WEDNESDAY WEDDINGS: A Review

I just got an email from the bride that I wrote about last week in my Wednesday Wedding blog. It is probably bad blog etiquette but since I am just learning I am going repeat myself.

Agatha just sent me the most beautiful photos from her wedding that I wanted to share. There is always something intriguing about professional photos and they are often difficult to get and rarely do photographers share them so willingly.  As you can see you get a slightly different picture when you see them as others do.

I thought her photographer was terrific. Stephen of W Studios in New York and I met at  Blue Hill at Stone Barns since both of us arrived well in advance. The catering manager took us for a tour of the facility for our efforts.

I had to share the photos since they really give you an up close and personal sense of just how special the wedding was. I will dispense with words and just share the pictures – they capture the essence of the day and do all the talking. 

WEDNESDAY WEDDINGS: New Relationships

A few months ago, I met Agatha, an amazing woman. Her fiancé sent her flowers several times over the past few years. When it came time to plan their wedding, they decided to come and see me for flowers. I hadn't met either of them  but I liked them immediately and there was a positive energy between us. I always think that good chemistry is critical because it makes working together much more enjoyable.  

The wedding took place at Blue Hill at Stone Barns - what a beautiful setting. Their philosophy  is that most of the food is from farm to table. Agatha didn't want to do too much  and chose to use the natural beauty of the farm. The flowers would complement and enhance the environment, not overpower it. There would be flowers down the aisle, dried lavender for the place cards, personal flowers for the flower girl, the bride, and groom - it felt just right.  

Initially the weather was questionable and so the setup took place at the last minute while we waited for the rain to pass. Nevertheless, the ceremony was in the garden and I think it was as beautiful as they imagined it would be.

It turned out that Agatha's area of expertise is in social media and wedsite design. Once we started talking I found her to be inspiring. Our non-stop gabbing caused her fiancé to leave us alone, to take care of business, but once that was done she was kind enough to discuss new ideas for Colony Florist and how I could incorporate social media into my marketing plan. She gave me tasks and tried not to overwhelm me. Agatha convinced me to take the plunge and dive into a whole new  world of social media. The funny thing  is she's  as enthusiastic as I am.

It might seem unimportant but the relationship that resulted is very special. Throughout the planning phase and since the wedding, we have shared many ideas. Agatha is very generous with her time, and her ideas and inspires me to keep working hard. I am  optimistic and rejuvenated about my business as a result of our conversations. Facebook, Pinterest, and blogging no longer  scares me.

So much of this business is about the relationships and friendships you make. Colony Florist provided  the flowers for the wedding but what's most important is that I made a friend with whom I can share and learn.  I know she will keep me moving forward.

Agatha has an innovative website for those of you who are interested in a unique online learning experience. You should check it out - you'll find it at http://www.powhow.com/ - it's fun and you’ll learn a lot, I have.

Happy Father's Day

Father’s Day is fast approaching. I don't believe that this  special holiday requires gift giving. Just spending time together is often enough and all that dad really wants. But, if you need to get something, flowers are a great choice – a little out of the box you might think, but a gift that he will enjoy.


If your father is a gardener and loves the outdoors, flowers are a perfect way to bring the outdoors inside and allows him to enjoy the flowers he works hard to cultivate.


I usually recommend strong, bright colors like blue, yellow, orange or red because these colors don’t appear whimpy or feminine.  If your special dad has a favorite color or flower then go for it – you won’t be sorry.

There are a multitude of containers that you can choose to display flowers that are unusual or more "manly” if that is what you think he needs.  I have seen specialty containers that are designed with dad in mind, cars, trucks even barbeque grills - I don’t carry them because they don’t appeal to the Greenwich crowd.


Have fun and be creative by using flowers to showcase something else that your dad likes. For one customer we sent a beautiful centerpiece that was perfect for the family dinner but the arrangement had a surprise for the man of the house – a selection of his favorite cigars complete with matches and a clipper.

These Father’s Day flowers were a BIG hit and  funforgettable.

WEDNESDAY WEDDINGS: Destinations

<>
 

Kyla and her dad

 I had the pleasure of working with a wonderful bride who is a very close friend of my daughters and mine. For me to understand what Kyla and Caley wanted, we hardly needed to talk. When it came to planning the flowers, I knew immediately that they had to reflect just the right mood. Kyla wanted the wedding to be relaxed, informal and not too fussy and so the floral arrangements would be loose, unstructured and “gardeny” to match. I call it simple elegance.



When a bride comes to my shop for a consultation, I always have plenty of flowers to show her. After our initial meeting I like to make a centerpiece to make sure that I have interpreted her vision accurately. The bride can use the sample to pick and choose what elements she likes and doesn’t like to come up with a perfect match. This speeds up the decision making process and helps the bride see what the flowers will actually look like. Once you get it right, the bride knows immediately and the excitement grows into one BIG smile.



Bridesmaids and Flowergirls

In this particular case, I was going to provide the flowers and attend the wedding. To complicate the matter, the wedding was in Montauk. It’s always a little tricky when the wedding is not local - you have to bring everything with you and be prepared for anything that happens. It sounds easy except unless something breaks or gets damaged along the way. There’s no room for error.

The weather did not cooperate on Saturday and it was raining when I arrived. The resort had to wait to decide where the wedding ceremony would be held, out on the lawn or inside the tent. I personally, have never had a rain-out wedding and I kept hoping that this would not be the first. It is too important for everyone that the weather cooperate. It was obviously out of my hands, but someone was looking down on Kyla and Caley. Just in the nick of time, the rain clouds disappeared and the sun came out; there was nothing but blue sky. We were wowed and thankful.

