Wedding Flowers – Finding a Florist

Choosing the flowers can be one of the most enjoyable parts of planning a wedding. Find out more here about some important practical considerations.

Before beginning the task of looking for a florist, read on to find out more about how the flowers can enhance the occasion, what percentage of the total budget should be spent on them, how to get started and a few things to watch out for when visiting potential florists.

What Flowers Can Bring to a Wedding

By definition, a wedding is a celebration of the union of two kindred spirits, and it goes without saying that celebrations require decoration. Flowers can breathe life into any special occasion. They can be used to reflect the personal style of both bride and groom, to symbolize the nature of the relationship and the shared hopes and expectations of the happy couple, to provide a topic of interest for guests and quite simply to enhance the aesthetic beauty of the day. They can evoke vivid recollections of times past and help build the foundation upon which future shared memories will be formed.

How Much to Spend on Wedding Flowers

Experts at the wedding planning website, The Wedding Garden, recommend that between 5 and 15% of the total wedding budget be spent on the flowers. The exact percentage will ultimately depend on the priorities of the individual. Set the budget as early on as possible, so that it is clear what funds are available to work within the lead up to the big day.

Finding the Right Florist for the Wedding

It is important to find the right choice of florist for the big day to ensure that expectations are met and disappointment avoided, so if time allows trying to visit at least three before making a final decision. Of course, this can be very time consuming so if instincts scream out to go with a particular florist and all the credentials have been explored, then just go for it!

Useful resources for finding a florist in the area include telephone directories, online directories such as the one listed in the resources below, bridal magazines and maybe best of all, friends and family. A personal recommendation can be a great comfort when there is a lot to choose from. Also, be sure to ask the people at the venue for any florists that they regularly work with. Bridal fairs provide fabulous opportunity to make contacts and gather inspiration but are prepared to tackle any persuasive and persistent vendors and do not feel pressurized to rush into anything.

Visit the Wedding Florist Before Booking

Visiting the florist’s workspace is an excellent way to find out if they’re the one. The right florist should:

  • Have previous wedding experience.
  • Be able to show you a portfolio of their work.
  • Ensure you that they will be there on the day, setting up the arrangements and making sure that everything is in order.
  • Have a backup plan for if the flowers don’t arrive in time for the wedding day.
  • Maintain a clean and productive working space.
  • Be open about all additional costs.
  • Demonstrate style that suits the taste of the bride and groom.
  • Be available on the day!

Once, the florist has been chosen the working relationship can begin. Prepare a few questions prior to any meetings to get the most out of any time spent together…..and enjoy the process, as it will only be happening once!

How to Find the Perfect Wedding Dress

Four Steps to that Dream Bridal Gown

Turn that wedding dress fantasy into a real-life dream dress! There’s no reason to settle for something second-rate, no matter what the budget!

Not just any beautiful dress will do – only the ones with “wow” factors need to apply when it comes to walking down the aisle. All eyes should be glued on the dress that has the bride’s name on it – the perfect fit. And it can happen, regardless of taste, style or even budget. Read on!

Research the Options

Vera Wang, Lazaro or Priscilla of Boston? Halter, strapless or sweetheart? A-line, ballgown or mermaid? This is the most important dress most girls will ever wear so it’s important the bride knows what she wants before hitting the bridal salon. It’ll make for less frustration and the opportunity to see more dresses that are absolutely to die for!

Figure out the Dress Budget

Dresses can range anywhere from $100 to $10,000. Some are even more expensive! So before hitting that bridal salon, make sure that their price range matches the wedding budget. There’s nothing worse than trying on that perfect dress and then realizing that it costs three times more than expected. And make sure the bridal consultant is aware of the budget. Usually, alterations and extras (veil, shoes, undergarments) can push the price up even higher, so it’s worth it to keep that in mind as well.

It might seem fun to play dress up, but saying no to that dream dress is anything but. And after that, nothing can compare and those bridal gown fantasies that were there may end up going down the drain. Or, if that out-of-price-range dress is splurged on, the stress on bride and groom, or Mom and Dad could cause lasting friction.

