Category: Finances

 

Find Wedding Flower Availabilities and Colors

Picking wedding flowers in season can save you a bunch of money. Sure, growers are now able to fly almost anything in from the other side of the world, but you’ll pay a premium for that Here is a US guide to what flowers are generally in season to help you get started. Talk specifically to your florist or grower about what is available.

This chart can also help you decide when to get married. If you want huge amounts of different pink flowers, fall might not be the best time for you to get married. On the other hand, if adore zinnias and dahlias, perhaps you should have a fall wedding.  

Spring Wedding Flowers in Season

·        Anemone * Blue, red, pink, white * Jan-May and Aug-Dec.

·        Bells of Ireland * Green * January-October

·        Boronia * Pink * April-May

·        Casa Blanca Lily * White * January-October

·        Daffodil * Yellow * January-Early May

·        Delphinium * White, Blue * April- October

·        Hyacinth * Purple, Pink or White

·        Lilacs * Violet or White

·        Narcissus * White

·        Peony * Pink or White * Late Spring – Early Summer

·        Ranunculus * white, pink, red, orange and yellow * February-May

·        Star Gazer Lily * Pink and White * January-October

·        Sweetpea * white, pink, red/coral, and lavender/purple * December-May

·        Tulip * Many colors, including white, pink, yellow, red, and purple * December-April

·        Waxflower * pinky purple and white

Summer Wedding Flowers in Season

·        Alstromeria * orange, pink, yellow and cream, other colors

·        Bells of Ireland * Green * January-October

·        Chrysanthemum * White, Yellow,Orange, Pink, other colors

·        English Lavender * Purple

·        Forget-me-not * Blue

·        Freesia * White, Yellow, Pink, Blue, Purple

·        Gerbera Daisy * Pink, Yellow, Orange, Red, White

·        Hydrangea * White, Blue, Purple, Pink

·        Iris * Purple, Blue, White

·        Larkspur * White, Purple, Blue, Pink

·        Liatris * Pinkish Purple

·        Lily, asiatic * White, Pink, Yellow, Orange

·        Lily, oriental * White, Pink

·        Lisianthus * Purple, White, Pink

·        Matsumoto Asters * Pink, Purple

·        Monte Casino Asters * White, Purple

·        Queen Anne’s Lace * White

·        Snapdragons * Pink, Yellow, Orange, White, Other Colors

·        Solidaster * Yellow

·        Statice * Purple

·        Stephanotis * White

·        Stock * White, Other Colors

·        Sunflower * Yellow

·        Tuberose * White

·        Yarrow * White, Pink, Yellow

·        Zinnia * Red, Orange, Pink

Fall Wedding Flowers

·        Aster * White, Pink

·        Chrysanthemum * White, Yellow, Orange, Pink, other colors

·        Dahlia * Many Colors

·        Marigold * Yellow, Orange, Red

·        Statice * Purple

·        Zinnia * Red, orange, pink *

·        Dried Leaves

Winter Wedding Flowers

·        Amaryllis * Red, White

·        Anemone * Blue, red, pink, white * Jan-May and Aug-Dec.

·        Bells of Ireland * Green * January-October

·        Camellias * White, Pink

·        Casa Blanca Lily * White * January-October

·        Cosmos * Pink, White, Brown, Other Colors

·        Daffodil * Yellow * January-Early May

·        Forget-me-nots * Blue

·        Holly * Green with Red Berries

·        Jasmine * White

·        Narcissus * White, Yellow

·        Poinsettia * Red, White

·        Ranunculus * white, pink, red, orange and yellow * February-May

·        Star Gazer Lily * Pink and White * January-October

·        Star of Bethlehem * White

·        Sweetpea * white, pink, red/coral, and lavender/purple * December-May

·        Tulip * Many colors, including white, pink, yellow, red, and purple * December-April

·        Waxflower * Pink, White

Wedding Flowers Available Year-Round

·        Baby’s Breath * White

·        Bachelor’s Button * White, Pink, Red or Blue

·        Calla Lily * White is widely available, other colors, available as well, particularly in mini size

·        Carnations * Many Colors

·        Delphinium * Blue, White, Purple

·        Eucalyptus * Blue, Silver

·        Gardenia * White

·        Gladiolus * Many Colors

·        Heather * Pink

·        Lily of the Valley * White and Pink

·        Orchid * Pink, White, Purple, Other Colors

·        Protea * Pink

·        Rose * Many Colors ***February at a premium

·        Scabiosa * Purple, White

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Word of mouth is always your safest bet. If the florist’s service and work comes highly recommended, chances are they will do a good job for you. Do your research by going to bridal shows and looking at online pictures from your store’s website. Make appointments to visit at least 3 different florists.
When you visit each florist, look at pictures of their previous work and look around their shop.
• Do you like the arrangements that you see in the shop’s displays?
• Do the flowers in the pictures look fresh or are the petal edges brown?
• Are the pictures dated or are they following the current trends?
• Is the designer willing to work with you or are they telling you that your idea won’t work?
• Make sure you speak to the florist that will do your arrangements.
• Do you feel comfortable with your florist?
• Is your florist paying attention to you while you’re talking and does he/she seem interested?
 

