DIY fresh flowers – Page 4

So… You Want Your Wedding To Be Perfect…..

June 7, 2014/in Brides, Creative Ideas, DIY fresh flowers, Events, Uncategorized, Wedding, What our friends say/by bridesnblooms

We’ve been blogging now for awhile about all sorts of subjects… but I think today it’s time for something completely different!

When working with brides we two girls have noticed a common theme. Each Bride wants her wedding to be absolutely perfect.. and of course who wouldn’t!! They seem to expect that every item they’ve chosen, every nuance of detail, will go EXACTLY as planned, without a ripple.

We are here to tell you that every wedding IS perfect… it’s just that some don’t go as smoothly as others.

The following are the 10 most ridiculous things that have happened in we two girl’s families during a wedding. (including our own).

1. The photographer for this wedding had been contracted for 4 hours for the ceremony through part of the reception and some formal photographs. After showing up literally 5 minutes before the wedding party walked down the aisle, he took photos during the ceremony and then proceeded to spend another 1 1/2 hrs there taking pictures. The wedding party still had to get to the reception hall which was about 25 minutes away. He spent another hour taking pictures in the hall’s entryway which caused the Bride & Groom to be late to their own reception. He then threatened to leave without taking any pictures at the reception at all unless he was paid more money because his alloted time was used up. By the time the Bride and Groom actually sat down at their table to eat, most of the guests were getting ready to leave. So they begged people to stay for their first dance and cake cutting, which they ended up doing before they even ate dinner. To boot, there is not one full shot of the just the Bride & Groom in their dress & tux in all of the pictures he took.

2. Did I mention flowers? At this wedding the Bride had ordered her flowers and her future sister in law and mother in law were going to make the bridal party bouquets. An hour before the wedding when the Mother of the Bride asked the Maid of Honor where were the flowers, she remembered that the Best Man had them in his car. They were then brought to the Mother of the Bride, in a bucket. still in their packages, not made into bouquets, with a bag of ribbon in rolls beside the bucket. So… calmly… the Mother of the Bride took the flowers, and made all 5 wedding bouquets in less than 1/2 an hour. Amazingly, they looked great.

. white lilies and orchids

3. One wedding ran out of food. Not sure how or why, but this caterer did not make enough food for the 150 guests that he knew would be attending. The buffet table was pretty much scraped clean by the first go around of guests. Since they had not prepared the proper amount of food in advance and saw what was happening, (and because the Mother of the Bride was throwing a screaming fit in the kitchen), the staff were in a a bit of a tizzy. Eventually, they brought out a large platter of heated frozen fish sticks and a vegetable & cracker tray, which I am assuming was all they could come up with on short notice. So much for the carved roast beef and turkey they were supposed to have enough of.

4. At this particular wedding, the Bride and Groom were not in favor of serving any liquor. The Groom’s father had told some of his friends about this couple’s decision beforehand and they decided to remedy the situation. These friends brought with them in the largest car’s trunk, 3 massive sized coolers filled with beer, bourbon, scotch, an array of mixers and ice. At one point the Bride’s father asked the Groom’s father if he knew if there was any liquor to be had because in his words “What kind of Wedding has no liquor??” He was quietly escorted down to the parking lot where he took one look at this car trunk and exclaimed that this was a great thing! So, all afternoon, whenever someone mentioned about being thirsty, or asked anyone if there was any liquor available, they were carefully whispered to, and gently escorted to the parking lot ‘car bar’. The Bride and Groom were completely unaware of this ever happening until about 25 years later.

5. This particular event was to be held outdoors overlooking the Gulf of Mexico and then afterwards for an intimate backyard reception. That was the plan…. until the weather decided not to cooperate. We would like to say it rained, but that would not be accurate. It was a deluge… with rain sheeting sideways, coming down in buckets. After some moments of panic and disarray, family and friends came together to save the day. All the furniture was moved out of the Bride’s living room and stashed in every other room it would fit. Everything was moved inside to the living room and people were escorted from their cars to the house under beach umbrellas. Not quite the day that was planned for, but still there is something to be said for a small room filled with the people you care most about sharing your big day!

6. The rings are important!! The Ring Bearer had her pillow, the rings were tied and fastened to the pillow. She came down the aisle on cue. When the officiant asked for the rings, the pillow was presented… however, there were no rings to be had!! Someone had taken them right off the pillow! So, the officiant asked for a loaner ring from the audience. Only 1 person was willing to part with their wedding ring to complete the service, but, only 1 ring was required. The service continued and the ring was returned. Though the original rings were never found and new rings were bought at a later date, still, the bride and groom are happily married to this day!

