And His Name Is....

Last week in the midst of 3 events I decided I needed to adopt a studio mascot. Being pet less for over 18 months it was about time to add a new member to my family... so here he is the newest member of Stylish Blooms .....

And his name is...

DUNKIN!

Now most of you who know me will get this! Those of you who dont, lets just say I love my coffee! 

Rethinking DIY

Planning a wedding is not only time consuming but can also be expensive. More and more brides are choosing to make their own bouquets and centerpieces in hopes to cutting expenses. But what happens when your perfect plan to DIY is disrupted by mother nature? What would you do? Who would you call?  I  hope this blog will help make you second guess before you decide not to hire a professional florist.

 Imagine you have decided to DIY and make your own centerpieces and bouquets. You have made a plan and decided that because tulips are your favorite flower that you will use them for your spring wedding.  You have recruited friends and family to help you make them the day before and arranged to have someone deliver them to your venue. You know that you can get the tulips at your  local market and made arrangements with them to order you the 300 stems you need to fill your vases and make your own bouquets.  Any bride would be happy with this plan, after all  you are using your favorite flowers and still saving money.  Now Imagine that a volcano has irrupted in Iceland and has shut down all flights to and from the US from northern European countries, thus  preventing your tulips from arriving. Although tulips are grown in many parts of the world a majority of them are grown in Holland and last week yours never made it for your wedding as planned.   Would you know what to do or who to call?  This is what happend last week and it effected all holland grown flowers. Its a scary reminder that you just never know when mother nature will strick. So before you decide a professional isn't worth the expense remember  they will be the ones you are calling when a DIY disaster hits again. 

Not just any old Boutonniere

I recently received a complement from a new client that actually made me stop and think. Really? She told me that she thought my boutonnieres were unique and nothing like she had seen before.  Till then I always wondered if any brides really looked at them because they are not the biggest expense when it comes to wedding flowers. This bride had and  it made her confident to know that I took great care in creating something so small. 
 What a sweet bride. 

So I decided to select a few of my "unique" boutonnieres to share. Enjoy 

Flower Misconceptions Part I

The biggest misconception when it comes to flowers is how much they cost; Yes its true Stephanoits, peonies,  mini calla lilies and even hydrangeas can get expensive, But when used in moderation they can easily be incorporated in to almost any wedding budget.   Dont be afraid to ask your florist for flowers that you think you can't afford. You would be surprised on what you can afford when you are working with a creative  designer who understands your style and budget. By using other flowers that complement the more expensive blooms you can keep the flowers that you love without having to sacrifice your budget. There is always a creative solution to expensive flowers,  be honest and open and let the experience of your florist guide you in the right direction. 

Hand picking our flowers

The flowers used for designing our weddings and events are ordered specifically for each event. To insure the quantity of flowers, colors and flower types, flower orders are placed weeks prior to the event. Even though orders are placed well in advance of each event I still hand pick each flower used. I personally go and pick up the flowers that I have ordered for the weeks event. This allows me to inspect the flowers for quality, color, and also to make sure the quantities match what is needed to design the order.  I love to walk around the coolers of the wholesaler and look for any other flowers or greens that go perfect with the other flowers ordered.  You never know what flowers you might find stocked that week in the coolers of the wholesaler. Even though most wholesalers offer a delivery service I choose not to utilize the service, this way I know that the flowers I have ordered are perfect and handled with care.   Once the flowers are in the studio they are processed by removing any foliage that may rot,  given a fresh cut and hydrated in a floral solution. I monitor the flowers and make sure they are opening up properly and hydrating until they are used in our designs.  These extra steps help in maintaining the quality and freshness of all the flowers we use. 

Peony or rose?

Peonies are one of the most classic and popular wedding flowers to date. There fullness and simplicity make them perfect for bouquets and centerpieces.  Any one who loves peonies knows that they also come at a hefty price, even when in season. The price can detour brides from using them, even when  they love them.  The above bouquet was made using garden roses. Garden roses are the perfect substitute for peonies, The size and shape mimic the peony and to the naked eye it might be hard to detect the differences.   Choosing an experienced and knowledgeable designer to design your wedding flowers not only will save you money, but will insure your flowers are perfect. 

Say what you want!

I wanted to write but I am not sure what to "blog" about.. January was such a good month and so much happened that its hard to write about just one. From bridal shows to photo shoots to new bookings it was filled with growth. Thank you to Aurora Photography for being such a great supporter of Stylish Blooms. Its nice to know that my work is going noticed and that I have a great support system with other vendors. Together I know we will give Connecticut brides the best service around sharing our passion for what we do!

Being a young company isn't easy. Getting established, promoting and meeting clients is 24/7 job. Its a lot of work but it has been so rewarding. I wrote my business plan over 11 years ago as an assignment for a college business class and wouldn't change a thing. I look at it every now and then as a reminder of how far I have come and to keep me on track when things seem crazy. The critics can say what they want, they can throw stones and try to discredit the foundation of my business but none of that matters. I believe in what I do, and all that I have to offer and it seems my clients do too. And in the end its my clients that matter, not the critics.