A Bride Knows When It’s “The Dress”

Know when to stop. Just like when the bride knows the groom is “the one,” she doesn’t need to try on every guy in the world before coming to a decision. Trying on too many dresses will only lead to confusion and frustration.

This is why that initial research step, and knowing off the bat what to look for can really come in handy. In addition, bring a limited support group with to avoid having too many cooks in the kitchen. And regardless of opinions, the bride should always choose the dress she feels best in. When the bride has found the perfect dress, say “I do!” There won’t be any regrets. Promise.

Be the Most Gorgeous Girl in the Room

This step is the easiest! Once a bride is decked out from head to toe, all she’ll hear are the oohs and aahs of her guests and onlookers. Revel at this moment and enjoy! And most of all – congratulations!

Most wedding gowns can’t be returned, but with these easy to follow steps, that won’t be an issue. Way to be a smart bride! Now that the perfect dress is within reach, it’s time to look forward to that special day that just belongs to lovers – and the honeymoon that follows of course!

How to Have an Inexpensive Economical Wedding

You can have a beautiful wedding without spending too much money. This article provides you with ideas on how to plan an inexpensive lovely wedding.

A wedding can be a very expensive event. However, if you take the time to look for deals and consider other inexpensive options for your wedding, you can have a beautiful wedding without breaking the bank.

To keep your wedding cost low, consider keeping your guest list at a minimum. Having a smaller guest list will help you to achieve your dream of having a beautiful wedding but at a reasonable price.

The following is a list of some things that you can do to have your beautiful, but an economical wedding.

Do-It-Yourself Wedding Decor and Invitations

Visit online stationery stores such as budgetweddinginvitations.com, minted.com and lowcostinvitations.com. Performing a simple search on the internet will provide you with a host of low-cost, online bridal invitation stores. You can compare prices so that you can get the best for your buck.

You can, also, visit craft stores or dollar stores for invitations to design and print yourself. If you are good at crafting things, this may be a good idea to save you extra money. Dollar stores, craft stores and discount party stores, often, carry invitations and decorative items that you can use to decorate the church and make centrepieces for the reception.

Silk flowers are a good option for decorating the church and reception areas. You may, also, be able to find items for wedding gifts at these locations.

Use silk flowers to create a beautiful bouquet for yourself instead of buying real flowers. You can, also, use silk flowers to create the bouquets that your bridesmaids will carry.

Wedding Planning for the Ceremony and Reception

If you desire to have an outdoor wedding, having your wedding in a local park or in a beautiful backyard is a great idea and an inexpensive one. You will, however, need to decide on who you will have to perform your wedding ceremony.

To cut additional cost, you can have your reception in your backyard or a friend or relative’s backyard. Having the reception at your house or someone else’s house is, also, an inexpensive option. If you have your wedding at a church, you may be able to have your wedding in the reception hall at your church for a small fee or, possibly, at no cost to you at all depending on the requirements of your church.

Who Should Take the Pictures and Make the Video

Ask a friend or family member take pictures and another friend or family member to make a video of the wedding for you at little or no cost to you. It’s a good idea to choose someone whose work you’ve seen before and is pretty good with using a tripod for the pictures and a video camera. Prior to the wedding, let each of them know what kind of pictures you want and what you would like to see in your video footage.

Who Should Cater the Food and Make Your Cake

Make a decision about the kinds of foods you would like to serve at your reception. If you have a relative or a friend whose recognized for their excellent cuisine, ask him to prepare the food for your wedding as a gift to you or ask several friends and family members to prepare specific dishes for the reception to cut cost.

If you know of someone who can make a good wedding cake, ask her to make your wedding cake for you. If your wedding is small, you won’t need a very big cake.

Where to Get Discount Wedding Dresses

Visit online discount wedding stores such as bestbridalprices.com and other discount wedding stores to compare prices and gown availability. You can, also, visit your local wedding shops to compare prices as well. Bridal shops, generally, lower their prices during the fall and winter seasons because fewer weddings are occurring during these times.