Check List For Your Wedding Flower Consultation

At White Iris Designs, we love weddings. Thus, today I am going to give you a list of a few things to include in you preparations to hire a florist for your special day. These are a few things that I tell all of my bride's to bring with them to their wedding consultation.

1. Schedule a consultation...this way the florist will have uninterrupted time just for you. (I charge for my consultations...then when the wedding is booked with me I deduct it from the total cost of the wedding flowers. That way if she chooses not to use me then I have not spent that time & given all of my ideas for free!)

2. Bring a photo of your bridal gown. (This helps to determine the style of the wedding.)

3. Bring a photo of the bridesmaid's dresses (Again the style is very important)

4. Bring swatches of fabric in the colors of dresses & accent colors. (If you cannot keep the swatches, I suggest that you take them to a Home Depot, Menards, etc. & find paint chip samples that match them. They are free, small & will fit in your purse easily for you to have on hand at all times.)

5. Bring photos of style of tuxes

6. Bring photos of styles of bouquets, boutioneeres, corsages, centerpieces, etc. that you love (This is helpful in choosing the style of arrangements)

7. Bring in photos of kinds of flowers you love (Again helpful to know what you love...also a lot of people know what kinds of flowers appeal to them but do not know the names of the flowers. I can help you identify them.)

8. Bring a photo of the site of the ceremony, number of pews, alter, entrance, front entrance, candelabras, length of aisle, etc. (This is very helpful when trying to determine where & what types of arrangements are needed.)

9. Photos of the reception site
(Again for the same reason as for the church. You will need to know the number of tables, style of table, how they will be arranged, & location of cake table)

10. Make a list of everyone you will want flowers for (Bridal party, special family members, vocalists, instrument players, registers, servers, etc. This helps speed up the consultation, remember you might be paying for it)

11. Bring any special containers, etc you will want to be used (It is very fashionable for brides & grooms to personalize their ceremonies, so many are using family heirloom vases etc.)

12. Bring a photo of you wedding cake. (If you decide you would like flowers on it, being able to see a photo is very helpful.)

I suggest that you start a folder file to compile all of the information that you need. Start tearing out pictures from magazines, print them off the computer, etc. Carry this with you to all of your appointments regarding your wedding. Also invest in a small note pad to write down things that you may need to check up on at a later time. In all of the excitement, you can easily forget things that were discussed.
It is never too early to start preparing. The sooner all of the details are taken care of the more you will be able to relax & enjoy this very special time in your life.
If you have any questions about things that I did not cover here, please leave them in the comment box or email me at whiteirisdesigns@hotmail.com

My Little Quirks....

Awhile back I got my blog tagged to participate in a little game. I cannot find that email anymore with all of the particulars of the game...but I do remember that I was suppose to name a list of some of my quirks.
I remembered this game the other day when certain family members (you know who you are)were so lovingly pointing some of them out to me. So here are a few of the quirky things that I do that make me the original me that I am. I find them amusing & cute..others refer to them as strange & sometimes annoying.
You be the judge & feel free to leave your comments along with some of your cute & amusing quirks!

1.I have to sit on the outside when in a booth at a restaurant, on a plane, bus etc. or movie theater. (I'm a bit claustrophobic)

2. I take my pillow with me when I travel....I left it in Chicago once & paid dearly to have it shipped back to me!

3. I have to sleep on the same side of the bed..now matter where I am sleeping (home, hotel, friend's house etc.)

4. I do not eat cold fruit....hurts my teeth & cannot taste the flavor as much when it is cold. so what is the point?

5. I have sort of a routine that I stick to when getting ready in the morning...if it is altered, it messes me up a bit for the day!

6. I am freaked out about having stuff in my teeth after I eat & boogies in my nose.(sorry about that one)

7. If I go to the movies....I have to have popcorn...isn't that a part of the whole experience?!

8. I cannot stand for anything to be put in my belly button...no fingers, please!!

9. I do not like to have people touch my face. (you never know where hands have been..yuck!)

10.I like for my undergarments to match! (you know in case of emergency, thanks Mom)

Well there you have it a bit of quirkiness about me....love them or not it is a part of who I am!
See I told you that they were cute!

Favorite Flower Contest Winner!!!

