How to "Save" on your Flowers

Keeping it Simple!

Brides no longer have to break the bank to get a beautiful flower arrangements. Here are some cost saving tips without sacrificing quality or elegance.

• Low Centerpieces - these are half the price of taller ones
• Add the Greens - this cuts down on the amount of flowers you'll need
• Use Church Flowers at your Reception - This prevents ordering separate arrangements
• Choose Flowers with Large Blooms - Hydrangea and peonies are a perfect example 
• Select Flowers in Season - Flowers that are readily available cost less
• Try to stay away from Holidays - These are busier times so flowers cost up to 30% more
• Keep it simple - submerged flower strands in water, floating candles and other simple ideas limit the need for many flowers at all and can significantly cut costs

Follow our tweets at twitter.com/FCWeddings to find out about more money saving tricks of the trade.

The Red Rose

Giving a rose means more than "I love you"

     Sure, we all know the meaning of a red rose, right? Whether receiving a single rose or a bouquet of long stemmed red roses, most will agree in it's universal meaning as a symbol of "love". Have you ever wondered how that came to be? Of all the beautiful flowers in the world, why the red rose and not a tulip, carnation or even a rose of a different hue? The answers may not only surprise you, but impress upon you the significance in history of a simple, single flower.


"In Victorian times, bouquets called "tussie-mussies" were given by suitors to young women; the arrangement changing as the relationship progressed, giving the intended clues as to the present standing of the relationship. Two roses, taped together was a sign of an engagement but if full in bloom and placed over two single buds it signified secrecy.

The spiritual meaning of the rose can be traced to prehistoric times, as petrified wreaths have been uncovered in ancient Egyptian tombs. The Romans and Greeks too, worshiped the rose, and were especially fond of the aroma, using petals to fragrance themselves and their bathwater.

Many species were brought to Europe by the Crusaders. In fact, England chose the rose as their national emblem.

In mythology, Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, was often depicted wearing roses around her feet, neck and head. In numerology, three roses indicates love, life and light; eight petals a message of rebirth and renewal and seven a symbol of universal understanding and order.

In religion too, a rose bush it is said grew at the site of Christ's death and the Catholic rosary was originally a string of 150 dried roses.

In the Tarot, the rose is a symbol of balance. It's beauty represents hope, new beginnings and a promise of sorts.

Looking back in history, the rose has clearly defined its magical essence. It's timeless, beautiful and most importantly, means much more than "I love you". For these reasons and more FCW suggests that you consider adding the rose into your flower arrangements."

Written by: Robin L. Curran

How to Hold a Bouquet

 Keep them low girls!

One of the most important things A First Class Wedding can teach a bride and her girls before they walk down the isle is "how to hold their bouquet". You may think this is funny but for some reason or another bouquets seem to take the position of a microphone instead of a beautiful hand held arrangement, landing right under the girls chin. Now, it's very possible that the bouquet has a mind of it's own and that this is normal behavior yet the truth of the matter is that holding a bouquet in this position is not flattering to you, your bosoms nor does it look good in any of the wedding photographs.

So, how do you hold a bouquet? Simple! The most flattering way to hold your bouquet is right in front of your belly button. So, relax your arm in a somewhat straight position instead of bending it upwards. Hide your belly with the beautiful flora you're holding, straighten you back and show off your chest.

Oh, and don't forget to smile!

More trade secrets and deals of a lifetime can be found by becoming an exclusive member on firstclassweddings.com

Flowers of Love

 The meaning of flowers

For centuries flowers have been messengers of love and have taken on their own special meaning. Here are a few of our favorites.

Red Rose

Deep and passionate love

White Rose

Purity and Silence

Peony

The Power to keep a Secret

Orchids

Ecstasy

Sweet Pea

Lasting Pleasure

Gerbera

Purity

Jasmine 

Good Luck

Heliotrope 

Devotion

Hollyhock

Fertility

Tulip

To Declare your Love

Bedazzle your Bouquet

 kimfisherdesigns.com

Believe it or not every future bride thinks about wedding flowers way before they even have a boyfriend. Then, when the time comes to actually be a bride it's very likely that their bouquet flowers or design will take the most amount of time to decide. These days, modern brides are looking for trendy new bouquet styles that would make everyone go goo-goo over the artistic creation of flowers that they're are holding. So if you're a trendy bride that wants to hold a custom bouquet that truly represents your personality and style, you might want to think about adding a few of these embellishments.

• Feathers
• Hand Made Paper Flowers
• Wired Jewels
• Hat Pins
• Wired Shells
• Candy
• Swarovski
• Antique Jewelry

Guess what this bouquet costs!

