So Proflowers is getting into the wedding business.  Color us...interested.  We're sure there's a market for no-hassle ordering of basic wedding packages (stay tuned for more on that).  What makes us interested is how the flowers will actually look on your wedding day.

See, when we make your bouquet, the flowers arrive in our shop usually on a Tuesday, where they're sorted (only the best get used in wedding bouquets), placed in waster and nutrient solution, and held at proper temperatures.  For lilies and roses, we'll often leave them out for a day to get them to open perftectly, but it's in the cooler as soon as they do.  Your bouquet is actually put together Friday evening or Saturday morning.  Corsages and boutonnieres are also made at this time, and everything is stored cooled (36 degrees F) until delivery.  One of the challenges we have with corsages and bouts is they don't have a water source.  It's essential that we keep them moist and cool so they are absolutely perfect for your wedding day.

With Proflowers, your flowers will arrive assembled early in the week, and it's up to you to keep them fresh.  We know there are a lot of you out there who have a brown thumb, so to speak, and you know who you are.  We don't know of many people who have something capable of holding wedding flowers at the proper temperature.  There are a lot of rumors out there as to how to keep vased flowers fresh (pennies, bleach and 7-Up are all bad ideas--ask for a packet of nutrient solution instead).  We know there are a lot of people who will try to take the cheap way out, but just won't be able to hold their flowers at the peak of freshness like a professional florist can.  Like we said, we're curious.

If you've had experience with Proflowers' wedding flowers, good or bad, leave a comment and let us know.

We saw a great idea for a fall wedding today.  Our bride used candied apples as both the seating cards and the favors.  At the entrance of the hall, a table filled with hundreds of candied applies, individually wrapped and labelled, greeted the guests.  On each label was the guest's name and table placement.  What a perfect idea for a fall wedding!

In our area, candied apples are an art unto themselves, and many candy stores and bakeries offer these treats, often dipped in multiple layers of caramel, chocolate, or white chocolate and coated with sugared cinnamon, crushed nuts, or more!

If you're in the Butler or north Pittsburgh area, and not of the candied apple making variety, call out friends at Barkus Chocolates.  Their Butler store is 724-282-3006, and their Cranberry store is 724-776-3060.  Candied apples are seasonal, but they make fantastic ones.

Next week, we're off to the Society of American Florists Convention in Lake Las Vegas, NV.  One part of the convention is the Outstanding Varieties competition, where growers from all over the world present new and developed varieties of flowers.  This is a premier opportunity for us to take a look at new varieties of roses, gerbera daisies, alstromeria and other popular wedding flowers.  We'll have the first reports on the best flowers we see that will be part of weddings for years to come.  Stay tuned!

The Bloomery will be at the Butler Days Inn's Tropical Honeymoon Bridal Show on Sept. 18.  Admission is free for pre-registered brides, and all pre-registered brides are entered to win a Caribbean Honeymoon!  Find out more at http://www.daysinnbutler.com/Default.aspx?tabid=66.

The Butler Days Inn is an easy trip from anywhere in the North Hills, Wexford, Cranberry Township, etc. areas, and the Steelers play a late game that day (they checked).

Beverly Clark Wedding Accessories

With a commitment to providing the finest, most elegant selection of bridal accessories, the award-winning Beverly Clark collection radiates romance and is dedicated to providing bridal collections that help create timeless memories.   Rich fabrics, lavish laces and elegant enhancements combined with quality workmanship and exceptional value help to make Beverly Clark one of the most respected and most popular providers of wedding accessories.

Beverly Clark's products combine the grace and spirit of old traditions with cutting edge design, resulting in a collection of bridal accessories that complement today's wedding styles.  From flowergirl baskets and ringbearer pillows to guest books, pens and memory books, each Beverly Clark collection is of impeccable quality and style.

In addition to the items included in each ensemble, Beverly Clark creates beautiful jewelry, candleholders, bridesmaid gifts, wedding favors and more.  Beverly Clark strives to present everything the bride and groom need to make their special day even more memorable. 

Current Beverly Clark Collections

Essentials by Beverly Clark

New collections coming soon!  These collections are available in our store now, and will be added to our website shortly.

The following collections have been discontinued, and remaining items are available at a significant discount.

How far in advance should I contact the florist when ordering wedding flowers?

Flowers are one of the most important aspects of your wedding day.  They set the mood and tone for the event and will be remembered for years to come.  Many florists can accept only a set number of weddings on a given day, so it is important to contact your florist well in advance to begin planning.  A good rule of thumb is to contact your florist at least three months in advance.  However, if your wedding is going to be an exceptionally elaborate event, take place during peak wedding season or fall on a holiday, then six months to a year is not too soon to contact your florist.  This will allow the florist to begin looking for any props or specialty items you might need.  Wedding flowers can be highly specific and colors often have to be very precise, so florists need advance notice to place flower orders.  It is easier to plan your flowers once you have selected the colors for your wedding (bring swatches of fabric if possible), and the location, as both of these play heavily into the style of flowers you will choose.

