many colors, shades, textures, sizes, prices and etc. Your professional florist should always be able to offer many suggestions that perfectly match your color scheme, style and budget. We will help you to find exactly what you need for a price you can afford!

What do fresh flowers offer that artificial can not?

Fresh flowers grow in a much greater number of varieties and colors than is available in silk, and fresh provide fragrance and beauty that cannot be imitated. The older sister of a Bride for whom I did flowers mentioned to me with lots of disappointment in her voice that she had settled for silk flowers for her wedding, which left her with many regrets. Rather than the amazing fragrance of fresh cut flowers, unfortunately, her flowers even smelled of cigarette smoke! She said that she would never recommend silk flowers to anyone! This helped to inspire me even more to create the most beautiful fresh floral arrangement for her baby sister. There is something about the vibrant beauty and grandeur of fresh flowers that just can’t be captured by the man made imitations.

How durable are fresh flowers with: Seasons, outdoors use, children use?

Many fresh flowers are available year round, although there are some varieties that have only seasonal availability. An experienced professional florist can always help you to find an appropriate substitution that will be equal in beauty and elegance if your first choice is not readily available at the time of your wedding. There are some flowers that do poorly in heat, such as hydrangea, or do not stay fresh very long without water. A professional florist will offer suggestions that match the place and season for your wedding so that your wedding will be perfectly accented with flowers that you can depend on to stay fresh and beautiful for your event. It is helpful to make sure that your florist (and everyone else involved – the band, caterer, DJ and etc.) knows how kids (their number and age) will be involved in the wedding and reception, and if they going to be wearing flowers. This information will really help to create the best placement for the floral arrangements (etc.) so that they are less likely to get “tipped.” Children who are wearing flowers might be best adorned with flowers that are known for durability as well as beauty. Your professional florist is the key for planning for your exact needs!

What are the advantages of selecting fresh flowers from a professional florist?

They are numerous:- A professional florist will help you to find exactly the right flowers for your wedding – keeping in mind your color scheme, style, budget, season of the year and etc.- You can concentrate on your wedding day without the added worry of did “Aunt Sally” pick-up the right flowers from the neighborhood discount store, and did she make sure to check for freshness (wilted flowers won’t represent you well). You don’t have to worry about arranging flowers or how long in advance you have to buy the flowers to make sure that they will be fresh but also open for you wedding day.- Professional florists often work with various growers/suppliers over a period of many years which gives you the assurance that your florist will be able to get the right flowers at the right time for your wedding day- A professional florist can always recommend to you the flowers that will be not only available, but also most beautiful at the time of your wedding, and will order just what you want and need.- Professional florists know how to take great care of your flowers. We keep track of when the flowers were cut, how they were cared for before they got to the shop, and how to keep them fresh and beautiful for your wedding day.

Check back soon for some tips for silk flowers.