The Flower Blog

As with any special event, wedding flowers and décor can be quite an investment.  We have compiled the following information about the care and handling of wedding flowers to help you protect that investment.

Flowers are fresh produce- there is natural variation in color, size, and shape.

Flowers are a fresh grown product, sometimes certain types of flowers or specific colors are unavailable during different times of the year, usually predictably based on season but occasionally sporadically due to unfavorable growing conditions, holidays, etc. If a flower you have chosen becomes unavailable we will communicate with you as soon as we know to help you choose a comparable bloom to replace it.

Flowers are best kept in a cool but stable environment. All flowers should be kept away from warm or cold drafts, out of direct sunlight, and as cool as possible but always above 34̊. Outdoor temperatures in the summer are warmer than desired for fresh flowers; in the winter outdoor temperatures are usually too cold. Flowers should never be left in a vehicle.

Flowers should be kept hydrated. Different types of arrangements are hydrated different ways.

Hand tied bouquets and vased arrangements have stems that are drawing up water from the reservoir of the vase.  The water level should always be higher than the shortest stem.  While bouquets are out of water, the stems may seal; to allow them to rehydrate when returned to water a sharp pair of scissors or garden shears maybe used to give a fresh cut to the stems of the bouquet.

Holdered bouquets and arrangements designed in floral foam are drawing up water from the green foam they are inserted into. This foam is highly absorbent and acts much like a sponge. If the foam becomes very light it is likely dehydrated and should be watered. A bouquet holder is easily watered using a mister bottle of water focused on the foam not the blooms.

Boutonnieres and corsages do not have a water source.  They keep best when stored in plastic boxes or bags designed to trap in moisture.

Water tubes are used on some flower stems to provide a short term water supply. When the tube is empty the flower is out of water.

Always contact your florist if you are unsure or need additional information. 

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There are 19 different bridal bouquet types, so which style is perfect for you? Bridal bouquets are a thing of beauty and as they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  Your wedding flowers are going to be centered around the style that you find most beautiful. 

Start by browsing books, magazines, and the web for different looks and offerings in your colors.  Below are the most common bouquet styles and a brief description.  

The Posy or Clutch Bouquet

The posy bouquet is round and small and can easily be held in one hand.   The natural stems are wrapped in a beautiful satin ribbon and can be embellished with pearl pins and beads and other accessories.   The clutch type of bouquet consists of a simple gathering of flowers, bound and tied with ribbon with stems left exposed.  This is a beautiful choice for an outdoor wedding with that just picked from the garden look.   This style is a favorite with our brides. 

The Arm Sheaf Bouquet

They are long stemmed flowers and foliages that the bride carries cradled in her arm, also known as a presentation bouquet.  It is a lovely alternative to more traditional styles of bouquets.  It can be simple or elaborate.

The Crescent Bouquet

The crescent bouquet appears in the shape of a quarter moon, a soft arch, using distinguished flowers with definite shapes, often orchids, wired together to form a slender handle that you can hold in one hand.  This style is perfect for sophisticated and contemporary weddings.

Cascading Bouquet

A cascading bouquet, which is the most formal and most traditional of bouquets, is designed to spill gracefully over the bride's hands as it flows downward for a sophisticated and stylized look, almost any flower can be used in this style.
The modern smaller version is called the teardrop bouquet or trail bouquet.

The Pomander Bouquet or Kissing Ball

The pomander bouquet is also known as a kissing ball. A pomander is a ball of flowers suspended from a loop of decorative ribbon.
Adult attendants can carry pomanders, but young attendants such as flower girls and junior bridesmaids most often carry them.

Come in and talk with our Wedding Specialist for more information. 

According to the Bridal Association of America, the average cost of a wedding in the United States in 2006 was $30,000, not including the engagement ring and honeymoon.  The average wedding flower cost was $1,970.  55% of the weddings for the same year were traditional weddings and 20% were casual weddings and 25% were unique or extravagant weddings.  With these statistics, it can be determined that the average wedding flower cost of $1,970 was for traditional wedding flowers using roses, lilies, and other traditional types of flowers.  It can also be determined that if you are planning something more unique or extravagant, the average wedding flower cost will be quite a bit higher.