 Medium French Bouquet

This bouquet consists of approx. 15 Green Cymbidium Orchids, 15-20 special order mini Calla Lily (in orange/yellow), and greenery. If you were to guess what the price of this bouquet was, what would it be? $100? or $200? or $300?  If you guessed $200 then you'd be close. This bouquet cost a recent Hawaii wedding client $255, which is (believe it or not) the going price of a custom medium french bouquet in today's destination wedding market. Tack on an extra $50 flower delivery fee and you're on your way down the isle.

Many brides are under the misconception that something like the above bouquet is cheaper than what it really is. You have to keep in mind that this particular bouquet is a custom order. If the bride had selected more "standard" flowers such as roses instead, then the cost of this bouquet would be about $185 or less.

There are many variables to consider when ordering your flowers such as size, shape, style, and particular flowers. If you are in the beginning stages of the planning process and are trying to put together a budget, FCW recommends that you allow at least $200 for your bouquet. Of course, if you are a girl that oozes "custom", then you will have to adjust your budget accordingly.

For the latest scoop on this issue and many others, follow us on twitter at www.twitter.com/FCWeddings

The Art of Painting Flowers

FLOWER POWER!

In many ways, flowers are one of nature’s most beautiful works of art.  From vibrant red roses to the ever delicate tulip, for centuries, flowers have been and continue to be an intimate symbol used to speak the language of love.

When you are getting married there are an abundance of flowers to choose from. It's best not to be too picky about the shade of color though. Why? Because there are a number of factors that can contribute to the exact color of a flower.  

Such as: 

The type of climate it is grown in: The type of fertilizer used on it: The type of soil it grows in: The water specific to the area it is grown in.

All of the above are important factors when determining the outcome of your flowers color. So if anyone promises you the coral colored bouquet that you have always dreamed of, what they are really promising you is that if on the day of your wedding, if there are no coral roses available, they will find the closest variation and paint them coral just for you!  Do not fret, for this is a much more common practice than you think.

Believe it or not just like flowers, floral paint has been around for generations. So if you're picky about getting a particular shade of a blue flower, ask your florist or planner about Floral Paint. It's one  solution to getting the exact shade of blue that you're looking for. Otherwise, you may want to consider going with the flow and being happy with whatever shade of "blue" you receive.

TIP: Most brides today believe that they have to spend hours selecting the perfect flowers first. To make things easier FCW suggests that you choose your colors first and your flowers second. This will allow you to choose from a variety of flowers within your color theme and by doing so, it will save you tons of time.

Flower Power in Hawaii

 The Art of Flowers

 Country Bouquets Maui

Over the years FCW has hired Country Bouquets to service our select clientele. From the elaborate bride with an unlimited flower budget to a couple on the beach, Country Bouquets Maui has what it takes to create a show stopping arrangement. The owner, Shelly Garcia (shown above) has always taken her work to the heart. She has the ability to truly listen to her client, the experience to do anything you ask, she has outstanding business ethics and takes full responsibility for her work. No wonder clients like the Four Seasons Resort Maui contract her company out for their special events. Mahalo Nui Loa to Country Bouquets!

What's is a Tropical Flower?

Let's talk TROPICA

A tropical looking arrangement vs. A tropical flower arrangement are two completely different things. These two descriptions are often confused which makes it difficult for Brides to communicate to their florist or planner what they really want. Here are some helpful tips.

 Flowers Commonly Known as Tropicals include:  

 These flowers are light weight and more elegant looking.

• Orchids (Cymbidiums, Dendrobiums, Mokara, Phaleanopsis, Cataleya etc)
• Lily (Calla, Stargazer, etc.) 
• Tuberose 
• Plumeria
• Pikaki
• Ilima
• Crown Flower

   A tropical looking arrangement usually includes commonly seen orchids and can look like this.  This bouquet has Mokara Orchids, Roses, and Calla Lily.

UnCommon Tropical Flowers include:  

 These flowers are heavy in weight and large in size. 

• Antherium
• Bird of Paradise
• Pin Cushins
• Protea
• Ginger
• Heliconia
• Jade  

A Tropical Flower arrangement usually includes rarely seen Tropicals and looks like this. This arrangement has Ginger, Pin Cushions, Bird of Paradise, Onsidium, and Antheriums.

Calla Lily

Calla Lily Bouquet

Meanings: The meaning of the Calla Lily has been thought to represent Beauty. However, in the western world it's meaning best represents "Youthful Innocence". 

This flower looks absolutely stunning when tied into a large french bouquet! Just remember that special care must be taken when selecting the Calla Lily as your flower of choice, the leaves are very sensitive and don't last long out of water. It is important that you select an experienced florist in order to achieve stunning results.

Stay tuned as we get ready to release our First Class directory of qualified florists. Look for the companies that carry the First Class "Seal". These companies have undergone a thorough application and interviewing process which warrants having your trust.

Cymbidium Orchids

Green Cymbidium Orchids.