2 leaf rating from The Green Bride Guide

After receiving a 2 leaf green bride rating for the eco-friendly practices I uphold in my home studio, I started to think if I would be able to meet the floral needs of a completely eco-friendly Wedding. At first I couldn't see how it would be possible, but I knew somehow I could. So I started thinking of all the older florist I have worked for and about how they use to design. Maybe resorting back to the 40's might be the answer. What I learned is that it wasn't until the early 50's that floral foam was introduced. Bouquet holders didn't hit the scene until the early 80's. Before floral foam and bouquet holders the basic mechanics of designs consisted of Pin frogs, styrofoam, chicken wire, and wooden picks for stability. For weddings every flower was wired then taped and shaped to form bouquets, corsages and boutonnieres. By todays standards even those practices are not very eco-friendly. So going back in time didn't really hold the answers I was looking for. So I continued looking until it occurred to me that the hardest part isn't finding eco-friendly or locally grown flowers but how to use them in todays designs without modern floral mechanics. I thought about what I know about mechanics and how its easy to swap a wire for this or a piece tape for that. Vola! That was the key and the answer. The answer I knew all along. The simpler the design the easier it would be to change the modern mechanics holding it together for an eco-friendly alternative. It would be completely impossible for me to stop using tape, wire and glue, after all thats how some of the trendiest looks and styles are achieved. But it is possible to offer alternatives for those who are looking for them. I started to think of some alternatives I have used in place of traditional mechanics before and realized I have created eco-friendly designs without even knowing it. Some alternatives we have used have been binding hand tied bouquets with natural fibers such as hemp or raffia. Boutonnieres fashioned with the stems exposed and secured with blades of grass. Swapping standard corsages, that may require glue, tape and wire for hand held garden posies or a hand tied corsage requiring little tape and wire. We have also designed arrangements for ceremonies and receptions using rental items filled with reusable non-organic items, such as pin frogs, aqua gems and river rocks to help stabilize the design. We have created natural armatures and grids by filling vases and containers with natural materials such as mosses, fruits and branches and other organic components. I knew this is something we could offer our brides. The answer I needed was there all along. Using my creativity and using natures resources goes along way! It is completely possible for me to meet the needs of green brides and I cant wait to show off my eco-friendly designing skills!

How and why to choose a professional designer

never thought I would blog. With every thing already on my plate taking on even more seemed impossible, but here I am Blogging.. I wrote this article on professional floral designers. Understandably every one is on a budget and cutting cost is inevitable. I just wish flowers wasn't the one to always take the heat. Enjoy

... Even with the economy on tilt life still has to go on. There is no pause button we can press or a play button when we are ready resume, we have to continue living no matter what happens around us. Weddings and life's celebrations still play out just as planned no matter the state of our economy, some on a smaller scale and some with a smaller budget. I find that flowers are last on the list of importance and have the smallest set budget. As sad as it is to say, its the truth. Flowers set the mood, capture your style and enhance your pictures. As the trend grows for the local grocery stores to sell flowers for less, so does the consideration of buying from them over a true floral professional. As much as you can save by DIY, you can also lose so much without the help of a professional designer. The events that take place during our life time are ones that we want remembered for years to come. Twenty years from now you might not remember the food, or what was said, but you will always remember the flowers. When you look back at your pictures more than half will contain pictures of the flowers from that day. Wether your flowers were perfect or not just how beautiful they were will always be remembered in those pictures. There is no true test for a designer. Product knowledge, experience and trust is key to finding the perfect designer for your event. A designers portfolio is just as important. If you don't like what you see its okay to ask questions and ask to see a sample before you commit. A generic book will not give you a sense of the designers style or talent its merely for show. Floral design is a unique art form, one that is based on a medium that is not only subjective but perishable. When you receive a quote for your flowers so much more goes into it than just the flowers. You are not only paying for the highest quality flowers you are paying for the designers talent, time, experience and knowledge that they have worked hard to hone. An average wedding from consultation to delivery can take up to 20 hours or more to complete. There is so much more behind the scenes that is never seen, such as, ordering, flower processing, design, mechanics, packing, loading and unloading, set up and break down. Spend time looking for the right floral designer for your event. Every designer is talented in their own way and finding the one that will understand and capture your vision and style will take time but in the end they will be worth every penny. If flowers truly are not in your budget and you are considering DIY, order the bridal party and personal flowers form a professional, your pictures will thank you.