Flower Balls-Rose Balls-Pomanders

We made these flower balls for several reasons rather then buy pre-mades for our brides. The first reason is that pre-mades usually from China to us look like dollar store roses were used. (sorry if we offend anyone.)

The second reason is that the foam required to make these huge balls started at about $75.00/pce and that cost we just couldn’t justify. Not only that, but they come in 2 halves which we would have had to put together and made sure they stayed together.

 The third reason was that we weren’t limited to whatever colour was available and could purchase our own roses which not only look nicer but could use the colour we chose.

So…. we set about making our own frames to be cost effective.

It took over 230 roses to make one ball on a 14″ frame which resulted in a finished 18″ ball with a circumference of just over 60″

A lot of brides this year are incorporating them not only in their reception around the head table or entrances, but are also using them in their ceremonies. They serve many purposes for one rental price.

These of course are for rental and any colours can be added to them to comliment your theme colour, whether it be designer wire, coloured pearls, crystals or just anything that suits your style.

Our next project is to make 22″ balls.  The  frames have already been formed. We estimate that close to 350 roses will probably be needed for one ball, but we’ll let you know once we have completed them.

Weddingwire Vendor Awards – Not What They Seem – Anybody Can Get Them

and worse almost anybody can post a review-real or fake-they are there.

UPDATE: We wrote about this almost 2 years ago, but I see just in the last few days, these bogus awards are influencing people again. Vendors, you are gullible to believe that this is meaningful, and clients, it actually is worthless. Please read below what this is actually all about, and forget you even see this on sites. Yes, we admittedly thought a couple of years ago it was worth something, but in reality it’s deception, and the clients are the ones being deceived. Sure there are actual vendors who deserve recognition, but not this way and certainly not from this site. A celebrity planner is now having major issues with this site as well, and if she does what she says- there will be a legal battle soon.

________________________________________

A long time relationship with a wedding site has come to an abrupt end, our choice. We were given a supposed prestigious award (Bride’s Choice Award ) for 2009 and 2010 from this site. This award from our experience is not what it seems and many vendors agree. We were told that over 500,000 clients for the 2010 awards from this site were polled as to the best vendors in each category, i.e. decorators, florists, photographers, etc. It was broken down that  all winners were supposedly in the top 5% of their category. In 2009 if memory doesn’t fail, we believe there were even more couples polled.  We aren’t sure where the clients came from whether they are actual members on the site, or just random.

In recent weeks, we asked every one of our  past clients if they were ever contacted by this site to vote.  Not one of our clients were ever approached. Then we asked other vendors that are either friends or peers on this same site. We got the same answer….. nobody has ever been contacted to vote on their favourite vendors. Again… not sure who was polled.  We were under the impression that it was brides and grooms that were signed up on this site. as we can’t see perfect strangers voting on unknown vendors.  We didn’t know that there were that many members capable of voting either.

We then asked the actual admins/owners  of this site to provide us with proof as to who had been polled. Their reply was that due to privacy policies in place that wasn’t possible. That’s a fair enough answer, however our clients aren’t private as we were the ones  that got them to sign up on this site in the first place. They wouldn’t even give the names of our clients… and that’s because they couldn’t, they were never asked, so again why would perfect strangers vote for us.

If you google these awards by their name… literally hundreds of vendors appear with the press release about how they have won this award, but many derogotary comments have been made on forums, twitter and blogs by both vendors who got this award and others that didn’t. They know that is is literally a sick joke.   

Here are some comments http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/975966

We and several other vendors have come to the conclusion that we have been used by this site to further their ratings with absolutely no benefit to actual vendors or worse clients, at all.  Oh sure, we can put a logo up with the sites name mentioning that we have this award, but it actually  means nothing to us, and again is free advertising for them and we believe somewhat deceptive, no let me re-phrase that, entirely deceptive to unsuspecting brides for sure.

