Tips For Giving Flowers To Your Girlfriend

Are you looking for tips for giving flowers to your girlfriend? If so, as a retired florist, I think I can help. Guys used to come into our flower shop often asking what types of flowers are appropriate for giving to their girlfriend. But first of all, I congratulate you for thinking of sending flowers to a lucky girl in the first place.

The first consideration in selecting which flowers to buy for your girlfriend is the stage you are at in your relationship. Is this your first date or have you been going out for a few months or a few years? Are you buying flowers for a special occasion or just to say I love you or I'm thinking of you? Let me attempt to answer all these questions...

If you want to bring flowers or get flowers delivered to your girl before your first date, the best idea is to send a small mixed bouquet of seasonal flowers, nothing extravagant, just a pretty little bouquet. If you have been going out for a while, a medium or large mixed bouquet would be well appreciated. This bouquet could be wrapped in cello or in a vase depending on where you are bringing the flowers.

If you are sending the bouquet to her house or apartment you could bring or get a vase bouquet or a wrapped bouquet. If however you are bringing flowers on a date at a restaurant, you may want to bring an easy to carry bouquet in a vase or an arrangement in a keepsake cup or other type of container that she can keep to be reminded of you every time she sees it even after the flowers are dead.

If your date will have you going to many places and you don't want her to have the hassle of dragging the flowers all across town, you can bring her a single rose or a corsage. For the rose, whatever you do, don't bring her a red rose on a first date! This is way too heavy for a first encounter!

Roses are the most symbolic of flowers. Every rose has a different meaning and you can definitely look into that to send the proper message. If you have been going out for a while and you do want to tell her you love her with flowers, by all means give her red roses.

At the beginning of a relationship if you go with yellow roses for friendship or pink roses for joyfulness and appreciation, you will be safe. Make sure to get a water pick so the rose stays healthy all night. A corsage, specifically a wristlet corsage would be perfect if you are taking her at a dance or club. Again, don't make it too big as to scare her off if this is your first date.

Whether you want to send flowers to your girlfriend to celebrate a special occasion such as a birthday or anniversary you have a choice of sending a seasonal mixed bouquet in a vase or a bouquet of roses.

However, the most important part of the flower gift giving process is the sentiment card you will attach to the bouquet. Try to write more than Happy Birthday with love, John or something of the kind. Something more like: You mean so much to me, thanks for being such a wonderful girlfriend or Looking forward to getting to know you better, I love spending time with you will be a much better hit.

If you want to learn everything about preparing bouquets yourself, check out my book called Unleash Your Inner Florist http://www.howtoweddingflowers.com

If you live in Timmins Ontario and want to send flowers to your girlfriend, click: http://www.thelovebug.ca

Top 11 Wedding Flower Tips

Excellent collection of wedding floral advice from the professionals over at The Knot's website. Check out this link for a wealth of information: http://www.theknot.com

You want your wedding flowers to be beautiful -- and so does your florist. Here are a few expert tips for making that happen.

Be open-minded about flower types

"There is nothing more disheartening for the bride and myself than when she comes in with her heart set on yellow peonies for an August wedding, only to find out that yellow peonies are just not naturally available in August. There are a ton of flowers available year-round, like roses, hydrangeas, carnations, alstroemeria, callas and orchids, just to name a few. Knowing just this one piece of information can make your flower plan go much more smoothly." -- Shelly Chaffee, Crystal Springs Florist, Benton Harbor, Mich. . . .

And color "Flower colors are never exact. Rely on your florist to help you understand the undertones of different varieties; for example, red ranunculus have orange undertones that stand out when paired with cool colors. Also remember that many of the photographs you see online or in magazines can be misleading; when the photographer is color-correcting for skin tone and lighting, it may adjust flower colors beyond what is realistic." -- Brittany Bailey Frost, Blossom Basket Florist, Champaign, Ill.

Personalize your wedding flowers "Incorporate something special into your wedding flowers. Wrap your bouquet with a loved one's handkerchief or include snippets from your mom's wedding dress. Or if you and your fiance have something that is special to you, find a way to reflect that in your flowers. We had a couple that met on a train, so we tied a small train charm onto her bouquet to symbolize where they met and fell in love." -- Dawn Clark, A Garden Party LLC, Elmer, N.J.

Make your wedding bouquet a priority "Never skimp on your bridal bouquet. It is the one floral design that will be on your mantel, your bedside table, at your mother's house, your in-laws' house and on your desk at work in photos for the next 50 to 60 years -- you had better like it!" -- Katie Martin, Elegance and Simplicity, Washington, D.C.

