Wedding Gypsy (and other flower experts) please chime in

[rockzilla]

www.effusiveflowers.com

This is a local florist that I am considering using. They have actually been providing the flowers for my office ever since I started working there ~3 years ago.

I really like their work, particularly the low centerpiece/arrangement designs (when we first started using them, they were doing a lot of tall ones - creative but sometimes a little out there. We''ve since renovated the office and are getting exclusively low ones...more traditional - and symmetrical - I have been impressed just about every week)

Anyways, how do the prices look? I''ve been looking on the "every day" mainly, rather than the weddings, because we''re going to want mostly low centerpieces. I like the look of the "mixed pave" (maybe I am being swayed by the name) and the seasonal mix...

Right now my plan for flowers is:

-1 bridal bouquet
-3 bridesmaids
-4 boutinnieres
-10-12 centerpieces


and budget is ~$2500. We are not likely to do anything in the church as you probably won''t notice it since the whole thing is stained glass. I''ll post pictures of what I like in a bit...

 

[rockzilla]

The mixed pave

 

[rockzilla]

Seasonal mix

 

[rockzilla]

Urn

 

[rockzilla]

Green loop looks interesting as well...they put it around candles...

 

[rockzilla]

shows loop with the candles...I''d need some sort of hurricane around them though

thats all for now

 

[Gypsy]

I will be happy to respond tonight!

 

[pjean]

Not an expert at all, but I just wanted to say how pretty the mixed pave is, and I''m not swayed by the name at all! Do you have specific wedding colours?

 

[rockzilla]

I shouldn''t have restricted it to "experts" - I welcome all thoughts!

The mixed pave is my favorite as well. As for colors, I''m leaning towards blues & purples, while he prefers greens and whites. I think that one could be done nicely in green and white though.

 

[rockzilla]

Ugh...to add to this issue, fiance isn''t a big fan of the flowers...he says they don''t look very cohesive, seem like a hodgepodge, and that they "don''t pop"

Why do I feel like he has just turned into a judge on project runway?

Things he does like (exact quotes here):
-having a couple very neutral colors (like white and green) with a splash of color like a blue that really sticks out
-Spider, button, santini, kermit...tons of mums
-Orchids, Mums, Hydrangeas
-http://weddings.theknot.com/ODB/themes/realweddings/detailview.aspx?id=25443&type=3%2c11&wedding_details=Bridal+Bouquets%2cBridesmaid+Bouquets%2ccenterpieces&colors=green&flowers=20071003
-http://weddings.theknot.com/ODB/themes/realweddings/detailview.aspx?id=28393&type=3%2c11&wedding_details=Bridal+Bouquets%2cBridesmaid+Bouquets%2ccenterpieces&colors=green&flowers=20071003

On one hand I am glad he is involved...on the other hand our differing tastes are stressing me out!

 

[Gypsy]

It's hard to tell what a florist will charge you. I got really low qoutes and some really high (5000 and up) qoutes.

That said, it seems that you like a lot of textures and shades of colors and contrast and he doesn't. I love the pave one.

For myself my taste is aligned with yours. But I have some pics that may marry your ideas.

I love the pave but it's a VERY spring arrangement, the hyacinth and liliac are ONLY reasonably affordable in spring. And they won't come really cheap. So I'm gonna up the estimate quite a bit. Honestly, I don't know what that would go for. Could be as affordable as 120 or as high as 400 depending on season, availability etc. When is your wedding again? And I'd ask if they can get a similar look with different flowers in that one. The hyacinth in season BTW aren't bad in terms of cost.
The seasonal, except for the bamboo treatment in the vase should be pretty affordable so about 80. Kale is inexpensive, and there's roses and big hydrangeas.
The wreath thing... they will probably try to get about 100-150 or so out of you, on the high side.
The Urn... I don't love it. But maybe that cause the roses look blown to me. But the price really depends on the size of the thing. I'd have to count roses and estimate. Okay. Looking at it, there are a LOT of roses in that sucker. It's not gonna be really affordable.
I would have to see your bouquet and your BM's bouquets to qoute. But a HIGH estimate would be 300 for your bouquet and 100 each for the BM's.
Again a high estimate 30 each for the bouts.

 

[rockzilla]

Gypsy - the prices are actually on the site right now...everything I posted runs from ~80-150

 

[Gypsy]

Well, then the prices seem to be reasonable!