We do know that no matter how bad an actual vendor is.. they too can win this award.  Seems at present there is no particular criteria to weed out the good vendors from the bad, which actually is impossible if true clients were never asked.

There were actually impersonators as well, posing as vendors which was rather scary and bogus brides leaving reviews which we actually saw.

Integrity especially in recent years is so important when dealing in the wedding industry. If sites that cater to brides and grooms show that much lack of it, how is a couple to know in reality who is a good vendor and who to stay clear of.

Due to these questionable ethics, we voluntarily removed ourselves and any association with them. We gave them time to answer all our questions, but they didn’t.

This site should have been more forthcoming in how the awards were actually determined, but their silence speaks volumes and we do know that listings of vendors on that site may only have a couple of reviews, never been updated by the vendor and yet they still receive this award. It just happened again in 2012.

It means nothing, absolutely nothing to both the vendor and any clients that may be persuaded by this.

We apologize to our past clients and anyone who hit our website or blogs that thought seeing this award was actually worth something. We have removed it and will no longer participate with unscrupulous websites.

Open House January 28th-Update

We are very excited to be part of the open house at Hockley Valley Resort being held on January 28th, 2012.

Free offers are available to couples attending.

 Five  different table settings or more  of linen, chair covers and flowers will be on display in two separate ballrooms.

 Both real touch flowers and fresh arrangements will also be displayed.

Hockley Valley has a special offer… check it out here  http://www.hockley.com/assets/pdf/HVR-wedding-promo.pdf

We also have a special offer for those attending… how does a $150.00 discount sound?

Come to the open house and pick up the discount certificate.

Looking forward to seeing you there.

Last Wedding of 2011

 Well, who knew just a few days before Christmas a wedding request for January 2012 would come via email.

We never met the bride, but what a delight to work with.

She knew what she wanted, the colours, how many, and was in a rush to get her flowers for her January wedding.

We were lucky enough to have everything she needed in stock and we custom dyed her lillies to orange.

Within 3 working days, she had placed her order, sent her deposit, we did the arrangements, final payment was made and they were shipped to her with her tracking number.

It was a record for us for sure… but we are confident she is happy with the flowers we provided and looking forward to her wedding pictures. It certainly helps when a bride knows exactly what she wants when contacting us.

Last week also we had two appointments – two days apart with 2012 brides requesting decor and fresh florals for their weddings.

We are happy to say that we have 3 confirmed bookings in 2012 for Hockley Valley Resort, one of our favourite places to work.

Exciting times are ahead… and we look forward to it.

Here are a few of her flowers.

Winding Down From 2011 Weddings

Well, here it is December 17, 2011 and already we are so busy preparing for 2012. It seems that in the wedding industry the year just flies, albeit, we know brides don’t think that way waiting for their wedding day, until the last couple of weeks and they too wonder where the time went.

We have been so fortunate to work with our clients in 2011 that have been absolutely wonderful. I mean that sincerely. Every single one of our couples this year, of all ages have shown their appreciation of our work and that is one of the things that keeps you going in the industry. Their personalities have played a major role in making what we do so much fun.

I want to take this time to thank each and every one of  you for being so great to work with.

We have one wedding to do before the New Year and then we start all over again preparing for our 2012 events.

So, as we all prepare for the festivities both my staff and I want to wish everyone the warmest and happiest Merry Christmas and only the best in the coming New Year.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone !!

 

Wedding Trends for 2012 ?? – Who Says !!

Being in the wedding industry for more years then some of the present day vendors have been alive, we have seen many, many ideas come and go. The old adage, what goes around, comes around is so true.

Magazines, television programs,  and all kinds of print  blast away from their front pages or screens to dictate what is the latest trend in weddings to come.

Well…… you know what brides????  What you want IS  the latest trend so to speak , and you don’t need to be influenced by flashy pictures or told that you can or cannot do something because it isn’t trendy, current, or is old fashioned.

