Real Wedding: How Much Does it Cost? Statement Mantel vs. Rustic Centerpiece

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Images by Kathie Tam Photography

Yesterday we posted a challenge on our Facebook Page.  Which one cost more?  The answer might surprise you!  Read on. 

The Statement Mantel

Do you have a mantle or alcove you need to decorate?  The team at Bliss Blooms was tasked with decorating this impressive eight-foot limestone mantel at the University of Texas Golf Club with candles and all white blooms to create a stunning grand entrance to a fabulous event.  White pillar candles of varying heights were staggered along the length of the mantel.  Roses and hydrangea, placed in clear water tubes, were nestled around the candles with the fig leaves and dripping amaranthus.

30 stems of white hydrangea at $4 each, $120

3 bunches of hanging amaranthus, $45

3 dozen Polar Star roses at $3 each, $108

Fig Leaves $12

16 glass cylinders in varying heights, $75

16 white pillar candles, $48

Water tubes and supplies $10

Portion of Consultation Time devoted to Mantel Decor: ½ hour

Design and Sourcing Time: ½ hour

Prep Time (receiving, unpacking, hydrating florals):  ½ hour

Stem Prep Time (removing leaves and tubing florals):  1 ½ hours

Installation time: 1 ½ hours (with 2 designers)

Total time investment: 6  hours

Total Materials: $418

Labor, 25%: $104.50

Tax: $43.11
Grand total: $565.61

Images by Kathie Tam Photography

…and the Rustic Centerpiece

To achieve an impressive statement piece that soared to the chandeliers in the clubhouse dining room, we started with a 3 foot tall barnwood vessel, lush fig leaf branches, luxurious jumbo hydrangea, sprouting 5 ft willow branches and hanging amaranthus.  Long stemmed roses brought the arrangement to life and rose heads were wired to the willow tips for the finishing touch.

9 stems of jumbo hydrangea, $9 each, $81

3 dozen premium long stemmed Polar Star roses, $3 each, $108

Fig tree branches, $80

Curly Willow Branches, $25

1 bunch green hanging amaranthus, $15

Oasis, chicken wire, zip ties, water tubes, $15

Barnwood Pedestal/ planter, rental, $50

Portion of Consultation Time devoted to Main Centerpiece: ½ hour

Design and Sourcing Time: 1 hour

Prep Time (receiving, unpacking, hydrating florals and preparing the mechanics of the planter): 1 hour

Stem Prep Time (polishing leaves and preparing stems): 1 hour

Build time: 2 hours

Installation: ½ hour

Total time investment: 6 hours

Total materials: $374

Labor (25%): $93.50

Tax: $38.57
Total: $506.07

So how did you do?  

ownfairygodmother.com

Austin 512.644.6886

Houston 972.804.3295

Real Wedding: How Much Does It Cost? Summer Picnic Tablescape

Pin It Brenda Abbott Floral Design shared this ray of sunshine with us.
A sweet summer picnic made to look effortlessly and casually placed actually needs a bit of planning.  For this look, we layered linens and heirloom lace cloths to create interest and texture atop the farm table.  From our collection of vintage pieces, we added a mix of vintage milk glass compotes and a white ironstone pitcher.  This ‘collection’ approach works best with a long table as opposed to a round table.  Simple blooms in keeping with the era we’ve tried to invoke were daisy mums, garden stock, hydrangea, baby’s breath and playful craspedia or ‘billy balls’. 

