Archive for January, 2012

Winter Wedding Flower Tips

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

Winter weddings can be cozy and romantic…especially in Vermont!…but flowers and winter weather don’t go well together.  It’s straight forward enough that freezing temperatures will kill flowers.  Anything below 35 degrees is sure to end the life of your fresh blooms nearly instantaneously.  If you’re planning a winter wedding don’t bring flowers out in the cold.  (Easy rule of thumb:  If it’s snowing outside, it’s too cold for your flowers.)

If you are planning a winter wedding here are some tips for handling your fresh flowers:

Get 2 bouquets; one for photos before the ceremony and one for the vows.

Use “permanent botanicals” (aka artificial flowers) for any outdoor activities like photos of you frolicking in a snowy field…otherwise be advised that your bouquet may be frozen before you say “I do”.

Have your florist deliver bouquets to the ceremony location so you don’t have to walk outside with them.  If you have to move from one location to another have someone put a plastic bag (or two) over the flowers so the cold air doesn’t touch them.  I can’t stress enough how quickly the cold can take the life out of a fresh flower.

Limit your time outdoors even if the mercury rises above 35 degrees.  Florists store fresh blooms in coolers that are around 40 degrees (give or take a few), but winter air can be more harsh so keep your outdoor photo ops short and sweet.  You may want to take a few photos with your bouquet and then have someone run it inside so you have additional outdoor pics without your flowers.  Same rules apply to boutonnieres by the way!

If you opt to use some wintery greens like pine or cedar they will be more cold tolerant, but choosing to marry in winter doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to have an “evergreen” inspired event, however.  Based on this info you may be wondering how I got this bouquet photo on a snowy day…Well, we were fortunate that it was about 40+ degrees that day and the flowers are NOT touching the snow.  We still wrapped the flowers for delivery so they wouldn’t get a chill!

The above bouquet includes lisianthus, callas, roses, hydrangea, freesia, leucodendron and berzilia.

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An Inside Look At Wedding Planning

Wednesday, January 18th, 2012

When I was planning our wedding in 2003 there was no Google to speak of; I was impressed that my caterer had a nice website and I found my photographer through the bridal insert in the Burlington Free Press.  Endless wedding inspiration simply did not exist outside of the pages of a magazine and Style Me Pretty would have sounded like nonsense words.  It was indeed a simpler time.

Last summer my husband and I remodeled our kitchen and we found all the decisions a bit overwhelming at times.  At one point while deciding which type of countertops we should get I thought to myself, this is what my couples must feel like.  It’s a big purchase.  There are a lot of once-in-a-lifetime decisions and even more small decisions.  The devil is in the details and it’s all about the details.  I wanted to make the “right” decisions so badly that at certain points I just didn’t know what to choose.

Throughout the stressful project I was happy to have an opportunity to get a glimpse of the perspective of where do I begin?!  I was able to put myself in your shoes and I truly have a new appreciation for the planning process my couples face.  With non-stop wedding inspiration there is a lot of pressure to stand out and make your wedding incredible, personalized and over-the-top.  (I found the same was true for planning a new kitchen!)

Dave and I wanted to make eco-friendly decisions for our remodel, but we didn’t have a budget for a “green kitchen”.  We had to decide where to go green and where to go with the flow.  We had to trust our contractor (which we did implicitly) to make the best recommendations to us and when we had some opportunities to really add a wow factor (like the cathedral ceiling and skylight) we had to decide whether it was worth it to go for it.  There were certain items that I cared far more about aesthetically and I took the lead on those decisions.  On the other hand there were aspects that meant a lot to Dave where he weighed in heavily.  It was a joint effort and the look we chose reflects both of our tastes.

In the end our kitchen came together perfectly.  The size, the colors, the way it flows with the rest of the house, the way it works when I’m cooking in there–the kitchen gods had our backs on this project for sure.  We came in on schedule and budget even with a few upgrades and additions we made along the way!

If we could do it, you can do it.  Focus on the most important pieces of the planning process like securing your venue, your vendors, your budget details and if you feel overwhelmed take a break for a day (or a week) until you feel ready to jump back into the details.  Try to enjoy it and make it a good experience along the way.  You’re only going to plan this wedding once and I’m sure it will be great!

When in doubt choose beautiful, bold colors that speak to you.  A great color combo is welcoming and fun!