I actually detest and always have balked at what is trendy. What is comfortable for me and me alone is what I go with, and to hell with what the current rage is. It will be old real quick, and to keep up with trends will literally send you over the edge. It is impossible for anyone to stay current unless they are millionaires.

I have seen dresses on the runway lately that would have been worn in the “flower power” era.. somewhere in the mid 60″s. NOPE they don’t call it vintage… they call it “trendy.”  NOTE: I wasn’t in the wedding industry that early for those wondering.

I have seen and made bouquets that were also popular in the 60′s…. but it’s now the trend?

I’ll bet I have a dozen pair of spike heeled shoes that I wore as a teenager, and I have seen that very design, come and go at least 4 times in my lifetime… and God willing… I’ll get to see them a couple more times be in fashion. Trendy?? I guess so… but I’ve had them for 3 decades now and they will return. Guess I’m not too hard on my shoes to last that long, and I didn’t buy expensive shoes either.

So for those brides pulling their hair out to decide on what they should choose for your wedding…. do exactly what you have always wanted. Keeping up with the Jones’s or Kardashian’s isn’t reality…. and oh by the way, Kim Kardashians head piece was popular in the 80:s… so there you go.

It’s your day… have it your way, and forget the pressure of trying to be trendy. Personal influences of yours on your wedding day is what makes it special…. not what the media thinks it should be.

Free Real Touch Bouquet

We are in a good mood after getting back from our holidays and being so close to Christmas,  we are offering this special.

One free bouquet of real touch flowers for your attendant when ordering your flowers from us. This is in effect from December 8th, 2011 until January 15th 2012. Your wedding can be at any time, but the ordering process must be in effect  during these dates. When the arrangements are completed, final payment will be due and we will ship immediately.

This is for an attendant only, and the brides bouquet cannot be substituted.

Minimum order is $400.00 but taxes and shipping are extra.

Check out some of our work at http://specialdaydesign.ca or http://realtouchbouquets.com

We welcome any and all inquiries.

Crystal Hairpieces

Destination weddings are so popular and many of our brides are choosing to wear a flower or crystal comb in their hair rather then the standard tiara with a veil or fascinators.

We carry a selection of headbands and hair combs in crystal.

These are made of sturdy steel, with a silver coating embedded with clear crystals and good quality comb.

These are approximately 5-6 inches measured at the longest points with the round one approximately 4 1/2 inches from point to point.  The 2 clip hair combs a little less. Unfortunately the sparkle does not show in these pictures but they are radiant.

Add some miniature flowers that match your bouquet.. and you have a one of a kind, custom headpiece.

What’s Happening For 2012 Weddings

In 2011, we  found that our clients for 2012  booked much farther ahead then in previous years. One particular year, some brides were booking mere weeks before their event. We are glad to see brides making their choices far in advance of their weddings to not only get current pricing, but being assured and relaxed knowing that a lot of their planning is done.

The trend so far that we have found for 2012 that our clients are wanting is

-elegance with bling - not overdone and not over the top- subtle additions and not blaring backdrops

-subtle colours of white, creams and ivory and not so bold colours for 2012

-bouquets of fresh flowers more then ever, with no expense being spared on the brides bouquet

-centerpieces that absolutely get your guests attention without being gawdy.

-chair covers without sashes, again in creams and whites- with a little bling added- looks so far that sashes are a thing of the past with our brides anyway

-emphasis on the table tops and not so much on expensive linens

-colours are carried in the bridesmaids dresses and flowers, and again not so much in the decor but subtle colour additions to some of the smaller details

-sophisticated, refined, clean,  fresh  and elegant are the  most used words our clients are using in their appointments with us to decide on the decor for their weddings.

Our Rant re Trends

Now let’s get real for a moment. Every decorator, designer, planner, florist and venue deals with several different brides in a year. Every bride has their own perception of what they want. The world would be very dull if everyone did NOT have different ideas. They all have in mind their colour, theme, meals, number of guests and the list is endless which you know when planning a wedding. It is individual taste that determines the wedding day, and NOT other people’s perception.

