Don't give in to complimentary flowers from your venue, for the sake of saving you dollars, it could cost you more!

In attempting to save dollars on the overall flower budget one might elect to cut out traditional flowers and elements without realizing they are minimizing the grand feel and ambiance the flowers themselves create which ultimately adds to the sophistication and elegance of a wedding. It seems common now for a reception site to 'offer' the centerpieces thus convincing the Bride they'll be appropriate enough for the event. And most often, Bride's are taking the reception hall or restaurant up on the offer without the question "well how much is it really costing me to put a sampling of florals at each table?" This offer does not come free, it is incorporated in the cost of the charge to rent the venue. And when I ask the Bride how much she is being charged for a vase of roses per table with votives, most likely she will say it is included. But there is the hang-up! The reception place knows there is a window to add more to their bottom line by offering a convenient service without really having to define what the charge is for the centerpieces. I suppose if if takes the burden off of the Bride and her family to have the reception place choose her flowers, though be aware they will supply minimal flowers or elements and most likely will not capture your personality and vision.

This then creates a large gap between the Bride's wedding party flowers that are professionally thought out and designed and the reception flowers. How can they possibly coincide to create a seamless rhythm of colour, texture and dimension, let alone show the same quality and attention to detail. Besides, this is your event to SHINE, to demonstrate your love and passion for another, to pick and choose only those things in your life that make you feel beautiful, special and unique. You go out of your way to choose the best venue, try the food, taste all of the cakes, select the most flattering dress (and stretch to afford it), pamper your body weeks before, diet, and of course coordinate nearly everything for your Bride Attendants and all in the wedding party, why skimp on the flowers? Why allow a restaurant manager to 'cover them' for you?

I assume it is for budget constraints, but truthfully, there are MANY modern cost effective ways to show flowers that would ultimately be less expensive than the venue's so-called complimentary vase of roses at each table. Think about floating individual flower blooms in a low vase with lily grass and a floating candle. Call upon a designer, fleurLILY Chic Wedding and Event Styling, to create multiple vases of different varieties that you LOVE and creatively disperse them according to size or color.

Use flowering plants that are relatively inexpensive and are great for take home gifts. Or simply, indulge and live in the moment by giving yourself and your guests a plethora of blooms long to be remembered!

Keep your flowers colors in sync throughout the event and be consistent with the varieties you choose for good rhythm and flow. Play up your colors by choosing many varieties in the colors of your wedding (shows playful) though watch out not to mix varieties that really aren't complimenting another. Or, decide upon a few and take them as far as they can go, beginning with your bouquet down to the flowers you place in a bathroom (tip...keep those fragrant).
Think of your childhood memories in your mother's garden, or picking the neighbor's flowers to make a bouquet for your mom. How did they make you feel? I remember the lilacs and the peonies and today, I cannot get enough of them! Choose flowers that have meaning or importance.

Ultimately, flowers are not that big of a headache and really are not too difficult to choose even for those who do not know much about them or for one that isn't a 'flower person'. That will change in your next life of living as a couple, owning a home, tending a garden and taking in a new appreciation for all things green and natural.

Call upon fleurLily Chic to assist you in the decisions you find difficult to make, or to provide a cost effective approach to keeping within your budget. Hiring a professional isn't going to mean more dollars wasted, it will grant you peace of mind and satisfaction in knowing they are going to capture your style and personality in the meetings or conversations you have with them. And if one wants you to choose from a catalogue with minimal room for modification, I recommend trying out a designer that is in the business to make YOU happy.