7. At one wedding the Bride’s bouquet was a long cascade of cymbidium orchids, white daisies and blue delphinium. The Bride actually wanted yellow gerbera daisies with brown centers with white daisies, but the Bride’s Mother in Law, who was paying for the flowers, didn’t like that choice and insisted that it would look chintzy. So, in an effort to not start a marriage off poorly, the Bride acquiesced to using the florist and the flower choices that her future Mother in Law insisted upon. The day of the wedding was a sweltering hot June afternoon…. and the a/c on the delivery truck broke down…and this was the last delivery of the day. About 10 minutes before the ceremony, 3 of the 6 orchids Mother In Law had demanded were in this bouquet, decided they didn’t like being in this bouquet anymore and promptly fell out. The Mother of the Bride, very calmly, picked the flowers up off the carpet, and carefully managed to get 2 of the 3 orchids back into the bouquet with none the wiser. Including the future Mother in Law. The daisies however, stood up quite marvelously and the Bride only stopped breathing for a few seconds.

8. Note to self, always check the sound system. This wedding was progressing in a surprisingly smooth fashion, given our families track record, until …. The Judge who was acting as officiant was about to ask the Bride and Groom the questions that have been asked through time immemorial to seal the deal. Someone, at that moment, in another room, not knowing the sound system was piped into ALL the rooms at the venue, decided to flip a particular wall switch. Instead hearing the Officiants voice, we heard a lively and contagiously happy commercial about traveling to the Bahama’s for a great vacation! The Maid of Honor, Bride, Groom and Best Man all looked confusedly at the judge and then raised their eyes to look at the ceiling where the disruption emanated from. Eventually someone thought to run and find the culprit to turn off the speakers in the ceremony room. The Judge then picked up without a hitch and remarked that as much as we’d love to take that vacation, there was this wedding at hand to be completed.

9. During the afternoon of this particular wedding, the Bride, Maid of Honor, Mother of the Groom and some of the Groomsmen were decorating the reception hall. The Maid of Honor and Mother of the Groom left around 2:00 pm to go to the hairdresser’s leaving the Bride at the reception hall. Supposedly the Groom was going to come and pick her up and take her there as well. Two hours later he never showed up. The Bride called her mother in tears, who quickly got one of the Groomsmen to bring her daughter home immediately. It was now 4:00 pm and the wedding was at 6:00 pm. Luckily, the Mother of the Bride had been a hairdresser at one time and managed to get her daughter’s hair, nails and makeup done in an hour. After which she drove like a maniac to get them both to the wedding on time, all the while hoping that the rest of the family would find their way on time as well. (There was an enormous traffic jam because of an outdoor concert being held 1 block away from the wedding venue. Half the guests never made it to the ceremony location and the Mother of the bride actually drove on the sidewalk at one point to get past the stopped dead traffic).

10. Never give a kid a drink. At this particular wedding the kid in question was 15 but was 6′ tall and no one would have guessed he was under the legal drinking age of 18. Now this particular groomsman/15 year old swears to this day it was not the drink that made the following happen…he insists it was the wool suit he was wearing on a hot summer day and all the running around he did, doing everything his mother asked him to do. So, in the middle of the wedding ceremony… he fainted, went down sideways, like a bowling pin. Which caused him to knock into the groomsman next to him, which caused that groomsman to knock into the one next to him and so on eventually, knocking into the Father of the Bride and him into the 2 men who were standing there singing special prayers. When the Bride’s father knocked into one of the singers, he was in the middle of a note, which abruptly stopped, and you could hear him plain as day say… S**t!!

So, if during a consultation, you see either of us two girls politely smiling as the Bride To Be is describing every little planned detail, just know that inside, we two girls are quietly, alternately, laughing and praying that most of the planned things goes smoothly at this wedding.

Now go out and have yourself a PERFECT, wholesale flower-filled day.

Center of Attention Blues

June 1, 2014/in Brides, Creative Ideas, DIY fresh flowers, Events, Uncategorized, Websites, Wedding/by bridesnblooms

The Big Day! All the attention is focused on YOU! Any of us, secretly or overtly, likes to be the center of attention, at least once in awhile. (Although we have noticed there are some people that would be fine with that all the time!) Yes, we understand there was a lot of time spent planning and dreaming and then… it’s over, in an instant! But what does one do with a case of the ‘post wedding let-down blues” ? How does a newlywed couple who is feeling sad, cope with the fact that just a few weeks after the big event that was focused entirely on them, is now just looking at each other over a breakfast table, covered with a pile of thank you cards to fill out, and thinking, “I’m sad”!

Here are our thoughts on getting a grip, coping and the big picture:

1. YOU’RE NO LONGER THE CENTER OF ATTENTION

Yes, everyone outwardly swears an aversion to wedding planning. Truth is, deep down, you actually liked most it. You were the Big Kahoona and Queen for a day in a setting that focused solely on you. You were waited on, flattered beyond normal and applauded with gifts. And now? The doting crowd has moved on to the next big thing.