What one magazine or website predicts is THEIR’S AND THEIR’S ONLY idea of what the coming trends are, and unless they can read bride’s minds… they have no idea what to expect to be popular for the coming year.

We are speaking from years of experience. Countless times we have read over the years what the upcoming trends are, only to deal with 40 or 50 brides in that same year and none of them want what is supposedly the trend. That includes everything from linens, flowers, gowns, stationery and everything else.

 Some are predicting bold fabric designs, bridesmaids in glitz, knockout centerpieces and whatever they seem to think will attract a brides attention.  It reminds me of a tween trying to keep up with the latest fads.

This is your wedding day people, and it’s not a time to be trying to break the bank keeping up with what the media thinks you should have.  It actually makes us sad to think of all the brides with stars in their eyes roving the internet or flipping through bidal magazines  when in reality they couldn’t afford one half of what is being pushed on them. 

The actual point of the whole wedding day is being missed here, and that is the union of a couple in love, on their way to the rest of their lives. In the end you are getting married, and all the glamour in the world doesn’t add to your love for each other.

There are of course ways to achieve what your dreams are with a limited budget, but remember that it may mean you concentrate on one particular item you want for your wedding, and possibly compromise on other things.

Speak to your vendor. If they are experienced they can make other suggestions that you possibly haven’t even thought of or know about. We constantly offer other alternatives to our brides if the budget just doesn’t work and they are very grateful that.

Remember you are an individual, with individual tastes and ideas. That and that alone is what should determine your final choices whether you keep with the current trend or do it your way.

No Free Information !! Up & Coming Wedding Professionals

We are bumping this up to the first page again… as this problem continues to manifest itself regularly.

Originally posted in June of 2011

In the last year or two we’ve had over 60 inquiries as to where we  get our real touch flowers, who my other suppliers are and everything important people want to know to start not only their own business, but be in direct competition with us.

Where do people get the nerve? Why don’t they do their own research? Why do they expect after years of hard work I’d give them everything I have gathered that has taken time, money and effort.

Please do NOT waste your time contacting our business with questions as to how to start your business, where the flowers come from etc. We are not a free educational service in the wedding industry, but a hard working group of people that have made our own mark in business.

We will NOT give you that information unless you want to pay us a huge finders fee, and what we charge is not what the normal person can afford.

If you cannot take the time to research out suppliers in your area, get your accounts in order with shippers etc.  – have lines of credit or whatever it is you need to get your business up and running then you shouldn’t be in business at all. If you aren’t going to put the effort in to get things moving, you sure aren’t going to put the effort into keeping the business running and definitely have NO BUSINESS catering to the public. This is not an easy job, and if you think the startup is difficult, wait till you get it going.

So NO FREE INFORMATION – don’t ask… your emails will not be answered. !!

We hate to sound this harsh… but we’re getting a little tired of people wanting something for nothing related directly to the business.

Update – October 2011

Well two more inquiries have come in asking the same thing. One wanted our price list if you can believe it… and another in direct competition to us and admitted it right here in our Province wanted free information as well.  Do people in this day and age NOT know proper business etiquette? What do they teach people in school these days? The new curriculum must be… “Don’t worry about working… everything is free?”  Nice idea, but doesn’t exist in the real world.

I really have to admit that I am becoming more appalled each day when these inquiries continue to come in!!

I have to emphasize that the wedding industry is NOT easy and nothing was handed to us on a silver platter, therefore I am not about to hand it free of charge to someone else. I know I sound harsh… but it’s quite obvious that I have to. With almost 30 years of learning, keeping up with trends and dealing with every social aspect in the wedding industry…. it is all a learning process, and that is what makes a good vendor. It is not having things handed to you, that will teach you how to run a business.  So GET A GRIP all you up and comers. I may have made myself very unpopular here with these comments, but you have made yourself very unpopular as well with good wedding vendors that you are approaching for free information.

