How to hire your wedding florist

Hi I’m Jeremy and I do a lot of the sales at Bride Candy. I love doing it, I love talking to people and hearing about their love stories, some of them are really amazing. I also love being able to put together a perfect package for someone.

People come to me with all kinds of different approaches: some couples know exactly what they want, others are just starting out. No matter where you’re at in your process, I know I can help you.  I also know that you’re probably getting quotes from other florists too, and that’s totally understandable. But how can you be sure you’re getting the most out of your sales process while you’re reaching out for floral quotes?

Do your Homework

Before you reach out, make sure you’re at the right stage of the wedding planning process to get floral quotes. The means you should have a firm wedding date and venue. Right now our calendar for this year is pretty busy so we need to know your date to tell you if we are available or not. And your venue is important because it influences what flower designs you might select. For example, if you’re having a beach wedding you might have to consider wind. Or if you’re having a wedding at a venue with a fountain for example you might want us to decorate it. Knowing your venue allows us to create a design that’s practical, affordable, and beautiful and that fits your venue.

Find what you Like

A lot of people go on Pinterest for this, its easy to create a board of things you like and Pinterest will recommend even more inspiration as it learns from you. Or maybe you’re the kind of person that you don’t really know what you want, or you feel like your style is all over the place. That’s no problem, its still helpful for you to create a Pinterest board of what you like and send it over. We’re good at reading between the lines to help you find your wedding style and help you pin point it. Once you have a Pinterest  board or some inspiration photos saved, you’re almost ready to get floral quotes.

Think about your budget

A lot of times I’ll get sent celebrity wedding inspiration, and I get it - they’re beautiful weddings. Who wouldn’t want a wedding like Kim Kardashian? But can you imagine how much they spent on their wedding flowers? If you’re sending these photos to me and telling me that you want this, I’m always going to ask “what’s your comfortable investment?” Because when you’re looking at big celebrity weddings, the sky is the limit. But for most people money is a concern. I can help get you there, I can give you suggestions for something that is very beautiful that’s in a comfortable investment while staying true to the spirit of your vision.

If you’ve already started reaching out to florists for quotes, you already know that wedding flowers can be more expensive than you think. It’s not like going into a supermarket and getting all of these basic flowers, we don’t source from the same places. When I order something for your wedding, I’m placing a special order just in your color scheme. And you might be asking me for flowers that may or may not be in season, which of course affects the cost. We also use premium flowers that are typically not available to the pubic. All of these factors are things I consider when I’m quoting things out for you.

If budget is the most most important thing to you, make sure to tell me that when we speak. If you tell me what you’re comfortable with, I’ll prioritize that when I’m putting together a proposal for you. I can make suggestions on how you can get the most for your money while still having something very beautiful. Or if you have wiggle room, tell me that too! That way I can lean a little more into your vision and give you upgrade options that I think you’ll love.

make your decision

When we create your proposal, we’re mostly focused on making sure that we get close to your vision and that you’ll understand where pricing will be. Your vision will likely continue to evolve as your wedding date approaches, and that’s okay! We can make changes to the design even after booking and can do it in a way that won’t affect pricing too much. So when you’re reading quotes, remember that they’re just that: estimates focused on pricing, and not your final design. If you choose to work with us, we’ll have a Final Design Call one month before your wedding where we will talk about your design in detail and make final selections. So please don’t feel pressure to have all of the design finalized when you’re getting quotes.

At the end of the day, we are not a perfect fit for everyone. Maybe it comes down to budget, or perhaps you feel like our styles don’t match up. And that’s totally okay! If that happens, please let us know, I promise we’ll be cool about it. It’s even better if you tell us a little bit about why you made your decision. I am always trying to figure out how to be a better person and salesperson and learn how I can better support you. Telling me a little about your choice can help me improve our process for future clients.

If you haven’t already inquired with us, don’t wait too long! Our dates are filling up. We love making wedding dreams come true, and we’d love to talk with you.

5 Best Wedding Flowers For Every Season

Nothing complements a white wedding dress better than a colorful bouquet. Florals enhance the ceremony with color, fragrance, and all-around elegance. Whether you prefer cultivated blooms or wild, environmentally-friendly flowers, celebrate your nuptials with nature.

Check out these five wedding flowers for every season.

Spring

Spring may be the easiest season to select wildflowers for your wedding. You'll see tickseed, purple coneflowers, and beach sunflowers everywhere you look. But if you're looking for flowers that scream "romance," be aware it's not always easy to grow the cultivars in Southern Florida’s heat zone. That's where The Bride Candy comes in, providing the flowers that symbolize love and romance. 

