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In this issue:
- Editorial: Don't let florists break your wedding budget!
- Decorating: Theme weddings
- Our featured partner - Hanson Ellis
- Ask the Expert: How many tulips ...?
- The Bride's Corner
- Laughter is still the best medicine
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The DIY Review
Because every bride deserves
beautiful wedding flowers -- no matter what the budget! |
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Issue 4.b.07
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Editorial:
Don't let florists break your wedding budget!
By Jo Lind
As you've probably noticed by now, adding the word "wedding" to any item on your
budget will raise the price by at least 50%. Florists are no
different. A typical hand-wrapped nosegay with 24 roses and
a soft bow will run from $100-$200 depending on your location.
The cost to make the same bouquet yourself: $35-$50. That includes
your flowers, ribbon, wire and a vase.
For the average wedding, a typical bride can expect to spend between $500- 2,500 to have a florist prepare her wedding flowers. With prices running from $15 for a boutonniere to over $500 for an altar arrangement, it's not surprising to see wedding flowers consume 10-15% of a bride's budget. DIY wedding flowers have emerged as an alternative for resourceful brides and family members.
High Flower Cost
Wedding flowers are an expensive commodity to begin with. Even before florists build profit into every bud and bloom, the process of shipping flowers from South America takes quite a bit of time and effort. This complicated process translates into higher costs for your wedding flowers.
The typical wedding rose begins its life in the Andes Mountains
of Columbia and Ecuador. Flowers are picked by hand, packed
and cooled at the farm. Within hours of harvesting, these blooms
are shipped by refrigerated trucks to the airport. The flowers are then
flown to their destination country. After passing through the
importer's warehouse, they are marketed and distributed to wholesalers
and retailers. When a florist finally receives the wedding flowers,
they must figure in their labor costs and add their own markup.
Expensive tastes
If your tastes seem to run towards exotic and unique, getting just the right flowers can drive your wedding flower costs up very quickly. DIY wedding flowers provide an opportunity for your creativity to shine. There are hundreds of flower suppliers who provide excellent quality blooms for a fraction of the cost of a florist's bouquet. You can compensate for the expense of exquisite flowers by eliminating the middle man and creating your own flower arrangements.
Having it your way
Trusting your artistic vision to someone you barely know requires a great leap of faith. Like any bride, you want things to be perfect for the most important event of your life. As you've likely discovered by now, customization does not come cheaply. With just a little effort of your own, you can achieve amazing results with DIY wedding flowers and save quite a bit of money.
There is another way
You don't have to live at the mercy of the florists. If you are looking for a way to avoid exorbitant wedding floral prices, or want to find a way to express your creativity and taste, consider doing your own wedding flowers. This do-it-yourself approach also adds special memories to your wedding scrapbook when you enlist the help of family and friends
With all the aspects of the wedding that are beyond your control, you can have peace of mind knowing your flowers will come out exactly as you imagined them. DIY wedding flowers will also relieve budget pressures. In fact, you can save enough money to help pay for your designer wedding gown, that brilliant caterer, or the string quartet you envisioned.
Browse our gallery for inspiration, or get started on your DIY wedding flowers today.
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Decorating: Theme weddings
Theme weddings are becoming more and more popular. They offer brides a way to make their wedding more memorable - something different and unique. Theme weddings range from the subtle to the very bold. And they present the bride with an outlet for her creativity.
What is a theme wedding?
A theme wedding is one which is centered on a single idea, passion, or place. We have all seen stories about people getting married in unusual places. Like the couple who meet at the ballpark where the groom is a catcher on a minor league team. They decide to get married at home plate. Or there are the couples who get married while scuba diving, mountain climbing, or even sky-diving. These are a little extreme for most of us, but we get the idea.
Your theme wedding can "take it to the max" like doing a Renaissance Wedding complete with costumes, knights, horses, etc. Your wedding theme might be a little more subtle such as a "Garden Themed" wedding. There's even a wedding that centers on a particular flower - like the wedding I did a few years ago for the "Dutch Couple." Everywhere you looked there were tulips. [The groom's mother, who flew in from the Netherlands, was so touched by the tulips that she cried.]
