Belak's Flowers

rainsfallsoftly · August 2010

Hey, guys--I know a lot of you have used Belak's Flowers as your florist. I am meeting with Barb from Belak's on Tuesday, and just wanted a general idea of their prices going in. I am only getting 1 bridal bouquet, 4 bridesmaids bouquets, 4 groomsmen boutonnieres, and no more than 10 corsages/boutonnieres for moms, grandparents, readers, etc. No centerpieces or decorations whatsoever. I know flowers obviously range a lot in cost depending on what you get, but I was wondering if anyone who has gotten flowers there could give me an idea of what you spent. If you would rather message me than post it, that would be fine too. Thanks!

Ms.BriarRose · August 2010

Here is what I got from Barb:
1 bridal bouquet
2 BM bouquets
2 mothers clutches (little bouquets)
1 groom bout
3 GM bouts
2 father bouts
1 usher bout
2 grandmother corsages
1 grandfather bout
1 RB bout
1 stepmom corsage
4 simple corsages (for my nieces)
2 honorary bridesmaids simple corsages
1 throwaway bouquet

I used the following flowers:
Stargazers lillies
stephanotis (bride/groom only)
baby's breath
regular white daisies with green centers (bride's/mothers)
white gerbera daisies (BMs/GMs)
green lisianthus
green berries
blue delphinium (BM/GM/RB)
white mini roses (mothers/fathers)
white filler

For all that I got, I spent $800. We were really happy with how everything went, for what we got, and the flowers we got. Now, remember, the flowers are going to affect cost. If you use only calla lillies (which, totally off topic, can't stand, but thats personal), your cost is going to skyrocket. If you use only flowers that are in season, your cost may be less.

Barb has a ton of books; go thru them with her. Ask her if things in certain photos can be replaced with other flowers. That's what happened with me; there was a picture of a bouquet with only green and white flowers, and I asked her if one flower could be replaced with another, and so on, until I ended up with what I listed. I was actually really happy with how she treated me and all my questions. She actually told my mom to hush up when I started asking questions about whether my stepmom (really my dad's longterm gf) needed flowers. She was honest and open with us (she only told my mom to hush up bc we know her outside of weddings and flowers; she's actually a member of our church, too). I had, and still have, a ton of faith in her, and highly recommend her. Hands down, Barb is my favorite vendor to work with so far, and most likely will be my favorite vendor to work with over all.

rainsfallsoftly · August 2010

Thanks for the quick reply! Also, follow up question, if you don't mind me asking...do you know how much your individual cost for the bride and bridesmaids' bouquets was? Also, how much of a deposit does she require? I know she'll go over all this on Tuesday, but the more prepared I can be, the better!

Ms.BriarRose · August 2010

I don't remember. My mom paid for the flowers, so she has all that info.

rainsfallsoftly · August 2010

Thanks! I really appreciate all your help!

dibsontop · August 2010

We're using Belak's. I ordered:

1 bride bouquet
5 bridesmaid bouquets
1 groom bout
5 groomsmen bouts
2 dad bouts
1 mom corsage
1 ring bearer bout
flower girl petals
2 altar pieces

We're using mostly roses, hydrangeas, stephanotis, lysianthus, and carnations.
The bouquets are wrapped with ribbon and the stephanotis will have the pearl pins stuck in the them. For all of that, we're paying around $800 as well.

Ms.BriarRose · August 2010

I will tell you this, a tip Barb told me at the meeting when we went: The smaller and more delicate flowers you use, the more you are going to pay.

I was really interested in doing a bouquet of babys breath and stephanotis. Because stephanotis is so fragile and expensive, my bouquet would have been outragously priced she said. She suggested going with larger flowers to help offset the cost, since you don't need as many, and then complementing with a few of the expensive flowers. Since I am using Stargazer Lillies, and Daisies, and Filler (which is really cheap), it really helped to offset the cost. Gerbera Daisies are always cheap, as is filler, babys breath, carnations... Depending on what type of roses you want, they can be expensive, calla lillies are outrageously priced, so is stephanotis. Lisianthus, hydrangea, delphinum, berries, are all moderately priced (and sometimes cheap depending on the time of year).

When you go in there, I know you will probably have ideas- I did too. Really try to be flexible. Barb is excellent at what she does, and can really help steer you to finding something that works, is beautiful, and fits into your budget. When looking thru the books, remember they are not "fixed" bouquets; you can change the flowers, as I did. Really try to take Barb's advice, ask what flowers are less expensive, what flowers are larger (even if they cost a bit more per bloom, because you are going to only use a few of them), and if she suggests something, she usually knows what she is talking about and has a good reason for suggesting it.

Also, while I am saying I paid $800, I also ordered my flowers over a year ago, so try not to take my number too much into consideration; Barb's prices may have fluxuated.

Hope that helps too! When you go in, please tell Barb that Brittany from St. Philip's says HI!!!!!

rainsfallsoftly · August 2010

Thanks for everybody's help! I met with Barb today, picked my flowers, and put down a deposit. Here's a little bit about what I chose and how much it cost in case anyone else is considering Belak:

Bridal bouquet=$160
--dendrobium orchids, lilies, white roses, pool-colored baby's breath, and stock

Here's a pic that has lisianthus in the bottom, which I am switching to lilies

Throwaway bouquet=free
--lilies and pool-colored baby's breath

Bridesmaids bouquet=$260 ($65 each)
--dendrobium orchids, white spray roses, pool-colored baby's breath, and stock

MOB wrist corsage=$30
--dendrobium orchids (and I think white spray roses?) She uses these adorable beaded wristlets rather than that cheap elastic like you get for prom!

MOG pinned corsage=$26
--same as MOB, but she wants a pinned one rather than wristlet

StepMOG wrist corsage=$30
--same as MOB

2 step-grandmother wrist corsages= $56 ($28 each)
--white (spray?) roses

1 female reader pinned corsage=$15
--white spray roses

Boutonnieres for groomsmen, FOB, GFoB, male reader, brother of bride, and groom=$108 ($12 each)
--groom's will have two dendrobium orchids and white rose; the rest will just have dendrobium orchids

Flower girl=$28
-White rose petals

Grand total (includes $20 delivery charge)=$733

They require a 25% deposit, 25% four months prior, and the balance 10 days before.

rainsfallsoftly · August 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_delaware_belaks-flowers?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:77Discussion:69aaab9c-1da6-4f9c-b9e0-7ce324fdc7d2Post:22fd60c6-eddd-487a-8507-6cafdf04d369">Re: Belak's Flowers</a>:
[QUOTE]When you go in, please tell Barb that Brittany from St. Philip's says HI!!!!!
Posted by Ms.BriarRose[/QUOTE]

I passed on your message! I forgot your name at first (oops! sorry!), but when I said you were getting flowers from her and knew her from church, she was like oh, Brittany! She was very happy to get the message and seemed flattered that you thought of her. <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-laughing.gif" border="0" alt="Laughing" title="Laughing" />

Belak's Flowers

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