1. Roses are a symbol of beauty and love. Roses blooming in South Florida during the spring come in many shades and colors. White roses enhance your bridal bouquet with a fresh look.

2. Carnations come in many natural colors, and can be dyed to match your wedding décor. Carnations make hardy floral arrangements.

3. Dahlias make nice centerpieces for buffet and guest tables. Heat-tolerant varieties like “Elsie Huston” can hold up well in outdoor weddings, but they do need to be kept moist.

4. Proteas do well in the Florida heat, and hold up well in outdoor weddings. “King protea,” “blushing bride,” “pin cushion,” and “queen protea” are tropical beauties that won’t tucker out in extra-warm temperatures.

5. Tropical greenery is popular these days, and it handles the Florida heat well. Ranunculus, orchids, and ginger highlight foliage from palms, vines, and groundcovers placed on serving tables and laced through bouquets.

Summer

From spring to summer, these hardy blooms can handle the Miami heat. 

1. Astilbe is a hearty stem in either pink, crimson, mauve, or white. Its feathery look is suitable for boutonnieres.

2. Orchids make stunning wedding bouquets in shades of magenta, purple, deep blue, yellow, red, and everything in between.

3. Anthuriums spice up a wedding bouquet with color and texture. Green heart-shaped leaves with white, red, or pink blooms will handle the heat of the day.

4. Pink roses look great in bridesmaid bouquets or floral arrangements. With so many varieties from which to choose, The Bride Candy can help you decide the type for your nuptials.

5. Tulips withstand heat quite well, and because they grow in so many hues, you can order them year-round for any color scheme.

Fall

Autumn flowers make a nice wedding theme, but they’re tough to find in Florida. Thanks to The Bride Candy, they’re easy to order from other parts of the United States.

1. Lilies, asters, chrysanthemums, gerbera daisies, marigolds, and zinnias add to the bold rich colors of your autumn wedding décor.

2. Color up outdoor garden weddings with toffee or cappuccino roses.

3. Amaranthus feature rope-like flower stalks. Choose from magenta flowers on “love-lies-bleeding,”or “Joseph’s coat,” -- no flowers, but this plant has colorful foliage in shades of orange, red, or green.

4. Sunflowers scream “fall” with bright golden petals and brown seed centers.

5. Fall dressingsof curly willow, fig branches, Indian corn, pinecones, gourds, crabapples, and pumpkins dress up wedding and reception venues.

Winter

White and ivory are popular hues for winter weddings, but you can spice things up a bit with brilliant colors of red, purple, blue, and pink.

1. Christmas collections of mistletoe and “snow” tipped pinecones bring elements of a cold-weather winter to your warm Florida wedding.

2. Holiday flowers like red Asiatic lilies, holly, juniper, and anemone are perfect for bridal bouquets and centerpieces.

3. Dusty Miller blends into just about any color scheme. Silvery leaves pair up nicely with blue and purple flowers, but also work well with orange and hot red blooms.

4. Tweedia covers the “something blue” aspect of your wedding, and you can add these fragrant blooms to the bridal and bridesmaid bouquets.

5. Mixes with gardenias, spruce, eucalyptus, red amaranthus, jasmine, orchids, poinsettias, roses, camellias, and narcissus are perfect for winter weddings -- blend these colorful blooms into backgrounds of ivory and frosted white.

Flower Power

Don’t underestimate the importance of flowers on this special day. They’re more than just an accessory. Florals are an essential part of the bride’s outfit, and often set the scene for the ceremony and reception. Maybe the flowers won’t last forever, but the photos and memories will last a lifetime. 

Ask your floral and event designer for advice on how to arrange these flowers to make your dream wedding into reality.

Kim Hess is a nature lover and wedding planner who enjoys incorporating a hometown feel in the ceremonies and receptions she designs. She also enjoys tasting food at venues around the country, so she can recommend the best wedding day feasts. (Hey, somebody’s gotta do it!) 

Venue Spotlight: Curtiss Mansion

Photography by Csanchez photography

There’s no shortage of amazing venues in Miami. But one of the The Bride Candy’s favorite venues to work in is one that doesn’t look all that Miami from the outside, but has a whole lot of Miami history on the inside. Today, we’re talking about the Curtiss Mansion in Miami Springs. It’s a venue that I love so much it’s where I chose to get engaged!

