DIY Wedding Flowers: 9 Reasons Not to DIY on Your Big Day

For many brides, no dream is too big for their wedding day. A beautiful dress, a pretty venue, great food, friends and family, endless love, filled with a backyard of flowers plunked into old mason jars. Wait, what's wrong with that last statement? Why would a bride want "do it yourself" bouquets on her wedding day? Do you make your own dress, cook your own food, and host your wedding in a rec room? I don't think so!
Yes, I realize the obvious reason many brides try to DIY is to save money. But trust me when we say we have worked with small budgets and just like the dress, the cake and other important items on your wedding day, the flowers should not be overlooked!
Here are nine misconceptions many brides have about florals and why you may think you should, but definitely should not DIY your flowers for the big day:
1) I love to garden and want to harvest my own flowers. The chance your garden will be in the right stages of bloom on the exact day and in the exact number and color of blooms is a big gamble.
2) I found a great bargain from an online wholesale company! Think again. Many times you risk the flowers arriving less than perfect leaving you only a day, sometimes even hours, to make them perfect. 
3) I can buy my own vases and flowers that will look exactly the same as a florist. Trust me on this one, it doesn't. Most brides don't realize how many flowers it takes to fill an average vase!
4) I want to save money. A great florist can deliver a beautiful arrangement at a reasonable price. In extreme cases, buying retail and arranging on your own may save you 25 percent at max over a good florist.
5) I'm a simple bride with simple taste. A good florist will know how to create the perfect design based off of your personality, simple or extravagant, that will make you feel wonderful and make your guests feel special.
6) I love the natural wild flower look. And so does your florist! I have seen my fair share of DIY wild flower wedding arrangements that look more like weed patches than freshly picked wild bouquets.
7) There is no money left in my budget for flowers. A good florist can always work in your budget. A lot of our students love working on small budget weddings producing chic, understated, beautiful looks.
8) Flowers never last, so why waste my money? True, wedding flowers may not last forever, but they do make a lasting impression on your guests and are forever in the photographs you will share with your family and friends for many years thereafter.
9) It will look really nice if I do it myself. Please brides, trust me on this, it won't. You will regret it years from now if not within the next week. You do not want a floral disappointment!
I recently met a former bride who spoke with me about her DIY floral experience. While the process was not completely terrible she did say the flowers were more of an effort than expected. On her wedding day, the blossoms were not in perfect shape and staying up all night before trying to fix them was not worth it. It's obvious that we are in the florist business so of course we think you should hire a qualified designer to do your wedding floral. If you are looking to save money and be more creative, design your holiday parties, daughter's graduation party, but do not take on the risk and stress of designing your wedding flowers!
Whether you decide to DIY or not, please always feel free to contact us for some fast, easy and affordable design ideas!

Wedding Planning: 10 Things Brides Forget To Do

1. Bring your marriage license: "An important part of making it ‘official!’ Check with the jurisdiction where your ceremony will take place about any deadlines for applying for your marriage license well in advance of your wedding date and also whether a blood test or special documentation is required to complete your application. Start gathering your documents early so that when it comes time to get your license, you have everything you need and can make the process as efficient as possible."
2. Vendor meals: "Be sure you remember to feed the people that are working nonstop to make your day flawless! You’ll be expected to give your final guest count to your caterer within two weeks of your day, but don’t forget to include the number of vendors you’ll have so that the caterer can prepare simple meals for them, separate from your guests. Most caterers will count your vendor meals as half-price, so be sure to include your band members, photographer, videographer (and any second shooters), as well as your planner and their assistants."


3. Favors: "By no means are favors required, but they are a fantastic detail that each of your guests will appreciate! So don’t make your favors an afterthought — think about what you’ll present your guests as a ‘thank-you’ for coming at least two months in advance of your wedding date, so that you can place the bulk order of the items in time, and also personalize each one for that finishing touch."
4. Guestbook and pens: "Include something for your guests to leave their well-wishes for you upon arriving at your reception…Many brides that leave this to the last minute might make a trip to a local book store for a coffee table book that’s characteristic of the place where they’re getting married or something that is special to the couple. This could be a favorite recipe book for cocktails or a book of historic mansions in the city where your nuptials take place. Also, don’t forget the pens!"