Image by Third Coast Photography
Flowers by Brenda Abbott Floral Design

Here’s the breakdown of time:

Portion of Consultation Time devoted to Tabletop Decor: 1/2 hour

Design and Sourcing Time: 1/2 hour

Prep Time (receiving, unpackaging, hydrating flowers): 1/2 hour

Stem Prep Time (removing leaves, and separating branches for useable blooms): 15 minutes

Build time for all 5 pieces shown in this photo:  1 hour

Careful packaging for delivery: 15 minutes

Total time investment in this tablescape (not including delivery):  3 hours

Materials for 1 pitcher, 2 compotes and 2 smalls:

8 stems hydrangea: $35

5 stems garden stock: $15

2 bunches white daisy mums: $25

1 bunch baby’s breath:  $15

1 bunch craspedia/billy balls $12

Supplies: $3

Materials and supplies total:  $145

Vase rentals: $25

3 hours labor $60

Delivery and setup $30

Tax  $21.45

Total for these 5 pieces (as part of a complete package):  $281.45
(This does not include linens or farm table rental.)

ownfairygodmother.com

Austin 512.644.6886

Houston 972.804.3295

Real Wedding: How Much Does it Cost? Romantic Bouquet and Centerpiece

Pin It This gorgeous romantic bouquet by Flora Fetish is comprised of mini roses, babys breath, lisianthus, ranuculus, hydrangeas, freesia. 

Courtesy of Half Orange Photography

15 white ranuculus 

7 lisianthus

2 babys breath

5 freesia

5 peonies

10 stock

5 Queen Annes lace

Cost: $250.00

Courtesy of Half Orange Photography

Small Centerpiece by Flora Fetish

3 white hydrangeas

2 baby's breath

7 mini garden roses

5 white roses

5 lisianthus

3 freesia

2 peonies 

Accents of 7 herb sprigs

Mercury glass compote (rental). 

$95.00 each

A truly beautiful June wedding at Camp Lucy! 

ownfairygodmother.com

Austin 512.644.6886

Houston 972.804.3295

Real Wedding: How Much Does it Cost? Ice Champagne Rack

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Full Spectrum Ice created this ice champagne rack with custom monogram.  If you didn't do it last week, go "Like" them on Facebook!

Champagne Rack 

The Champagne Rack with monogram holds up to 7 bottles and features a monogram or logo specific to the individual.

Design time: 30 mins to 1 hour 
The Champagne Rack requires 1.25, 300 lb. blocks of ice. 
Prep time (Template creation): 30 mins to 1 hour 
Carving time: 2-3 hours 
Packing time for transport: 10 mins 
Transport: 45 minutes 
Unpacking: 2-3 minutes 
Setup/installation: 15- 25 minutes 
Total labor time: 6 hours 30 minutes
Total Cost: $575

Judi had the closest guess on our Facebook post with $585!

ownfairygodmother.com

Austin 512.644.6886

Houston 972.804.3295

Real Wedding: How Much Does it Cost? Longhorn Ice Bar

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Full Spectrum Ice created this awesome Longhorn Ice bar with UT pedestals.  Go "Like" them on Facebook!

The 8' Longhorn Ice Bar utilizes color ice and also includes two drink luges buried into the horns. 

Design time: 2-3 hours

The 8’ ice bar requires 6, 300 lb. blocks of ice.
Prep time (Template creation): 30 mins to 1 hour
Carving time: 4-6 hours
Packing time for transport: 30 mins to 1 hour
Transport: 45 minutes
Unpacking: 15-25 minutes
Setup/installation: 25-30 minutes
Breakdown: 1 hour 30 mins
Total labor time: 14 hours

Cost $2750

Breakdown fee is $250

Total $3000

 

Kristine had the closest guess on Facebook with $2999! 

ownfairygodmother.com

Austin 512.644.6886

Houston 972.804.3295

Real Wedding: How Much Does it Cost? Cascading Bouquet

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Flowers by Brenda Abbott Floral Design, Professional pictures by Sleeping Owl Photography

This gorgeous bouquet is courtesy of Brenda Abbott Floral Design in Bastrop, Texas.  We have had the opportunity to work with her on several fun and creative projects over the past several months!

Here is what she had to say,
"To achieve the cascading effect for this textural bridal bouquet (and have an available water source for all the blooms without any visible stems), we used a bouquet holder for the armature. As opposed to our European hand tied style where the stems extend below the ribbon wrap (and thus have a way to drink water), the bouquet holder is a more time-consuming method for creating a bouquet; however, the tidy and formal appearance of a completely wrapped handle is sometimes just the ticket! The result: a dramatic bouquet full of graceful movement and texture that retains its polished and sophisticated side – much like our bride. 

