everyone has a budget (even if it’s zero)
We ALMOST feel sorry for those who have a large or unlimited budget for events or flowers… They’ll never know the absolute thrill of having to pull things together in the most creative way: brains surging with bootstrap energy, having to make-do with whatever is available and pull together beautiful design from what looks like thin air!
When developing your floral budget, there are numbers thrown around on the inter webs: 10% of your overall event or wedding budget, or so much per table. However, if you have the time, whatever planning you do should start with a visit to floral designer or florist shop. A floral designer is different from a florist— though they may also be in one in the same. A florist typically is someone who maintains a brick and mortar retail location and, for our purposes, creates arrangements, bouquets etc at their shop and delivers them to a location. A floral designer, on the other tired, scarred but mobile hand, usually works from a non-retail location and creates and installs at least some of the work onsite at the event. Florist shops often double as designers, of course. Check into the situation of your preferred stylist to see what they do. Whichever floral provider you choose, we guarantee, you are not paying them enough.
Example of a bouquet before, during and done:
Flowers are perishable, delicate materials. Like sheep, they have wayward minds of their own and a thousand ways to die. Often en masse. Dealing with them is a profession and the folks who work with them have experience and knowledge of specialized techniques and materials to create that winsome “just picked” look you have requested such that it doesn’t come with footballs attached and a wilty, sad look that “just picked” would actually entail. Trust your florist or designer. Ask lots of questions. Find someone whose look complements your vision— and get ready to wipe that vision away unless you are a Rockefeller. Did we mention? Flowers are hella ex. pen. sive. Prepare yourself.
When choosing a florist or floral designer to interview, go beyond their Instagram or other social media exemplars— these are curated looks, on small screens with uncertain color rendition. If possible, go to the shop or studio or meet for lattes or chai and peruse a portfolio with deeper looks available or search as we know you can on the socials for other pictures of that event to see non-staged images of the creations. And, dear loves? DO NOT take up too much of the time of these beautiful, busy creatives. Do some research. Have questions in order. Guides aplenty exist in the free publishing world, especially amongst the wedding-industrial complex.
Now you have decided on a possible look and color theme, answer the question: Can I/we afford it?
No. No you cannot. Almost everything you see in gorgeous photo shoots is to get you in to spend a bit more like casinos in Vegas. Not to mention it has been photographed or presented in video by talented professional who make us all drool for these looks that, in real world terms, are costly. Don’t feel badly, ol’ darling, we are all susceptible. Just put on your “I see what you are doing there” lenses and take a harder look. Concentrate on what you most want from your flowers and go from there!
Yikes! you say? Who knew?
We got you.
We are delighted when clients come in with a healthy budget to match their vision. They are the lucky ones!! However, mostly we see people come in with a photo shoot from a high-end book, magazine or website showing a mass of arranged, out of season blooms, and they have, like, $300. Time to get creative. If you want to tackle some things yourself, our DIY on a Dollar board may help. And don’t forget to look at Nope for what to avoid.
