Flowers!!

Cymbidium orchids, ivory roses, red hydrangeas and freesia, OH MY! I've been on the hunt for a florist this week in Northern Virginia, trying to find the person who can make bouquets and table arrangements in a style that fits mine for a price that fits our budget. Not as easy as it sounds!

First of all, you can't just walk into a florist to talk shop with them. You must make an appointment to have a "consultation," which is about an hour long process where you talk about exactly what kinds of boutennieres, corsages, bouquets, altar flowers, reception centerpieces and cake table flowers you want. The options are endless so it really helps to bring swatches of the wedding dress, bridesmaid dresses, tableclothes at the reception and pictures of both the ceremony and reception sites.

In terms of price, I have learned that the main thing to consider is the season and the rarity of the flower. For example, a peony in September in DC is about $10 a stem whereas an Alstromeria is $1.25 per stem. Big difference, right?

Mom has a thing about not having a bouquet that "looks like you could club someone over the head with it," so we are looking at a very natural, organic shape for the bouquet, rather than the sort that is perfectly round and tightly bound at the stem. I like the idea of a longish ribbon. Mom also thinks that seeing the stems of a bouquet is "ugly as sin," so we're trying to avoid that too. She had a cascading bouquet all wired in the back so that it had a sort of handle, so we'll see if we can find a florist who can do something similar. Love the one pictured here, minus the excessive beads.

I've met with two florists now, so we'll see what they come up with! Both are sending me estimates that I should receive by the end of the week.