We go over and above for our clients, and there is no extreme that we won’t investigate to give our brides exactly what they want. This is all part of what hard working vendors do. Our working repoire with other vendors, venues, and of course our clients has put us where we are today, but it’s been with many a sacrifice, hard work and extreme effort on our part to get us there. We are NOT about to hand out any freebies due to the personal investment we have made in making us a number one provider in wedding services.

Earn your way to the top… don’t expect to get there for nothing. It is then and only then you will have the satisfaction you deserve when you become one of the best.

Real Touch Lily-Custom Dyed

We’ve talked about custom dyeing flowers several times. Each one of our clients who request from us to dye their flowers usually sends us a colour sample of what they are looking for.

Keep in mind that it does NOT have to be something you would find in nature. If however you want your flowers to be more realistic, then you should keep with the colours nature does provide. Many real touch flowers are not available in all colours so we do have to dye them whether it be  close to natural, or just something that the bride wants.

Depending on the manufacturer or makeup of the flower, it will take dyes differently and not everything is possible to do.

This picture reflects the wishes of one of our clients who wanted blue lillies in her bouquet. We hit the mark right on when it came to the colour she wanted. We will post pictures of the completed arrangements when done, however here is the single lilly with the colour she requested.

The watermark is from our sister site.

 

 

Flower Balls-How Many Flowers?

 

When creating flowers balls or spheres, many times I have been asked just why are they so expensive.

Depending on whether you are using fresh flowers or good quality artificial the price will vary, but keep in mind a few things.

When you see these huge flower balls at weddings, chances are they are artificial flowers as the weight alone for fresh flowers would make it almost impossible to not only transport, but to display as well. The water-soaked foam for fresh flowers, makes them extremely heavy.  Many venues will NOT let you do the floral arrangements on site so that is another reason they are probably artificial.

 

Foam for oversized spheres is not cheap at all, and usually comes hollow with 2 pieces you have to put together to make the ball. A ballpark dollar value for a 16″ foam sphere for artificial costs anywhere from $25.00 to $37.00 alone. A 24″ sphere will run you about $60.00 or more.

Fresh foam is another story entirely, and in our case we custom make fresh flower oversized spheres according to our clients wishes. It can be done and some of these spheres are massive in size.

There is an actual  formulation that can be used if you are inclined to be more accurate, however experience has taught us what is needed for the size and type of flower to be put in the arrangement.

Now let’s get down to how to determine the number of flowers for these spheres. We will use fresh carnations as an example. This is a compact sphere meaning all the flowers are touching each other.

We are using all open carnations for this estimate. This is approximate  and to be used only as a guide.

8″ sphere – 120 carnations

6″ sphere 75 carnations

4 1/2″ sphere – 50 carnations

3″ sphere – 25 carnations

If you were using roses, or another type of flower, you can understand now why these are highly priced, then add any embellishments and labour to the cost of the foam and flowers.

This again, is a guide only but definitely explains why flower balls or spheres can add up in price.

 

 

 

 

 

Destination Wedding – South Carolina

We’ve said it before, we love it when our brides share their wedding day with us. Our bride in these photos was from Pennsylvania and had her wedding in South Carolina. She was an absolute joy to work with, without a doubt…. and I personally believe these two should be the new Barbie & Ken, that’s who they remind me of. What a beautiful couple….

Cost Reality of Real Touch Flowers

I am putting this link at the top of this blog again for those that missed it. When you are trying to get cheap real touch flowers…. it isn’t going to happen. Here’s the link with an explanation as to why some vendors may offer cheap flowers and call them real touch.

Educating yourself about what real touch flowers are about, will certainly help in making your decisions.

http://specialdaydesign.wordpress.com/2011/02/28/real-touch-flowers-why-so-expensive/

 

How To Inquire About Our Real Touch Flowers

When inquiring about your real touch flowers or bouquets, the more information you can give the better answers we can give. There is never too much information you can offer when estimating your flower cost. Don’t be afraid to include as much detail as possible, we will not only thank you for it, but it saves time both for you and us in the long run.

