Hi Knotties! I wanted to give you local
brides some info on florists/flowers that I found helpful. As most brides do,
I’ve gone to 3 florists in the area prepping for my wedding and getting quotes
on floral for our big day. I’ve been quoted $6, $4.5k and $3.5k respectively.
Frustrated that I’d never get out of the thousands of dollars I took to wedding
bee forums and talking to other brides about it. A dear friend told me she’d
ordered her flowers wholesale from Costco.com and other brides told me about
buying from the local grocery or Fifty Flowers. All of which had me working to
preserve and arrange flowers 3 days before my wedding… I didn’t want that kind
of added pressure. So, I took to Facebook to vent about my frustrations. A
recent bride and friend of mine told me about an Amish family (Weaver’s Cut
Flowers) who grows their own flowers to sell at the local (relatively so) farmers market and that
they also made arrangements. She gave me BEAUTIFUL photo proof their work…
My friend told me there would be
cost savings, but didn’t indicate how much. So I went to go see Mrs. Weaver (they
are Amish so there is no telephone, internet or any other means of modern
communication with which to talk to them). I caught her in her work barn
making bouquets for sale. I laid out for her using the last florist’s proposal
I’d gotten (w/ very minor tweaks) the style of my wedding and what I was
looking for (which was different from my friend’s look). I presented her with:
1 Bridal Bouquet: ‘Black Magic’
roses, burgundy spray roses, eggplant callas, burgundy tulips and burgundy
ranunculus.
2 Bridal Toss Bouquets: roses, and
spray roses in burgundy tones with burgundy callas.
9 Bridesmaid Bouquets: roses, and
spray roses in burgundy tones with burgundy tulips.
1 Groom Bout: Eggplant Calla (I’m
making the Groomsmen’s Bouts because they are non-floral but I’m heavily
re-considering…)
3 Wrist & 4 Pinned Corsages:
ivory roses and spray roses
5 floral centerpieces: white and
ivory flowers to be used include white hydrangea, ivory roses and spray roses,
white stock and white dendrobium orchids, accented with small silver and gold
Christmas ornaments (provided by me)*
I also took my inspiration photos.
She gave me some recommendations (originally peonies were in my bridal bouquet)
based on time of year, what she can grow herself and what she’ll have to order.
She gave me her payment guideline: deposit due 2 weeks before the wedding w/
hardcopy inspiration photos, and pickup can be set for the day before (or
earlier if need be).** Then I braced myself as she did some quick math with her
calculator to give me the price…
Drumroll…. $500.00.
I was so happy I had to
tell you all! I want to bring the same savings to you!! If any of you in
the DC Metro area (Vienna, Frederick, etc.) are interested in having this wonderful
Amish family do your floral… PM me. I’ll either get you the information so that
if you are close enough you can visit the Weavers yourself OR
I’ll set up a meeting on your behalf (we can Facetime while I’m there
if you like – pending a strong enough cell signal), get an order to Miss Weaver
and deliver and set up the flowers for you and just tack on a modest fee for
helping out.***
*Anything (other than ribbon) that
you want to incorporate in your bouquets that are non-floral items, I suggest
you provide.
**The Con: The Weavers are Amish, so
delivery & set-up would be impossible. Horse & buggy would never make
it on I-495.
***I am not an agent of Weaver’s
(cuz I’m not Amish, lol… though at this point I’d totally join if they asked me
lol) I’m just a bride trying to help other brides!
Some additional info on Weaver’s if
you like: http://www.weddingwire.com/reviews/weavers-fresh-cut-flowers-loveville/9f1cb0d137364d8f.html