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How To Keep Your Flower Budget In Check

Wednesday, January 11th, 2012

Everyone knows that the costs of planning your wedding can add up quickly.  If flowers are a priority for your wedding design, but you still want to keep things “in check” here are a few tips to help keep you on track:

1.  The biggest portion of your flower budget is usually dedicated to centerpieces.  If you have a large guest list you will likely require a larger floral budget.

2.  If you have 9 bridesmaids you will be spending more than twice the “average” for attendants’ bouquets.  Much like the guest list, a smaller bridal party will help keep costs down.

3.  Seasonal flowers may sound like code for “cheap & easily available”, but that’s not the case.  Seasonal flowers like peonies, lily of the valley and many others can be reasonably priced, but if they are well grown and in demand they will not be inexpensive.

4.  Details that add interest to your wedding decor, but also add onto your budget like decorated tent poles, wreaths, petals for the aisle and anything hanging from the ceiling may need to be cast aside.

5.  Be honest about your flower budget and be open to suggestions from your floral designer on how to maximize your budget.

As much as it pains me to say this you simply cannot have it all and have a small flower budget.  If you want beautiful flowers, but you don’t want to spend a lot the best option is to have a smaller wedding.  Once your guest list reaches 200 your ideas of budget florals are quite frankly out the window!

Here are a few areas where you may consider keeping things simple in order to make room for the florals you really want:

Skip the custom linens and stick with the white or ivory provided by your venue; opt out of the fancy ride to the wedding if no one will see you emerge from your vehicle; forget about the late-night menu (caterers often suggest that this is not necessary anyway); and in general, don’t hire vendors that blow your desired budget out of the water leaving you to skimp in other areas.

It’s all about balance at the end of the day!

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Plan A Wedding That’s Uniquely Yours

Friday, January 6th, 2012

I conducted a seminar last year at The Vermont Wedding Affair and a couple approached me afterwards who needed some advice on how to “claim” their wedding as their own.  The bride and groom wanted a Vermonty farm wedding and her parents did not think that was what a wedding should look like.  I could see in her face that the bride just didn’t know what to do since her parents were footing the bill and the groom just wanted his bride to get the wedding she wants.

Communication is key to working with your partner and your family.  I suggested that the bride talk with her parents about how a ballroom wedding is simply not what she wants and that a more rustic, unique setting is what she was dreaming of.  I truly believe that parents want to give their children a beautiful wedding day.  The trouble is when there is a difference of opinion in what defines a “beautiful day”.

Family dynamics can be tricky even when we aren’t talking about planning a huge event like a wedding, but at the end of the day it’s absolutely essential that a couple feels their wedding reflected their style.  There may be a few areas where you need to take a parent’s preference into consideration (you can serve the type of booze they prefer or allow them to help pick the menu or perhaps you marry in the family’s place of worship), but don’t give up your vision entirely.

Your wedding day is the start of your life together and the planning process is a warm-up for all the decisions you are going to make throughout your lives.  Why shouldn’t you also set a tone with your families that says “this is who we are and we know what we want!”?  I am sure it will be the right decision for you to plan a wedding that’s uniquely yours.

Here’s an inspiration board with floral designs that have a more rustic, wildflowery feeling…perfect for a barn wedding!

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Wedding Consultation Tips For A New Year

Wednesday, January 4th, 2012

If there is one thing that holidays remind us of it’s that you shouldn’t bring too many cooks into the kitchen and when planning a wedding it’s wise if you don’t bring too many people with different opinions to your consultations.  It’s understandable that some people prefer the input of friends and family when meeting with vendors, however, it’s important to let your own preferences shine through so you get your wedding style, not your sister’s, your mom’s or your BFF’s wedding.

If you have already defined your wedding style as a couple it may be best to meet with vendors as a couple and inform family and friends about the decisions you made together.  When it comes to selecting your florist, photographer or caterer the most important thing is to feel a connection that allows you to trust that you are in good hands.  Part of the planning process includes letting go and allowing the vendors you’ve hired to fulfill the vision you’ve planned!

Here are 7 Tips to keep in mind when meeting with a potential florist and some inspiration for finding your personal bouquet style.

White and green bouquets are classic and timeless no matter what your style or season.

How has your wedding planning experience been so far?  Do you feel confident with your choices and happy with your progress?  Has your partner been involved in the details?  No matter how far you are in the process remember to keep calm and plan on!

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