Better yet, send a picture of a bouquet you like, and we’d be more then happy to give you the details about it and if real touch flowers are available for that design.

Several times we get a one line question something like “HOW MUCH DOES A BRIDES BOUQUET COST?”

Asking about flowers like that is the same as walking into a dress shop and asking the clerk how much a dress costs. It is impossible to give an answer until the style, size, colour and type of dress is chosen.

The same goes with purchasing your real touch flower bouquets. Real touch flowers are all differently priced, just like fresh flowers are. A rose is different in price then an orchid or a rose bouquet is different in price then a calla lilly bouquet and so on.

When asking about pricing for your real touch flowers, you should know your colour scheme, the types of flowers you want or at least your favourite flower, how many bouquets are needed, the style of bouquet, and continue with adding corsages, boutonierres and anything else you like specifically if you want added bling, pearls, or crystals.

Most florists will send you back at least an estimated cost of what you are looking for, however below is our policy.

- an inquiry by potential clients comes in via email, hopefully with as much information as possible.

-within 24 hours we reply, usually within hours though, and any added questions we may have we will ask at that time

-once we have what we can work with, we offer  an estimated cost (this is different then a quote)  and it is broken down per bouquet, corsage, boutonierre etc. if that information has been supplied to us. The reason why it is an estimate only, is because there are always changes made prior to a final decision being made by our clients. We also offer suggestions with the estimate that our clients may not have thought of.

-if our client wishes to proceed with ordering, we send a detailed quote (detail is very important so there are not any unexpected surprises) along with a floral contract.

-once the contract is signed and returned and the quote has been approved an invoice is sent with the payment schedule on it. The payment schedule is also on the contract

-approval photos are always sent to the client prior to finishing the bouquets and you are allowed one change free of charge within reason.

-the finished products are photographed again and sent to the client and when final payment is received the bouquets are then shipped or delivered.

It is a simple, expedient process that protects not only you as the consumer, but us as well if something unforseen should ever arise.

When shipping to our clients, a tracking number is provided so they can follow on the web where their package is. All shipments are insured.

Proper documentation is on the package for entry into another country, however all duty and taxes if applicable by their country are the responsiblity of you the client.

So, if you are looking for an estimate only, give as much information as you can when making your inquiry, again to save both the provider and you valuable time when preparing for your wedding. Time is money, and if you waste too much of your florists time, in the end they WILL add that cost to your arrangements to re-cuperate some of their lost time spent emailing back and forth with what THEY need to give you what YOU want.

We have not put a quote form on our website http://specialdaydesign.ca however there is one on our other website http://realtouchbouquets.com and you are welcome to fill it out, send it to us, and we’d be more then happy to provide you with the information you need.

A Little About Us

We are a Canadian wedding company that has been in business for almost 3o years. We are proud of our impeccable reputation as we treat every client as if they were our ONLY client. That is what has made us so successful.

We were one of the first in the industry to provide wedding decor and flowers going back as far as the early 1980′s and progressed to offering our brides everything from fresh and artificial flowers, to favours, jewellery, veils and almost everything but the actual dress and shoes for their Special Day and all the up to date designs so popular today.

We have several floral designers working with us, all professionally trained in the floral industry.

We are not a company who provides sub-standard arrangements through online marketing. When you have a 5 star rating and won many awards for your designs, popularity and quality of service, we take that seriously and continue to provide only the best for our brides in order to maintain what we have worked so hard to achieve. We constantly upgrade our skills and our young design staff have all the latest knowledge of what is available in the market today and we keep up to date with all the modern trends .

Our pricing is very competitive and reflects the quality of not only our inventory that we use, but our expertise in what is produced.

