Q&A about Wedding Flowers with Stone House Creative
A few weeks ago, I put out a call for any questions on Instagram and I loved all of the questions that I received! It’s always surprising to me what those questions are — they’re almost never what I expect. So, here we are!
A few weeks ago, I put out a call for any questions on Instagram and I loved all of the questions that I received! It’s always surprising to me what those questions are — they’re almost never what I expect. So, here we are!
All photos by Photography by Jodi, from Shannon and Michael’s wedding in Kenora, summer 2019.
Q. What are some seasonal (and affordable) summer wedding flowers? (@laurenjc)
A. This is an interesting question! Without a doubt, summer is an AMAZING time for flowers because the locally grown blooms are killer. Some of my favourites are lisianthus, feverfew, delphinium, foxglove, sweet pea, and zinnias. Generally speaking, locally grown flowers tend to be “affordable,” though I should also be clear: flowers are a luxury, perishable item. No matter where they’re grown, they’re attended to with utmost caution and grown and cut by hand. There’s a LOT of work that goes into flowers, so they’re never really cheap — and they shouldn’t be.
I also want to touch on the word “seasonal” because it really doesn’t mean very much anymore, due to the way that farmers across the world have been able to extend their growing season. If you truly want “in season” flowers, then the word you need to look for is LOCALLY GROWN. For example, order gatherers, Costco, grocery stores, and so on often say they have “seasonal” bouquets, but that means absolutely nothing. The flowers they use are available year-round because they’re grown in greenhouses near the equator with perfect weather. If you want is truly seasonal, then what you want is locally grown.
Often we’ll read advice from wedding blogs and magazines that the best way to save on your wedding flower budget is to choose “in season” flowers, and that’s a misconception. What that really means is not to choose out of season flowers. For example, a peony in season is still going to cost at least $15/stem, whereas a rose is going to cost you $5/stem at any time of the year. That $15/stem peony is NOT cheap…but it is technically “seasonal.” So again, if you want to look for seasonal flowers, then ask for locally grown (keeping in mind, of course, that we live in Manitoba and our growing season is ramping up throughout June and really hits its stride in July and August, before tapering off in September while we wait for those first few frosts to hit).
In the image below, you can see a closeup of icelandic poppies, ranunculus, and delphinium, all of which were grown locally in Manitoba!
Q. What are you doing with flowers this summer, now that we don’t have weddings? (@amandadouglasevents)
A. Wah. Don’t remind me 😭 I’m still hoping to get my hands on as many flowers as possible this summer. I have a few couples who are opting for an elopement style ceremony this summer with their big celebratory party next summer, so I get to create some beautiful bouquets for their elopements! I’m also hoping that things with Covid will relax enough to allow me to work on some personal projects and photoshoots, so that at least I can enjoy the flowers while they’re blooming locally!
Q. What is your absolute favourite flower combination? (@lainiedahle)
A. Lainie, you’re killing me. How on earth can I choose? I tend to be drawn more towards colour combinations, and my natural love is for brighter corals and peaches with beiges and pinks, and I LOVE ruffled flowers. I could see this combination looking killer with garden roses, zinnias, sweet peas, butterfly ranunculus, foxglove…all the good stuff.
Lately, I’m finding myself drawn more to using fewer ingredients and fewer focal flowers. I’m not sure if this will be working into my wedding arrangements or not, but it’s something I’m going to be playing with on my own.
Q. Locally grown vs florist - what’s the difference? (@meganpatricialewis)
A. This is another interesting question! I think what you’re asking here is where we get the product from. I used to work in a retail floral shop (over 7 years ago) and we imported all of our product — a small amount from across Canada and Holland, but mostly from South America. I still bring in a lot of flowers from these regions in my business today, but I try to utilize as much locally grown product as I possibly can.
There are a LOT of benefits to using locally grown flowers. To start, I know my farmers. I know that by ordering from them, I’m supporting their small, women-owned businesses, who pay their staff living wages and I really like that — let’s do everything we can to keep our money in our own economy. I also seek to reduce my carbon footprint where I can, and ordering locally grown flowers obviously cuts down dramatically on shipping and packaging material waste. Additionally, the quality of locally grown flowers is UNBELIEVABLE. They are sturdier, healthier, and more beautiful (in my opinion). I should do a comparison post when local flowers are growing, so you can see the differences yourselves!
