Emerald wedding inspiration boards

Choosing colors and a theme for weddings can been mind boggling.  There are so many options not to mention confusing color names :)  By the time I meet brides, there is a 50-50 chance they know what they want for their flowers.

Below are a few color options based on a bridesmaids dress chosen by a bride.  The brides wedding is in June and wants a romantic feel for the wedding.    Which one do you like the best?

Emerald and white

Emerald, Pink and Yellow

Emerald, Teal, and Green

Valentines Flower Tip of the Day

The Wrapped Bouquet

image thanks to Martha

You or your honey decided to go with a wrapped bouquet instead of a vased arrangement.  Great! Now what?  

1.  Unwrap the flowers and take all rubber bands and plastic bags off the flowers.  

2.  Strip the lower leaves or foliage off of the flowers.  Foliage that is submerged in water with the flowers harbors bacteria quickly, killing your flowers.  So, this is a VERY important step! If you are working with roses, remove the outside guard petals so the flower can open more quickly

3.  Fill a clean vase with warm water and the package of flower food provided.  

 *Vase not clean?  Use one part vinegar to three parts hot water and sit.  This will break down the calcium build up and bacteria in the vase.  

image thanks to DuFresh

 *Didn't get a package of flower food?  Use 1 tsp sugar and a few drops of bleach to a quart of water.  The sugar will act as the 'food' and the bleach will clean the water.

4. Use a Sharp non serrated knife to cut the flowers at an 45 degree angle. Cut about 1/4 inch off the end of the flower or enough so the end looks moist.  You have about 15 seconds to put the flower into water without having to recut before the flower air locks.

5.  Arrange the larger flowers first, then place the foliage around and finish with the smaller accent flowers.  More on how to arrange in my next tip of the day :) 

Image thanks to Martha

Valentines Tip of the Day

Take about 5 extra minutes and choose a LOCAL florist!!

So, here is the deal:   Many of the advertisements seen for Valentine's flowers are from some of the largest floral companies such as Teleflora, ProFlowers, and FTD.  Have you ever been to the floral shop by the name of these?   Probably not!  That is because these companies are essentially a 3rd party used to forward orders to local florists. How is this a bad thing? In my opinion, It's bad because you are wasting your $!!

Here is an example:

 - You order a floral arrangement from an online website such as one of the companies mentioned above.
 - They will contact the nearest local florist to fill the order
 - BUT, they will take $$ out for "handling", and give what is left to the florist to fill the order (often times forcing the florist to use less quality flowers due to lack of money!)
 - Finally, the beautiful arrangement you ordered is not going to look like the photo you thought it would, I guarantee it!

More reasons to do your homework and save your $$:
  Check out the Floral Detective's thoughts on FTD and Teleflora
  What you see ISN'T always what you get (Yikes!)
  Learn from their mistakes and/or misfortunes on Twitter  :(
  Lastly, the consumerist is on your side, buyer beware!


To make the MOST of your $$, I suggest you take the time to look up a florist and CALL them to make sure they have a physical address in the area you want to send flowers!  This way you can be assured that your $$ is not shrinking before a florist can use it for flowers.


If you want help, leave a comment on where you want to send flowers and I will find a florist for you!!

Valentine's Flowers Tip of the day

How to help your Florist help You!

For some people, ordering flowers can be like pulling teeth!  There are many more questions to be answered than most people are prepared for.  Here are the top 3 tips to know before your call your florist:

Image from Neurons wordpress

1. Who and where are the flowers going to?  Spelling is a plus with this one!  Knowing a phone number of some sort is important for delivery (especially if the weather is bad and the flowers can't be left) couldn't hurt either!

2. What would you like to send?  Florist are looking for the following
A. a fresh flower arrangement  or B. a flowering or non flowering plant, and C. a price range (Minimum range is $35)

If you want to order a high quality bouquet with minimal foliage (greens), then say the following:

Fresh arrangement with No babies breath, leather leaf, carnations, alstromeria, asters, or daisy poms.  This will ensure the quality isn't compromised by these lovely, yet inexpensive flowers.


3. What would you like the card to say?  One would think the flowers will speak for themselves, but just to be safe, why not at least let the recipient know who they are from!  Card enclosure tips tomorrow.

Valentine's Flowers Tip of the day

How to keep your flowers longer! The top three mistakes people make with their flowers

image by real simple

1.  The water isn't changed frequently (or at all, Yikes!).  Dirty water breeds bacteria which is one of the major culprits in flowers dying.   Change the water every two days.  Don't want to disrupt your arrangement by dumping the water?  Use a turkey baster to get the water out, then carefully use your faucet to add more! 

2.  The flower arrangement is dying of heat!  This one is a bit trickier as the 'flower spot' is most likely going to be on a table next to some great sunshine (if your lucky enough to get sun).  Unfortunately, flowers don't like the warm sun like they do when they are in the ground.   It is best to keep your arrangement in a cool spot away from direct sunlight.  
      If you just can't bare keeping your arrangement from it's perfect location, try moving it in the afternoon or evening hours to that cool spot.  This will prolong the life.

image by rebecca duke

3.  Some of the flowers need tossed.   When you see any flower starting to wilt or petals starting to turn brown toss them!  Don't throw the whole arrangement in the trash, just get rid of the ones that aren't front runners anymore.  Think of those dead or wilting flowers as having the flu.  Whatever that one touches will spread quick.  Get those in the trash, change the water and give the live flowers a fresh cut! 

Valentine's Flowers Tip of the day

Today's tip is about ordering options.  Below is a list based on the type of relationship you have with your honey, and more importantly, how you want to have!


1. The committed relationship:  Red roses or red monochromatic arrangement (pictured right).  This arrangement will suggest the following;  classic, traditional, romantic, serious and most importantly LOVE. 

2.  Dating seriously : A red monochromatic arrangement CAN work if you are heading to the first relationship.  If not, go with a mix of reds, pinks and creams.  Mixing in roses with other flowers is a great way of showing you "care for her." 

3.  Dating casually or Flirty relationship:  I suggest ordering a fun mix of vibrant colored (pictured left) or pastel arrangement depending on her tastes.  If your honey is a trendy and loves color, go with a mix of vibrant colors like purple, pink, orange and yellow.  If they are more classic, go with a pastel color pallet like lavender, pink, and cream. 

Want something different?  No matter what type of relationship, if your honey is into modern design and loves places like CB2, or pop art like Andy Warhol chances are a tropical arrangement is in the running!
 This arrangement is going to run high in cost, but will last extra long!  When ordering a tropical arrangement, be sure to specify what colors you want to see, or you will be sure to get a mix of everything.