Weddingbee PRO
In the continuing Real Groom series by Danny Lai, I am grateful that Danny is tackling a very helpful subject - flowers and the florist selection process.
Danny gives his male perspective on what he feels are great questions to ask a florist and what to look for. For a change, it's nice to have a client tell me what they want to know instead of me telling all of you what I think. You'll be surprised to find out that Danny and I share many of the same insights.
I can't thank Danny enough for his frank and candid post. Hope you enjoy!
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Floral arrangements play a major role in unifying any wedding theme, as you see them everywhere at a wedding — on the wedding party, altar, seats, and on the reception tables. When choosing a floral designer, it's important to choose someone who understands your style and vision (Nancy interjects….”amen to that”), and can make it real while keeping within your budget. When interviewing your prospective floral designer, make sure you've covered the following points:
Budget
Ask the difficult questions first. Ask your floral designer about his/her past weddings of similar size and venue, and get a rough estimate of the floral costs for those weddings. This should give you a ballpark range for your expected floral costs. Some floral designers produce unforgettable art using only the most expensive elements, while others produce art across a broader spectrum of elements and prices. Make sure your potential floral designer has worked within your budget before.
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Hello Hive!
Back in the summer of 2006, I stumbled upon Weddingbee, after recently becoming engaged - to support my daily wedding fix. Over the past three years, I've had the pleasure of watching the hive grow and luckily, have gotten the chance to work with Mrs. Bee and meet some of the fabulous contributors of WB and WB PRO. And, my sister-in-law, Brooke, also happens to be the amazingly talented Mrs. Cupcake, so in a way being a contributor to WB PRO is bringing this full-circle for me! 
I couldn't have been more excited when Bee asked me to join one of the most supportive and comprehensive wedding communities. I'm beyond excited to be here to share my story, ideas and inspirations with all of you!
So without any further ado…
My company, Inspired Goodness was born in early 2008, a few months after settling back into daily life after returning from our honeymoon. Faced without a wedding of my own to plan, my days were filled with a longing for finding chic birdcage veils and the latest letterpress invitations. Not looking to return to a 9-5 career, I channeled my graphic design background and love of entertaining into what I call Creative Event Fulfillment.
Inspired Goodness is an event design (E.D.) company, and since I've met countless bride's who are curious as to the in's and out's of an event designer's role versus that of a wedding planner. For my first post on WB PRO, I thought it might be helpful to explain the difference.
Lena Hartford from Hair That Moves talks about choosing the right hair style for the big day!
Above photo by Emilie Inc. Photography
When choosing a hair style for your wedding, some brides like to follow “wedding trends” from magazines and there are thousands of options to choose from so picking the right style for you can be daunting. Here are some pieces of advice when thinking about a hair style:
Classic vs. Trendy
-A classic style will look the best in photos when you look at yourself years down the road. If you are choosing a hair style that is trendy - great! But it also needs to compliment your dress and overall look and feel of the wedding -not overpower them. For instance, if you are having a formal ceremony, a formal updo with a long veil and several pieces of decor is appropriate. However, a formal style may not fit a beachside or outdoor ceremony. I would recommend a soft look to go with the natural background.
Consultations and Trial Runs
-The most important part of choosing a style comes at your consultation. This appointment includes talking about these details and asking a professional for their take on what may work for each situation. For instance, a style that is not secure to withstand the windy elements of a beachside ceremony may not be a good choice.
So many brides want to schedule their wedding day down to the minute. As a wedding planner, we always create a wedding day and week of itinerary for our clients. I thought it would be a good idea to help you figure out how to schedule your wedding day so you can relax and enjoy the big moment!
Probably the most traditional wedding day schedule, here's the order that most brides follow:
Ushers/Groomsmen arrive at ceremony location to welcome guests
Guests arrive at ceremony site
Bridal Party arrives at ceremony site
Ceremony begins
Ceremony ends
Guests leave for cocktail hour
Cocktail hour begins
Bridal Party takes formal photos
Guests invited to dinner
Introductions
First Dance
Welcome speech
Best Man speech
Maid of Honor speech
Salads served
Entrees served
Entrees cleared
Cake cutting
Bride and groom thank you speech
Parent dances
Open dancing begins
Evening ends
Now let's put an actual timeline together for you to see…. let's say the ceremony starts at 4:00 pm and the location is the same as the reception:
I love this photo. The classy bride tossing her bouquet is my Aunt Elaine and the little girl in white trying to catch the bouquet is…my mom! The little socks and Mary Jane’s kill me.