Stick to a single hue "If you are on a limited budget, go monochromatic for a bigger impact. A monochromatic color scheme looks more organized and really gives your ceremony and reception a pop of color that is sure to wow even in the smallest amounts." -- Amanda Apple, Anthomanic Florist, Stafford, Va.

Find a florist you really love "Your initial florist meeting is about having fun, seeing if you connect and figuring out your dream flower idea. You should feel that your florist is as excited as you are to help you arrive at your vision of what you would like for your day." -- Jacob Moss, Jacob Moss Designs, Hamden, Conn.

If you want to preserve, have a plan "Some flowers preserve better than others. You should ask your florist for recommendations about which flowers press well and best hold their live color. Then, when the reception ends, your flowers should be kept in water (and ideally a fridge) until they can be dropped off for preservation." -- Mary Beth Lopresti, All Seasons Floral Preservation, Sterline and Charlottesville, Calif.

Know your budget "The most difficult and least productive meetings are the ones where no budget is given. You wouldn't go to buy a car without telling the salesman in advance if you are in the market for a Lexus, Volvo or a Focus. We request in our very first phone conversation that a budget be provided at the meeting." -- Russ Griffin, Griffin's Floral Designs, Columbus, OH

Find your inspiration "Pick one thing you love -- whether it's grandma's antique brooch or a swatch of fabric -- to give you and your florist a starting point." -- Georgia, Boise at Its Best Flowers, Boise, ID

Break tradition
"If you aren't planning a traditional wedding, then your flowers certainly don't have to be traditional either. And there's no need to limit yourself to roses and calla lilies. I personally love succulents and work with them whenever possible. I also pull in fruit and vegetables like pomegranates, kale, apples -- whatever speaks to the wedding and a bride's vision.

You also don't have to limit your containers to clear glass vases -- if it will hold water it can hold your flowers." -- Amanda Johnson, Butterfly Petals, Phoenix, Ariz.

Simplify your bridesmaid bouquets "If you are on a tight budget, remember, it's your day -- not your bridesmaids'. Make your bouquet perfect. Theirs can be smaller and simpler -- and therefore less expensive. And if you're on a tight budget, don't ask 20 girls to be in your wedding. Twenty times anything is a lot!" -- Scott Jones, American Floral Signature Weddings, Irmo, S.C.

© 2011 The Knot Inc. All rights reserved. -- Justine Lorelle Blanchard

Should You Use Real or Fake Flowers For Your Wedding?

By Sophia Rodriguez

There are many reasons choose artificial flowers over live flowers. On the other hand, those that choose live blooms wouldn't be caught dead with fakes for their wedding. When I was a wedding florist, the most popular reason I heard for brides picking artificial blooms was that they wanted to keep their bouquet as a souvenir. Another reason for fake flowers is that they can be made way ahead of time.The most popular reason for choosing live blooms was for the traditional beauty and elegance of real florals. Real ones last forever in photos, smell delicious and make the bride feel extra special on her wedding day.

Should You Choose Fake or Real Flowers For Your Wedding?

1. You have visions of a traditional wedding with an abundance of real blooms. True False

2. You believe that some silks can look classy and real. Yes or No

3. You love the smell of real blooms. True False

4. You can't picture your bouquet being anything but fresh florals. Yes No

5. Cost is the most important factor when selecting your wedding bouquets and corsages. T or F

6. You are the type to worry and stress out a lot. T or F

7. You would like to have your wedding flowers ready before your wedding. Yes or No

8. Real blooms are luxurious. On my most wedding day, I deserve that luxury. True False

9. I would love to keep my wedding bouquet for years to come. Yes or No

10. You absolutely love fresh flowers. T or F

If you answered True to more of Questions # 2-5-6-7-9, you are a good candidate for artificial flowers at your wedding. Just make sure to pick real looking artificial flowers to make your bouquets with. If you choose fake flowers for your wedding you will need to follow through for all your flowers: from bouquets to corsages to centerpieces. Don't pick real flowers for your bouquets then fake blooms for your centerpieces. That would be tacky! If done properly, a wedding composed of artificial flowers can be elegant and practical all the the same time.

If you answered True to more of Questions #1-3-4-8-10, nothing can compare to real fresh flowers for you. Do not even try replacing fresh flowers with artificial flowers. If done properly, you can make your own fresh floral bouquets 4-5 days ahead of the wedding, eliminate the stress and save lots of money by composing your own. Of course, you will need proper instructions to accomplish this feat unless you are already a florist.

If you are thinking of making your own wedding bouquets, you can follow along step by step and make your own corsages, bouquets, centerpieces and church flowers.