When To Book Your Florist
6 months before your wedding is a good time to start your search. Book your florist approximately 4 months before your wedding date. You need to have your reception and ceremony sites picked out before you can hire a florist because you’ll need to know how many arrangements you’ll need and that the colors you pick don’t clash with the colors of your venue. You’ll also need to know what color your bridesmaids’ dresses are.
 

What To Bring To An Appointment
• Pictures of flowers and arrangements that you like (magazine clippings or websites)
• Picture of your wedding gown – swatches of material from your bridesmaids gowns – if available, a picture of your reception room
• If you are supplying the containers for arrangements, bring those too.
• Bring quotes you’ve gotten from other florists.
• Bring a list of all the flowers and arrangements you need and who they are for, so that the florist can label corsages, boutonnieres and bouquets, with names or titles. Example: on a bouquet a stapled piece of paper reads “maid of honour”. This way everyone gets the right flowers.
 

Questions To Ask The Florist
• When viewing photos of past work, ask if the flowers where arranged by the same person that is doing your arrangements.
• After giving your florist your ideas, ask for their opinion or ideas. You don’t have to take their advice but at least take the time to listen. You never know, you might like their ideas better then your own.
• Is there a delivery charge?
• Is there a setup fee?
• Do they have rental supplies?
• Do they need a map for the different delivery locations?
• Can you change your order if you have another idea? What’s the cut off date for new ideas?
• What times will the flowers be delivered to each location? This question can be asked 1 month before your wedding.
• Will the florist transport ceremony decorations to the reception location? Is there a fee?
• Can they make a sample of your bouquet and centrepiece? Some florists will, some won’t.
• Will they write you up an itemized quote? Some won’t in fear that you will bring it to other florists for a better deal.
• Are the flowers you’ve chosen in season? What flowers are in season for your date?
• You’re on a tight budget, can the florist work with a mixture of silk and fresh flowers?
• Are there any additional or hidden costs?
• Is the florist familiar with your reception and ceremony locations?
• 1 month before your wedding date, call the florist and ask them if they can get the type and color of flower you wanted?
 

Things To Keep In Mind
If your wedding date is around the time of a flower giving holiday (mother’s day, valentine’s,etc) you’re going to pay more for your flowers. The florist will also be very busy during this time and you can’t expect to be the centre of attention. Meet and speak to the person that will be making your flower arrangements.
A good place to start is with the bride’s and bridesmaid’s bouquet, work with those colours and flower types to create your centrepieces, alter arrangements and other floral decor.
You don’t have to book on the spot. Take your quote home and think it over.
The more information you give your florist the better they will understand what you want.
If you choose flowers that are not in season and have to be shipped, you’re looking at a bigger expense and you don’t know what effect the shipping will cause on your flowers.
 

What Goes On The Contract
In most cases your bill will be your contract. Read the small print on the bill. Everything the florist is supplying should be on the bill:
• Your name, address and phone number.
• The contact person’s name, address and phone number for every delivery location.
• An itemized list and description of every floral arrangement, the number required, colour of ribbons and other decorative accents.
• Time of setup
• The name of your floral designer
• The service they will provide. i.e. setup and delivery to each location and what this entails.
• The total cost, your deposit and the amount still owing and the date for the last payment.
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Wedding centerpieces help tie together the look of your entire table setting. The centerpieces will influence the linens you choose, the size of the tables and even the number of guests you seat on each table.

It’s important to discuss beforehand the centerpiece options available to you with your decorator and caterer.

Things to keep in mind when selecting your centerpieces

The size of the wedding centerpiece is important. The centerpiece shouldn’t be so small as to get overlooked. But if it’s too large, there might not be enough room for other things like the place cards, cutlery, and crockery and in general the table may become too cramped.

The height of the centerpiece also needs to be carefully considered. If the centerpiece you choose is something thin like a beautiful candle, the height won’t matter. In fact you may need it to be really tall to get noticed. On the other hand if the wedding centerpiece is a floral arrangement, ensure that it is short enough that guests can see each other over the arrangement. Often people choose wedding centerpieces that are so overwhelming that guests cannot even see each other across them, let alone hold a conversation!

Of course, your budget will largely determine the wedding centerpiece you choose. Wedding centerpieces can be very affordable or very extravagant. It’s up to you to decide how much to spend.

You could also choose a wedding centerpiece that doubles as wedding party favors. This is a great idea because it allows you to combine your budget for the wedding centerpieces and the party favors and afford something better.

Wedding centerpiece options

Floral arrangements are the most common and traditional wedding centerpiece options. They can vary from small exotic arrangements to large effusive ones. If you want the wedding centerpiece to double as a party favor, think about placing a small potted plant that also acts as the place card holders, after the party guests can take their plant home. This works very well and merges with the wedding decoration for a garden theme party.

Tabletop fountains make for exotic wedding centerpieces. They can certainly add an Asian feel to your entire wedding reception. Place votive candles around the fountain to give an exotic feel.

A crystal bowl filled with rose petals floating in water makes a great wedding centerpiece. You can add floating candles if the wedding reception is at night. The roses not only add romance to the atmosphere, but their fragrance will enhance the entire wedding decoration.

There are many options available when choosing your wedding centerpieces, and they are a big part of the overall wedding decoration, so give them the attention they deserve. You’ll be surprised how much they bring to your reception.

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