Weddingbee PRO
Hi Nancy,
I follow your blog and just admire your work so much. I have a question for you regarding hydrangea. I love love this flower but ran into quite a few incidences where it drooped on me if left out of water. I see them in magazines all the time where brides hold a beautiful white hydrangea or even mixed with hydrangea or hydrangea pomander, and wonder how long does that bouquet last?
Such as this wedding featured on Southern Weddings of Christi and Chris' wedding photographed by Studio A Photography.
A recent poll we condusted showed that the budget is the #1 stress for couples. Though many of you might recognize a few of my flower budgeting wedding tips, it may be a good idea to revisit them. Here's a few tips on how to save and still have a great event.
Modest Flowers in Abundance
This is nothing novel but I'm a firm believer that a good floral designer can make any flower (well - almost any flower) look beautiful, elegant, and timeless when you give them a chance.
A few weeks ago, I received a question regarding good substitutes for peonies and ranunculus when they are out of season. For peonies, other great alternatives include
English Garden Roses - some have that cabbage style opening
Fancy Carnations - some carnations look like the center of peonies
Telopia - this flower has that same head size and a large bloom
Water Lilies - they’re very unique and also have a wonderful grand showiness
Large Dahlia Heads - some like the cafe au lait are so large in size that they remind me of peonies
‘Polo' roses - these large headed roses can sometimes open with a cabbage like center
English Roses (left), Carnations (right)
After spending a lot of time with other wedding professionals this past month, I seem to see a recurring issue. Many of us have been adversely affected by the economy. One vendor friend of mine recently told me that she was hopeful about 2010 until several of her brides started to cancel their consultations. Other professionals who are very well established and seasoned veterans asked me what they should do to drum up business, while another reduced their fees to be competitive and still continues to have issues with their bottom line. A few are puzzled that some are doing great while others are tanking. The question that everyone seems to ask is how to drum up business in this tough economy. Is there a solution?
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How do you drum up business? How do you keep one's business healthy in this troubled economy? Why is one business doing well while another equal business is suffering?
I'm not sure I'll answer all the questions but the first, most important thing to do in drumming up business is this:
Client Service is Key
Making sure that I take care of my clients is my number one priority. I use the term clients very loosely. A client to me could be a vendor, a direct customer (bride, groom, MOB), a purchasing agent, an editorial vehicle, a neighbor, a venue, etc.
Treating my clients with remarkable service has helped me to stay afloat during difficult times. There is a saying, “don't bite the hand that feeds you”. It's true. The better I service my clients, the better the health of my business. This also means going beyond, doing a little something extra.
(At the wedding pictured above, we ended up with two dozen extra roses. We decided to add a few to the chairs - it didn't cost the bride a thing and it was a nice addition to these white folding chairs.)
This is Part Three of a four part answer to Laid Back Bride's question.
A couple days ago I tackled the availability issues with peonies and ranunculus. Today, I actually want to address where some of this conflicting information might be coming from, and use anemones as an example of misinformation.
Please keep this in mind that this is coming from a floral designer based in San Francisco. What I say is based on the information that I've learned, experienced and discovered during my journey as a wedding floral designer. The information below does not apply to other parts of the world or different areas of the country.In life and in everything, take things with a grain of salt. 
Having said this, let's dive in.
Laid Back Bride's question about certain flower availability started possibly from misinformation that is out there. It's not wrong information; it just isn't a complete story. When I touched base with LBB, she was able to tell me the source of the confusion which stemmed from the current website of CCFC (California Cut Flower Commission). This is one of many floral resources which gives information on monthly flower availability. I spoke with Kasey Conquist, Executive Director and Ambassador of CCFC, on Thursday, August 13th. During the conversation I pointed out a couple issues that I have with the website's availability information.
For example:
1) Concerning availability (especially that of anemones):
Statement: CCFC.org currently states that anemones are available from October through July from California growers.
Reality: It was nearly impossible to find good quantities of anemones in the market place for most of July, October, and November.
This is Part Two of a four part Answer to Laid Back Bride's question.
I tackled the availability of the peony. Now let's find out about ranunculus.
One of the things that I love about my days is that they’re never the same. One day, it's all computer office work, another is all about client meetings, then it's about finding props or working with my staff. It's so different every day and Reason #1 that I love being a floral designer is that I get to go off site, out of the office! Whenever I have a day off (which seems rare these days) I get in my silver Jeep and we cruise and go on site visits.
Dear Nancy,
I love peonies, anemones, ranunculus, and dahlias and would love to use them at my wedding in San Francisco in late fall [October to be exact]. Will they be available when I get married?
Laid back Bride
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Dear Laid Back Bride,
I also love those flowers. Nothing is as pretty as white anemones with their black centers, paper thin petaled ranunculus in delicious hues of grapefruit, coral, orange, ruffly edged peonies with their over the top blooms, or deliciously plum and orange dahlias with their unique shapes and sizes.
However, as much as I would like to say that you should be able to get these elegant, romantic, fluffy, garden blooms, I would be misleading if I were to guarantee these flowers for a bride during late fall.
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Nancy @ Nancy Liu Chin Designs, San Francisco
Vendor: Florist
Website: Nancy Liu Chin Designs
About Me: A San Francisco native, Nancy graduated from the University of California - Berkeley's Haas Business School where she studied finance and marketing. Beyond running her floral studio, Nancy is a huge fan of Top Chef, loves to travel to exotic locations, is an avid reader of contemporary fiction and considers herself on Team Edward (Twilight fan!), entertains friends in her loft style home in San Francisco's SOMA neighborhood, and can be found at SF Giant's home games. Nancy and her husband, Kevin are a dynamic pair and can be frequently seen walking their white Bichon Frisee, Chin Chin around the city and lounging at cafes sipping Italian sodas.
![[10.jpg]](http://www.weddingbeepro.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/10031.jpg)