Do you want me to post some pics of some low centerpieces that are similar to those you are looking at? The containers won''t be as nice, the the arrangements may give you ideas.

 

[AmberGretchen]

hmmm...I love the pave but can see where you and FI disagree and a compromise is in order. What about something like this, without the mini-daffodils and with something bright blue instead?

I''ll see what else I can find too (although of course I''m no expert)...

Remind me when your wedding date is again?

 

[rockzilla]

Ooooh, AG I love that! I will have to show to my guy...you're right, the daffodils would definitely not be in season though....

Gypsy, would love to see any photo ideas you have! We've been looking at theknot and brides.com but not coming up with a great compromise yet. Wedding is in August 2009. In malibu - so they have to be able to take the HEAT!

PS AG- just noticed that is from church st flowers in SF - which I absolutely love! if I was having my wedding up here I'd use in a heartbeat, budget be damned!

 

[AmberGretchen]

Also love these for green and white (this was my florist - she was very reasonable as she was just starting out and she did absolutely beautiful work - we got bride''s bouquet, 5 bridesmaids, 9 bouts, 3 corsages, I think 8-9 centerpieces, cake table decorations and large synagogue arrangements for less than $1500 total).

Love this one, and I think its a good demonstration of the white and green with pops of color, only in this case purple instead of blue (which I think looks lovely).

 

[SarahLovesJS]

Date: 5/21/2008 1:06:39 AM
Author: AmberGretchen
Also love these for green and white (this was my florist - she was very reasonable as she was just starting out and she did absolutely beautiful work - we got bride''s bouquet, 5 bridesmaids, 9 bouts, 3 corsages, I think 8-9 centerpieces, cake table decorations and large synagogue arrangements for less than $1500 total).


Love this one, and I think its a good demonstration of the white and green with pops of color, only in this case purple instead of blue (which I think looks lovely).

I love those, especially the second one!

 

[AmberGretchen]

Sarah - that one was my favorite of the three I posted too, I think its just lovely

Rockzilla - totally agree on Church St Flowers, they do beautiful work. I found a few other ideas as well:

Here''s one, these people do incredibly beautiful things - definitely worth perusing the website a little bit for ideas.

this is from the same place, might be more the color combo you are looking for - I''m sure you could ask your florist about what they are using for that lovely blue/purple color.

nice ideas for purples

ADORE this one, and FI might like it because it looks (to my eyes at least), more cohesive

also a bit more cohesive-feeling, and has orchids, which he said he liked

 

[Gypsy]

Okay so here are a few pics.

Here''s one that I like. you could sub the pinky flowers for lavender roses and white roses. Or even green (like Jade Roses) and white roses. I like your florist''s containers much better though.

 

[Gypsy]

I really like this one as well. Is all roses like the urn you posted, but has a really nice and somewhat unique container treatment I think your florist woudl replicate well. Plus it''s just green and white. You could bring in your colors with linens. Or you could do all colored roses.

 

[Gypsy]

This is just a concept pic of an all green and white.

 

[Gypsy]

Pretty white and green bouquet. I like the vibrancy of this shade of green for an August wedding.

 

[Gypsy]

This is so pretty and could be done in green and white and with color as well. Plus the flower choices are perfect for August.

 

[Gypsy]

Would look good in the urn and you FI might like it. I personally love it.

 

[Gypsy]

Blue and purple!

 

[Gypsy]

Blue and purple, flowers definitely available in august.

 

[Gypsy]

lavender roses, astible, and agapanthus

 

[Gypsy]

Whoops. lavender roses, astible, and agapanthus

 

[Gypsy]

Flowers would be hard and expensive to get in August. But it would be your bouquet so it might be worth the splurge. And you could sub some more delphinium, and roses and dalias and/or lysianthus if you wanted a simlarISH look in the centerpieces--- but the main reason I'm including it is because I think it's the closest to your FI's idea of mostly white and green but with a subtle use of a color accent.

This is one of my favorite all time bouquets. Period. And IF it was the color scheme I picked I would find a way to afford those french lilacs (or are they grape hyacinth? I forget... either way $$) for my bouquet.

 

[Gypsy]

Okay. That''s all I''ve got for now. If you need more ideas or help, let me know I''ll hunt up some more!