The remedy: Remember that this is temporary. Other things will happen that will steer the focus back to you both. Anniversaries, children, better jobs, etc. and then once more life will soon return to normal. Drama all the time gets old, so learn to enjoy the quiet time.

2. WHY DID BEING THE CENTER OF ATTENTION COST SO MUCH!!!

Debt is annoying, no matter how big or small the amount. No one looks forward to a financial burden that could follow you into the next decade if you’re not careful. So, if you have a large amount of wedding debt, after the big event is over you might wake up and wonder…what the heck happened? Did we really spend more than what we had saved so that our friends could drink the bar dry and toast us with that champagne we also paid for?

The remedy: Do some financial planning and budgeting before the wedding. The most overwhelming thing about debt is not having any idea or plan on how you will pay it back! Keep in mind, this was your choice to share your big day with everyone you care about and who cares about you. Now hopefully, you both are responsible and have decent jobs. Hopefully, together you can agree on an amount per month to pay the weddingpalooza off. That will create a bond that reminds you both why it was decided on a big wedding rather than running off to the Elvis Chapel in Vegas.

3. YOUR WEDDING EXTRAVAGANZA DIDN’T MATCH YOUR EXPECTATIONS, (THOUGH BEING THE CENTER OF ATTENTION WAS PRETTY AWESOME)

So, the party’s over and you and your spouse are sitting around recounting all the things that didn’t go either as planned, expected, dreamed of, or just plain went awry. It could be as big as your outdoor expectations were rained out, to as minute a detail as, the ribbon on my wedding bouquet wasn’t ivory, it was champagne. Though you both agree it was an amazing day, deep down you’re thinking… I really wish the flower girl and ring bearer had just behaved a little better while walking down the aisle, or that Mom didn’t burst into loud sobs every 5 seconds, or that the best man had not kept gawking your best friends single sister all night long.

The Remedy: Go into the bedroom and turn the lights down low. Both of you look at each other. Wife, let the tears of disappointment run down your face and hug your new hubby. Conversely hubby, make sure your man-card is intact and don’t say anything you might be sorry for later, and comfort your wife. Do this for exactly 2 minutes and then ask yourself the following questions:

ARE WE HAPPY? ARE WE GLAD WE’RE MARRIED? DID WE HAVE AN AWESOME TIME AT OUR WEDDINGPALOOZA? If the answers to those questions are a big fat yes, then you need to get a grip on your pity party and move on. Really. Let it go and embrace the fact that you, your family, your friends, and all your guests including the weird cousin on your wife’s side, to the middle aged uncle on your husband’s side who really needs to get past his Peter Pan complex had a great time.

Look at each other and admit it….We threw one heck of a fantastic wedding celebration!

In the end, you will always have things to laugh about, whine about, and wish you had done differently or exactly the same. Then there’s that yearly exercise in planning called an Anniversary. I know people that do those with a bang each year! (Heck, my parents are celebrating their 65th… that’s a lot of parties!) And I know people that simply share the moment with the realization that they still love each other as much as they did on that big day and are still the center of each other’s attention.

Now got out and have yourself a pity free, center of attention, wholesale flower filled day!

Etiquette and Credit

May 19, 2014/in Brides, Creative Ideas, DIY fresh flowers, Events, Uncategorized, Websites, Wedding/by bridesnblooms

Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and a slew of other social media sites have the ability to show off a vendor’s work, ideas and designs. Most companies post different status updates concerning work they’re doing or recently have finished. The wedding industry is very big on this strategy because it gives event vendors the opportunity to show what we can do to a large audience. The positives are getting your company’s name out and giving people who might not have otherwise even known that your company exists, a chance to see what you can do. It connects you with past, current, and future clients, as well as, giving you, the vendor, the opportunity to toot your own horn a bit.

But… what to do if pictures or intellectual property that are yours are not being credited to you? Or are posted to a different vendor’s page? It is not just social media etiquette that suggests one ALWAYS credit work to its proper source, it is a workplace ethic that has been around for a long time. Forbe’s magazine noted in one of its blogs (http://www.forbes.com/sites/lisaquast/2013/05/27/stand-up-for-yourself-when-someone-else-takes-credit-for-your-work ) that “one of the most important things you can do to protect your career and career advancement is to stand up for yourself when someone takes credit for your ideas or your work”. I would say this does extend to social media as well. If, a wedding photographer, or a floral and/or decor designer’s work is being shown on a venue’s facebook page there should always be, at the very least, a mention or link to whatever business supplied the items being shown. If a client or user comments on that picture, it would only be fair to acknowledge the vendor whose work is being showcased. A thank you is nice and polite, but does not give the vendor the credit that is due them.

Putting it simply, particularly on social media sites, if you are a venue or vendor, showcasing a photo of an event, and that photo includes another vendor’s work and not your own, let people know.