Determining Your Wedding Flower Cost

The cost of wedding flowers is determined by many factors.  These will include the time of year you are getting married.  Valentine’s Day wedding flower costs are much higher than any other time of the year.  The flowers that are in season will also determine your wedding flower cost, particularly if you have your heart set on a flower that is not in season.  Whether the types of flowers you want are grown locally or will need to be imported is a large determining factor in your wedding flower cost.  And, of course, how many flowers you intend to use will be the biggest determinant of how much your wedding flowers will cost.

The Florist You Choose Can Save Money or Cost You More

The florist you decide on will be a large part of the final cost of your wedding flowers.  Let’s face it, some florists will do a wedding for next to nothing while others will cost so much that you’ll expect to find diamond chips lining the lace hanging from your bouquet.  Finding the right florist who can give you the best flowers and stay within your budget is very important.

Once you think you’ve found the perfect florist, confirm your choice by asking several questions of the florist and of yourself.  How do you feel when you walk into the florist’s shop?  Do you like what you see or are there mostly designs that you just don’t get.  If you don’t see floral designs in the shop that are pleasing to you, then the florist’s style may not be a good match with your wedding flower ideas.

How many weddings has the florist done?  This is an important question to ask of your floral design candidate.  Yes, every florist will do their first wedding at some point, but you have to ask yourself if you are willing to let the first wedding be yours.  Ask to see a portfolio of past weddings that the florist has designed.  How many weddings does the florist have booked or plan to book for the week of your wedding? 

Making sure that you and your florist are on the same page can really help to determine your wedding flower cost.  Find a florist who will work within your average wedding flower budget and book them early.  A great wedding florist on a budget is hard to find at the last minute.

Contact us today for a complimentary consultation.

Allow me to introduce you to one of the hottest, trendiest wedding flowers for 2011 – the Anemone.  Specifically, the white anemones with rich black centers have been tagged as a bridal favorite. 

The story behind the anemone flower’s name is a sad one.  Anemone comes from anemos, the greek word for wind, thus giving Anemone the name “wind flower.”  It is said in Greek Mythology that the anemone flower sprang up from the blood of Aphrodite’s slain lover, Adonis. The name “windflower” signifies that the wind that blows the petal open will also, eventually, blow the dead petals away.

Anemones grow wild throughout Japan, North America and Europe, and vary in their growth patterns. They come in colors of red, blue, white, purple and, infrequently, yellow.

The anemone flower is unquestionably one of the more delicate and beautiful blossoms grown today; however, they are also deeply steeped in myth and touted for their uses. The anemone flower is regarded as a medicinal plant. Although these flowers can be poisonous to both animals and humans, they are thought – in small doses – to aid in a variety of ailments.

Anemones have a wide assortment of symbolism tied to them. They are thought to represent anticipation and unfading love, good luck and protection against evil.

Whether or not the anemone flower really did spring up from the blood of a goddess’ slain lover is highly debatable, but the fact that anemones are beautiful leaves little to debate. Add this lovely flower to your wedding and you will be rewarded with its winsome beauty.

Contact our wedding specialist for more information today!

If you consider yourself a unique, amusing bride who wants to plan a more cheerful, vivacious wedding perhaps you would like to incorporate Craspedia or "billy balls".  They are available year round with limited availability in March and August.   

These unusual blooms add wonderful texture and visual interest to floral designs.  They are very eye catching and truly original for a wedding.   More and more brides of today are choosing it as an inspiring and funny alternative to roses or other classic flowers.  

In honor of the spring season, let’s talk about one of my favorite spring flowers - the tulip. 

Although different tulip colors carry distinct meanings - yellow tulips symbolize cheerful thoughts, white conveys forgiveness and purple represents royalty - a Turkish legend may be responsible for the red tulip's symbolism. The story goes that a prince named Farhad was love struck by a maiden named Shirin.  When Farhad learned that Shirin had been killed, he was so overcome with grief that he killed himself - riding his horse over the edge of a cliff.  It's said that a scarlet tulip sprang up from each droplet of his blood, giving the red tulip the meaning "perfect love."