Thank you to all who took the time to read my blog & enter your story. I thoroughly enjoyed reading all of them. I am happy I was not the one who had to choose. But after much deliberation & consideration we have a winner..................Here is her story!


Blogger Liz said...

Many people would wonder why my favorite flower is a daisy. I have study hypnosis and have use it in many whys through my life. You might wonder what hypnosis has to do with my favorite flower. Well here is my story. I was three months pregnant with my second son when I began very sick and hospitalized... I won’t go into detail. I had to have major surgery, which was life threatening for my baby and me. I came through okay, but I still had to fight for my baby to live. I didn’t know if I would be able to carrying him full term. I practice hypnotism every night during my time in the hospital. I would picture a favorite place in my mind to relax which was a field of daisies. One day in my hypnosis state I walk though that field with a baby in my arms that is when I new he would be okay.
A Daisy is my favorite flower,
Liz

Liz, Thanks for entering my very first blog contest & Congratulations you are the winner of the custom designed silk wreath! Please send me your information so that when it is finished I can get it shipped out to you ASAP! If you have a favorite color palette you would like for me to use let me know that as well.
You can email me at whiteirisdesigns@hotmail.com

New Whimisical Artist Discovery!

I recently discovered the whimsical art of Natasha Wescoat....very colorful & fun! Check out her contest & enter to win some of her art work! Her website is natashawescoat.com there you will find information about her, her art & where you can purchase some of your own!

I recently purchased 2 of her art pendant necklaces. I love how it is like wearing little pieces of art. Be sure to look at her gallery of her work....you will love it!

Tell me about your Mother's Day!

I have spent the past week sending out beautiful bouquets of flowers, to other Mothers. Wishes for a Happy Mother's Day from their loved ones. I love the joy on their faces when they receive them.

This morning I woke up to a wonderful Mother's Day surprise of my own. Both of my sons were at home, up & waiting to give me a big hug, a kiss, tell me that they loved me & wish me a Happy Mother's Day. Now that is beautiful!!

Don't get me wrong, you all know that I love flowers, but that was worth more to me than any flower bouquet I could have designed, delivered or received. But knowing me as they do, the also bought me a new Peony bush to add to my growing collection. Each year they give me something to plant in my yard, something that for years to come I can look at and remember them & their love for me & mine for them.

This is something that we started when they were very little. I told them that if they wanted to give me something, make it something that I would love, that they picked out themselves & that I could keep forever. Thus a tradition was started. Many years from now I will be able to look out over my yard & see years of wonderful memories, planted there forever.

Today, as everyday, I am grateful to my sons, Evan & Mason, for their love, respect, kind hearts & especially their senses of humor......laughter is highly valued in the McCain household. We laugh......A LOT!!

Tonight my husband is making dinner. AHHHH the perfect day!
I love you guys!!

What are you doing this Mother's Day? Did someone do something special for you? Did you receive a special gift. Share it with us, we all have great Mom stories!

p.s. The photo is of a Mother's Day cake we sent out.....no calories, no guilt!! Pure enjoyment!!

Your Favorite Flower & the Story Behind It Contest!

This is one of my favorite times of the year. All of my favorite flowers are blooming now or will be very soon. One of my all time favorite flowers has to be Lilacs. Some of my earliest memories regarding my love for flowers goes back to my maternal Grandma's house. She had all of the quintessential "old fashioned" flowers, that I love: Snowball bushes, Peonies, Hydrangea, Wisteria & my favorite, Lilacs.

Grandma had a row of beautiful Lilac bushes right outside of her kitchen & bathroom windows. When the air was warm, she would open up the windows & that intoxicating scent would fill the house. To this day whenever I smell Lilacs it takes me right back to that time in my life. Each year I try to plant new Lilac bushes somewhere in my yard. I hope to have grandchildren someday who will play under them & think of me whenever they smell their wonderful fragrance.

I am offering you a chance to win a wreath, designed by me, for a front or back door, made of quality silks using some of the winner's favorite flower. All you need to do is tell me your favorite flower, why you love it & the story behind it.

I will run this contest until Saturday, May 10th at midnight. The winner will be announced on Monday, May 12th, so check back to see if you are the winner.

This is the first contest that I have offered & to be fair, I am asking my husband, Scott & Valerie(she is a designer at my flower shop) to choose the winner. Good Luck & I cannot wait to read all of your stories!

Happy Mother's Day to you all!