Start with an idea
What are you and your groom passionate about? Did you frequent a particular place while you were dating? Do you share a hobby? Do you have a mutual love of the outdoors, cooking, sports, a particular era in history, or even a movie or a book? I knew of a couple that did a "Gone with the Wind" themed wedding. [You may need to do some research to get the facts about your theme.]
Do you and/or your groom have a strong ethnic background? Most cultures have very specific wedding traditions. What a great way to introduce your friends to some of those traditions and share your heritage with people outside your family!
The themes you could come up with are endless. Here are a few
suggestions:
- Seasonal [winter, spring, summer, autumn]
- Holidays [Christmas, New Years...]
- Ethnic
- Western
- Garden
- Asian
- Renaissance
- Roaring 20's
- Big Band Era
- 50's or 60's
- Tea Party
- Beach
Organize your thoughts
After you've decided on your theme, it's time to get organized. If you are like most of us, your creative thoughts will run rampant. Get it on paper! Lay it out in categories:
- Bridesmaids' Luncheon
- Rehearsal
- Pre Ceremony [e.g., tea ceremony]
- Ceremony
- Reception
Use whatever categories suit your needs best. Then divide those categories even further. For instance,
Reception might be divided like this:
- Location
- Entrance
- Buffet
- Tables
- Flowers
- Cake(s)
- Food
- Music
- Dance
- Clothing [some cultures change clothes]
Take those categories and divide them even further, as needed. In each category, list elements that you would like to incorporate. And, then list the "props" you will need in order to accomplish your ideas.
Gather your "props"
After you have organized your thoughts on paper, move on to the next step - finding the items you will need to make your theme take shape. This is particularly important if the location of your ceremony or reception is not specifically designed for your theme. You may really want a "Garden Themed Wedding" but not be able to actually have the ceremony or reception in an actual garden. Transform the site with "props."
Currently, a particularly popular wedding theme is "Beach Weddings." It can be very romantic to be married as the sun rises or sets beneath the water. But, not everyone can actually get married on the beach. Logistics are sometimes a problem. Transform your site by using "props".
Short of spreading sand on a ballroom floor, there are literally dozens of ideas you can use to carry out the beach theme. Here are just a couple...
Why not start with the invitations? Invite your honored guests with a "message in a bottle"!
Message In A Bottle Wedding Invitation
Wedding favors for your guests? Give them a "personalized natural seashell", complete with the name of the
newlyweds. You can get these and dozens more "props" from Hanson
Ellis.
Do-It-with-Style by HansonEllis.com! - We offer the latest selection of
unique & trendy wedding favors for your special event. Save Big on Candle,
Soaps, and Box favors, Ribbon Personalization, Candy, Bells, Decorations, and
much more. Visit Hanson Ellis Today!
There are props available for literally dozens of themed weddings.
"Theme It" on a smaller scale
Is a big, themed wedding just too much for you? Perhaps you'd like to do a theme, but on a much smaller scale. Try a bridal shower with a festive theme. Wouldn't a "tea party" be lovely for the bridesmaids' luncheon? Maybe a western barbeque for the rehearsal dinner.
The whole idea of a themed wedding is to "un-stuffy" the occasion and have some fun. In doing this, the planning will likely be as much fun as the wedding itself. Happy planning!
[Note: Wedding Flowers-DIY has teamed with reputable companies to provide you with quality resources. You can access all of these companies from our website. Visit our Partners Page, our Links Page, or just click on the logo links below our Main Menu.
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Our featured partner -
"Hanson Ellis"
Do-It-with-Style by HansonEllis.com! - We offer the latest selection of
unique & trendy wedding favors for your special event. Save Big on Candle,
Soaps, and Box favors, Ribbon Personalization, Candy, Bells, Decorations, and
much more. Visit Hanson Ellis Today!
