Tiptoe Through the Tulips
As a way of paying homage to Nature, plants and flowers have always been incorporated in wedding rituals as a way of ensuring good luck for the happy couple. Today even the simplest of weddings have flowers as one of the wedding accessories. Regardless of whether your floral arrangements will be simple or extravagant, here are a few tips to help you tiptoe through the tulips.
When looking for a florist, start your search at least 6 months in advance, and try to have your decisions made and plans moving forward at least 4 months before the big day. Word of mouth is the best recommendation any florist can receive, but don't just take someone's word for it. Once you've asked around and received a number of different names, visit each florist recommended, to see firsthand the way they run their store, their level of organization, the amount of stock they keep on hand, the types of flowers they carry, and their pictures of past arrangements.
If you've decided on wild orchids and calla lilies and the florist that came highly recommended only carries carnations, tulips and roses, chances are they won't be a good fit. Ensure that the florist you choose is up on the latest trends both in flowers and in design, so you're wedding has that up-to-date feel, even if more traditional flowers are your choice.
If you're thumb is far from green and the amount of knowledge you have on flowers can fit on a postage stamp, your florist's level of knowledge and how well they convey that knowledge to you, while taking into account your personal style and preferences will be a good indicator of how well the florist will work with , both in the design stages and in the execution of those designs.
Once you do make that final decision on your florist, here are a few things to bring with you to that first, all-important consultation.
- Pictures of flowers and arrangements that you like so they have an idea of your style preferences.
- Wedding gown picture or elaborate description. If you don't have a picture of your dress, bring a picture from a bridal magazine or website that indicates the general style of the dress.
- Theme colors, including swatches for table fabrics, bridesmaid dresses, and other wedding accessories and favors.
- Any vases or containers that you wish to supply for the arrangements.
- Bring a basic floorplan drawing of the ceremony location and the reception locations, indicating on it where you would like arrangements laid out.
- Bring a list of all the flowers and arrangements you need and whom they are for. A well thought out itemized list ensures that Mother of the Bride and Mother of the Groom are not lost in the shuffle. This also ensures that everyone gets the right flowers for the right job.
Expenses in floral arrangements come from the number of flowers you use, the type of flower you choose and whether or not those flowers are in season. They also arise if your day is in close proximity to a flower-filled holiday like Valentine's or Mother's Day. Flowers are at a premium then, so expect to pay more.
The cost of flowers can rise dramatically with very little effort on your part. If budget is a concern, ensure your florist knows that. Talented florists can make any flower look good at any budget. Set your budget and stick to it so that you and your groom can tiptoe through the tulips without the tiny bubbles of debt following you.
©2007 Weddingstar Inc.
