Wedding flowers

twirlypinky

this is the thread about my felt and button flowers

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3157468

White_Sapphire

I really want orchids, and am trying to work out the colours. My intended colour scheme is purple as the main colour, with softer shades of orange (tangerine through to peach) and turquoise. Not sure how to make it work as our day venue has a fair bit of red in it (red carpet in the reception room, ceremony room a little more neutral), so any advice would be fab! My dress will be a cream or oyster colour, MoH in purple.
Thanks Ben!

everlastingspirit

Robinred wrote: »

Ben, could you give me an idea of costings for these things please? I want to get a florist to do me:
3 bouquets for me and the bridesmaids, sort of meadowy type flowers, no roses
3 pomanders to hang from the archway
and maybe 5 meadowy type buttonholes

What do you think is a fair price for these?

Thanks!:cool:

It would really depend on exactly what flowers you would want, what style of bouquet and how intricate any detailing is. Id really recommend that first you book a consultations with 2 or 3 local florists - ideally a mix of florist shops and freelance wedding florists. They will be able to give you the time you need to discuss your requirements, can show you pictures (including examples of their own work) and basically help you decide what you want. Unfortunately its not something i can consult you for online.

They should get back to you in a day or two with a full quote. At that point if you want to post a copy of the quotes ill happily advise you if they seem good value for money and roughly what we charge for similar items.

Bare in mind though price does vary from town to town. Were based in Rugby which is likely to be a bit less expensive than London or say some cities such as Oxford, etc. I may also be dependent on which wholesalers they have access to as some are much more expensive than others. We are fortunate enough to have access to fixed price ordering a few days in advance of the day whereas some wholesalers cant guarantee until the day you pick them up - so in essence the florist has to plan for the worst!

Good Luck!

twirlypinky wrote: »

this is the thread about my felt and button flowers

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3157468

Thanks for posting the link. They are really cute and an idea i've not come across before!

White_Sapphire wrote: »

I really want orchids, and am trying to work out the colours. My intended colour scheme is purple as the main colour, with softer shades of orange (tangerine through to peach) and turquoise. Not sure how to make it work as our day venue has a fair bit of red in it (red carpet in the reception room, ceremony room a little more neutral), so any advice would be fab! My dress will be a cream or oyster colour, MoH in purple.
Thanks Ben!

I wouldnt worry too much about the red. A popular venue local to us has red walls but it never stops people from usign any sort of colour scheme. While it is nice to compliment the venue, once all your tables, chairs, flowers, etc are all in it generally works well.
(obviously i cant see your venue to be able to advise 100%)

In regars to orchids, purples should be a problem at all. The common phalaeonopsis orchid comes in a wide varieties of pinks and purples. You may also want to consider dendrobiums or even vanda orchids, although these will set you back a fair bit more.

A few images to help:


A bouquet and table decoration Jane made for a recent wedding fair. Made from artifical vanda orchids in 'cadburys' purple. We also used these same flowers for a bride recently.
Real purple vanda flower


A pink phalaeonopsis shower bouquet
Its pink put you could easily use purple varieties instead.


A pink/white trailing phalaeonopsis bouquet held by a ball of xanths. Again its pink put you could easily use purple varieties instead.


Not orchids but i know a few had mention blue flowers. Here are blue and purple hydrangea, purple freesias, purple hyacinths and bluebells.
Bare in mind bluebells aren't easy to get hold off often!

Hope these help
Ben

ellay864

I'm almost scared to post as I said once before about my flowers and got shot down by some professional florists who took a very dim view of what I'd done! My secretary mentioned she does flowers and said she'd do mine...she said she'd do a test run last October so she could use what would be around when I get married. I found some images I liked and she picked the bits of each to make a test one...cream roses (from Asda), some purple friesas, hand tied but not too tight, and a fair bit of greenery with ivy trailing down. She added in some extra fern and gypsophilia and a few pearl head pins. It looked gorgeous (but I forgot to take a pic) and despite all the people who looked down their noses saying supermarket flowers were the worst sin on earth, they kept for ages. She only used those for the test run but I'd be quite happy for them to go in the real thing

everlastingspirit

ellay864 wrote: »