5. Invitation suite: "This is one of my favorite details to style and have photographed on the day of the wedding! Brides should remember to pack at least one full  and any other stationery details (rehearsal dinner invites, shower invites, save-the-dates) that were mailed out during the engagement to bring with them in the bridal prep suite the day of the wedding. If you have beautiful calligraphy and/or special envelope liners, bring more than one set — I always recommend two sets — so that your photographer can shoot the front and back of the invitation in the same frame."
6. Cake knife and toasting flutes: "You may receive these as a gift at your shower, opt to purchase your special set on your own, or use ones that have been handed down to you by parents or family members. When packing up your items to be placed at the reception, be sure to remember to pack your cake knife and toasting flutes (and keep the original packaging to avoid breakage) so that this detail will not be overlooked. Once this item is off your to-do list, you can focus on other things to pack — like your trousseau for the honeymoon!"
7. Tech chargers: "When it comes time to get ready in your bridal suite on the day of the wedding, have your electronics charged and ready to go! If you’re planning on using your iPod for any part of the reception music (i.e. your favorite recording of the first dance you and your groom will sway to), make sure you have the right charger and the correct connection to your band’s or DJ’s sound system. Also, keep your phone charged overnight. You’ll want to have it ready to go as soon as you leave for the honeymoon."


8. Passport and identification: "Speaking of the honeymoon, be sure your passport and driver’s license are up to date and packed safely in your carry-on luggage. Airport security will not let you get on the plane with expired identification, so be sure you have taken care of this detail one month before your wedding."
After the Wedding
9. Thank-you notes: "It's easy to let things fall by the wayside in the aftermath of your big day as the dust begins to settle, but your thank-you notes to your guests should be sent out no later than two months after your big day. Carve out fifteen minutes each day to dedicate to writing these notes, so that you don't get overwhelmed...Also, don't forget the important people in your life, including your parents, family members, and bridal party that were there with you through the planning from the beginning.
10. Online reviews: "The people that have worked so hard to make your wedding day dreams come to fruition are often forgotten once the big day has passed. The best thank-you you can give your vendors is an honest review online and an email follow up. That is the only way that your vendors can continue to improve the level of service they provide to future brides, so your feedback is very important! Plan to carve out time to review your vendors within six months of the big day."
Tell us: Newlyweds, what did you forget to do before the wedding?

Saint Patricks Day-Irish Tradition and Folklore

Who was Saint Patrick?  : "St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is one of Christianity's most widely known figures. But for all his celebrity, his life remains somewhat of a mystery. Many of the stories traditionally associated with St. Patrick, including the famous account of his banishing all the snakes from Ireland, are false, the products of hundreds of years of exaggerated storytelling.” A bunch of blarney, if you will.
Born into a wealthy British family, Saint Patrick was imprisoned at a young age as Irish natives raided his family home. During his imprisonment, he turned to Christianity for solace and after six years, escaped to Britain by walking 200 miles from County Mayo to the Irish Coast. Once in Britain, he had a vision that an angel told him to return to Ireland as a missionary. Saint Patrick became ordained as a priest and went to Ireland to minister to and convert the Irish people who largely believed in a nature-based pagan religion.
It is believed that Saint Patrick created the Celtic Cross by superimposing a sun, a powerful Irish symbol, onto the traditional cross to appeal more natural to the Irish people.


What is 'Blarney?'  A popular expression to imply false storytelling.
What does 'Erin go Bragh' mean?  It’s a popular expression meaning “Ireland Forever."
Did you know that the Chicago River is dyed green every year for their St. Patrick’s Day celebration? Why the color green?  Saint Patrick was originally associated with the color blue, though green ribbons and shamrocks were worn as early as the 17th Century. Its color is taken from the shamrock, whose three leaves are believed to stand for the Holy Trinity. “Wearing of the green” became a phrase to indicate wearing a shamrock and speak against Irish paganism.
Why a shamrock or clover?  Irishmen to this day do not agree to what the real shamrock is. Several plant varieties are considered to be the authentic symbol of this celebrated holiday. It is a sacred plant from ancient Ireland, symbolizing the ‘rebirth of spring’.
Where does the leprechaun character stem from?  It is likely that the leprechaun, meaning ‘small-bodied fellow” originated with the Celtic beliefs of fairies. The leprechaun was a cranky man who was responsible for mending fairy shoes. They played a minor role in Celtic folklore but were known for their trickery, used to protect a much-fabled treasure.
A cheerful, friendly leprechaun is an American take on this classic character, wWhich may have originated from Disney’s film Darby O’Gill & the Little People.
Try these classic meals for St. Patrick’s Day tradition:
Corned Beef and Cabbage
Irish Soda Bread
Beef and Irish Stout Stew