The 11th wedding anniversary flower, it's said that the tulip’s velvety black center represents a lover's heart, darkened by the heat of passion. With the power to rival roses in their red variety and the sweet charm to express simple joy when yellow, it’s no wonder that in addition to all its other symbolism, in the language of flowers, a tulip bouquet represents elegance and grace.

Some tulips varieties have a slight fragrance. Some chefs consider the fresh petals of a tulip edible and use them in salads or on tea sandwiches.
Tulips play an important role in nature. They are a harbinger that spring has sprung and the winter season is almost finished!

Tulips blossom in early to late spring, depending on the climate in which they are planted. Cut tulips are primarily enjoyed during the same season, although they are now commercially grown to be available as a cut flower all year long.

Are you considering using tulips in your wedding?  Contact us for a complimentary consultation. 

We do it all the time. We surprise someone with a bunch of bright yellow flowers to cheer them up. We declare our fervent passion with two-dozen velvety roses. We sense the personalities of different flowers and intuitively choose one over another to fit our mood or the occasion. 

Wedding are the perfect occasion to incorporate meaning or symbolism with flowers.  Each and every bride has a different story and life circumstance so why not celebrate your personal journey with a special and meaningful flower.

Did you know that associating certain flowers with different meanings is an age-old art form? The Japanese call it Hanakotoba, and King Charles II brought it to Sweden from Persia in the 17th century.

Floriography – a fancy name for the language of flowers – was coined in the Victorian era, and while its original translations may have shifted over time, the notion that through flower symbolism we can express what we want to say (and may not be able to speak out loud) still holds true.

From the origin of a flower’s name to its distinctive characteristics and rich mythology, flowers are infused with symbolism and meaning. 

In the weeks that follow, I will be doing articles on some of the most popular wedding flowers and their meanings and symbolism.

Visit our website to see fresh flowers now!

Spring is such a highly anticipated time of year that we thought it might be fun to highlight some of the fresh cut flowers that the season has to offer.  There are so many lovely blossoms to pick from in spring: daffodils, orchids, hyacinth and of course tulips to name a few. 

Tulips - Tulips are the obvious favorite for spring! They come in a myriad of colors: near black purple, blues, reds, pinks, yellows, orange and even white.
 

Orchids - Orchids are ideal cut flowers as they last for up to a week and hold their shape. Available naturally in whites, greens and purples you can also find white ones dyed in all colors such as vibrant blue.

Hyacinth - Hyacinths have a similar look to lilacs (bunches of tiny flowers in white or purple) but tend to last much longer when cut. These beauties are also highly fragrant.  A great in season spring flower option!

Iris - Lovely iris are wonderful cut flowers that can last several days.  They are affordable and come in many colors.

Daffodil - Warm and happy daffodils are also excellent cut spring wedding flowers and come in yellows and whites.

We hope that you find this information helpful as you choose flowers to accent your special day. Remember roses are always available (in pretty much all colors) and can be incorporated into your seasonal flower arrangements.

Do you have another spring flower that you plan to incorporate into your wedding?  We would love to hear about it.  Share a comment below.

Visit our website to learn more!

Find Out More about In Season Spring Wedding Flowers!

One of the first things that brides and their families ask when contacting us about their wedding is, “How much do flowers cost”? 

If only it were that simple.

The answer is that it varies widely by flower choice, design and seasonality.  We custom design each wedding to suit your individual wants and needs.  Because there are so many options out there, it’s difficult for us to even give you an idea without having first met with you to discuss your plans and preferences.  We call this meeting a wedding consultation and we recommend it for each and every family who’s planning a wedding.  Type of flowers and arrangements needed, colors, ribbon selections, accessory options and more will be discussed during your visit.  Before you depart, we allow you to tour our 500 square foot cooler to see the flowers up close and personal.  We are prepared to handle every aspect of your wedding including ceremony and reception décor, cake flowers and more.   

After the consultation is complete, we will assemble a floral estimate for you to assist you as you continue to plan.   This estimate gives you a detailed explanation of each product and its’ cost. 

If we have done our job right, the flowers and designs for your wedding will be as unique as you are. 

If you are planning a wedding, plan to consult with Gillespie Florists!

Contact our wedding specialist now!  weddings@gillespieflorists.com 317-273-1100