A Thai Celebration... Wedding

Jerome is an now officially an INTERNATIONAL Designer.. ok, he had traveled to Canada, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico and all over the United States.. but this was on the OTHER SIDE of the world!!  His design and wedding services were requested by a Thai family that just happens to own a very well respected orchid farm in Thailand.  The wedding of Puy and Tu took place in Bangkok, Thailand in April.  
The 24hr trip (one way with a lay over in Hong Kong) was the least of the "opportunities" Jerome had to contend with.  Communication with the minimally English speaking clients and their families was the most significant other "opportunity".  However, thanks to Jerome's ability to charm anyone, not only was he able to communicate.. but in the end, he was "Uncle Jerome" and a member of the family.  There is even discussion of a second trip sometime in the future.

When your family owns an orchid farm... it is safe to say that ORCHIDS will be used at the wedding!! and boy were they!  The flower list for the wedding started with 35000 stems of loose orchids.  Thai weddings, unlike traditional American weddings, are very colorful.  Utilizing a team of essentially non-english speaking assistants, Jerome was able to take all of this from initial planning to reality within 8 very short days.  


 










 


Additionally Jerome was treated to trips to the farm to see how the orchids are produced, harvested and packed for shipping; sightseeing the local markets; and visiting many temples 
and other sites of interest.  










 


The Thai assistants were shown how the designs were to be constructed and Jerome supervised their actions all while also doing the more demanding designs himself.

The workroom was located in a non airconditioned room at a very large hotel in Bangkok.  Thank goodness, fresh orchids hold up extremely well in warm, humid conditions.. not the same can be said of Jerome! 









 
 The traditional Buddhist ceremony took place complete with orange draped chanting Monks and ancient customs.  

Later that afternoon a ceremony took place at the hotel that involved pouring "blessings" symbolized by water upon the newly married couples hands by family and guests.  Jerome was honored with taking part in this event.

 Brilliantly colored mokara, dendrobium and aranda orchids were used to create lush floral trees for the reception centerpieces.   Towering 8-10 feet tall, the trees were quite awe-inspiring.





























The cake table was draped with orchids.   The 9 layer cake provided by the pastry chef at the hotel came with its on floral embellishments pre-decorated.  A cupcake display was also a part of the dessert presentation.

Thai wedding reception dinners are traditionally served buffet style with people eating as they please and not necessarily being "seated" in reserve style, meaning there are more guests than there are chairs... people mingle, eat and mingle more. 

Large display photos were festooned with orchids and large floral displays were created for the stage.






 



Later that evening the reception took on more of a party atmosphere with MANY photos being made, lots of food consumed and American music.   

We wish Puy and Tu much happiness, good health, prosperity and love in their life together.  Blumz and Jerome were most honored to be a part of their very special day.

Finding the Right Wedding Florist

You’ve got the ring, you’ve set the date and now its time to talk flowers.   How do you find the right wedding florist for your special event?  Choosing the right blooms to decorate your very special occasion requires a few basic decisions and a few realizations.

First, be realistic with your budget and expectations. It's ok to want your wedding to look like something out of Oprah's magazine or Martha Stewart's book, but that is only realistic if you have the bank balances that those two ladies have to work with. And even though there are "calculators" on web sites such as www.theknot.com that are supposed to tell you how much you should spend on flowers, cake, etc., these are only general calculations and are usually very minimal when compared to what young women often visualize for their weddings.

So how do you select the right floral source? Do you go with the well-established "wedding" flower shop or do you trust a friend or associate that likes to dabble in flowers and is willing to help you with yours as a favor?

Basically flowers can come from many sources. The source you select should be based on your expectations and needs.

Do you expect full service with several consultations, delivery, set up and rental items, or are you planning simple bouquets and flowers to wear that you or a friend can pick up the day of the event?

Are your tastes in reception flowers less complicated such as daisies in a simple vase or are you wanting raised and low centerpieces requiring a skilled and talented floral designer? Knowing the answer to these and many other questions requires you have a clear theme or "look" in mind and then selecting accordingly.

Here are a few questions that can help you in selecting the right florist/ floral source for you and your budget.

Is the wedding formal or casual? More formal weddings usually require more experience and training of the florist. Their knowledge in design, materials, event planning, venue requirements, and execution of the plans is priceless to insure a less stressful and more beautiful event.
Casual weddings for the most part are not as "detail" oriented (unless it is a casual affair in theme but highly detailed and orchestrated in actuality). They may not require as much floral presence and therefore may only require minimal arrangements of non-structured design.