Taking credit for someone else’s work is tantamount to theft!

One way we have found to remedy that situation is to include a logo on pictures that Brides N Blooms Designs may post on either Facebook or Pinterest. Understandably, sometimes that is not possible, especially if a client or friend posted the picture that has your work in it. I personally see nothing wrong as the vendor, going into the comment section and thanking that person for their review/comment. Keep this in mind as well, No photos should ever be posted of an impending event, prior to the hosts’ arrival! You may be REALLY excited about your work, but, hold off on posting it for everyone to see until the most important people see it live! It’s all about the drama of the moment, especially for the Bride and Groom, why spoil that for them. Why should “Mary in Portland” get to see the beautiful room before the actual bride in Florida? Joseph Grenny, said in a post on Forbes.com, “ Manners will catch up with technology when the silent learn to speak”. While it would be nice if people always did the right thing, a gentle reminder now and again isn’t a bad thing either. Now go and have yourself a polite wholesale fresh flower day!

Last Minute Headaches

May 10, 2014/1 Comment/in Brides, Creative Ideas, DIY fresh flowers, Events, Uncategorized, Wedding/by bridesnblooms

We two girls at Brides N Blooms like reading blogs. We like to find out how other vendors handle issues, and hear about some of the weddings they’ve done. We also like to read blogs from ‘real’ people who are honest about how their weddings or events turned out . We like reading how to do what we do better or see how others how averted a disaster. As any florist, or vendor for that matter, will tell you….we all have our fair share of those situations.

I recently read a blog on the The Stir, where they were discussing the unexpected problems that crop up last minute at weddings or events and I got to thinking about that. This particular writer was talking about issues from the client’s perspective…but what about the vendors point of view? What did the vendor have to deal with in those situations? One unexpected issue mentioned went like this; “The florist’s (or another vendor’s) bill suddenly doubling overnight. Unexpected changes have caused brides to contend with last minute charges that came out of the blue. Talk about an instant headache!”

We would agree that is a headache…but having been on the other side of this coin, changes and extra charges do not “come out of the blue”. They happen because there was a lack of communication and rechecking of one’s contract to make sure what you ordered is, in fact, what you actually expect to get and, then notifying whatever vendor this will affect. What I see happen often is our services are ordered months in advance of the event date. As time goes on, and different items are planned with other vendors, or the venue, counts change, items should be added. Without being vigilant about previously ordered items, and having a checklist, small details like counts and amounts get forgotten. Case in point, we recently had 2 different weddings that added last minute tables to their counts, after they’d contracted and paid for our services. Neither bride or their families relayed those changes to us at all.

For wedding #1 we ordered the contracted amount of items needed and prepared her designs. When we showed up and counted the tables we noticed there was an extra one. Luckily for the bride it was only a small centerpiece that was unaccounted for. After a quick discussion on whether to leave the table empty or not, we decided not to. So we ended up scrambling at the venue to find an extra vase and then creating a design for it on the fly. It didn’t really resemble the other centerpieces at all, but it was pretty and the table wasn’t bare. However, we were in touch with the bride 2 weeks prior and she never mentioned the extra table.

Suffice it to say, our motto is to never say no, so if it’s at all humanly possible we will make things as perfect as we can. We could have charged for that extra time and piece, but we didn’t.

Wedding #2, was a different case. We had a 2 day notice on that one. However, it was not because we were notified of any change. The bride was supplying us the containers to use. Later, while unpacking all her items, we noticed a lot more containers than what we were contracted to make. We called and the bride told us the amount of tables she wanted us to do was 5 more than she had contracted for and they added those 2 weeks ago. The bill was paid in full, and it was too late to order more of the specialty items she wanted to fill those extra containers with in the way she had envisioned. We explained that we would use what we had, just a little more sparingly but we would have to charge her for the extra work. Again, we had been in contact with this bride within 2 weeks prior to her event. I can only assume it just didn’t cross her mind to check her contract to make sure she’d paid for the design work needed for the tables she had and notify us of the additions. Also, when we met with her to pick up the items she had a small mishap and dropped one of her ceremony pots. She was in a panic, so calmly we suggested we go together to a local store where she could replace them with something else. That was time we were not paid for. This bride also on the day of her wedding, out of the blue, asked for the petals for her flower girl, of which there was no note for in her contract. Petals aren’t such a big deal really and we don’t charge for them when roses are already part of an order, but when there are little or no roses, then we have to go and get some! Which is time, last minute stress and expense we didn’t plan or charge for. In the end, her family let us know that her wedding was wonderful and thanked us for making everything so beautiful. Which is our ultimate goal!

We believe customer service is paramount and we want our clients to be happy and satisfied with our service. We always want them to know that we’ll go the extra mile for them. So when this blogger mentions the headache for the client, we’re thinking, it is just as much headache for the vendor.