You do not necessarily have to have your entire wedding planned in order to reserve your date.  At The Bloomery, if you are sure of your wedding date, a small deposit will reserve that day for you.  As your wedding draws closer, we can meet and design the wedding of your dreams.  This deposit is non-refundable, but will be applied toward the cost of your wedding flowers.  Our calendar does fill up quickly, so we suggest you contact us as early as possible in order to reserve your special day.

Will a florist work within my budget?

Yes.  Be honest about your budget on the initial consultation so the florist knows what to recommend.  By taking your budget into consideration from the very beginning of the planning process, the florist can give you the best advise on how to place the flowers for maximum effect and what types of flowers will be the best value to achieve your desired look.  At The Bloomery, we have a number of containers, centerpiece elements and silk decorations available for rent that can add a lot of panache to your wedding while keeping your costs down.

Besides suggesting specific types of flowers that will work within your budget, a professional florist can offer helpful suggestions as to what flowers might be used at both the ceremony and reception.  A few examples: bridesmaids' bouquets can become table decorations; the bride's bouquet can become the head table arrangement; the pew markers can become festive bows on cars or doors; altar designs can flank the buffet or cake table, etc.  Florists are overflowing with creative ways to make use of your budget and flowers wisely.

Is it okay to visit several florists to get estimates?

Sure, but tell the florists that you are gathering estimates rather than making an appointment for a consultation.  Be prepared with a detailed list of your floral needs.  The florist will be able to give a rough estimate without a lengthy meeting.  If you are gathering ideas and then comparisons, it is best to inform the florist of your intentions.  Floral designers are trained and highly skilled floral artists.  Their ideas have value.  You may be asked to pay a consultation fee if you want to discuss a florist's actual ideas for your wedding.  In most cases, the fee will be applied to the flowers once the order is placed.  We at The Bloomery do not charge for a wedding consultation, but we do ask that you come prepared so that we may have a more comprehensive consultation in a the time we meet.

What should I bring to the flower shop when I have my wedding consultation?

The more information you can provide the better your florist will be prepared to offer creative suggestions.  Your florist will want to create a spectacular and memorable event for you.  Anything you can bring will be beneficial.  Pictures that depict what you have in mind are extremely helpful.  Bring a photo of your dress and a sample of the fabric or lace if you have it, as well as swatches and photos of the bridesmaids' dresses.  Also think about what "style" of wedding you want.  If you are not sure, your florist can offer suggestions based on your wedding plans so far.

At The Bloomery, we feel it is easier to plan your wedding flowers after you have selected your dresses and your location(s) for your wedding.  You may reserve your wedding date with us at any time for a small deposit (applied to the balance of your wedding).  We can schedule a more thorough consultation once you have a more complete vision of what your wedding will entail.

While you are visiting our site, please look at our flower galleries to see what styles of bouquets you like, and what flowers you might wish to include.  Knowing the style of bouquet and flowers you like will greatly help your florist during the consultation.
 
©2002 SAF and The Bloomery, All Rights Reserved.
Adapted from www.aboutflowers.com/holidays_b1.html

Kathy,

Wow!  How can I ever thank you for all you did for our wedding day!  As soon as you brought the flowers up to our hotel room I was mesmerized!  I couldn't believe how beautiful they were and it was even more beautiful than I had expected. ... Everything was exactly how I wanted it.  You have such a beautiful talent and I wish you the best ...

Thanks a million!

Love,

E.N.

In a previous post (Hints For Printing Wedding Programs), we gave you some hints for printing half-fold and chapel-fold wedding programs.  Warner Press also makes a third style of wedding paper, called "tea length".  These programs are a little more expensive, in part because they are printed in a slightly heavier paper with a "linen texture".  The images on these programs are pre-printed so that when folded, you have two parts for your program information, and a narrower third part (about the size of a bookmark) on which to print a poem, or thank-you message, or something such as that.  Tea length programs are still printed on normal letter size paper--the length refers to the folding style, not the paper length.

Printing your information on these programs is a little trickier than the other two types, since you have to print on both sides of the paper.  You'll need to set up two one-page templates, with the paper set to landscape.  The first page will print the inside information.  You want to set your columns at 4" and 8"--this will give you three sections of 4", 4" and 3".  You want to print your information in the two 4" programs.  The 3" section will be the back of your bookmark/poem.

Your other template will be where you print your poem or message.  Set the columns at 3" and 7".  This will give you three sections of 3", 4" and 4".  In this template, you'll compose your message or poem in the 3" section.  Leave the other two sections blank, since they'll be the outside of the program.

You will want to run a number of practice pages before you load the real programs.  You'll need to figure out how to orient the paper in your printer to correctly print each side.  Once you do, only print one or two of the real pages to make 100% sure.  Then, go for it!

You can see our selection of Warner Press wedding programs at http://www.bloomeryweddings.com/search_results.asp?txtsearchParamCat=24.