Husband and Wife

Once the setup was complete, I was able to enjoy the festivities and loved being a part of them. When you’re involved in the planning, from start to finish, you have a different perspective and an appreciation for all the details as the event comes together.

I have never understood destination weddings but it was a fantastic choice for this large family that came from many different places. The wedding party and guests occupied most of the resort and as a result the atmosphere was very relaxed. All day long the guests gathered together around the hotel; they were everywhere - lounging, talking and celebrating the special day. It was an all for one and one for all party.



The celebration lasts for the whole weekend but when the bride walks down the aisle, there is a sense of sheer joy. The image is amazing and worth a thousand words. And the party begins.

My Daughter

Needless to say the wedding couldn’t have been more beautiful or more fun. The whole celebration was terrific - the setting, the bride and groom, even the flowers. I’m glad to say that everything went smoothly and I loved being a part of it. I can still feel the happiness and love.

The ABC's of Flowers

<><>

Sunshine and Happiness

To quote a popular song, “Let’s start at the very beginning, a very good place to start…”


Flowers make people feel good and that is why they make a perfect gift. As a shop owner, I will probably say that a thousand times because I believe it is true. I know, because I can always recall the look on the recipient’s face when I deliver the unexpected gift of flowers to the door. It’s a lasting impression that makes me feel good too.


There are an endless number of feelings you can express with flowers. Just imagine how easy it is to say I’m sorry, hope you’re feeling better or I love you. The flowers do all the talking and the message is understood without words. It’s so simple.




Great advice don't you think - it sure works for me.
Rarely have I met anyone who doesn't agree that flowers make people smile and the research says  in fact that is true.

Dr. Jeannette Haviland-Jones says is best, "Flowers have an immediate impact on happiness, a long-term positive effect on moods, and increase the connections among family and friends. One of the greatest benefits to giving flowers is flowers make people happy..."

Party at the Prom

Wow! I can’t believe that another school year is almost over. In a flower shop, time is measured from holiday to holiday and event to event. We have had an intern from the local high school working at Colony Florist for the past few weeks and the excitement of graduation is exceeded only by the upcoming PROM.

I love it when the kids come into the shop to order their boutonnieres and wristlets (corsages are completely out).  Their preparedness breaks down by gender - the girls usually know exactly what they want and the boys are less sure.  The boys are open to suggestion and welcome our help.  I am happy when they know the color of their date's dress because it is easier to have them make a good choice. They either come to the shop with their date or have their moms call. The moms are sometimes embarrassed by enabling them but would rather there be flowers than nothing.

Ninety percent of the flowers that the kids choose are white. The dresses are shades of blue, white/ivory and black for the most part. Some of the prom-goers opt for red as an accent or a gold or silver wire to coordinate with their jewelry.  In general the choices are very conservative and the kids in Greenwich do not seem to want bling or outrageously decoration. One of the newer trends is to use a fancy bracelet with pearls or rhinestones in a variety of colors. It dresses up the wristlet and acts as a memento when the prom is over.  The couples try to coordinate the boutonniere and wristlet when they can, but since they purchase independently, it doesn’t always work out that way.  To make sure the girls sometimes order both.

I love working with and talking to the students. They are so full of excitement. Prom can be very stressful for the kids and even more so for the parents. The plans are elaborate. For a minute, it makes me want to go back in time. But,  I survived my own prom  and I survived the prom with three of my own kids, as a result, I decided I am much happier on the sidelines.

WEDNESDAY WEDDINGS: Introductions

Most brides that come to my shop are looking for professional advice, guidance and direction. Sometimes they need personal counsel and they don’t even know it. Few of them have concrete ideas about what they want and even fewer know how to get it. Many young women don’t know where to start, when it comes to flowers, and it is easy to understand why that is true. The internet is a great source of information but quite honestly, the amount of information is overwhelming and the choices are endless. It can be confusing. Without any knowledge about flowers or professional help it is difficult to figure out what is available - not to mention the unknown costs that might be involved.

Once the bride understands that the florist is there to help them, I think they start to relax. Personally, I like to start by having them share their vision and then briefly review what I call the floral opportunities. Once they see what the possibilities are they can begin to decide how much or how little they really need. It is important for them to be able to express themselves and a creative florist can take their ideas and turn them into reality.

I am always tempted to give motherly advice - like to smile, relax, have fun and try not to stress out. It's easier said than done. One thing is for sure - brides need to avoid having the whole planning process get the better of them. It can be enjoyable as long as they don’t get consumed by the details. Planning a wedding is not easy but choosing vendors that are trustworthy and one to whom you feel connected is critical. You can't lose sight that flowers are not always perfect and so flexibility is key. It is a long haul and at the end of the day I want my customers to stay in touch and come back to see me – as many do, with baby in tow.

 Doghouse Flowers

Pink Cymbidium

Earlier this week I had a young man come in to my store. Since he was in a hurry our conversation didn't last long. One thing he did tell me was that he was in the doghouse with his wife and that he needed a quick fix. I pointed out two arrangements that I thought might work. One was a low, compact cube with all white flowers including hydrangea, roses and peonies. The other was more modern in feeling, a bright pink cymbidium orchid inside a tall rectangle with black rocks and bear grass. I told him that either arrangement would work - one was for the guy in the doghouse and the other for a real jerk. He said, "You got it, I'll take both."

Flowers - perfect for what ails you.