I would highly encourage you to ask the florists you are considering hiring for your wedding if they are able to use locally grown flowers for you!
Q. How much does the average couple spend on flowers for their wedding? (@brooklynkehler)
A. My client average spend is $4500, and that sees a typical 18-20 tables , 4-5 bridesmaids, and something gorgeous for the ceremony! If you want to create a realistic floral budget based on what you’re looking for, here’s a really good rundown of different price ranges of typical items!
Q. I am not engaged yet, BUT I love wedding planning and I’m obsessed with your work so much. I am wondering, if I want to do "sky is the limit," crazy flowers, what is the budget I should have? I know zero about flowers — I want them everywhere though, they’re my favourite thing at every wedding!!
A. Favourite question ever 😂 I’m not going to share this person’s name, so that her boyfriend doesn’t get weirded out ha! Obviously I LOVE the idea of a “sky is the limit” floral plan for a wedding, but when it comes to what that budget number should be, that depends on a lot of things. In particular, the guest count: how many tables do we need floral heavy arrangements on? Then I’d also want to know what other focal areas you want to emphasize with flowers: an unreal cake display? A floral-heavy entrance to your ballroom or tent? When you’re talking sky is the limit, balls-to-the-wall flowers, I’m assuming you’re not just talking about the typical order of bridesmaid bouquets and table centrepieces. My client average spend is $4500. If you’re looking at a typical 18-20 tables and 4-5 bridesmaids, but you want a LOT of flowers, I’d suggest budgeting in the $10,000 range. And then call me 😘
Q. Tips for anyone planning a wedding (not during the pandemic lol)? (@brooklynkehler)
A. Ah, another good question. I know that wedding planning can be super overwhelming at the best of times, especially when you’re just getting started. There are SO many decisions to make (especially if you’re not a good decision maker), many options to consider, endless referrals from people you know…so let’s start by getting really clear on a few things: This is YOUR wedding. That means the two of you make the decisions. Feel free to make those decisions based on what’s important to you and keep those “most important” things at the forefront of your mind, as that’s likely where you’ll be spending the bulk of your budget.
I always suggest starting with the aspects of the wedding that are most important to you — nailing down the right venue, the date, and then your top 3 or 4 VIP vendors (for me, that would be my photographer, floral designer, and dress. I’d suggest a wedding planner or coordinator be included in there as well!).
Hire vendors based on how well you get along with them (particularly your photographer — you’ll be spending all day with him or her!) and how well they seem to be aligned with your personal style and vision (especially your floral designer and your planner). Choose high quality vendors that you trust, and ask them what they suggest within your budget, rather than trying to force your budget on the vendors you really want, or worse, assuming that those vendors you love won’t work with you because of your budget.
When it comes to the design and details of the day, try not to get sucked into the Pinterest trap! Same goes for Instagram. Looking at what other people have done for their weddings will be like quicksand, getting you stuck in a loop of what OTHER people have done. You’re not other people! Let’s design something that’s just for YOU. The best way to do that is ask your design-related vendors to give your creative vendors a lot of flexibility and encourage them to get creative!
Q. What time of year is it best to have a wedding so all the flowers you want are available? What type of flowers are the most expensive? (@jeannaleeartistry)
A. Well, this answer totally depends on what those favourite flowers are! During spring you’ll find the perennial favourites: peonies and ranunculus, blooming branches, and tulips and hyacinth. These are all quite feminine, delicate, and lovely — exactly what you’d want for a spring wedding! Summer brings us the best locally grown flowers in a riot of colours and textures: lisianthus, zinnias (a personal fave), cosmos, snapdragons, strawflower, sweet pea. Early fall we can still get some locally grown flowers (just up until the frost starts) but you can also get most flowers still available through the wholesaler. And obviously, here in winter we can’t get anything locally grown but many things are still available through wholesale (roses, always) — my favourite winter flowers include amaryllis (woah baby, especially the peach ones), agapanthus, lots of interesting textures like pieris, privet berries, and skimmia.
