The bridal bouquet is a tradition in almost every culture on Earth. Year after year, brides walk down the aisle, each carrying a personalised blend of carefully selected and artfully assembled flowers.
Anyone who knows me, know that I simply adore making bridal bouquets. Today, I want to share my philosophy when it comes to making a bridal bouquet.
Read More»Wendy and Dean’s Spring Day Wedding couldn’t have been more perfect, the sky were glorious blue and spring blossoms where everywhere! Oakfield Farm looked tranquil and there was a magical atmosphere of anticipation in the air.
Wendy and Dean contacted Splendid Affairs just a month before their wedding. Initially Wendy wanted to do her own wedding flowers but as the wedding day approached, Wendy decided to outsource flowers to Splendid Affairs. It was a blessing and a privilege to be part of this amazing wedding, so thank you Wendy and Dean for choosing me.
It was an absolute pleasure to work with Wendy and Dean, as they had a very clear idea what what they wanted – a soft and romantic look with pale pinks, greens and touches of mauve. I suggested that we work with available spring flowers (such as gorgeous ranunculus, freesias and blushing bride), adding texture using proteas, succulents, moss, and kolkol for a distinct South African Romantic Look.
Hannalee from Hannalee Photography did an amazing job capturing the beauty of the flowers. If you wish to see more photos from this stunning wedding click here.
Venue: Oakfield Farm
Photographer: Hannalee Photography
Your budget is the most important tool in organizing a wedding. If you plan your funds well from the beginning, you will save yourself a great deal headache and heartache as your wedding day draws near.
How can you come up with an accurate budget when you have never planned a wedding before? Your first step should be researching wedding suppliers in your areas, and obtaining quotes from the suppliers you liked. Once the quotes start rolling in, you will probably have a small melt down and might even consider calling the whole thing, but here are a few tips that can help you.
A wedding is a luxury, and entertaining your guests will cost you anything between R1000-R5000 per guest and much will depend on your style and requirements. Please remember this amount should include everything you need – the dress, the venue, photography, flowers and decor, etc.
The number of guests closely correlates to the quality of the wedding, and the budget available. It can boil down to the choice you will have to make – you can either trim away on all the necessities of the affair (no canapes after ceremony, no entertainment or cocktails whilst you off having photographs, loosing overlays on your tables, and foregoing the decorations) or ask yourself if the wedding boils down to a cost per head affair, then by loosing some of those heads is the single most effective way to bring wedding in on budget without having to compromise on the quality (quick math: 10 guests at R1500 per head = R15000 which can go a long way on your flowers and decorations). Being brutal with your guest list may be the only way to have an amazing wedding as opposed to a budget wedding.
Choose your venue wisely – some venues may appear to be more expensive but very often the cost of included items may be the reason. Ask the venue what is provided in the venue hire – tables, chairs, table cloths, overlays, chair covers, etc. The less you have to hire, the better (delivery charges for the hired items should always be considered but often forgotten and can add up to R800+ depending on the location of the venue). Some venues are so beautiful that you will need to spend less on decorations and draping (which is very expensive).
If you wish to save on the venue hire, then you need to be more flexible with your date. Winter specials are a reality, and so are the shorter notice dates. Some venues sell available high season dates if they have not been filled to the couples who would consider getting married in 2-1 month time. And ladies, it is possible to plan an entire wedding in less than a month!
It may be very tempting to splurge on your wedding dress, and yes your wedding dress is very important. Yet it makes little sense to spend up to 30-40% of your budget on a gown and then skimp on everything else. Your designer gown will look out of place at the wedding that screams out ‘BUDGET’ everywhere you look. You can find an amazing dress that will compliment your budget and will make you look incredible.
Avoid ‘hot dates’ such as Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Spring Day and dates around these seasons as your flowers can cost up to 20-40% more than usual. Weekends around Easter and Christmas are the same, due to the lack of supply of flowers from farmers and demand from florists drives prices higher.
Yes you can also make your own favours and stationery, many magazines and wedding blogs are full of inspirational ideas which will give you something to do whilst you are waiting for your special day.
You can always approach a wedding planner for a budget planning consultation. A wedding planner will be able to sit down with you and give you a realistic budget based on your wish list and make cost saving recommendations, or propose a workable budget based on the figure provided by the couple. You may be scared/intimidated/reluctant to approach a wedding planner, but most planners do have an option of providing budget consultation only, without any obligation to hire their services further. You can contact myself for such a consultation info@splendidaffairs.co.za.
When looking for a wedding florist you need to find someone who is able to create beautiful centerpieces, but also someone you can communicate with clearly. That someone has to be able to understand your vision to be able to translate it using flowers and décor.
Florists often get emails asking for a quote, and it is very frustrating trying to explain to each bride that the only way to provide an accurate quotation is by having a meeting. No one wants to waste time, so here are a few tips on how to shop around for a florist and then work effectively with your florist.
1 Do your research
The best thing is to start by browsing wedding listing sites such as Celebration, and you can also look through photographers blogs and have a look at the florists they have worked with and credited on their websites.
Have a look at the the websites and blogs of the florists you liked, and you will be able to get an idea of their style and experience.
Are you looking for someone who has a more classical and traditional style, or do you want to work with someone who loves experimenting with different concepts? Your questions will be answered if you pay attention to their online portfolio and presence.
After some web searching try and narrow you list to 2 candidates.
2. Contact florist
You can give them a call or send an email.
Ask following questions:
- Do you do flowers only (many florists are also décor designers and specialists and in fact own a lot of décor stock or handle the hiring of the necessary décor stock to suit the ‘wedding look’)
- Do you own your own décor stock, or do you sub-hire?
- If you sub-hire, do you mark up the hired stock?