Why Wedding Favors?
Wedding Favors are the perfect way to graciously thank your guest. Give them a unique keepsake that will make a lasting impression on your event.
But it doesn't stop there. Do you struggle for ideas for gifts
for your bridesmaids, the groomsmen, the parents? Or maybe you
need a nice thank you gift for some other occasion. Hanson Ellis
has tons of unique selections -- And you can get them personalized
for that special touch!
Unique Gifts & Personalized Keepsakes
Hanson Ellis personalizes gifts & creates unique favors for
your wedding, corporate event, or any special occasion that
represents the four "S"...
- Simple
- Stylish
- Sophisticated
- Sentimental
Hanson Ellis includes a large selection of Unique Wedding Favors and Bridal
Gifts. Here are just a few sample categories from which to choose:
- Customers Top Favorite Picks
- Theme Wedding Favors
- Glass and Silver Vases
- Cosmetic and Evening Bags
- Wedding Candle Favors
- Heart Soap and Bath Favors
- Wedding Placecard Holders
- Personalized Ribbons - Tags
- Ladies T-shirts
A Few Wedding Favor Ideas...
- Edible wedding favors
- Bridesmaids jewelry boxes
- Gifts for the office or home
- Silver keepsakes for her
Bride's Magazine
selected HansonEllis.com (formerly OnlineFavors.com) as one of the BEST WEDDING WEB SITES.
Try Hanson Ellis for your favor and gift needs.
[Note: Wedding Flowers-DIY has teamed with reputable companies to provide you with quality resources. You can access all of these companies from our website. Visit our Partners Page, our Links Page, or just click on the logo links below our Main Menu.]
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Ask
the Expert: How many tulips ...?
Submitted
by: Tina
In this issue's new "Ask the Expert" feature, Tina has some questions regarding an upcoming wedding she is doing for her friend. Tina has worked with silk flowers in the past, but wants some guidance since fresh flowers are new to her.
Read on to learn what Jo Lind has to say:
Question #1:
Hi Jo!
How many tulips is the average number that is suitable for a Bridal Bouquet and for the Bridesmaid's Bouquets. We are using dutch tulips and french tulips.
Answer:
I usually use between 25 and 35 tulips for a bridal bouquet.
The same holds true for roses. The size of the flowers will
determine how many you will need to make the bouquet look full. You can usually figure half that amount for a bridesmaid's bouquet.
The size of the girl is also an issue. Some girls want huge bouquets. But it can look awkward to see a tiny girl with a huge bouquet. Or vice versa, it is equally out of balance to see a very large bride with a tiny bouquet.
I rather think it is better to have one that is more proportioned
to the size of the individual.
Question #2:
Are there any other flowers that will coordinate nicely with Tulips -
I've mostly seen them by themselves in arrangements with bear grass - and I'm not too sure what else would look nice.
Thanks!
Answer:
Tulips go nicely with dozens of flowers. It really all depends on the look you're going for.
A combination that I am particularly fond of is roses, tulips and mini-callas. The shape of the callas give some added interest to the bouquet. The tulips gain some physical support from the other two flowers.
Take a look at the bouquet in the picture attached. Picture
some of the red and white roses as tulips. It can be a striking combination.
Tina,
I hope this helps.
Jo Lind
[Ed note: You can read more of Jo Lind's design tips in the Wedding Flowers - DIY Planning Guide, and also get one-on-one attention with personal email consultation. Both come complimentary with every Step by Step Tutorial Package. Order yours today!
]
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The Bride's Corner
From: Valerie
My niece is getting married in May. I wanted to have a bridal party in her honor and decided on a twist to the norm. Since so many friends (wedding party especially) and family are invited to several showers, I decided to make this one more meaningful than costly.
I sent invitations to the guest list for a Recipe Card Party. All they needed to bring was one (or several) of their favorite recipes and a photo of themselves. I created a templat on my computer in Microsoft Word to fit a 4x6 blank card that would allow for the person’s photo about the size of a postage stamp and their recipe with a byline listing their name at the bottom. I had a camera to take photos in case they didn’t have a photo to bring. I printed each of the recipes on my home computer and placed them in a nice recipe box to present to the bride to be.
