Archive for the On a Budget Category

Bridal bouquets come in all sorts of styles, shapes and sizes. One of the most popular styles of bridal bouquets is the hand-tied bouquet. Below are some simple directions on how to create your hand-tied bouquet with do-it-yourself (DIY) wedding flowers:

1. Remove the thorns and foliage from the roses. To remove the thorns, simply take clippers and trim off the points on the thorns
2. Select 3 large roses and tape them together - these will be the center of your bouquet.
3. Add another 3 or 4 roses to the bouquet and tape them to your original grouping.
4. If you choose to incorporate fillers and greens into your bouquet, add them to the mix as you see fit.
5. Continue to add roses 3 or 4 at a time and tape them together. Taping the roses after adding 3 or 4 stems will ensure that your bouquet stays nice and tight.
6. Once you have built your bouquet to the size you would like, secure the bouquet by wrapping another layer of tape down the stems about 6 or 8 inches.
7. Wrap the ribbon beginning at the top of the bouquet down towards the bottom.
8. Leave the ends of the ribbon long if you would like them to cascade off the bottom of the bouquet.
9. With a sharp knife or clippers, trim the bottom of the stems a little bit up from the bottom - leaving the stems longer than you will need them - and set the bouquet in a vase or pitcher of water.
10. If your ribbon has loose ends, rubber band them up the stems to keep them out of the water.
11. Fill the vase with just enough water to cover the bottom of the stems - do not get your tape or ribbon wet.
12. Shortly before the festivities begin, clip the stems to the length you want with a sharp knife or clippers and wipe the bottom of the stems with a towel to catch any drips that might be there.

Special Tips:

- Be sure to store your fresh cut flowers in a cool environment. When working with fresh cut flowers - and especially roses - it is very important to remember that the cooler the temperature, the slower the flowers will open, and the longer they will last.

- Wherever possible, practice first. Purchase some flowers from your local florist or grocery store and familiarize yourself with this process so that it isn’t foreign to you as you prepare your wedding flowers.

As always, please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions as you plan for or work with your wedding flowers.

“It never hurts to ask.”  Whether you are planning for a wedding, event, or social gathering, this simple tip can really save you time, money, and headaches if you but open your mouth and ask:

~ Is this your best price?

~ Are there any outstanding discounts or coupons that I should know about?

~ Since I am buying multiple items, what kind of deal can you offer me?

Simple questions like these can ultimately save you a lot of time and a lot of money. You will find that many vendors will work with you on their prices if you simply ask them.

Additionally, many vendors offer business discounts, military discounts, and student discounts to name a few.  These discounts may not be posted anywhere and vendors most likely will not volunteer this information unless you open your mouth and ask.

Don’t be afraid to ask… the worst they could say is ‘no’.

At a time when everyone is watching their pennies we figured it would be beneficial start a new series of blog entries titled ‘On a Budget’.  We’ll share with you some tips, sites, and ideas that we have come across which can help you shave costs off of your wedding, event, or weekend soiree.

The other day we came across the website for Hotwire Travel Ticker (http://www.travel-ticker.com/).  A quick glimpse around this site and you will find that the trips that you dreamed of all winter long to tropical destinations which seemed so expensive now appear affordable and quite doable!

With this site you are just a few clicks away from fantastic deals on rental cars, airfare, hotels, cruises and even complete vacation packages.