 | Melissa Cedeño attended the University of Arkansas before attending the Kansas City School of Floral Design. She has studied under internationally known Floral Designer Bill Harper. Melissa is the owner of the Little Shop of Flowers in Pittsburg. The Little Shop of Flowers has been in business for 5 years. For more information or to reach Melissa, please call 620-231-2400 or visit www.pittsburgflowers.net. |
Flowers & Plants
1969-12-31 18:00:00
Weddings: planning arrangements for your special day!
Question: I’ve recently become engaged to be married and don’t know where to start when selecting flowers or a florist for our wedding. What advice can you give me?
Answer: Well, before we begin discussing your flowers, please let me extend my sincere congratulations and thanks for the opportunity be of some help in your planning.
The first priority in planning your wedding is to book the date with a florist. My opinion is that it is never too early to line up all of your vendors. And by vendors I’m referring to reception facility, DJ, florist, caterer, etc. Prior to your first floral consultation I would recommend your first select your dress, the bridesmaid dresses and have your color palette in place. In addition, spending sometime on the internet looking at flowers is advised so that you have an idea what to tell your florist, so that they can get an idea of what most appeals to your taste. On your first visit with a florist, you should decide on exactly what it is you’re expecting...are you looking for a florist to simply design your bouquets, corsages and boutonnieres? Are you wanting flowers to decorate your church and are you in need of centerpieces or floral arrangements to decorate your reception facility? What flowers do you just absolutely love? What don’t you like? You should also nail down dates, times, locations, budget and all of the other specifics that surround your wedding. If you don’t have answers to these questions, don’t panic. A good florist will walk you through all of this.
One of the first questions brides ask is, “What flowers are in season?” Because flowers are grown all over the world, primarily Holland and Equador, then shipped to the United States, availability is seldom an issue. There are, of course, exceptions (peonies being one of them) but for the most part, whatever you might want should be available. Some of the most popular flowers trending right now for weddings are calla lilies, asiatic lilies, roses and orchids.
Naturally we florists love it when our couples have no budget restraints, but currently a bigger issue than flower availability is, in fact, budget. As so many of the popular flowers that many brides see on the internet or in bridal magazines are more costly, I advise them to allow their florist to incorporate some less expensive blooms along with their “must haves.” Again...a bride should never leave her consultation without the flowers she loves somehow included in her budget!
Following your consultation, you should have a general idea of the expense and information regarding payment policy and delivery as well as an understanding of the florist’s cancellation policy.
At some point during your planning all of the cost and effort may become tiresome. My advice for you would be to let the people you’ve hired do their jobs. After all, they’re working for YOU! And know that while its been sometimes tedious to plan, it will all seem worthwhile on your day when your are surrounded by friends and family while marrying the love of your life.
