Weddingbee Blog

Armed with my wedding binder and inspiration photos, I set off to meet with two florists for consultations. I was interested in a bouquet with dark purple calla lilies, with other purple-toned flowers and no greenery or crystals. Something along the lines of these:

Image by East Main Photography via Weddingbee

Image by Jose Villa via Get Married in Banff

I didn’t give the two florists a budget; I was more interested to see what they would come up with based off of my pictures. I had a number in mind, so I was curious to see where they would come out in relation to that number. As it turns out, both florists were quite close. With the quotes in my hot little hands, I did what any good engineering nerd would do to compare—I created a visual to imagine what all of the proposed flowers would look like together. Enter Google search and PowerPoint!
Florist number one suggested (in a clockwise pattern):

1. Beautyberries (via National Park Service)
2. Allium (via PlantBuzz)
3. Dahlias (via Van Bourgondien)
4. Deep purple calla lilies (via The Observatory)
5. Sweet peas (via Unwins)
6. Freesia (via vernabob.com)
7. Anemone (via Tulip World)
8. Lisianthus (via Rainflower Company)

They are all such beautiful flowers, but everything is somewhat monochromatic. It is also a lot of different flowers! I’m having a hard time imagining how any flower can stand out with so many different varieties in the bouquet. The bridesmaids’ bouquets would contain similar flowers and be smaller.

Florist number two suggested the following for my bouquet:

1. Purple lisianthus (via Rain Flower Company)
2. Lilac-toned roses (via Fifty Flowers)
3. Deep purple calla lilies (via The Observatory)
4. Purple fragrant stock (via How Stuff Works)
5. Berries if available/in season

For the bridesmaids’ bouquets she suggested:

1. Cream lisianthus (via Valley Flowers, Inc.)
2. Lilac-toned roses (via Fifty Flowers)
3. Purple fragrant stock (via How Stuff Works)
4. Cream miniature vendela roses (via Fifty Flowers)
5. Lighter-toned purple callas (via Fifty Flowers)

The idea is that my bouquet would be the more intense purple colour and the girls would have a lighter-toned bouquet that would show up nicely with their deep purple dresses. I love the variation in tone throughout all of the bouquets, and I really think it will help each flower to stand out. I had a really great feeling from florist number two, plus it is obvious from her portfolio that she has a really great eye for putting arrangements together.

In fact, I’m so excited about flowers now that I want to see how I can fit floral centerpieces for the tables into our budget. Maybe some nice bud vases like these?

Image via hive member jenniejen30

Image by Evin Photography via Budget Savvy Bride

I love the idea of milk-glass bud vases! I haven’t found a place to get them super cheap around here, but I may have a back-up plan…

What do you think of bud vases for centerpieces? Did your consultation with your florist cause you to rethink your decorating strategy?