As to which flowers are most expensive? Probably all the ones you love the best 😂Peonies, garden roses, ranunculus, butterfly ranunculus, poppies…I know, I know. All those ruffly, special, beautiful blooms. What an we do? We love all the pricy stuff!
Looking for a Wedding Floral and Event Designer in Winnipeg?
2021 wedding dates are now booking! Flowers are the best way to make a statement at your wedding. Whether you already have a specific vision or want me to dream up something custom just for you, reach out to Stone House Creative for stunning bridal bouquets, truly unique ceremony backdrops, and beautiful floral centrepieces to create the perfect ambiance for your wedding!
Romantic Mauve Wedding Flowers at Pineridge Hollow
What started out as simple white and green evolved into a deeper, more feminine and romantic palette of monochromatic mauves — and I LOVED it. As Emelissa dove deeper into her wedding planning, her vision came together in a more detailed way. She was a highly organized bride and has great style — you just have to check out her wedding dress and bridal style to see that for yourself.
She decided on the dusty mauves after a site visit to Pineridge Hollow, reflecting on how white the tent is. This is something I think all couples should think about — the design of your space will be one of the most fundamental aspects of your overall event design so it’s important to consider how it will play into your floral choices!
What started out as simple white and green evolved into a deeper, more feminine and romantic palette of monochromatic mauves — and I LOVED it. As Emelissa dove deeper into her wedding planning, her vision came together in a more detailed way. She was a highly organized bride and has great style — you just have to check out her wedding dress and bridal style to see that for yourself.
She decided on the dusty mauves after a site visit to Pineridge Hollow, reflecting on how white the tent is. This is something I think all couples should think about — the design of your space will be one of the most fundamental aspects of your overall event design so it’s important to consider how it will play into your floral choices!
Woah nelly, this was a beautiful floral palette to work with! I dug into the idea of working with an analogous palette and let those varied shades of dusty rose / mauve / dark plum move seamlessly through the bouquet.
Bridal Bouquet Ingredients: Locally grown dahlias, lisianthus, and scabiosa totally stole the show, perfectly completed by amnesia roses, cafe latte garden roses, copper extasis carnations and calcynica along with smokebush, boxwood, nagi, and leather leaf foliages.
I finished the stems with some gorgeous silk ribbon from Stella Wolfe.
Let’s talk about this ceremony! Isn’t it a pretty one? The backdrop at the woodlands area of Pineridge Hollow is always gorgeous, but I have to say that I think this is my favourite ceremony I’ve done designed there. My 2 piece deconstructed gold arch is a personal favourite. I elected to design the florals in an asymmetrical way, bringing floral up into the spotlight at the same time as creating a naturally grown look. I love that couple and wedding party used the altar as a portrait backdrop for a lot of photos, too - you can’t get a prettier space for photos!
We also added petite bouquets to the aisle, hanging off Pineridge Hollow’s shepherd’s hooks.
The focal point of the reception was hanging clouds of flowers suspended over the head table. This allowed us to bring in the colour to break up all the white of the tent, which was aided by the table runners that Emelissa dyed to perfectly match. The guest tables featured a mixture of glass stem vases with petite floral arrangements along with petal confetti scattered down the table.
Stephanie Lauren Co ~ Alexandra Lillian Weddings & Events ~ Pineridge Hollow ~ Buttercream by Alareen ~ REmbrandt STring Quartet ~ Bailey Van Der Veen ~ 2 Chicks and a Bag of Makeup ~ La Ferriere Film
Looking for a Wedding Floral and Event Designer in Winnipeg?
2021 wedding dates are now booking! Flowers are the best way to make a statement at your wedding. Whether you already have a specific vision or want me to dream up something custom just for you, reach out to Stone House Creative for stunning bridal bouquets, truly unique ceremony backdrops, and beautiful floral centrepieces to create the perfect ambiance for your wedding!
Roundup of my Top Wedding Flower Posts
My least favourite episode of every TV show ever is always the “Clip Episode” (except for on the Office). You know, those episodes where the characters look back at their fondest memories and there’s nothing new in the episode, it’s just clips from the past? Yeah, that’s boring.