Are the flowers desired readily available with very few restrictions? If you are getting married in September and you REALLY want tulips, then you need to be dealing with a professional florist that specializes in wedding and events. Yes, tulips are available in September if you are willing to accept the costs and their limitations.

However, there are certain things that you would need to be aware of when making those decisions that a professional floral designer would be able to assist you with.

If your flower requirements are very open to interpretation and you feel comfortable just going with what is available the week of the event, then you may not require the services of a traditional flower shop.

Is your budget very generous or restrictive? The answer to this question is highly subjective and relative.

Whether your budget is generous or restrictive, a professional florist will be able to give you many suggestions on how to make that budget give you the most value for your dollar.

Never assume that you cannot afford a big name florist. Most are just as willing to work with a bride whose budget is slim as they are with a big ticket wedding. Simply ask if they have any minimum requirements and what your expectations are. Just remember, keep your expectations realistic.

After you have answered these questions, shop around. Do an on-line search of florists in your area and look at their web sites to get a feel for what they can do and have to offer. To what professional organizations and associations do they belong? What is their educational background and how many years experience do they have? Select the three that most fit what you are looking for and then contact them about setting up an appointment to meet with them.

As you meet the floral providers, treat the consultations like you would job interviews. Is this shop right for the job? Does their "look" reflect your style? Does the person you are speaking with understand your expectations? Do they have a good reputation in the area for excellent work, personal service and professionalism? Are they able to provide references and vendor information besides just floral? What other services do they provide that may make it easier for you, such as linens, invitations, cakes, etc.?

Finally, go with the florist that you feel understands your desires, that are willing to work with your budget and with whom you feel a personal connection. When it really get down to it, when comparing apples to apples, most floral shops of comparable abilities, products and levels of service, will have comparable

prices. It really does boil down to finding someone with whom you connect.

Once you find that floral shop, trust them and listen to their recommendations. They are the professionals and have a professional stake in your wedding. Yes, it is your day, but it is also their name on the flowers. Communication is crucial. Allow them to guide you in what flowers are in season, what designs are going to look best for a given situation, and how to make your wedding day as beautiful as possible.

Once you do that, relax and allow the professional to do what they do best. Enjoy the day and know that you have selected the right florist for the job.

Now go and be a beautiful bride.

Written by Robbin Yelverton AIFD, CFD, PFCI
Co-Owner of Blumz... by JRDesigns, Floral & Event Professionals
http://www.blumz.com

Wedding Trends 2010

To all of you ladies, AND gentlemen who got an engagement ring for Christmas, CONGRATULATIONS! Here are a few of this year’s projected wedding trends.

Trend Number One
Giant explosions of flowers are out. Earthy landscapes are in. Branches and trees encompassed by moss and small pots of greenery or herbs are the big trend starting to peak around the corner. Top that with a few white dendrobium orchids blooms and you have yourself a stunning table piece!

Trend number two
Roses, roses, roses. I’m very tired of the same old red or white tight, round rose bridal bouquets. Aren’t you? Well, that’s great because tight and round is out and loose and “just picked ” look is in! A rose will always be a lovely classic flower to be incorporated in almost every bouquet, but the front runners this season are hydrangea, peonies, and orchids. Along the same lines, a wristlet corsage is becoming a thing of the past and more and more mothers are carrying nosegays (or small loose bouquets) down the aisles.

Trend number Three
Blumz staff all would agree that most of the wedding favors we receive (and trust me we get a lot throughout the year) are either lost in our shop somewhere or were eaten. The favors that were eaten were almost always well loved! The little trinkets…well like I said we have them somewhere. A huge trend right now is to give a favor that is meaningful and useful. When I say meaningful and useful, I mean for example paying tribute to the couples heritage ie. chopsticks for couples of Asian decent. Who wouldn’t love a pair of chopsticks for a fun night in with some yummy take out?
Another huge thing (and our personal favorite!) is to make a donation to charity in the name of the couples’ guests. A great way to do this and get a little something back is to purchase fair trade or eco friendly items from websites like thehungersite.com who donate food or money from your purchase. You get the best of both worlds because you get an actual item for your favors and a donation is made! Don’t forget that we would love to package and pretti-fy your favor for you so it can double as a favor and a added touch to your overall table décor. Nothing finishes off a table like a little more splash of your wedding color.

Also, know that we at Blumz are ready and eager to help you in the planning process. We have everything from tuxedo rental, linens, invitations/menu cards, favors, flowers, decor, and pretty much anything else you may desire for your wedding (we can even officiate your service!), and yes, there are financial benefits when you use us for more than just flowers! Just Ask!!
(Contributed by Dawn McCreary, Blumz... by JRDesigns)