It’s Got Style

Curtiss Mansion was the home of Glenn Curtiss, aviation pioneer and developer of Miami communities like Opa Locka, Hialeah, and Miami Springs. It’s built in the Pueblo Rival style, so when you drive up to it you can immediately tell that this is a truly unique venue that looks like it would be just at home in Santa Fe as it is in Miami Springs. Some of the standout features of the venue are the porte cochere (the covered entrance at the front), the front lawn, the interior courtyard, the back arbor, the bridge to nowhere, and the lake. All make a great backdrop for photos, and you can bet that there’s a lot of styled shoots and engagement photos that happen at the mansion. 

It’s Comfortable

What makes the Curtiss Mansion an amazing venue is its versatility. It’s got a lot of space! With the addition of a newly paved exterior courtyard, it can now accommodate weddings of over three hundred. But no matter if you have a huge wedding or an intimate one, Curtiss is a comfortable spot to host your celebration. One thing the venue really excels at is everything pre-wedding. Many brides choose to get ready at the mansion since they have a dedicated bridal suite. That makes getting to the first look and pre-wedding photos a snap. It’s a great idea to get those out of the way early so you can enjoy your cocktail hour. 

Many couples choose to do the ceremony in the expansive front lawn. Shaded by trees, it’s the perfect spot to exchange vows. Consider adding bistro lighting for extra ambiance. Wondering where to put the dancefloor? The interior courtyard is the perfect place to dance the night away and it looks great with uplighting and DJ lights. There’s also a fair amount of interior space in case of rain, making the Curtiss Mansion a smart venue choice. 

It Comes With Great People

My favorite part about this venue is working with the Curtiss Mansion family. It’s run by Sherry and Javi, two of the most dedicated people in the industry. “We do what we do because we believe in true love ,” said Sherry. “It’s important to us that every couple has an amazing experience here.” Many venues simply provide the space and a set of rules and walk away. But the Curtiss Mansion give you that personal touch. They are happy to give advice on what works well and they have a list of outstanding vendors who can help you bring your wedding dreams to life. Sherry is also a BIG supporter of same-love weddings and actively looks to promote the venue to couples from all walks of life. 

If you’re looking for an affordable Miami venue with exceptional customer service, The Bride candy is happy to recommend the Curtiss Mansion as an option for you. Tell them I sent you!

Coronavirus update: How can I save my wedding?

There’s a lot that goes into planning a wedding, but one thing no one counted on was that a global pandemic would mean that many weddings over the next two months won’t happen. It’s a really stressful time! You’re worried about your health and the health of your loved ones. The last thing you want to do is to put your wedding guests at risk. You’re thinking about cancelling or postponing your wedding. But you’ve paid your deposits and signed contracts. What can you do to save your special day?

Stay calm

Right now your focus should be on making sure that you and your partner are safe. Maybe you’re under self-quarantine already or preparing for it. Give yourself time to process everything that’s happening and be kind to your yourself for the emotions that you’re feeling. Nothing about this is easy.

One thing to remember is that everyone in the wedding industry is in the same boat right now. There are many concerned people who have weddings in the next two months. You can expect that your guests, vendors, and venue will be understanding as you start your conversations with them. We are all focused on health right now, and we will understand why you might want to postpone your wedding.

Talk to your venue

If your wedding is around the corner, it’s very likely that your venue may have already reached out to you. It’s unlikely that venues will proceed with events over the next eight weeks now that the CDC had issued its latest recommendations. Talk to your venue about your options. Most will offer to apply your deposit to a new wedding date. Be sure to have one in mind – many other couples are doing the same thing right now and future dates are filling up fast.

Talk to your vendors

Once you’ve talked to your venue, it’s time to touch base with your vendors. Make sure to reach out to everyone – your caterer, florist, rentals, officiant, and entertainment. If you have a new wedding date, now is the time to share it. You can do this all in one email to all your vendors to quickly see if they are available on the new date.  Make sure to ask them if their services will be affected by the new date (maybe the showcase flower on your wedding bouquet won’t be in season anymore, for example).

Check your orders

Right now it’s hard to get anything from overseas. If you’ve placed and order for a dress or ring and expect it to be shipped to the United States, you should get in contact with your seller right away. Ask your seller what you can expect and what options they can give to you to make sure you get your items.

Tell your guests

Your guests are probably expecting to hear from you about your wedding especially if they’re traveling to it. Right now most people are unwilling (or unable) to fly. Reassure them that you still intend to have a wedding but that you’ve postponed the date for everyone’s safety. You’ll need to get confirmations again from your guests since the new date might affect your guest count. That’s okay – as long as the most important people are there it will all be worth it in the end.

Feeling overwhelmed? Tell me what’s on your mind and I’ll do my best to give you advice to make the process a bit easier. Everyone in the wedding industry loves love and wants you to celebrate your special day. We are here to support you!