I came across another blogger from the Bridal Guide who mentioned it being the bride’s responsibility to avert last minute problems by checking everything they’ve ordered against what they actually will need. This blogger suggested that the bride or event planner should follow this checklist concerning flowers:

“Timing. What time will your photographer arrive to take photos? You’ll want to make sure your florist is aware of this timeline if you want photos with your flowers prior to your ceremony.

Location. Where do you want your bouquets & boutonnieres delivered? Should they be brought to you at the chapel or spa? Will all the men be getting ready at the same location or should the father of the bride’s boutonniere be delivered with bouquets?

Numbers. Are there any changes to the number of bouquets or centerpieces you’ll need? If you don’t have an exact table count, then err on the side of too many pieces rather than too few. They can always be repurposed elsewhere.

Extras. Does your caterer want flowers for garnishes or food stations? These need to be ordered if you expect to have extra flowers!

Preceding. Do you need flowers for your rehearsal dinner? If you haven’t arranged this yet your wedding florist may be the best person to assist with this since she/he already has a sense of your style.

If you have questions about how the flow of the day should go ask your florist to clarify delivery or design details.”

So, if something like a last minute charge happens, know it was not something a vendor will do out of the blue. It is something a vendor will do because they have to cover the cost of any unforeseen extras the client forgot to communicate about. As much as it is our responsibility as vendors to make sure we cover all the bases, communication and checking your contracts will prevent last minute headaches.

Now go out and have yourself a wholesale, flower filled day!

Guess What Your Guest Is Spending?!

May 1, 2014/in Brides, Creative Ideas, DIY fresh flowers, Events, Uncategorized, Wedding/by bridesnblooms

Events are expensive. Wedding costs in particular have risen dramatically in the past few years. What we don’t usually think about though is, what your guest is paying to BE a guest at your wedding?

So this is personal now. I am attending my nephew’s wedding next year. He and his lovely fiance live up north. That means plane fare for both my hubby and me. We’ll more than likely need to rent a car and definitely need stay in a hotel a minimum of two nights. I need a new dress because goodness knows I have nothing nice enough to wear in the cold November weather and I am hoping that the suit from the last wedding we attended last year will still fit Hubby next year. (I recently lucked out for a friend’s daughter’s wedding by getting a perfectly good, fitting perfectly, Ann Klein dress at a consignment shop! Go ME!!)

Now, according to a survey from American Express, wedding guests are spending an average 75% more than 2 years ago. Though its true that the average wedding (according the The Knot) is costing close to $30,000, a guest is spending close to $600 to be there too. That, by the way, according to the survey, does not include the gift. The number reflects what the average wedding guest spends for all those items I mentioned earlier. So if I look at that number, that is about what we will be spending to go to this big family event.

It is true that on average what a guest is ‘getting’ for their money is probably more lavish than in the past, such as a lovely destination spot, or a top notch meal and location, but it can be daunting even on the most treasured friendship or family member.

Also, keep in mind when we’re talking about spending money to go to a wedding, the gift expected these days, should be no less than $75.00. That’s a lot to ask of the people you love, much less those you feel you ‘have’ to invite!

So? What to do? Here are a few tips that we’ve heard from a few different sources:

Get the name of the gift registry and then sign up for their weekly notices and/or flyers. That way you get their sales and could use it towards a registry item. Or share with another guest in order to get something a little bigger/better but still use what you have budgeted for a gift.
Sign up for some of the travel sites that send out email specials and see if your location pops up. Don’t wait too long though. Book as early as possible for the best airfares and hotel rates.
If you have vacation time you need to use and you are going to a destination wedding… then by all means, extend your trip! Stay a few days either before or after the event and enjoy!
Start looking for your attire during sales times. If you know there’s a wedding coming up in the next 6 months, hit all the end of season sales. Dress wear does not really seem to be all that seasonal in color, so something sold in December more than likely can also be worn in May. Or like I did, go to a higher end consignment shop and see what’s there. Sometimes you luck out!
If you have to rent a car, see if you can team up with another guest to share the cost. That makes for a lot less stress than waiting for a pick up or local services.

I love my nephew, no doubt, but it would not be my first choice to go up north in the winter. However, Hubby and I do have family and friends living up there, so we shall take some extra time and do the visiting junket. Not the cruise we were hoping for, but it’s a decent enough trade off.

Whatever the cost to attend an event may be, know that those guests who you’ve so carefully chosen to be asked to attend, will also choose carefully whether they can afford to RSVP a yes.

Now get planning and go out and have yourself a wholesale, Flower-Filled Day!

Behind The Scenes

April 16, 2014/in Brides, Creative Ideas, DIY fresh flowers, Events, Uncategorized, Wedding/by bridesnblooms

So! It’s that time of year here in Florida. It’s time for weddings… lot’s of them. All over the Tampa Bay Area.

