Frequently Asked Questions
- Where are you located?
- What areas do you service?
- How long have you been in business?
- What are the steps in selecting a Wedding Florist?
- How many weddings do you commit to in one day?
- How far in advance of my wedding date should I schedule a consultation?
- What are your consultation hours?
- How long does a consultation last?
- Do you charge for an initial consultation?
- After the initial consultation, do you charge for subsequent appointments?
- What should I bring to a consultation?
- Can I always expect to get flower colors that match magazine photos?
- How much should I budget for wedding flowers?
- Does the time of year impact the cost of the flowers I may order?
- Which flowers are more costly?
- How can I obtain pricing information before the consultation?
- After my consultation, how long will it take to get a written estimate?
- How can I book you for my wedding date if I am satisfied with the estimate?
- If I am dissatisfied with the estimate, what can I do?
- Do you require a contract and deposit?
- Can I make changes to the estimate after I have signed a contract?
- What types of payments do you accept?
- Do you deliver and set up flowers and décor?
- Do you charge extra to pin on boutonnieres and corsages?
- How much time do you allocate for set up?
- Can I obtain an email estimate?
- Do you have rental items?
- What if I have more questions about your services?
Where are you located?
Our Studio is located in Sterling, Virginia, close to Dulles Town Center, just off Cascades Parkway. Please see Contact Us for specific details.
What areas do you service?
We service metropolitan DC locations, including Northern Virginia, the District and portions of Maryland within an hour's travel from our studio.
How long have you been in business?
We have been in business over 11 years and have created distinctive designs for hundreds of local Brides. Every Bride is special to us. We provide beautiful florals to complement the Bridal Party and venue site. You can trust our experienced professional team to make your wedding day flowers unforgettable.
What are the steps in selecting a Wedding Florist?
Generally, you will begin the selection process after securing a ceremony and reception site and choosing your colors and/or theme for the event. In the event you need referrals for wedding coordinators to assist in this area, we can recommend several highly qualified professionals. Once those arrangements have been completed, call us to set up an appointment. At our consultation, you will discuss your overall wedding plans and review our portfolio of wedding pictures and large collection of wedding design books. We will assist you in making informed choices based on the ceremony and reception site, styles of Bridal gown and bridesmaid dresses, color selections and/or wedding theme, seasonal availability of flowers, and budget considerations. Within 3 business days after your consultation, you will receive a line item estimate by email. If you are satisfied with the estimate, we will prepare a contract that outlines our responsibility to you. After signing the contract, one copy will be returned to us with a deposit.
How many weddings do you commit to in one day?
We generally schedule only one wedding a day so that the master floral designer can be a part of the delivery team and give the details of your event her full attention.
How far in advance of my wedding date should I schedule a consultation?
Once you have secured your ceremony/reception site and have given thought to your chosen colors and/or overall theme, it's time to call us for a consultation. It is not unusual to schedule 9 months to 12 months in advance, especially for very popular dates such as May-June, September-October, or holiday weekends such as Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and Columbus Day. Our consultations are complimentary and we do not charge for a second consultation. You can contact us by phone or email.
What are your consultation hours?
Our consultation hours are by appointment. We are very flexible and can set up a time during the week between 9:30am - 7:00pm or on most Saturdays between 9:30am and 4:30pm.
How long does a consultation last?
In general, you can expect a consultation to last between 1-2 hours. The length will depend on the amount of advance preparation, how many questions you have and your decision process. Brides who are unsure of their floral requirements should plan for a longer consultation.
Do you charge for an initial consultation?
Our consultations are complimentary.
After the initial consultation, do you charge for subsequent appointments?
Sometimes it may be necessary to schedule a second appointment. It is important to us that you are completely satisfied and confident with your floral design choices. We do not charge for this service.
What should I bring to a consultation?
It is helpful to bring one or two other people to your consultation. Having your mother and/or a bridesmaid present to discuss ideas and give advice can be advantageous. Also, be prepared to supply basic information such as wedding flower budget, selected colors (color swatch) and/or wedding theme, number of attendants, location of venue site and possible need for rental items. A picture of your wedding gown and bridesmaid dresses will help in choosing a bouquet style. Please plan to bring or email pictures of designs you favor.
Can I always expect to get flower colors that match magazine photos?