We just had the party last month on a Sunday afternoon and had a great turnout. Most of the ladies invited were quite pleased to come and share their unique “presence” rather than just another gift. For those out-of-towners, they were given an email address to send their recipe
Now my niece has a valuable box full of treasured recipes and
memories that will last a lifetime.
From: Robin
Hi Ladies:
This is really kind of funny...
I needed to try on my dress with the slip to
see how much it needed to be altered. The slip I tried the dress with was
smaller than the one I purchased (ball gown big).
My consultant wasn't there,
so they gave me someone else. When I told her I wanted to try everything on,
she was kind enough to bring me to a changing room. Well, then she just
walked away.
I had to open my slip, which was fine... So it looks kinda
small to me. I figure its new and needs to open up. I fluff the slip up,
straightened the tafta/tulle under it. But I'm still thinking where is the
fluff?
So I get the dress on which was hard enough with out help. Another
woman zipped me up after popping my head out of the door three times to find
my new friend. Finally she came back and took me to alterations. They pinned
the dress and I go home.
So, I am talking with my sister (Now this is
all new to me. I'm the first daughter to get married). I'm telling my sister
how the slip looks small to me. I take it out of the bag. Shake it out and we
start looking at it. Again I'm fluffing the slip.
So were looking at it. All
of a sudden my sister says "Is the slip inside-out"? I say no. She says but
isn't that the tag? The tag should be on the inside. She tells me to pull
the slip inside-out (which is really the right way).
Now the slip gets two sizes bigger than when I tried it on for
alterations. So of course we're dying laughing now (they bag
the slip inside-out at the manufaturer).
So of course I have to go back and try the dress on again the
next night to change the hem. Thank goodness we figured that
one out before I ended up with the dress too short. We did have
a good laugh, though....you have to take some things in stride.
Also From: Robin
Just an FYI.
You probably already know this but I didn't, and found out the hard way.
Always make sure you try on a wedding dress before you buy it! Most people
will tell you to buy a dress @ least one size up from what you wear in
pants, but thats not always true either.
I wear a 9/10 and my wedding dress is a 14. European designers
are a size smaller than American sizes. If the dress says 10
it's probably a 8 or 7/8.
If you buy online, go to a shop and
find the exact dress to make sure you know exactly what size
you wear in that style before buying one.
Good luck & God bless
to all brides. |
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Laughter is still the best medicine
ALL eyes were on the radiant bride as her father escorted her down the aisle.
They reached the altar - and the waiting bridegroom.
The bride's father raised his daughter's veil. She looked at her father fondly, kissed him on the cheek, then placed something in his hand.
Those of us in the front pews responded with ripples of laughter. Even the minister had to snicker.
When the father turned around, it became obvious to everyone there...
As her father gave her away in marriage, the bride gave him back his credit card. |
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Do
you have a question for Jo Lind?
Drop her a line at newsletter@weddingflowers-diy.com
-- and you might see your question answered in an upcoming issue
of The DIY Review -- Ask the Expert! |
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Share your ideas with the DIY Community!
Do you have ideas, design tips, solutions, or anecdotes you'd
like to share with the DIY Community? Do you have a special
wedding tradition in your country that you'd like to share?
Send a comment to: newsletter@weddingflowers-diy.com
Subject Line: Bride's Corner
Only your first name will be used. Your comments will appear
in the next issue. |
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What is the DIY Community?
We are brides, friends and families of brides, entrepreneurs, and wedding designers worldwide. We share ideas.
We also share successes. [coming next issue]
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Australia, Canada, Hungary, Ireland, Micronesia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Afraica, Tuvalu, United Kingdom, United States.
Your country not listed? We'll add it!
Email: newsletter@weddingflowers-diy.com
[The countries listed are only those that were obvious
from country email extensions.] |
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