We’ve had our fair share too and I thought it might be fun to share some of the funny and touching things that happened behind the scenes during a few of the events we’ve done design work for recently.

We had a delivery to a hotel down in St. Pete recently. I was a nervous wreck about this one because I had heard from the bride that the pillars we were putting some tall pieces on have a small rise in the center that comes to a point. All I could imagine was these pieces tumbling backwards off the pillars if a sudden wind came up. (It can be the constant nightmare of an event florist that something unlikely could happen after you set up). The whole day before was spent making these pieces look so pretty and just right. When we got there to deliver, the first thing we did is run up to a pillar and look. After which we both started laughing and saying to each other.. YAY! this is no problem whatsoever! There was a rise of maybe one inch in the center, not enough to create an imbalance with the flat bottomed pieces we had made. And it looked beautiful!

We work with the Yacht Starship in Tampa on a regular basis. We really love this venue. They have two ships, one that holds approximately 100 people and one that holds approximately 600 people. We’ve done many events at this venue over the last few years. This particular wedding, was for a young lady who’s mother had recently and suddenly become very ill. Bedridden and in a full time care facility, she could not be there to watch her daughter walk down the aisle. The family did an amazing job of making sure there would be a video feed so her Mom could see the wedding, and bought a lovely dress for her to wear. They wanted her to wear a corsage as well. It was the corsage delivery that was so bitter sweet. Now I have a daughter who was married some years back. I know what it feels like to be a ‘Mother of the Bride’. I cannot fathom how this would be if I had to trade places even for one moment with this young lady’s mother…but there I was in her room, talking with the nurses and figuring out how to make sure all went well. After we got everything organized I took a picture to send to the bride so she could see her mom with the corsage before the ceremony. It seemed so surreal to me to discussing things with everyone in the room, but not having direct conversation with the most important person in that room! I leaned in to say to her mom how beautiful everything was and congratulations. All she could do was mouth thank you. I left that room with tears in my eyes.

The other wedding on the boat… now that was a challenge! The bride wanted a garland hung from the mast of the ship. I am all of 5 ft. tall. The mast is about 8 ft. high. So there I am, up on a step ladder, working like the dickens to get this garland of flowers up and fastened. I have flowers in my hands, waterpicks in my pocket, zipties in my mouth and Brides N Blooms other half looking up from below, helplessly hoping she can assist me at the very least, from not falling backwards off the step ladder! Looking back now, it was pretty amusing, but at the time, We were praying to every deity in the universe to make this garland hold and look pretty!! (We think it turned out very well, don’t you?)

The last one is the one that became an odyssey. We had a dinner we had to create 50 identical centerpieces for. Doesn’t sound like it should be hard, and really it’s not, but after about 20 were done…. well, we started wondering if we’d ever be done. By the time 40 of them were finished it was slap happy, giggly time,and thinking this was the never ending design challenge. By 50, our cold storage room was a sea of hydrangea, but…. we were finished!! And they looked awesome! We love it when a plan comes together, even if it takes longer than expected.

Sometimes when we are working silly things happen. Sometimes when we are working difficulties arise. Always though, when we’re working, we two girls are very happy we do what we do.

Now go out and have yourself a silly and sweet, wholesale, flower-filled day.

Vendors Are People Too!

April 11, 2014/in Brides, Creative Ideas, DIY fresh flowers, Events, Uncategorized, Wedding/by bridesnblooms

We are two girls from Brides N Blooms and we are vendors. We admit it freely, and as such, it is our ‘job’ to be there to answer your calls and emails. It is our pleasure to help you decide what is going to work for you in terms of flowers and it is our choice to go that extra mile for you. Now, even though a client may not think of us as such, (especially when they are caught up in their own world of planning or last minute nervousness), we are actually just plain people with our own lives. We have bills, worries, problems, responsibilities, household chores and all the rest that most everyone has.

As things go with both us girls, we basically have simple needs: coffee/tea, a shower, internet service, a car, a phone, a meal now and again and just maybe, some sleep… and we can usually meet most of our own needs. There is one thing though that we would really appreciate from others;

We would like some understanding and common courtesy.

It takes time to work on all the little details you want us to research for you, to get pictures that best describe what we are doing for you, to go back and forth with emails or talk with you either in person or on the phone. It takes time to write up those quotes. No matter whether it is the 1st quote or the 4th, they all take time. And yes, all of this is part of our ‘job’, but it is time that we give and do not get paid for. We understand and accept this part of what we do. There is no question that if we’re asked to help, we will, willingly, genuinely, & whole heartedly do so in any way we can. So, really, we don’t think that we’re asking for a lot in return. Just a simple “Thank-you” can make all the difference in the world. If you choose not to use us as your vendor, that’s really OK, but, If we have spent multiple hours, going over what you might want or need, easing over the worry spots, helping you make decisions that you had no idea you had to make, then creating those quotes, at least, if nothing else, let us know that you’ve decided to not go forward with us. Call or email and tell us “I’m sorry” I’ve decided to go with someone else. We won’t be mad, or upset. If you say “Thank-you” for spending all those hours with me, and I appreciate your time, or I know that your time is valuable, we will be more than okay with that. We’d feel that at least you valued our service and the time devoted to you.

