Floral | Tripp Commons - UW Memorial Union Wedding
I seriously have the.best.job. because of incredible people like Sarah and Colin.
A UW Memorial Union Wedding
I seriously have the.best.job. because of incredible people like Sarah and Colin.
I hadn’t met Sarah or Colin until their wedding day, all of our correspondence up to the wedding was via phone or email because they both live in the windy city of Chicago.
These two are so incredibly sweet and kind-hearted and I was so honored to be entrusted with their wedding flowers even though we’d never met.
The funnest part of their wedding day is that 29 years ago my parent’s held their reception in Tripp Commons at the UW Memorial Union. It was such a beautiful way for me to envision where their love story came together.
Sarah and Colin it was my greatest pleasure to work with you. I wish you all the blessings in your marriage, cheers!
Photos courtesy of Andy Stenz Photography
They celebrated with a beautiful lake-side ceremony just above the UW Memorial Union Terrace.
Their ceremony was followed by an inviting reception hosted in Tripp Commons.
Floral | A Fall Wedding at Devil's Head Resort
Kate and Brad are two people that just beam with love for each other. They are also two of the kindest people I’ve had the pleasure to work with.
A Fall Wedding at Devil’s Head Resort
Kate and Brad are two people that just beam with love for each other. They are also two of the kindest people I’ve had the pleasure to work with.
Kate and Brad met while studying at the University of Wisconsin - Madison and both have careers in agriculture. When this duo asked me to be their florist I couldn’t have been more thrilled.
They got married on a chilly fall day but these pictures speak to the warmth in their hearts for each other.
Congrats you two!
Floral | How to Find the Right Wedding Florist
Finding the right wedding florist can be tricky. Here are a few tips to help you find the perfect florist for your wedding day.
Photo by | Silverlight Photography
finding the right florist
In the world of weddings you will never run short of options when it comes to vendors. However, this can make your life rather overwhelming when it comes to choosing the right vendors for you. Not every vendor is going to be a perfect fit and your florist is no exception. In the world of wedding flowers there are incredible vendors each specializing in a specific style, fitting a specific budget and only a few will be able to give you exactly what you've been dreaming of. So what should you ask yourself and look for when searching for the right florist for you?
Determine your style
This is probably the hardest part of the process, seriously. Thanks to Pinterest it's hard to narrow down your unique style and overall vision for your floral styling. There is an abundance of options but only one option will speak to you, your event and your floral vision. Once you determine your floral aesthetic you can better search for your perfect florist.
To start you will want to determine if your style is traditional, loose and organic, formal, garden-inspired, bohemian, etc. Arm yourself with some images, then when you browse a vendors website you will better be able to determine if their style fits yours.
Start Your Search Early
I really can't suggest this one enough. Vendors book fast and you'd hate to lose your perfect florist because it was last on your list. The earlier you can get in touch with your dream florist, the better off you and they are. It gives you and them more time to figure out the details, and they are more likely to have your date available.
Ask for recommendations
Ask your friends and family if they have any recommendations, likely you've been to a wedding recently, did you like their flowers? If so, reach out and ask them who they worked with.
Did you book a photographer, a venue? These vendors probably have a few florists to recommend. If you ask another vendor you can get a very intimate recommendation and a good place to start your search.
Schedule a Consultation
One of the best ways to find the right florist is to sit down with them to discuss your vision. Make sure you've established if you like their style first, it's a waste of your time and theirs if they don't have a portfolio that matches your vision.
Do you feel understood after you meet with them? Did they seem to grasp your vision? Did their recommendations improve your vision or solidify you're on the right track? Meeting someone is gold, for you and your vendor. If you aren't a good fit it will become obvious to the both of you at this point.
Don't be offended if a florist guides you in another direction. Remember you're after your perfect fit and if they feel someone can better service you vision appreciate their honesty, they may lead you directly to the florist of your dreams!
Do you Love their Online Portfolio
Take the time to really browse through a florist's website. Look through their image galleries, do they make you swoon? Not every gallery has to speak to you but does one really jump out? Mention it to them when you meet, it's a good place to start a conversation, especially if you're looking for some guidance.
***Now I'd hate for you to get tied up in the 'serviced before' rat race put out by so many online lists but you may find your venue in your dream florist's portfolio. This is incredible if you can see their work in your venue. Keep in mind florists don't share every event they've done in their portfolio online, so you can also ask if they have any images tucked away from another wedding at your venue. It may be able to give you a good idea of their previous work in the same setting. However, with the number of venues available for florists (and other vendors) to service don't get tied up on if they've serviced your venue in the past. While it may be the cherry on top many newer, yet quality vendors, are still working their way through the hundreds of venue options in your area.***
Is your budget in line with their service costs?