An example being…… if you look at some other decorators designs… what you won’t see on ours is even a wrinkle on the material we use. Nothing in my opinion looks worse then a backdrop or skirting with wrinkles in it. There is no excuse other then being lazy, that a decorator won’t steam out wrinkles. You’ve paid good money for your decor… it should look perfect and a decorator should go that extra mile to make sure it is.

We have travelled and are known throughout the U.S. and Canada as providing only the best decor and florals available in the market today.

Give us a call, or email us at info@specialdaydesign.ca for a complimentary estimate of your floral or decor needs. We’d be more then happy to help you with your decisions.

Until then……. Happy Planning

Ocala Florida Bride

We never met in person this bride, but she contacted us to do her real touch bouquet, hairpiece and cake top. She was specific with what she wanted, and it was a pleasure working with her, knowing exactly what she wanted.  In these pictures are hibiscus,roses and orchids all in real touch.

Her beach wedding looks like everyone enjoyed themselves.

                                        Love the look on the grooms face – I’ll bet he’s fun !!

Wholesale Prices For Real Touch Or Silk Flowers

It’s that time of year to clear out our inventory and re-stock with new items. We have an abundance of real touch flowers and silk flowers in our inventory.

We are offering them at our wholesale price to make room for more inventory.

Contact us at info@specialdaydesign.ca if you are looking for anything in particular, and if we have it… it is yours for the low price.

This is a limited time offer, so don’t hesitate to ask.

Shipping is extra.

 

 

 

Real Touch Flower Vendors – Should Be Ashamed

 

Something has been going on for years now with some real touch flower wedding vendors, that I not only believe needs to be addressed, but will be posted on another blog as well.

There is no need to be malicious on your website towards other vendors in the same industry, but one in particular is constantly repeating on their website that other floral vendors are deceptive in their dealings with brides and goes on and on about how other vendors could be cheating you.

GIVE IT A REST !!

This not only reflects very poorly on the vendor themselves, but is utterly childish and ridiculous to say the least. Can you imagine if every company that was in competition with each other decided to take that attitude? No one would know where to buy or go for products they needed.

It is a total sign of insecurity and plain poor business practice to constantly belittle and try to degrade other hard working vendors in the industry, that are not only as good as you, but in most cases even better.

Readers, if you see this on anybody’s website then you know for a fact that you are dealing with someone that is slightly unstable or totally lacks business decorum, especially on the internet.

They are trying to convince you that they are the best, when in reality…. they just plain aren’t. There are many real touch flower companies on the web that are very good. Funny part about this is WE ALL GET OUR FLOWERS FROM THE SAME SUPPLIERS- whether it be Canada or the U.S. and every single flower to my knowledge is actually made in China… so ….. what does that tell you?

The only difference with any of these vendors is their business practices, some are long winded and their website reads like a novel, while others are clean, tidy and do NOT berate others. Their policies and dealing directly with the brides is also a reflection on how good they are.

So….. just because someone says they are the best, or try to degrade others in the industry.. just remember they are paranoid about trying to win over your confidence, and they should all take a lesson on web etiquette. It’s quite obvious they are lacking in it and need some serious attitude adjustment to get over their public insecurities.

How To Tell A Good Wedding Decorator

Popularity doesn’t always a good decorator make. It does help though.

Brides walk into a room and think what a fabulous job, however another professional decorator can walk in, look at the same thing and can tell the decorator isn’t good at all.

This is not about your consultation but the actual day.

Here’s how to tell .

1. Are their linens clean? Even if it isn’t their own inventory your decorator who can rent from a supplier should make sure that everything they present is immaculately clean. That includes chair covers, sashes, and anything they use at your event.

2. Have they hidden stains in folds at your head table or backdrop? We wash our table skirts and linens after every event. We want them smelling fresh. We check and re-check for any marks even after washing to make sure that our brides get everything as fresh as possible.

