The Wedding Fanatic recently posted 22 Questions You MUST Ask Your Florist, Musicians, and Transporation Company.  It's actually 22 questions in total, not 22 for each vendor.  We're happy to answer the florist questions below:

Can we please see your portfolio?

You're looking at part of it!  In addition to our online photo galleries of bridal bouquets, centerpieces, etc., at http://bloomeryweddings.com/wedding_flowers.asp, we feature a more in-depth look at the wedding work we do here on our blog.  The categories on the right include Featured Bouquets and Featured Locations, with many examples of our work.  In the photo galleries, if the item code starts with "BW", we made it.  We also have several photo albums of our work in the shop, and some additional ideas books you can browse.

When will the flowers for our event arrives?

We typically deliver your flowers to the church (or ceremonly location) two hours before your wedding, as allowed by the location.  Many locations have tight schedules, and we can only get in with 90 minutes to spare.  If we are setting up a reception location as well, we will coordinate with that location to work on their schedule, while ensuring your flowers are the freshest possible.  Different flowers in your centerpieces also determine when we can do the final setup.  Tulips, for instance, can't be delivered too far ahead, but roses are usually fine if we drop them off several hours before the reception.  If you need flowers to be delivered to your home or other location for photography, we can arrange that.

Is there a delivery fee?

Yes, and the fee depends on where we're going and what we need to do.  You'll know the exact charge when we send you your contract.  Depending on what you have ordered, pick-up is an option--many of our brides with small floral needs do this.

Do you distribute and pin on flowers?

If you need us there, let us know at your consultation.  There is a labor fee for this service, but many photographers recommend having us there, since it makes the process much easier.  We do label corsages and boutonnieres, and ask you provide us with the name of the person to receive it.  Otherwise, we just label them "organist" or "bride's grandfather".  Corsages and boutonnieres are packed separately for easy handling.

Will you be doing any other weddings that day?

Many times we do, it all depends on the size of the weddings and the order in which they are booked.  We only take as many weddings as we can handle, and we keep careful watch on sizes so we don't overextend ourselves.  We have done as few as one, and as many as six, in a single day.  We have four designers, some of whom may double as delivery/setup for your wedding.

Have you ever done an event at our venue?

Very probably.  We are one of the largest wedding florists in the Butler/Pittsburgh area.  If necessary, we will scope out the locations ahead of time, and take photographs of the areas you want to decorate.

 

We hope we've answered these questions to your satisfaction, but if you have any additional questions, please call us at 724-285-1711, or e-mail us at info@bloomery.com.

Apparently the Swedes have a much more relaxed attitude about opening times than here in the US, but that didn't stop a bride from picking up her bouquet!

Bride Camilla Holmström had ordered her bouquet from a florist based in a mall in Umeå and agreed to pick it up on the morning of her wedding. Staff at the florist's had promised to open at 10am, but when Holmström's friend arrived at 10:30am the shop was still closed. The bouquet was visible on a shelf inside, according to Västerbottens Kuriren newspaper.

By 10:45 there was still no sign of the florist. After trying to contact someone to open the shop, Holmström's friend told the bride what had happened. By now very stressed, Holmström went up and shook the grille over the florist's door, shouting: "Where are my flowers?".

At this point, the bride-to-be noticed that that there was a 15-20cm gap under the grille. She squeezed under and made it inside to grab the bouquet. She then crept out the same way.

Full story at http://www.thelocal.se/8736/

In 1961, rose breeder David Austin released the fragrant Constance Spry to the horticultural world, re-igniting the love for colorful, fragrant English Roses.  Since then, David Austin has developed and released over 200 varieties of roses, beginning his eponymous company in 1969.  While prized by gardeners and horticulturalists alike for nearly 30 years, David Austin's beautiful roses were not widelay available as cut flowers for florists.  So, in 1992, the David Austin Company began developing varieties which could be used for the cut flower market.  In 2004, Emily (now known as Cymbeline) and Patience were the first two varieties released to the floral market.  There are now 5 varieties available to florists, and 2007 marks the first year the David Austin English Roses are widelay available in the US market.  Grown and distributed by Green Valley Floral in Salinas, CA, they require special cooler growing conditions for maximum beauty.

When fully open, English garden roses resemble a peony in appearance, with lush colorful blooms and a delightful fragrance.  Their large heads and thin stems mean it's still some time before garden roses are suitable for vased arrangements, but they are perfect for bridal bouquets and special event work, where appearance and fragrance are prized over vase life.  Two of their gorgeous roses are shown below.

"When fully open, the blooms reveal many neatly arranged petals nestling in folds within the heart of the bloom. The soft, peachy shades of Juliet combine well with other colors, creating a feeling of warmth and romance."

Green Valley also entered these roses in SAF's Outstanding Variety Competition, and we have some photos of their additional varieties below.

Miranda "Spectacular rose-pink blooms made up of many wavy petals, perfectly arranged to form beautiful, almost flat rosettes.  The outer petals have a lovely streaked green effect, which adds to the garden style."
Patience "When fully open, these roses portray a sense of grandeur from yesteryear."

You can see Green Valley Floral's selection of garden roses at http://www.greenvalleyfloral.com/gardenroses.htm.  While we do not normally stock these flowers in our shop, they are easily available for your wedding or special event work.  If you want garden roses as part of your wedding, contact us for a consultation--we'll be happy to create all of your wedding floral needs (remember, we're in the Butler/Pittsburgh PA area, so if you're not around Pittsburgh, check with your local florists instead).