Are you looking to spend $1,000 or $40,000? This question may be the most important one you can ask yourself. Some florists will share a rough starting point on their website, others may not share at all. If you can find pricing on their website you may be able to rule them in or out quickly. If you love their work and it isn't shared on their website, a simple email to them explaining your budget will allow them to respond if they can service your wedding in your desired budget.
When it comes to floral you can quickly narrow your search by being honest about your budget.
Are they able to accommodate your delivery/set up needs
If you're looking for a full-service florist make sure you ask about delivery/set up. Is your venue open the day before, is it the morning of? This may make a big difference on what your florist is able to accommodate.
A lot of florists will book a couple weddings a weekend, some will only book one. Your florist may have a team which allows them to service more weddings per weekend or it may just be them. If they typically service more than one you could also ask if there is a separate 'minimum' that gives you the ability to exclusively book them (if it's a smaller vendor).
If your event is out of town are they willing to travel? Are there extra fees for traveling out of their area? What would a delivery/set-up look like if they are traveling? Again, if they need to travel out of town be prepared to have a higher minimum if they typically book more than one wedding per weekend.
Booking your florist
When you find your perfect fit, don't hesitate to book them. Some florists may hold your date for a time while you decide, but some florist are on a first-come-first-served basis. Florists get inquiries frequently so don't hesitate too long or they may assume you've gone another direction. If you're serious about booking them and have a few details to figure out, stay in touch. Communication with your vendors will help them know how serious you are about working with them.
I really hope this helps
There are many things to consider when hiring your florist but hopefully this list gives you a good basis to start your search. I wish you all the best in finding your florist!
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Floral | What to bring to your first floral consultation
So you’ve found a florist you’re dying to work with. Your florist is probably ecstatic about working with you because she knows if you can’t wait to work with her you’re probably her perfect match. So what is your florist going to need from you during your first consultation?
So you’ve found a florist you’re dying to work with. Your florist is probably ecstatic about working with you because she knows if you can’t wait to work with her you’re probably her perfect match. So what is your florist going to need from you during your first consultation? Here’s an un-exhaustive list to help you and your florist create something beautiful together.
Details of your venue and pictures if you have them!
Venues pop up every day. Expecting your florist to have been to every venue is like asking if someone has seen every Disney movie, they may have seen a lot but probably not every one.
Details of your floral vision.
Again pictures are SUPER helpful here. While your favorite flower colors are absolutely important it is more helpful for us to see your vision in its entirety. Are you going for a modern, bohemian, classic, rustic or a blend of these styles on your big day? Are you after flower walls or just some simple centerpieces.
Pictures of your bridesmaid dresses and your’s.
If you have pictures and the colors of your dresses it really helps give us a sense of colors and how we can best compliment your attire.
Colors of the groom’s and groomsmen attire.
Just like it’s helpful to know what color dress we’re looking to compliment let’s make sure the men look just as stunning.
Guest count estimate. Knowing roughly 200 people is helpful.
We can figure out how many tables based on these rough counts and can give you a more accurate proposal. We understand that 200 invites doesn’t mean 200 guests but it gives us a good place to start.
Details that are important for us to incorporate.
Lace from your grandmother’s gown you want to be wrapped around your bouquet - things like this will help guide some of our discussion on these details.
An idea of your floral ‘dream’.
Centerpieces, arbor garlands, swooping garlands behind your head table, sprigs of green on every chair. Let us know what you’re looking for!
Your target budget
Now, this isn’t last on my list because it’s the least important thing to bring to your meeting. It’s the MOST important piece of information you can bring to your initial consultation so I wanted to end with this so it’s fresh in your mind. Knowing your budget helps us help you craft a design that is within your budget. We’d hate to send you a proposal for the $20,000 Pinterest wedding when your budget is $2500. Pinterest is the queen of stunning, over the top, unique arrangements and floral installations, but they don’t fit every budget. If you know what your target budget is we can help craft a beautiful day and give advice on ways to cut costs if necessary. If you don’t tell us we can’t help but propose everything you ask for, and we’d hate to give you unnecessary sticker shock.
So, while this is not an exhaustive list it can help guide your thinking. It will also give you and your florists a good place to start discussions about what is going to make your day uniquely yours.