3. Are there wrinkles in the backdrop material, swagging, or head table skirts. This is just a sign of a lazy decorator. There is no excuse whatsoever to have wrinkles on any material.  The material used can be very long and wide, but steaming after they are hung should be a given and not an exception. We iron all our table skirts and draping prior to folding them and putting on special hangers. Any creases are immediately removed at the venue after they are in place.

4. Are the chair sashes even on the chairs and the bows almost the same size? Nothing looks worse then seeing chair sashes all askew and bows sloppily done. It shows they didn’t take time to do the job nor take pride in their work. Sashes  should be freshly ironed and hanging ready to be put on the chairs when they arrive.

5. Do a lot of their pins show? There is no need for that in most cases either. Some of the decor requested has to be pinned, but a good decorator will hide them as much as humanly  possible or at the very least have them blend in .

6. Do they lay the extra material properly on the floor, or just let it hang whatever way it lands. Long table skirts or pole covers should be placed neatly and not left spread all over the place that isn’t neat and tidy. I have seen absolutely hundreds of wedding photos where the decorator has left the table skirts a mess on the floor, but brides wouldn’t think or know that is NOT the way to finish the job.

7. Extension cords can be used a lot, but there is no need for these to be hanging every which way either. If they are connecting something across the floor, then it is common sense that they should be duct taped securely to prevent any mishaps and out of the line of view as much as possible.

8. Are they using the cheapest items and charging you a high cost. Many decor items now are made of plastic to save the designer and brides money, but make sure they aren’t fooling you if you’ve paid for real crystal and they are using a knock off in plastic.

9. Are they at the venue at the proper time to set up? Many venues can create obstacles for decorators and time frames sometimes can be limited.  Make sure your decorator  has the staff to handle short time frames, are there at the right time, and finish the job before any of your guests arrive. Nothing looks worse then walking into a wedding and decorators are still running around finishing up last minute items.

10. Does your decorator offer a contract that stipulates in writing everything that you want and are paying for. This is an absolute must. At the same time, make sure to check if there are any escape clauses, or forfeiture of money if things don’t go as planned.

11. Be wary of some references and reviews.  A lot of decorators can do 20 weddings and only hear back from 1 bride publicly. Then there are other unscrupulous vendors who have bogus reviews of their services.  Lots of reviews may mean nothing or it could mean something.  Some decorators never ask for reviews, others have way too many to make it seem feasible, and others sometimes don’t even know one was given.  What is good for one bride may not be good for another. Choose your decorator wisely and remember the bigger they are, the chances are you will pay more.

12. Make sure your decorator understands thoroughly what your vision is.  Nothing worse then walking into your venue and it isn’t at all what you pictured. Again… get it in writing.

13. Lights… there are so many choices. If you choose the subtle twinkle lights at your tables, then they too should be anchored properly and tidy. Nothing again looks worse then the wires hung every which way. There is a pattern and easy way to hang lights at tables and your decorator should know the methods. Same with spotlights under the table. These should be anchored to the floor to keep your wedding party from kicking them over or moving them with their feet.

14.  Shortcuts are used by professional decorators to accomplish what is required, and a professional decorator knows all of these quick methods to get the job done, which leaves them time to do even more for you if you want it.

15. Most important is that you are assured that even if a decorator has 3 or 4 weddings the same weekend as yours that they will treat you as if yours were the only one. We personally will NOT do 2 weddings the same day. Our focus is on one wedding and one wedding alone per day in order to give our bride exactly what she wants and are available to them for anything else they may require.  Usually they do, i.e. fixing flowers that were NOT from us, and many, many unforseen things that we can provide at the last minute.

16. Personalities are very important when working with your wedding decorator. Some are friendlier then others, while some are strictly business. Choose wisely, it’s a big investment your are making. It is something every guest at your wedding will notice, and you want it to be memorable not only for you but them too.

Happy Planning….

Related articles

• Open House: Wedding Décor DIYs (casasugar.com)

Mexico Bride From Texas

We are awaiting pictures of our bride who lives in Texax but got married in Mexico last week… stay tuned.