BUT, I thought it might be helpful for all of you who are stalled out on your wedding planning thanks to Covid-19 OR those of you who are looking ahead to 2021 and 2022 weddings to round up some of my personal favourite and some of my most popular blog posts to give you a hand or two!
My least favourite episode of every TV show ever is always the “Clip Episode” (except for on the Office). You know, those episodes where the characters look back at their fondest memories and there’s nothing new in the episode, it’s just clips from the past? Yeah, that’s boring.
BUT, I thought it might be helpful for all of you who are stalled out on your wedding planning thanks to Covid-19 OR those of you who are looking ahead to 2021 and 2022 weddings to round up some of my personal favourite and some of my most popular blog posts to give you a hand or two!
Wedding Venue Selection
Top 5 Unique Venues in Winnipeg
Top 5 Best Locations in Winnipeg
*There are a handful of new wedding venues that have recently opened up in Manitoba, or will be opening soon and I haven’t yet been able to see them — Gimli, East Selkirk, Morden, the Interlake — which is so exciting to see!
Wedding Flower Budgeting
Floral Inspiration
A Few Favourite Real Weddings
Wedding Flower Planning Tips
Covid-19 Wedding Planning
Looking for a Wedding Floral and Event Designer in Winnipeg?
2021 wedding dates are now booking! Flowers are the best way to make a statement at your wedding. Whether you already have a specific vision or want me to dream up something custom just for you, reach out to Stone House Creative for stunning bridal bouquets, truly unique ceremony backdrops, and beautiful floral centrepieces to create the perfect ambiance for your wedding! Beautiful weddings, designed for and with love.
My Top 5 Must-Haves for an UNBELIEVABLE Elopement
What I love about an elopement is IT’S ALL ABOUT THE PROMISES AND THE TWO OF YOU. In the current climate, I’m assuming that many of you who are planning an elopement is because you can’t have the large wedding that you’d like, but you still want to have the ceremony and make your promises to each other. Whether that’s your case or not, I wanted to talk about my must-haves for an UNBELIEVABLE elopement!
Photos by Ariana Tennyson
What I love about an elopement is IT’S ALL ABOUT THE PROMISES AND THE TWO OF YOU. In the current climate, I’m assuming that many of you who are planning an elopement is because you can’t have the large wedding that you’d like, but you still want to have the ceremony and make your promises to each other. Whether that’s your case or not, I wanted to talk about my must-haves for an UNBELIEVABLE elopement!
Love Letters
I’m assuming that one of the things that’s making the decision to have an elopement a challenge is that you’ll miss your loved ones. So make sure they’re there with you, in spirit: ask your loved ones to write letters to you, that the two of you can read together on your elopement day. I found this idea on Junebug Weddings, and there are some other amazing elopement ideas here!
Create an Amazing Scene
No eyes will be on you, but that doesn’t mean that you don’t deserve a breathtaking ceremony backdrop. My goal is always to design a ceremony space that gives you a sense of space that’s just for the two of you. A space that feels grounded, that creates an ambiance that you’ll never forget. How are we going to do this? Florals, furniture, tons of candles, scents…whatever your style is, I’m going to make that happen.
If you’re able to have a dinner afterwards, then let’s do that up, too. While you’re taking some photos with your new husband/wife, I’ll re-purpose pieces of that ceremony design and bring in tabletop elements to put together the most perfect evening for two — or, brunch!
Don’t Forget To Capture It
Make sure that your photographer and videographer will be there to capture your elopement so you can show it at your party later! You’ll never regret having those photos taken. My favourite photos are always the ones that are taken right after the ceremony is over, and the photographer sneaks away with the couple for a few private moments.
Celebrate the Season
Whatever season your elopement will be in, let’s do it to the max. A super cozy fall ceremony outdoors in the woods. An intimate, romantic ceremony in December in front of your fireplace while the snow falls outside. See what I mean?
Cheer each other down the aisle
You know that moment, when the bride walks down the aisle and the guests all stand to greet her? Or that moment, once the vows have been said and the kiss happened, when the music picks up, and you rush back down the aisle together, hands held high? Just because you don’t have a large guest list doesn’t mean you can’t have those moments. Cheer each other down the aisle!