- What is your system of working with a client
- Will you do a mock-up for me and how much that will cost?
- Will I be able to keep the flowers after the wedding or not?
3. Book a meeting
You can book a complimentary meeting with a florist to discuss your wedding in details.
Before I meet with a perspective client, I ask following:
- date and venue
- colours and themes for your wedding
- a few images of inspirations to give me a direction
All this information helps me to get ready for the meeting, research some ideas, come up with creative concepts and most importantly explain to the bride at the meeting which flowers will be available and suitable for her wedding.
4. Meeting
Share as much of your vision as possible, you can bring your wedding stationery, or fabric swatches, or anything else that inspires you. And if you are not creative at all, your florist should have books, magazines and other images to help you find a direction.
Your florist has a wealth of knowledge and experience – use it.
You will need to provide your florist with important details such as the location of your ceremony and reception (the cost of delivery and set-up varies if the ceremony and reception sites are not at the same place), where will you be getting ready (for the delivery of bouquets).
If you are getting married outdoors, the back-up plan (in case of the rain) needs to be discussed with your florist.
5. Discuss your budget
It is very seldom we get a client when budget is of no concern. Majority of the brides are on a very strict budget. You need to discuss your realistic budget with your florist, and don’t be afraid to be honest. Florists needs to earn a living, but they also love creating beauty and have an indescribable need to serve clients. If they know your budget, they can recommend creative solutions.
6. Making your decision
After the meeting, you will receive a quotation reflecting discussed details. If you have any concerns about the quotation, you need to discuss those concerns with the florist.
7. Book your florist
Each company/florist works differently, but to book their services you will be required to pay a deposit and send back a copy of a signed contract.
8. Attend Mock-Up
A mock-up is a meeting with a florist where your discussed ideas come to life. Again, each florist works differently and your florist will let you know how he/she works.
A mock-up is an opportunity to make some changes to your vision, or add other elements which you never though of before. Just remember, if you change your centerpieces or add additional decor at the mock-up, this may have an impact on your quotation.
9. Sign off
After your mock-up you should receive final figures reflecting all the details discussed at the mock-up along with a document with a detailed description of all floral and décor items that will be present at your wedding – bridal party flowers, ceremony flowers and reception decorations. You may be required to sign that document, so scrutinise it in great detail.
You can confirm that everything is on track a few weeks before the wedding, but a good florist will stay in touch with a bride during the few weeks leading up to the wedding.
10. Enjoy your wedding
If you chose well, your florist/decor designer will take care of the set-up on the day of the wedding.
And another important tip – creative people are very generous. You will be able to get a lot more value out of your florist if you trust them to do what they do best – create beauty and splendor.
When starting to plan a wedding the budget talk often coincides with discussion regarding the traditional division of payment responsibilities.
When we talk of traditions, we often enter a dangerous territory. Each family differs in their cultural backgrounds, individual convictions and their level of devotion. Traditions are often misunderstood, and even cause conflict if the issue is not handled with care.
Only you and your family will know if you should take a traditional, modern or a combined approach to sharing expenses for the wedding.
Bellow are just general guidelines that can be adapted to each circumstance:
Groom’s Side
Accommodation for the groom’s attendants
Bride’s engagement and wedding rings
Gifts for bride’s family (optional)
Gifts for groomsmen
Legal fees - marriage contract, marriage officer and other legal requirements
Ceremony site fee – if there is a fee associated with ceremony site such as chapel, hall, or other
Bridal Party Flowers – bride’s bouquet and boutonnieres
Bar Bill – Champagne for Toasts, and alcoholic and none-alcoholic drinks at the reception
Transportation for the groom and his attendants to the ceremony
Rehearsal Dinner
Honeymoon
Bride’s Side
Accommodation for the bride’s attendants
Gifts for bride’s attendants
Gift for the groom’s family (optional)
Bride’s outfit
Bridesmaid outfits (optional)
Groom’s ring
Flowers and Decor – bridesmaid bouquets, corsages, ceremony/reception flowers and decor
Stationery – invitations, programs, name cards, menu cards, table numbers and seating chart
Music and Entertainment – all musical requirements at the ceremony and reception, and optional entertainment
Wedding Photography and Video
Modern Approach:
Bride’s Parents – venue and catering
Groom’s Parents – bar arrangements
The Couple – handle all over arrangements
Bridesmaids – pay for their own outfits
Groomsmen – pay for their own suits
Each family circumstances are different and in today’s world the best way to work out the budget is by talking to all parties involved and finding the best solution for coming up with finances. After all a wedding is a family affair and while it is important to make everyone feel included, some sensitivity is required when dealing with financial matters.
Shimansky, South Africa’s premier diamond and platinum jewellery specialist, launches a unique collection of matching his and hers wedding bands now available from Shimansky stores nationwide.
The unique collection features over a hundred styles of matching wedding bands manufactured in 18k yellow, white, black and rose gold with some styles containing round brilliant cut diamonds. The collection is versatile, allowing you to decide what metal you want, single or two-tone in colour, matt or shiny finish and can be ordered in any finger size. Clients can also have a personalised messages engraved on the inside of the band.
Manufactured in a specific process, the wedding bands do not have a solder joint ensuring an elegant and seamless design. Each ring is made with a special alloy which makes the metal stronger and prevents everyday wear and tear.
“Select a style to seal your commitment and receive your ring in as little as two weeks” said Yair Shimansky commenting on the new collection. “The person you intend to marry is one in a million, shouldn’t your wedding band also be?” added Shimansky.
For more information, please visit www.shimansky.com
Wedding Planning and Coordination: Splendid Affairs
Flowers and Decor: Splendid Affairs
Photographer: Christiaan David Photography
Catering: Miya’s Cuisine
Venue: Shepstone Gardens