Everyone who is in a job or position to serve the public is also a living, breathing, human being and it is NOT OK treat them, or anyone for that matter, poorly, or discourteously. In our opinion it is also not kind to ignore people. If something isn’t right, it’s okay to step up and say something, but please, say it with grace, say it with a constructive edge, say it with kindness. It could be simply that the other person just didn’t understand what you really wanted or needed.

And just to be clear about us vendors in general, our time is as valuable as anyone else’s. If you really aren’t sure you are going to use or need our services, let us know that from the outset. We’ll still help you every bit as much as we can. On the other hand, it’s not fair to call at the last minute, beg for help, and then just forget that we jumped through hoops to get you what you wanted. If you’ve changed your mind, that’s okay, but you should know we care about you, we even worry about your issue and it’s important to us that your event is every bit as wonderful as you hope it will be.

So I ask… be courteous and say thank- you, no matter what the outcome or decision. Those two little words go a long way. We believe it is a common courtesy, something that our parents used to teach us was important. (Though what has happened to our society that we have forgotten it, is something I just don’t understand.)

Please, the next time you make that call, remember to be kind. That vendor/service personnel on the other end of the phone is a Mother, Father, Sister, Brother, Husband, Wife, Aunt, Uncle, Grandmother, Grandfather, Friend, Confidant, to someone in this world…A real live human being with value and feelings, who is ready and willing to help you

*now, Thank- you for reading this blog! Go, have yourself a caring, loving, wholesale flower filled day!

Spring is here….

March 28, 2014/1 Comment/in Brides, Creative Ideas, DIY fresh flowers, Events, Uncategorized, Wedding/by bridesnblooms

….and you know what that means?

CLEANING!

Yup… bet you thought I was going to say flowers.

Well.. they are definitely a part of spring… and they are definitely what we do…. but today, I’m talking about cleaning. Spring Cleaning! We’ve all heard the term, and I’m sure we’ve all been swept up in it (pun!) at some point in our lives. I know every year I am!

But do you know where the term actually comes from?

The reasons behind why we spring clean are rooted in two competing cultures, Jewish and Iranian with a third close behind with the Chinese, who also have a similar custom. All of these traditions extend far back into the distant past.

In Iran, the new year arrives on March 21 the spring equinox and the celebration of the new year lasts two weeks. The customs, rituals and symbolism are rooted in the culture’s ancient pre-Islamic past. The new year is a time of regeneration for Iranians; they use symbols like burning and planting to signify renewal and optimism for a new season. It’s also a time for refreshing and reinvigorating life, and that includes Iranians’ houses.The ritual is called Khaneh Takani (“shaking the house”) and the custom lives up to its name. Iranians traditionally buy new clothes to wear, every bit of a home is scoured and cleaned…. nothing is spared. Rugs, drapes bedding, knick-knacks, floors, ceilings — everything gets a good cleaning. Fresh scented flowers are brought in to renew the house’s vibrancy. Once the house is shaken, the new year and spring, can arrive.

The Jewish holiday of Passover (Pesach) is a time of house cleaning as well. The very solemn holiday marks the exodus of the Jews from Egypt. After the 10 plagues were brought upon the Egyptian king by Moses the Jews were finally released from slavery and ordered to leave the land. There was very little time to get ready so the breads they were baking to bring on their journey only were able to be cooked for 18 minutes. That became what is known as Matzah and during Passover, keeping leavened bread (chametz) which is any item made with yeast or a grain that can rise, is forbidden.

Since making sure that no leavened bread remains in the home during Passover is so important, even overlooked crumbs count. To this end, Jews scour their homes from top to bottom before Passover to ensure they don’t miss a crum. No corner is to be left untouched and all chametz is either given away or sold so as not to ‘own’ it during Passover. For those 8 days different dishes, silverware, cookware are used and only foods without any leavening are eaten. Since Passover comes around April, many people consider this custom as the origin of spring cleaning.

The Chinese, also have of a spring cleaning ritual. They clean their homes in anticipation of the new year by sweeping their floors and cleaning their homes to be rid of bad luck and misfortune that may have accumulated during the previous year. Once the house is clean, the Chinese then welcome good fortune in by observing a prohibition against sweeping for the few days following the new year in order to prevent sweeping away any good fortune that came with the turn of the year.