For a history of David Austin Roses, check out http://www.davidaustinroses.com/american/Advanced.asp?PageId=1906.

Did you miss the Days Inn 2007 Fall Bridal Show?  If so, this is one of the bouquets we made for the event.  This gorgeous hand-tied bouquet featured antique green hydrangea, dusty miller, lavender mini calla lilies and vendella roses.  Approximate price $350-$400.

Instead of trashing your dress in a grungy urban setting, how about splashing your dress at a beautiful beach?  Local photogs Paul and Cyndy Meyer at White Ribbon Design have been having Splash the Dress photo sessions, and have posted some of the results on their blog.  If you're looking for an alternative to the alternative of what to do with your dress, think about a kinder gentler photo shoot.

Splash the Dress - August 14th session

Splash the Dress - August 25th session

Could this photo be any more beautiful?  If this is your type of thing, you need to call Paul and Cyndy.

<update 2007-10-27>

We saw Cyndy and Paul a couple of weeks ago, and she let us in on a little secret--many of the photos you see were taken in the same dress!  They have a loaner dress you can use for you phot session so you don't ruin yours.  In between sessions, they have it cleaned, and it's nearly good as new each time.  Since most of it is under water in their shots, no one will know!

Create your free wedding countdown clock, which you can embed in e-mail, use in your forum signature, or add to your wedding webiste.  Choose from a number of different designs, completely free from When Is My Wedding.  A sample countdown is below.

For a different style of countdowns, have a look at Daisy Path's free wedding announcements.  Instead of a countdown, these are more of a timeline to your wedding day.  You choose from several different timeline styles (such as the sunflower below), one of three markers (such as the doves below), then add some text and even a small image of your own.  These also can be used in e-mail, or forum sigs, etc.

Did we miss any?  Please let us know in the comments!

These days, many brides are doing much or all of their table settings themselves.  If you're decorating your own tables, one simple way to spice up your place settings is with folded napkins. Here's a website which shows you how to easily create any of 27 napkin folds.  Happy decorating!

Napkin Folding Instructions: 27 Photographed Napkin Folds

(hat tip: Lifehacker)

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Imagine a long tree-lined drive winding up a hill to a stately mansion hidden at the top.

A circular drive takes you right to the front doors, and encircles a small seating garden.

You enter through large wooden doors, into an oval foyer.  The floor is black and white marble, and your wedding cake greets you and your visitors, lit by a crystal chandelier from above.

Passing through the foyer and out the doors, you enter into one of several outdoor gardens, perfect for appetizers, cocktails or the ceremony itself.  Imagine the colors in the fall from the wooded grounds surrounding the manor house.

Steps lead down to a small sculpture garden, perfect for mingling and unique photographs of your bridal party.

Above the main entrance is a spiral staircase.  The bridal party's dressing room is on the second floor, and you'll begin your walk down the aisle by descending this staircase.  It's also a perfect setting for more photographs.  Our bride said she wanted to be on our website, so here she is, with her bridesmaids, and a little flower girl trying to peek over the railing.

From the entry foyer, hallways lead you and your guests to dining rooms at either end of the house.  At one end are a trio of smaller dining and serving areas, with one of the bars.

At the other end if a large banquet riim, lit with crystal chandeliers and paneled with antique wood.  The woodwork accents in this room are the kind they just don't make anymore.  The patio bar is behind the majestic fireplace, and doors lead out to another small patio.

The formal dining room also leads you to one more dining room, similar to the ones at the other end of the house.  Two smaller libraries, also paneled in dark wood, are used for mingling and serving cookies and beverages.

Our bride today chose a hand tied bouquet of two dozen Sweet Unique pink roses, finished with braided ribbon and pearl accents (approx. price, $110-$125).  Her bridesmaids carried hand tied bouquets of white and blue hydrangea, pale pink roses, pink spray roses, lavendar stock, pale blue delphinium and greenery, wrapped with periwinkle ribbon to match their dresses (approx. price $80-$95).

Our bride's cake was a beautiful multi-tier cake with tiny rosettes and draped fondant ribbons, accented with the same flowers used in the bridesmaids' bouquets.  The cake was made by Autumn Bupp, from Autumn's Cakes.  For her centerpieces, our bride rented our metal wire stands, and we created arrangements with the same flowers we used for the bridesmaid bouquets--white and blue hydrangea, pale pink roses, pink spray roses, lavendar stock and pale blue delphinium (approx. price $115-$130).

If this sounds like your idea of a dream location for your wedding, then you can make it a reality at The Mansion.  We've done a number of weddings at The Mansion, and it's simply one of the most beautiful wedding settings in the north Pittsburgh area.  The Mansion is located a few miles south of Butler, PA, approx. 20 min north of the Butler Valley Interchange on the Pennsylvania Turnpike.  Earlier this year, The Mansion was for sale, and it looked like 2007 might be their last year.  The sale was not completed, and they are happily booking weddings and other events for 2008 and beyond.

To contact The Mansion:

Donna Mullan, Manager
The Mansion
141 Mansion Lane
Butler, PA 16002
724-586-6171 (leave message if no one answers)