I'm almost scared to post as I said once before about my flowers and got shot down by some professional florists who took a very dim view of what I'd done! My secretary mentioned she does flowers and said she'd do mine...she said she'd do a test run last October so she could use what would be around when I get married. I found some images I liked and she picked the bits of each to make a test one...cream roses (from Asda), some purple friesas, hand tied but not too tight, and a fair bit of greenery with ivy trailing down. She added in some extra fern and gypsophilia and a few pearl head pins. It looked gorgeous (but I forgot to take a pic) and despite all the people who looked down their noses saying supermarket flowers were the worst sin on earth, they kept for ages. She only used those for the test run but I'd be quite happy for them to go in the real thing

I'm not going to shoot you down. I admit some people do make the choice to do their own flowers (or ask a friend to do so). I have seen some diy bouquets that look fine. Unfortunately I have seen some of the latter too. What you did was the right thing though is a trial run.

Ultimately florists are skilled in their profession and like any other business you do pay extra for the skill, creative talent and ultimately the florist to take the pressure and responsibility of sorting your flowers.

At the end of the day it does fall down to what you personally want to do and what you feel confident with.

On a side note about supermarket flowers, they may be ok sometimes but it isn't always guaranteed. Usually they spend longer from cutting to sale than wholesale flowers a wedding florist orders in specially. Ours are usually 24-48 hrs from cut to us from holland. This means they are usually fresher and last longer. The other thing is a florsit will order your wedding flowers in (guaranteed). A supermarket has whatever is in stock. Particularly if you aren't having roses or easily obtainable flowers or want large quantities for table decorarions, etc.

Best of luck with your wedding. I hope its a lovely day.
Ben

ellay864

Thanks Ben, I had seen this lady's other efforts already, I like the fact I have a friend doing something as part of my day, and of course having known me for several years she 'gets' me and knows what I like. I'm not going for anything more exotic and am only asking for my bouquet, one bridesmaid and 4 buttonholes - I'm not doing table decs. She will get the flowers the day before my wedding so I know they won't be hanging round long. All things considered, and having had the advantage of a test that surpassed my expectations I'm comfy with going with her and that alone means a lot to me

heebie-jeebies

I'm already married but I found my florist absolutely wonderful. I was slightly scared by the cost but I felt completely at ease with the florist when I walked in to her shop. I'd explained to my Mum what I wanted (my DH left it to me!) and she was a bit baffled, I had the same conversation with the florist and she just got it.

Now, normally I dislike roses. I don't understand how a rose says I love you but there you go. My wedding was the first Sunday of advent and the venue was dressed for Xmas so we decided to work with their red and gold decorations and used the same colours. My bouquet was a hand tie of beautiful grand prix roses with some berries (cannot remember the type) with holly (not sharp) and ivy wrapped around the outside. My sister had cream roses with the berries and ivy. For the tables, we had tall martini glasses with the same flowers and the ivy trailed down. The registrar table was a long and low arrangement and included burgundy gerberas. Buttonholes were red roses for groom and Dad's (grooms had berries in) and cream roses for the Grandad's. Corsages were 3 small cream roses.

For me, the most important thing was the relationship with the florist. My family are in Staffs and I got married in Somerset. I chose a florist in Staffs and had wonderful advice in setting up the tables and in looking after the flowers for the jouney and the night before.

RainbowDrops

I'm going for seasonal british country flowers - I dont want stiff roses or tropical blooms as I'm getting married in a beautiful countr garden.
I'm going for multicoloured blooms, and sweet williams in jam jars for the tables.

everlastingspirit

RainbowDrops wrote: »

I'm going for seasonal british country flowers - I dont want stiff roses or tropical blooms as I'm getting married in a beautiful countr garden.
I'm going for multicoloured blooms, and sweet williams in jam jars for the tables.

Out of curiosity what is the date you are getting married? Just thinking what is available around the time..

Ben

obsessednewbie

I have fallen head over heels in love with GERBERA'S. I didnt even know what a gerbera was in January - now i MUST HAVE THEM.

My theme is pale blue - and they dont come in blue, so have thought of floristry paint. Now i think that is a bit cruel - whether they are silk or real??

Might have to resort to white gerbera real ones for me (with pale blue hand tied ribbon) and silk for the 3 bridesmaids. Havent seen any i like though - i want them neat and without the yellow bit showing in the middle.

Also want white gerbera button holes and as for tables - arghhhhhhhhh!

I am getting no where at all. :mad:

Any help/advice HUGELY appreciated.

x