Q: I love flowers and want many at my fall wedding, but I'm on a limited budget. My mom and aunt both have large flower gardens and have offered to design the wedding centerpieces and bouquets themselves. The problem is that there won't be many flowers in bloom in mid-October when I'm getting married. Are there any wholesale flower retailers in the Twin Cities that will sell me a few dozen flowers to supplement what my mom and aunt can grow? Or should I just nix the idea of doing it ourselves and go with fewer flowers at the wedding?
A: I am an avid flower gardener, and I have been keeping records on what blooms when for several years in order to know if I can use these flowers in events. October is very limited! We usually have a freeze around this time. However, there is a possibility of pink/green peegee hydrangea blooms being available, if they have not turned brown from a freeze. Some years I have had some dahlias available; again, they die if we have a freeze. You should not count on any flowers from the garden in mid-October.
As to wholesale flowers sold to the public, I have a few concerns: some of the venders I have seen offering to do this really are not giving wholesale prices. The flower prices offered on websites are not lower than what most floral shops offer. The disadvantage is that you do not have the opportunity to return these flowers if they are not what you wished for in quality or color. Sometimes stargazer lilies come in bud form and would not be open for your wedding. Florists know how to deal with these problems. You could try ordering from Sam's Club or Costco, but you will not receive top quality flowers.
Most volunteers may have underestimated the amount of time, experience and energy it takes to arrange wedding flowers. Our hands are often stained and scratched from the flowers, and most moms would like to have a pretty manicure for all the hand shaking, not band aids! Do you have the necessary buckets, clippers, wires, tape, floral hydrating chemicals and cooler space to keep the flowers fresh until the wedding? Will you have a rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding, or will you stay up late into the night to get everything done?
Have you considered working with a florist who would split the work with you? You may be able to save by renting vases from a florist who does the personal flowers and sells you stargazer lilies to float in a lily bowl for the reception. This would not be too much work and would save you the worry and labor. We have beautiful lily bowls with gold edges for rent, as well as other options for your pink, black and gold theme. Fewer flowers can still be very beautiful! I am willing to work within your budget!
Maureen deBruyn (pictured above) owns and operates