Bonus Must-Have: Make sure you feel your best
Get your hair done, your makeup done, wear your dress, drink some champagne. Oh, and carry a gorgeous bouquet 😘
Looking for a Wedding Floral and Event Designer in Winnipeg?
2021 wedding dates are now booking! Flowers are the best way to make a statement at your wedding. Whether you already have a specific vision or want me to dream up something custom just for you, reach out to Stone House Creative for stunning bridal bouquets, truly unique ceremony backdrops, and beautiful floral centrepieces to create the perfect ambiance for your wedding! Beautiful weddings, designed for and with love.
An Anthropologie Inspired Tent Wedding In Carman
Let me say, whenever I get an inquiry that says anything about the couple’s love of colour and their idea to design their wedding in an Athropolgie-inspired way, momma’s going to get excited. That was the case with Emily and Mark’s tent wedding at their home in Carman, MB!
We’re talking about some seriously delicious colour. Vibrant while still being feminine, we focused on pale pinks, lavender, orange, blue, coral, and butter yellow.
Let me say, whenever I get an inquiry that says anything about the couple’s love of colour and their idea to design their wedding in an Athropolgie-inspired way, momma’s going to get excited. That was the case with Emily and Mark’s tent wedding at their home in Carman, MB!
We’re talking about some seriously delicious colour. Vibrant while still being feminine, we focused on pale pinks, lavender, orange, blue, coral, and butter yellow.
Bridal bouquet ingredients: peonies, ranunculus, anemones, clematis, delphinium, carnations, scabiosa.
I can’t say enough about how truly wonderful all of these women were. The bridesmaids were all getting ready in Emily and Mark’s house while I was flitting in and out, setting up different areas of the wedding, delivering bouquets, and arranging the flowers and fruit on the cake. From Emily’s mom to the bridesmaids, it was such a pleasure to see and hear how beautifully they interacted with each other and took care of Emily.
Emily had chosen a particular spot in the treeline with a branch that grew horizontally. She collected blue glass bottles to hang arrangements in, and when I suggested we add in strands of dried citrus slices and colourful carnations, she eagerly agreed. Yes!
A white tent, fully draped in dreamy white sheers, and lots of colour brought in through the flowers. Emily rented a few different collections of brass and milk glass stem vases and brass candleholders from Something Borrowed here in Winnipeg. It was definitely fun to add in oranges, light pinks, lavenders, blues, corals and plums to bring vibrancy to the tent. She also selected a few different tones of blue taper candles (from my favourite Canadian candle supplier, Yummi) and I really love the layered look these brought to the tablescapes - and you all know I love coloured candles!
I also love that this tent floor plan featured both round and banquet tables - sometimes thinking outside the box can make the flow of the room work much more comfortably at the same time as more efficiently using the space.
How fun is this image of Emily seeing the tent for the first time with so much excitement on her face! I never get to see those moments in person 💕
I love when couples choose a double-sided head table. It just seems like it would be so much more enjoyable to sit at, to actually be able to talk to people you love! We used some of the larger vases from the Something Borrowed collection with some petite floral arrangements, and they re-purposed all of the hanging citrus and floral strands from the ceremony to hang behind them. Doesn’t it look so cheerful thanks to all of that colour!
I also got to decorate the cake, which doesn’t happen too often! Emily’s mom baked the cake with SO much love and she was truly such a kind and excited momma. Of course I loved being able to include some of the orange slices that I dried!
Sugar & Soul Photography ~ Alexandra Lillian Events ~ Simply Perfect Decor ~ Something Borrowed ~ Jessica Kmiec Makeup Artistry
Looking for a Wedding Floral and Event Designer in Winnipeg?
2021 wedding dates are now booking! Flowers are the best way to make a statement at your wedding. Whether you already have a specific vision or want me to dream up something custom just for you, reach out to Stone House Creative for stunning bridal bouquets, truly unique ceremony backdrops, and beautiful floral centrepieces to create the perfect ambiance for your wedding!