Niagara Wedding Florist| The Return to Traditional Flowers by Ooh La La Designs

Posted on February 13, 2013 by meagles13

We have another guest post this week by the fabulous Kelly of Ooh La La Designs.

What Was Old is New Again – The Return to Traditional Flowers

If you had asked me five years ago if I would be designing wedding floral with
baby’s breath you would have heard a resounding No! Now our couples can’t get
enough of its vintage airy feminine look. Whether it is tucked in a bouquet amongst
garden roses and peonies or mounded on its own in tall luxe vases baby’s breath
speaks volumes! With the current movement towards vintage, retro and modern
luxe styling other flowers like carnations, chrysanthemums, snapdragons, glads and
baby’s breath have made a huge comeback.

Why you ask?

Firstly, is the impact floral stylists can achieve with these flowers in today’s wedding
and event floral design. Huge balls of carnations places in top of tall stunning luxe
vases have a sculptural art gallery look complimenting any modern venue. Mounded
in mason jars add pops of colour and femininity to the right out of the garden
vintage tablescape. Large groupings of snapdragons or gladiolus in tall vases placed
on the bar or towering in tall statement vases in the centre of guest tables add a
wow factor to classic wedding styling. A professional wedding and event floral
stylist will be more than knowledgeable on how to create these high impact designs
without obstructing the views of the most important detail of the day, YOU!

Secondly, is how the new consumer is viewing flowers that in the past were
considered out dated. I cannot count how many times in consultations I have heard
“Is that made with carnations?, “Those are glads?” or most recently “Is that really
baby’s breath?”. The versatility of the design applications is incredibly appealing
to today’s couples. Whether they opt for a monochromatic sculptural look or a
whimsical and colourful tablescape these flowers fit the bill. Younger consumers
simply have not been influenced by traditional (now modern…) flowers and now
they find themselves saying “How cool are those?”

Kelly Gojmerac : Owner/Creative Director

Ooh La La Designs {Floral & Style Studio}
Located in the Heart of Niagara Wine Country
oohlaladesigns@live.ca

Niagara Wedding Planner | Holiday Wedding Inspiration Inn on the Twenty in Jordan, Ontario

Posted on December 31, 2012 by meagles13

Happy New Years Eve! To finish up the year we thought we would post our latest styled shoot, which is holiday themed, perfect for a Christmas or New Years Wedding! This creative shoot was also featured on Wedding Obsession! Thank … Continue reading →

Niagara Wedding Planner- Pro vs. DIY Florals

Posted on September 14, 2012 by meagles13

Many couples will try to find any way they can to save money on their wedding day. DIY has become a huge trend lately and there a lots of brides opting to DIY certain aspects of their wedding to save on costs. Is DIYing your floral arrangements a good idea? See below to make the decision for yourself.

Pro

DIY

Gets flowers at wholesale prices
Knows how to make your flowers last for the whole day.
Knows which flowers tend to hold up the best for the duration of the day
Knows which flowers are in season, which saves you money
Sets up all of your arrangements at your venue
Has access to a proper cooler and air conditioned van to protect flowers
Can be expensive if you have a lot of arrangements
Has Experience

You may or may not save money. You have to buy flowers at retail prices.
You have to assemble all bouquets, centerpieces, and arrangements.
You have to transport all of the arrangements and worry about keeping them cool enough.
Your flowers might not hold up all day long.
You have to purchase the vases for the cernterpieces which is pricey.
If some of your flowers die during the day, do you have extras to replace them?
Who will be the one going around and replacing the flowers while you are busy before the reception?

I don’t believe that saving money on flowers by DIYing is your best option. There are so many things that can go wrong when working with any fresh product. Unless someone very close to you has a green thumb and is willing to do everything for you, skip the stress and hire a professional. Even if you do have someone with that talent, do you really want them to work on your wedding day or enjoy it like everyone else? If you want to save money on florals, ask your florist which flowers are in season, and what some cheaper filler flowers are. A good florist will work with you to help you stay within your (realistic) budget.

Also see PRO vs DIY Photography

PRO vs DIY Wedding Planning

Niagara Wedding Planner- Real Life Wedding Planning: Floral Design

Posted on June 18, 2012 by meagles13

Finding my florist was surprisingly easy and painless. I did some research on vendors, looked at a lot of websites, and asked people in the business for referrals. The florist I chose to work with is Carol Van Zanten of Vinifera Floral Design who was recommended to me by my ceremony officiant. I met with her “just to keep my options open” judging from the beautiful arrangements on her website I incorrectly assumed she was out of my price range. It turned out she was very reasonable and accommodating. She spent a lot of time with me going through her portfolio and getting a sense of what I wanted and gave me a very reasonable quote. I brought along photos of arrangements I liked so she could get a sense of my vision. I was happy to have met with her, she was very professional and knowledgeable and she made me feel like a very important client. I look forward to working with her in the future for our special day.