After all that cleaning I think we should head for the garden to do some spring planting. Wanna join me?

Now go out and have yourself a wholesale, flower-filled, spring day!

It’s About Culture

March 23, 2014/in Brides, Creative Ideas, DIY fresh flowers, Events, Uncategorized, Wedding/by bridesnblooms

We two girls from Brides N Blooms, Wholesale & Designs are all about what’s new! Who isn’t? New styles, new looks, newest color trends! But sometimes ‘new’ isn’t all about the next best thing…. sometime’s it’s all about what has been out there all along. It’s just new to YOU!

Brides N Blooms, Designs - My Shaidi Bridal Show - event vendor showcases - traditional wedding dress Our latest adventure has been learning and working within the Indian Culture! I’ve always loved Indian cusine… Give me anything with curry in it and I’m a happy camper! I adore the Bollywood style dancing and all the color and clamor of the country itself. So, when we sat down with a lovely Hindu bride to discuss her flowers, we were ecstatic! In the past, we have delivered boxes and boxes of flowers to others who were doing weddings, and did some traditional bouquets for blended weddings…but having our own client is a dream come true!

Curiosity and knowledge are always helpful when going forward in a different and new arena, so we read up on traditions and asked lots of questions. We studied the different flower garlands and Rituals that are traditionally used in a Hindu ceremony and all the different facets that go into this style wedding. We decided that the best way to actually ‘see’ everything that goes into an Indian affair would be to do the next best thing other than attend a wedding. We became a vendor at a local wedding show that caters to this clientele. The ‘My Shadi Bridal Show” in Tampa was beyond any expectation we could have had. Stunning showcases of what any bride, much less a traditional Indian girl could want!!

These were some of the showcases set up by event companies who cater to this culture on a regular basis:

It was a great experience for us. We met lots of lovely vendors and guests, and it seems what we had to show they liked too! I hope our introduction into this different and vibrant culture is the beginning of a long and exciting relationship. Namaste!

Some of our designs:

Now go out and have yourself a colorful, curry-style, wholesale flower-filled day!

Communication Is Key!

March 7, 2014/in Brides, Creative Ideas, DIY fresh flowers, Events, Uncategorized, Wedding/by bridesnblooms

Big Events are a lot of work. It doesn’t matter if you are the host or the vendor. Each one plays a part to create it! Big or small, outdoor or indoor, intimate settings or big halls. Everybody needs to be on board with the vision and realities of the event. Both vendor and client have expectations which sometimes simple and effective communication can make easier on everyone.

1. Getting the question “How much does it cost? This is a difficult question for most vendors to give you during an initial consultation. There are so many factors that go into pricing an event. Aside from the actual price of the items, there is experience, time and artistry, and most importantly service. Trying to be competitive is always a tightrope walked. A client has no clue how much time is spent in the inital phases of the job. Consultations, working out a quote, emails, ordering processing and bookkeeping. That doesn’t include the actual preparing, set up & day of event.

How Brides N Blooms, Wholesale & Designs likes to handle this situation is by flipping it around to the client and asking “What is your budget?” Or, “If I tell you your flowers will cost ‘this much’, how would you feel about that?” That helps a client figure out their comfort level and helps you, the vendor, figure out what you are able to do to match the client’s wants and what you are able to provide.

2. Constant Emails and changes…
It is the nature of this business to do a lot of cross communicating with email. However, if a client is continually changing their mind, or over obsessing with details, it becomes difficult for a vendor to be effective at their job. Too many changes, too many requests about minute details and freak outs can sometimes create problems in the final product. The client will not necessarily remember everything that was said or changed and if what is remembered is different than what the client thought, there will be disappointment all around. A vendor wants as much as the client does for everything to be right!

A good idea is to be clear in your consultations that ALL emails will be answered within a certain time frame. As the vendor, you can make sure your reply is clear and itemized with a subject line that is labeled for that particular issue/question. For the client, ask lots of questions, be very detailed in what you want and trust that the vendor you are choosing is a qualified, capable professional.

3. Don’t Assume Anything
This works both ways… Vendors and Clients. Communication just as in any relationship, is ultimately the key to making sure you get what you pay for and the vendor knows exactly what you want. As a vendor we hear many times a client say “Whatever you think is best! You are the professional”. Those are dangerous words for a vendor to take literally. What visions a client may have in their head many times will not be quite the same as what the vendor is envisioning.

As a vendor, have pictures or literature explaining your work. As a client, have pictures and a prepared list of what you want. Everyone may not be literal…but we all are visual in this industry. A picture is worth a thousand words… and a list is both a vendor and client’s best friend.

Make sure no matter which end of the spectrum you sit, vendor or host, you are honest, communicative and realistic. That way we all can work together to make your event a great one!

Now go out and have yourself a wholesale, fresh flower, communicative day!