Unfortunately, magazines often artificially enhance flower colors to make a design more appealing. We make every reasonable effort to obtain the particular color you desire. However, flower color is influenced by many variables - geographic area, weather conditions, soil, time of year and general availability of the flower.
How much should I budget for wedding flowers?
In general, wedding flower budgets are between 7% - 10% of the total cost of your wedding. For example, if you expect to spend $20,000 on your event, your average budget is $1,400-$2,000. However, this is just a guideline; you may budget more or less.
Does the time of year impact the cost of the flowers I may order?
Yes, time of year is important. We will tell you which flowers are readily available for your wedding date and which would be by special order. Certain flowers are available
all year, including callas, roses, lilies, orchids and many others. However, during peak flower demand holidays such as Valentine's or Mothers Day, ALL flowers will be more costly and your estimate will reflect that increase in flower prices.
Which flowers are more costly?
In general, callas, orchids and tropical flowers are more costly than other types.
How can I obtain pricing information before the consultation?
We do have some general pricing guidelines on our web site. Under Services>Weddings, see the Pricing section. You can also send us an email if you have specific questions or would like an estimate by email.
After my consultation, how long will it take to get a written estimate?
Our estimates are emailed within 3 business days after your consultation. Our estimates are by line item so that you may better evaluate our pricing structure.
How can I book you for my wedding date if I am satisfied with the estimate?
You can contact us by phone or email to let us know you want to book the date. We will then prepare a contract within a few days and mail two copies to you. After reading the contract, you will return one signed copy to us along with a deposit.
If I am dissatisfied with the estimate, what can I do?
You can phone or email us to discuss any questions you may have. If pricing is over your budget, we can suggest alternatives that very often provide a similar "look" for a bouquet or centerpiece by scaling down the design or by using less costly flowers. We will strive, as far as possible, to work within your budget.
Do you require a contract and deposit?
Yes, we always work with a contract that specifies where and at what time your flowers will be delivered as well as covering other issues such as site and ceremony décor, cake flowers and rental items, if applicable. We do require a non-refundable deposit that will hold a specific date for you.
Can I make changes to the estimate after I have signed a contract?
Yes, you can make changes to your flower estimate up until three weeks before the event.
What types of payment do you accept?
We accept cash, checks, and credit cards - Visa, MasterCard and Discover.
Do you deliver and set up flowers and décor?
Yes, we deliver to the ceremony and reception sites and set up ceremony flowers and reception décor. We do charge a delivery fee for each location based on distance and number of delivery personnel. In most cases, the company owner and one or more helpers deliver and set up between 1 ½ to 2 hours before the event. We will not leave the venue until we are sure that all designs are in place. Exact delivery timing often depends on the venue site and will be discussed with you or your coordinator well in advance of the wedding date.
Do you charge extra to pin on boutonnieres and corsages?
We do not charge for this service.
How much time do you allocate for setup?
The time will vary according to how much setup is involved. In general we arrive between 1.5-2.0 hours before the ceremony or reception start. Set up time will depend on the size of the wedding and number of ceremony arrangements, centerpiece designs and décor, rental items, cake and place card table designs, etc. We allow extra time and hire more help for larger weddings.
Can I obtain an email estimate?
While we would like to meet with each Bride personally to discuss flower orders, we do understand that sometimes a preliminary estimate by email is more feasible. We will provide a general estimate based on the following information that you provide to us:
- Overall flower budget
- Name and location of ceremony and reception venues
- Size of wedding party (Bride/Groom, number of Bridesmaids) as well as number of corsages and boutonnieres needed.
- Choice of flower types (roses, lilies, etc) and color choices
- Specifics for Bride and Bridesmaid bouquets
- Number of centerpieces and style - tall or low; types of flowers
- Ceremony designs
- Cake flowers
- Rental items needed
PLEASE PROVIDE PICTURES of sample designs you like
Do you have rental items?
Yes, we do provide rental items including two types of white lattice wedding arches, a chuppah, different styles/heights of white pedestals, white lattice podium, 4' tall ivy topiaries, and various urns and tall glass vases. Most of these items may be viewed on our web site under Services>Weddings>Rental Items.
What if I have more questions about your services?
You may call us Monday thru Saturday between the hours of 9:30am-6:30pm or email at any time.