I have some background in floral design so I went into the meetings with an open mind. Some flowers aren’t available year round so it would be terrible to have your heart set on a particular flower only to find out the flower you wanted to use in your wedding in February is only available May through October. I told the florist which flowers I did not like and we went from there. The florist had some great ideas as to what flowers would suit my style and were cost effective. I felt as though the independent florists I visited had much more creative license than some other well known establishments or chains that seem to rehash the same arrangements for every wedding. I am very excited to see what Carol creates for me to walk down the aisle with.

I have a lot of respect for what florists do. It is hard work the experts just make it look easy. Thanks to websites like Pinterest, some brides think it will be no problem to DIY 20 centrepieces, 5 bouquets, 10 boutonnières, and 8 corsages the day before their wedding by picking flowers from their garden or buying in bulk from a local store. From my own experience in the industry I can tell you it will take you hours upon hours (especially on a first attempt) and most flowers, especially those picked from the garden, might not even make it through the ceremony because they have not been conditioned the way flowers from a florist have been. You may end up spending more time and money in the long run than if you hired a professional in the first place. There is a reason they are professionals. It is best to find someone who you are comfortable with. They can always use less flowers or different flowers with a similar look to fit almost any budget.

- Britta

Niagara Wedding Planner- Current Events: Wine and Cheese Vendor Event

Posted on May 20, 2012 by meagles13

This weekend I hosted a small vendor event to mix and mingle with some local wedding vendors. As a wedding planner it is so important to build and maintain great relationships with other professionals in the industry. We had the chance to chat about current events, give each other great advice, and build working friendships.

The vendors in attendance were:

Melanie from Lush Florals see her featured here

Jesse from Jesse James Photography see him featured here

Katie from Candy by Katie keep an eye out for her upcoming feature!

Niagara Wedding Planner- Vendor Love: Lush Florals

Posted on May 6, 2012 by meagles13

I spent a day with Melanie from Lush Florals, learning a little bit about her, a lot about flowers, and getting to make some arrangments myself. I have worked a few weddings with Melanie as a makeup artist, and our brides were nothing but happy with her. Melanie is a pleasure to work with and she makes you feel like you’ve known her for years.

I had the chance to ask Melanie some questions during our time together to give everyone a better idea about what to expect when choosing your wedding flowers.

Do you have a particular style you try to incorporate in your designs or does it depend solely on what your clients are looking for?

I know that I have a style that comes out in my designs naturally. Many of my couples look at my
portfolio and come to me because they feel we have a common aesthetic. I learn about my couples
during consultations and incorporate their favorite colours and blooms and add a Lush twist to it. Every
design is completely inspired by my bride and groom.

Why is it important to hire a florist who specialises in weddings?

The number one reason is because it shows that, that is where their passion lies. They have committed
themselves to being at the top of their game when it comes to these special events. In my experience
retail florists in one week could be working on funerals, everyday arrangements, and weddings, you
never know when there could be a rush of orders. All of my focus and concentration is on my weddings
each week. They are my priority and I immerse myself into that 100%. Every weekend I am delivering
and setting up these weddings, and it becomes second nature. I have gotten to know venues inside and
out which helps when trying to assist a bride with her floral choices.

What differs you from other florists?

I am so inspired and excited about my job because it was my passion before it was my career. I really
take the time to get to know my couples, and I take each wedding very seriously and personally. I aim
to keep on top of trends and stay inspired every season. Becoming stagnant or falling into a rut makes it
less fun! I am constantly looking for elements to incorporate into my work that may not be often seen.
My background in horticulture is certainly playing a big role in my design style. The Lush cutting garden
is always evolving, containing new perennials, shrubs and vines that I can incorporate into my work.

What is one of the trends you are suggesting to couples this year?

love using a few styles of centerpieces in a room. Many people think they must have everything the
same at each table. Using multiple styles creates interest and makes the event a bit more unique. This
is especially evident in the very popular harvest table set-up. Long tables of different sized vases, flower
arrangements and candles. It adds such depth and texture to the room.

Do you work with the couple to help them achieve the look they are going for, by suggesting similar flowers that fit into their budget?

I often think about how I can take an inexpensive flower and achieve the same colour or texture as a
pricier bloom (massing them together or tucking them in). A great place to incorporate inexpensive
flowers is a ceremony arrangement. They are viewed at a distance and often times you can create the
same effect but on a tighter budget. I’m always considerate of a couple’s budget and try to find ways to
achieve their look at a price they are comfortable with. I’m also honest with couples. If it simply cannot be done I suggest alternatives. The last thing I want is someone disappointed if I was to make unrealistic promises.

Any additional comments?

Make sure to find someone you get along with, and this applies to all vendors. You are going to be
working with your vendors throughout your wedding planning, so make sure to find ones you are
comfortable with. I like to build a relationship with my clients and this always helps me to provide them
with the best service possible.

If you are looking for a wedding florist, Melanie is definitely someone you should make an appointment with. If you don’t instantly fall in love with her, you will fall just as much in love with her stunning arrangements.

Check out this video to get a glimpse of Melanie in action as well as some floral tips, then be sure to see the pictures of our day spent together, courtesy of Jesse James Photography!