This photo got me thinking about wedding traditions and which ones we will be including. Here is the little list {edit: this list is far from little. I hope you are comfy 
} I made of traditions, meanings, and if I think we are going to include them or break them:
1. The bouquet toss - Yes. But a bit different. I do not think it is a big deal if I throw my own bouquet. I know a lot of brides save them but they will die. I will save something else, like the ribbon they are going to be tied with and hopefully pass on. I think I will give my bouquet away to either my mom or split it and give one half to my sister and the other half to Deb, my future sister-in-law. With all that said, I am still going to do a toss, only I am going to hold a bundle of unbound flowers together and then toss them from a higher location and shower people with flowers. I think I will invite any and all the ladies to participate as well.
2. Giving the bride away - Yes. I am walking down the aisle with my dad. It is just one of those things I have always known about my wedding and something I am really looking forward to. Hopefully I do not cry. I will. I know this tradition reaches far back to the days of daughters being property of their fathers, dowries, and essentially a transfer of ownership from the father to now husband but…seriously. I am no one's property. All parties involved - Dad and Rich - are aware of this. I do not think I am any less progressive or independent for wanting to do this. I see it as symbolic walk from the old life to the new.
I'm a big supporter of those starting out in the floral and wedding business. A curious person by nature, I'm fascinated by people who want to enter into the wedding floral business because it just isn't for the faint of heart or for those who do it for the money. It's often a thankless, laborious business where change is constant, things are unpredictable, and emotions can run rampant. Because of this, I admire people who dive into it with such passion, courage, and of course - a great attitude.
Kelly Kaufman from Southern California has some wedding advice to share. Kelly is an avid follower of my blog, and she loves flowers and floral design as much as I do. Let's give a big welcome to Kelly of Florette Floral Design.
Hi! I am very excited to share my first wedding project with you! The lessons I learned from my first experience goes beyond just the floral part. I learned so much about wedding planning. This wedding is very dear and special to my heart because it is my very own wedding.
The processional is an important element of any wedding ceremony. It helps to separate this special moment from the everyday, as most people don't get grand entrances, complete with music, escorts, and flowers, too often. It also helps to honor special people in your life who have contributed and supported you, by giving them a special moment as well.
Typically, anyone who you would give flowers to (corsage, bouts, etc) is involved with the processional. This usually includes:
It does not usually include:
Which isn't to say it can't.
I think it's fun when wedding planners divulge what's in their emergency kits. Sometimes the stuff they stock seems so random and meticulous to me, proving how Type A these planners need to be! Angel from Love and Splendor wrote a terrific post for Weddingbee PRO about her emergency kit, and Liene from Blue Orchid Blog enlightened me with some of her unusual tools.
We florists also need to come prepared. When working with fragile, perishable artwork on a time crunch in sometimes brutal weather, things can definitely go wrong. But with florals, there is always a way to make it work. Through trial and error, I've built an arsenal of tools that has seen me through some snafus. Here are a few that I just packed up yesterday morning for a fabulous LA wedding:
Aside from your ability to really splurge on the things that matter, a small wedding opens up the doors to a variety of venue options.
What better way to have a wow wedding than in a charming setting? Here are five intimate wedding venues that are sure to charm:
Restaurant - Are you a foodie? Do you have a favorite bistro, or fine dining restaurant? Why not find out if the venue can host your wedding? Restaurants and lounges are becoming an increasingly popular choice for couples looking for small wedding venues. Although all restaurants are different, many have intimate surroundings that are ideal for small guest lists. And they can save you money. Having a restaurant reception means not having to rent tables, chairs, tableware and glassware. Some venues will also provide linens. And as far as convenience goes – there's no need to hire a caterer. The chef is already in the house!
Inn or Bed and Breakfast – Inns and bed and breakfasts are ideal small wedding venues. Whether you want a small decadent indoor wedding or a simple garden wedding on a budget, there's sure to be an inn or bed and breakfast to suit your needs. Although many couples choose inns that they have previously stayed at to get married, some couples choose small wedding venues they've never visited. It might be an inn just a few blocks away, or one on the other side of the country – or even the globe. Read about Gideon and Ashley's intimate inn wedding.
{Images via A Backyard Wedding}
I have thought about it and thought about it some more. I started to research rentals and thought about it again. After a long car ride to Maine and back the decision was made. We are going to thrift our dinner and dessert plates and possibly the glasses. Cutlery is still up in the air. The decision was made for a few reasons
1. Aesthetically speaking, we like the vintage, I just-pulled-this-out-of-cupboard, nothing quite matches look.
2. Our wedding reception is most likely going to be held under a tent. Tents are pricey and so is everything that needs to go under it. If we stick to the plan of only purchasing items that are less then renting them, we are in business. Plus, after the wedding we can resell what we no longer want. Cannot do that with a rental…
3. It is sustainable. Granted rentals are too, but these will have some character!
4. Rich and I love any reason to visit the many Salvation Army stores in the area. Plus it is yard/garage sale season. Perfect!
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