Save hundreds of dollars by making your own. All you have to do is follow the instructions and the images and you will end up with gorgeous wedding flowers. Everyone will be complimenting your flowers and you can proudly say that you made them yourself. Their reaction will be priceless. How To Wedding Flowers http://www.howtoweddingflowers.com

Learn How To Make Wedding Flowers: Can You Really Pull It Off For Your Wedding?

By Sophia Rodriguez

If you want to learn how to make wedding flowers in time to pull it off for your wedding, you will need a plan of action. Much of the work that goes into wedding flowers is all about the organization. If you can plan the flowers you will need, make lists of what you will need and a plan of action in a calendar, odds are, you are well on your way to making wedding flowers for a wedding; whether it is your wedding of a friend or family member or for yourself.

Craftiness and resourcefulness are also good qualities to have when you learn how to make wedding flowers. You don`t have to have a degree in floristry to be able to follow good instructions and make beautiful wedding bouquets. If you can make a bow and a reasonably enjoyable bouquet in a vase when you get cello wrapped flowers, then you can make your own wedding flowers.

The first step in learning how to make wedding flowers is to make a list of all the people who will need flowers at your wedding. The ladies will include the bride, the maid of honor, the bridesmaids, the flower girl, the mothers and grandmothers. The gentlemen will include the groom, the best man, the ushers, the ring bearer, the fathers and the grandfathers.

Find pictures of the bouquets you would like for the bride and her attendants. Every other flower at a wedding should revolve around the bride`s bouquet. For example, if the bride holds a handheld bouquet of calla lilies and roses, her bridesmaids should also be carrying a bouquet of either callas or roses. The mothers and grandmothers should ideally have a corsage of roses.

For the men, the groom should have a mini calla and the ushers could either have mini callas or roses. The fathers should have boutonnieres created with roses in the same shade as the bride`s.

Once you have determined and written out what everyone will be wearing or holding for flowers at the wedding, it`s time to make a shopping list.

Make a list of the flowers and amounts of flowers you will need to accomplish all these flowers for the wedding. Then, make a separate list of the floral supplies you will need to put them together. For example, ribbon, corsage pins, wristlets, floral tape, etc...

On your calendar, write out when you will shop or order what to make sure you get everything in good time to not stress out when it comes down to making the flowers. As for techniques for making the actual bouquets and boutonnieres, there is a book called: Unleash Your Inner Florist: How To Make Wedding And Special Event Flowers that teaches step by step how to make wedding flowers. This book also tells you when to make what so that everything is still fresh for your wedding and has charts displaying how long each flower lasts, when they are in season and which flowers come in which colors. It also covers silk flowers as well as fresh flowers. It is a wealth of information for the price. This book sells as a make your own flowers ebook for only $19.99. You can also order it as a paper book at your local book store or on Amazon. If you want to read more about how to make your own wedding flowers, read my blog HERE: How to make wedding flowers.

Make Your Own Wedding Flowers: Top 5 Things To Avoid

By Sophia Rodriguez
http://ezinearticles.com/?Make-Your-Own-Wedding-Flowers:-Top-5-Things-To-Avoid&id=5836353

When you lay out plans to make your own wedding flowers, there are certain things you should definitely avoid if you wish to have modern looking bouquets that will coordinate well with your wedding colors and your wedding decor.

1) Avoid colors and color combinations that are out of season or out of style. Never choose more than 2 colors as your wedding scheme. If you choose 2 colors, make sure they actually match well together. Choose colors that coordinate with the month or season you are getting married in. If possible, choose color combinations that are in style that year. You will have better luck matching dresses, flowers and accessories if you select colors that are current and modern.

2) Choose a bouquet style that matches with your body type, your weight and your style. Don`t choose an extra large cascading bouquet if you are a 100 pound bride. On the opposite side, don`t choose a small hand held bouquet of 6 roses if you are a 300 pound bride; it will look out of proportion!

3) Don`t choose super smelly flowers that will give you and your entire bridal party a killer headache on your most special day. Sure, you may enjoy the look of a Casablanca or a Stargazer lily but are you aware of your body`s reaction to this flower`s scent. Make sure to test yourself before making any final decisions.

4) Select flowers that won`t stain your dress or your men`s tuxes. Certain dyed flowers are beautiful and coordinate well with certain color schemes when natural flowers just don`t compare. For example, blue roses come in a dark cobalt blue but leak die as soon as any kind of moisture reaches the petals. Watch out for lilies too! The pistils at the center of the flowers give off a dark brown/yellow powder that stains clothes, hands, and anything else they come in contact with.

