A few new things...

trying out a new website to possible purchase the domain and make it my main site plus this blog...:) go check it out and let me know what you think...

http://flowersbyamyweddingsanddesign.weebly.com/

Also big news my wedding from May 2013 was finally published on Borrowed and Blue Birmingham... so exciting and the post looks fabulous...:)

http://www.borrowedandblue.com/birmingham/weddings/laura-jason

Amy :)

Cost of Wedding Flowers....

I decided that I needed to address a few things that I have been experiencing over the last few years in the wedding industry...I have met and emailed with a large number of brides last year and one of the main issues they faced was an unrealistic budget and this year is starting off a little like that again...so I am thinking education is very well needed...

My goal with my business is to help create the best wedding that a Bride and Groom can imagine. With saying that, I offer Quality Flowers and Designs, well taken care of Props, and Customer Service that goes above and beyond. Many of my Brides become my Friends!!! and I love that and I love working to produce a wonderful event!

However these events, designs and executing them do cost money and time- product cost, supplies, containers, design time, labor, set up, delivery, and clean up are what ultimately makes up the cost of a wedding.

Here's some average "minimum prices" that I also found on the internet, my pricing is pretty close with this as well...but don't hold your florist to this, it depends on the flowers you choose, the season, if you are in a major urban expensive area, the design, labor to set up, etc.:

Bride's bouquet: $125 and up 
Bridesmaids: $75 and up 
bouts: $10 and up 
corsages: $20 and up 
ceremony arch: $150 and up 
ceremony large arrangements, each: $125 and up 
aisle petals: $100 and up 
aisle hanging pomanders, each: $50 and up 
centerpieces, each: $25 and up ($25 is very spare; $50 is more on the low-end) 
petals around centerpieces: $7 and up 
cake flowers: $50 and up 
escort table flowers: $35 and up


Here is a great breakdown I found on a website to also give a good example of why flowers cost what they do…

Budget Breakdown:

http://petalflowerco.com/journal/howmuchdoweddingflowerscost

When looking at what you should spend overall on flowers, here are a few things to keep in mind:

·       Flowers cost money. Just like a caterer who has to buy food, your florist has to buy the flowers and they cost a pretty penny. Sometimes we have to ship them, and then we always have to clean them, treat them, and keep them cool over the 4-5 times they could be handled before they go into an arrangement before your wedding so there's a lot of heavy lifting and labor included in the cost.

·       Delivery, set-up/tear-down, & taxes. Most, if not all, florists will charge you separately for delivery, set-up/tear-down, and taxes.  It may take a team to set-up/tear down for your wedding & trust me, you don't want to be responsible for that.  

·       If it sounds too good to be true... The old saying is true.  If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.  That rings true with most things in life and in my experience, florists are no exception to that rule.  Yes, you can find florists who will offer cheaper prices than me but will they offer the same quality, attention to detail, and style? I'm gonna bet my reviews on it and say, I doubt it.   

You will also read that your flowers should cost 8-10% of your overall budget...but what they are not conveying is that the over all average wedding budget is 16,000-28,000 in Jefferson County, Alabama according to www.costofwedding.com which would be $1600-$2800 at 10%.

Always remember to compare apples to apples when pricing and just know that NOTHING is free...
Also EVERY wedding is Custom... no wedding is the same so all of these pricing guides and information is just a starting point!

I hope this is helpful to all of your planning your big day and will help you understand the true cost of a wedding... Amy :)

Sizemore-Reach Wedding 05.11.13

the Setting- Aldridge Gardens

the Bride & Groom - Laura & Jason 

the Style - Vintage with a Pop of Color! 

I think Flowers by Amy delivered that...

Photography by Neiconi Photography www.neiconi.com

Videography by ProjectMEDIA www.projectmediaproductions.org

Lets start with the Ceremony... Lake side... Laura wanted a really simple setting... although the rain tried to ruin the setting... we pushed through and God Shined on us for a break in the weather...we used my new Wine Barrel Props, Lanterns, and Ferns. 

 The Dress was Gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!

The Brides Bouquet- This turned out 100% of what I had envisioned...it consisted of White Hydrangeas, Hot Pink Gerbera Daisies, Orange Spray Roses, Green Hypericum Berries, Orange Ranunculus, and Bear Grass. The Bouquet was wrapped in Burlap and Lace. I loved it...!



























































































The Boutonnieres...consisted of Orange Spray Roses, Green Hypericum Berries, with loops of Bear Grass

Now own to the Reception... so many details....

The Cake... well I just loved this part of the wedding... Laura's Dad works for Bud's Best Cookies... so I wanted to incorporate that in her wedding... Her cake was so Gorgeous, it sat atop a mounds of Bud's Best, her favorite flavors!!! The Flowers just added that POP to the whole table.

Laura used my sign in table and we decorated it with lots of items that she provided....Her sister did a wonderful drawing of a Tree that served as a Sign in Book where the guest put their fingerprints and signed, they will have this framed and hung in their house...which is such a cool idea!

Toss Bouquet

The Reception Decor was Centered around a Center Candy Display and the Food... The Food was wonderful and was provided by IZ Catering...Carrie was such a pleasure to work with!!! www.everythingiz.info

The Centerpieces consisted of cylinder vases with floating candles and we repurposed the Bridesmaids BQ, we also used Burlap Runners on the tables as well...

Iz did the Grooms Table... which was some oh so good Banana Pudding, and these were made with Bud's Best Vanilla Wafers...

So all in all this wedding turned out so Good...I can't wait to see all of the Pictures and let me tell you the Video Preview is already so awesome, I can't wait to see the entire thing...here is the preview link
http://youtu.be/znp06O77SiA

Congrats to Laura and Jason... It was such a pleasure to be there and help you create your special day...
Amy :)

Martin-Cochran Wedding 03.16.13

This wedding was for Tiffany & Kevin... This Bride was a girl after my own heart... Zebra Print and Hot Pink... her Bouquet consisted of Hot Pink Gerbera Daisies... hand tied with Zebra Print Ribbon... the Bridesmaids carried a small clutch bouquet of Hot Pink Gerbera Daisies as well... Check out the Pictures the Bride was beautiful... Enjoy Amy :)