Wedding Flowers

Weddings  one of the most interesting and challenging segments of the florist business  tradition plays a major role

Weddings  modern weddings are reflecting more individuality  couples are generally older and have a specific idea of what they want

Wedding Info Average Cost of a Wedding in the US

$20,000- $25,000

Average Cost of a Wedding in Seattle

$25,951

Average Cost of Wedding Flowers Nation wide $1,636 Seattle $1,329

Compare and Contrast Formal & Informal Weddings

2 Types of Weddings

• Formal – Fancy – Often held in religious buildings like churches, cathedrals, temples, etc.

• Informal – Less fancy – Often held outdoors **Determined by culture & personal preference

Bridal Consultations  first interview is usually the most important  at least three months prior to the wedding

Bridal Consultations  normally handled by the head designer or the owner/manager of the shop  an area is usually set aside for these meetings where interruptions will be minimal

Bridal Consultations  may include looking at ribbon samples  photo albums of sample wedding work

Bridal Consultations  florist must learn as much about the wedding plans as possible

Bridal Consultations  florist needs to determine:  set a budget within which to work

Other stuff….

 Type of gown  type of wedding being planned  how large is the wedding party

Other stuff….

 Formal or informal  where will the service take place  time of day or evening  religious ceremony

Other stuff….

 Where is the reception  how large will the reception be  who is paying for the flowers

Bridal Consultation  establish the size and budget for the wedding  with this info the florist will be better able to make suggestions relative to flower choices and other decorations

Wedding order form  used for planning floral decorations  lists the majority of items needed for the wedding

Wedding order form  has space for notes on the style and types of flowers used  serves as a contract between the florist and the bride

Wedding order form  the form is signed by the bride and the florist  this helps prevent problems in the future

Wedding order form  a copy is given to the bride to serve as her reference  itemized list of floral expenses

Wedding order form  form may categorize expenses under two columns  one for the bride and one for the groom

Bouquets  bridal and attendant  style is preference of bride  several factors considered in selecting style of bouquets

Bouquets  flowers should compliment the gown  traditional gowns traditional flowers such as roses and stephanotis

Bouquets  size of the bride and attendants  petite women should carry a small airy cascade  not a large, heavy cascading bouquet

Bouquets  larger women can carry larger, heavier bouquets  most frequent styles ordered:  arm bouquet

Bouquets  colonial nosegay  cascading bouquet  variations of each are made by altering the flowers used, size, density of bouquet

Arm bouquets  presentation bouquet  carried across the forearm  designed with natural stems remaining on the flowers  kept fresh in a vase until wedding time

Arm bouquets  orchid tubes or water picks may also be used  remove tubes just before the wedding  flowers are bound together with wire

Arm Bouquets

Arm bouquet –

Flowers tied together and cradled in the arm

Colonial Nosegay  handheld bouquets  constructed in a circular shape with an attached handle  usually a plastic bouquet holder is used with

Colonial bouquet –

A round bouquet based on the English nosegay.

Created on oasis bouquet holder with no visible stems.

Colonial Nosegay  soaked oasis or floral foam is placed in the bouquet holder  a piece of PVC pipe is used to hold the bouquet holder while designing

Cascade bouquets  held at the waist  created by extending the colonial bouquet into a flowing garland.

Cascade bouquets  cascade may be any length from one foot to floor length  cascade is extremely popular with brides

Cascade bouquets  hand tied - each flower wired and taped separately  designed in same foam holders as colonial nosegays

Cascade bouquets  wire and tape the long cascade and add to a foam bouquet holder

Cascade Bouquet –

Round central area with trailing line of flowers and foliage

Hand-tied

Hand-tied Bouquet –

Natural looking gathering of flowers and foliage with the stems tied together

Bridesmaid Bouquets Smaller version of the Bride’s bouquet Usually for Bridesmaids and Maid of Honor

Corsages and Bouts  normally worn by ushers, best man, groomsmen  parents, grandparents  servers at the reception  other close family members

Corsages and bouts  organist, minister, soloist  minister - if they do not wear a robe  roses and orchids are favorite for mothers and g’mas

Corsages and bouts  any flower can be chosen  usually flowers used in bridal or bridesmaids bouquets

Boutonnieres For the men in the wedding Groom, father of the groom, ushers, best man, groomsmen, grandfather, wedding official

Corsages Could be pin on or wristlet For mothers, grandmothers, sisters, and other special women involved with the wedding

Ceremonial Decorations  check to see if the church has a policy on the use of flowers and decorations

Ceremonial Decorations  a few large, bold arrangements are more effective than several small ones

Entry and Vestibule  guest book table  cut flower arrangements  garlands framing doorways

Aisles and Pews  bows made of number 9 or 40 ribbon  white is the most common  often accented with flowers and foliage

Aisles and Pews  may be used on every pew  every second or third pew

Candelabra  may have flowers and foliage added  may be used in altar area or in aisles

Altar  focus attention on the center of the altar  should be large enough to be seen by wedding guests  large, bright flowers are most effective

Altar  single arrangement in center of altar  triangular or fan shaped

Reception Decorations  many times arrangements used at the wedding are moved to the reception site

Reception  serving tables  cake table  punch table  floating pool arrangement

Rehearsal dinner  depends on the style of dinner  arrangements are kept low so guests can see

Wedding Cake Cake is usually adorned with flowers

Table Centerpieces Tables at reception and dinner need a centerpiece This includes any food tables when serving buffet

Entry Arch, Aisles, Altar Reception and/or ceremony usually has an arch & decorated background where the bride and groom stand

Examples of Color Schemes

Delivery  florist usually stays at the wedding site until the ceremony has begun.  pins on corsages and hands out bouquets