5) Choose flowers that give you a warm fuzzy feeling and that you totally love. Don`t just pick flowers for the sake of matching with the bridesmaids dresses. It should be the other way around. Research online and in bridal magazines until you find the bouquet and the flowers that really turn you on. This way, you will be sure to enjoy every minute spent with your wedding flowers and you will be extra proud of the flowers you made.

Do you want to make sure your wedding flowers look professional and well coordinated? If you are not sure how to go about it and want a step by step guide that will take you by the hand and unleash your inner florist, click here: Http://howtoweddingflowers.com

Frequently Asked Questions About Flowers for Flower Girls

By Sophia Rodriguez
http://ezinearticles.com/?Frequently-Asked-Questions-About-Flowers-for-Flower...

If you have questions about flowers for flower girls at your wedding and what is appropriate, you are not alone. As a wedding florist in a busy flower shop for 15 years, I noticed that many brides were unsure about what types of flowers were better for flower girls and wanted to know what was appropriate. Here are some of the most popular questions that kept coming up:

What is the most popular floral item for a Flower Girl to carry?

By far, the simplest and most popular item for the flower girl to carry is a basket of petals. This is practical as well as charming since it gives the little one something constructive to do as she is walking down the aisle. Here are a few things to think of before selecting this as the floral item for your chosen girl. First of all, if you are getting married in a church, make sure to double check with your minister if this is permitted in their church. Most churches do not allow live petals to be strewn about since it can stain and be dangerous for slipping if they are damp. Many churches however, do allow silk (artificial) petals to be thrown along the aisle as long as someone is designated to pick them up after the wedding.Hall weddings generally allow artificial petals. If you are getting married outside, live petals are a great option.

Is there a certain age frame that you would recommend for a flower girl to be scattering petals at weddings?

Depending on the age and the character of your flower girl, this may or may not be a good option. Usually, little girls anywhere from 4 to 12 are good candidates for petal scattering. Make sure to ask the flower girl if she would prefer throwing petals or simply carrying a bouquet of flowers in a basket. Keep in mind that after the petals are gone, the little girl will be left with nothing but an empty basket for pictures. A good way to minimize the obviousness of this fact in pictures is to decorate the basket itself or to select a modern fancy basket.

What type of basket should I choose for my Flower Girl?

Use a smallish basket with a handle. White is the number one choice with creme a close second, depending on the color of the bride's and flower girl's dress. Size should be about 7" (17cm) wide and up to11" (28cm) high although it could be smaller or larger depending on the age of the little one. When choosing the basket, keep in mind how the petals will nestle in the basket. Baskets with deeper wells at the center are obviously better for containing more petals than for example a fireside basket that is simply flat, where the petals will simply fall or fly out.

You can buy a simple wicker basket or a fancier sheer material covered basket. They make really nice, elaborate baskets now, specially designed for flower girls. Modern baskets for flower girls are now available in different colors and themes to match the bride's choice of color scheme such as silver, black, brown, plum, etc....Some modern baskets even have beading or rhinestones on them. You can find these baskets online, in craft stores, wedding shops, at select florists and in department stores.

Where can I find artificial flower petals and how do I prepare them once I have them?

You can find these at the same places you will find baskets as described above. Simply fill your basket with the petals and you are ready to go. You can even do this a month or two ahead if you are the type that likes to be super organized in advance. Just make sure that if you do it more than a week before, you wrap the whole basket in a loose plastic bag to prevent dust and dirt from settling on your petals.

If you are thinking of making your own wedding bouquets, you can read more questions and answers in my How To book. You can also follow along step by step to make your corsages, bouquets, centerpieces and church flowers.

Save hundreds of dollars by making your own. It`s all in my handy reference book. All you have to do is follow the instructions and the images and you will end up with gorgeous wedding flowers. Everyone will be complimenting your flowers and you can proudly say that you made them yourself. Their reaction will be priceless. How To Wedding Flowers :http://www.howtoweddingflowers.com

Justin Bieber Buys Out Flower Shop

From: http://m.aol.com/popeater/default/article.do?artUrl=http://www.popeater.com/2011/02/22/justin-bieber-buys-out-flower-shop-for-selena-gomez/

Justin Bieber pulled out all the stops to treat rumored girlfriend Selena Gomez with something special just days after Valentine's Day. The teenage heartthrob ordered an entire shop's worth of flowers for Gomez, according to TMZ.

Bieber reportedly called in a huge order to a local florist to "fill Selena's house with flowers" -- just because he felt like it. Talk about a romantic gesture. According to TMZ, the florist needed to use all the flowers in the shop to fill the order, and had to use multiple trucks to transport the flowers to the Disney star's house.

The pair have yet to confirm their rumored romance. But from family vacations together to boardwalk dates, it seems like the real deal. We can hear tween hearts breaking across the country.