 From our consultation with bride, we determined her favorite color and bloom choices and sourced just the right blooms that would hold up well to being inserted into floral foam. The most challenging stem insertion in this instance was the Picasso calla lilies because of the soft nature of their stems – but this was our bride’s absolute must have – so with patience and a skilled hand (and only one spoiled stem), the calla lilies earned their place of distinction. The bottom side of the bouquet holder was covered in fresh green sheet moss and the handle treated to a build-up technique to give it the thickness of a hand tied bouquet handle. All the mechanics are carefully covered with padding and satin ribbon. Pearl head pin details are added, and then blooms are inserted, one by one, starting with the longest cascading point and working our way upward. An airy grapevine encircles the back of the bouquet to give that bit of rustic texture bride enjoys. When completed, this bridal bouquet measured approximately 22” from top to tip – drama anyone? 

Here’s the breakdown of time:  
Portion of Consultation Time devoted to bouquet and bloom choices, follow-ups and changes: 1 hour 
Design and Sourcing Time: 1 hour 
Prep Time (receiving, unpackaging, hydrating flowers): 1 hour 
Stem Prep Time (removing leaves, thorns, and separating branches for useable blooms): 1 hour 
Build time (individual insertions into bouquet holder and secure gluing of each stem, handle treatment): 3 hours 
Careful packaging for delivery: 20 minutes 
Total time investment in this bouquet (not including delivery): 
7 hours 20 minutes 

Materials: 10 Picasso calla lilies @ $90 
12 fragrant white ‘Patience’ garden roses @ $91 
5 ‘Free Spirit’ ruffled roses $19 
10 stems purple lisianthus $30 
10 stems purple veronica $32 
10 stems white lysimachia $30 
10 stems green berzilia berries $20 
Touches of naked seeded eucalyptus $7 
Grapevine collar $3 
Fresh green moss $6 
Supplies: satin ribbon, pins, pan melt glue, stem lock spray glue, anti-transpirant sealant $10 
1 bouquet holder $10 
Custom handle $15 
Transport Vase $5 
Materials Total $368 
30% labor $120 
Total: $488"

The closest guess on our Facebook post was Brandon with $489!!!  That's incredibly close!  (We hope it prepares you for the real numbers of your upcoming wedding to Katelyn.)

ownfairygodmother.com

Austin 512.644.6886

Houston 972.804.3295

Real Wedding: How Much Does it Cost? Guest Book Table

Pin It Weddings have so many elements!  Have you considered what will go on the guest book table?  As wedding planners, we work through each of the elements with you, and we had the pleasure of working on this specific wedding with STEMS Floral Design.


Flowers by Stems Floral Design, Image Courtesy of Focal Point Photographics

For this fun guest book table arrangement, each letter is comprised with over 60 yellow button flowers... over 240 blooms in total. Each bloom is hand-glued onto the craft letter and took four designers about 45 minutes each to make—for a total of three hours.

12 bunches of yellow buttons at $15.00 each
     $180.00
7 cylinder vases at $1.00 each
     $7.00
50 white tulips at $3.00 each
     $150.00
Supplies, including glue and craft letters
     $20.00
Labor at 35%
     $124.95

Total cost is $481.95

Niki Giangiulio LeMond had the closest guess on Facebook with$480!  She won a $50 arrangement from Stems Floral Design.  LIKE them!

ownfairygodmother.com

Austin 512.644.6886

Houston 972.804.3295

Real Wedding: How Much Does It Cost? Candelabra Centerpiece

Pin It This week's "How Much Does It Cost" is from STEMS Floral Design. 


Flowers by STEMS, Photo courtesy of Focal Point



Candelabra retails at $400.00 each.

$50 rental including votives.

10 white antique hydrangeas at $12.00 each.

$120.00

3 large white calla lilies at $9.00 each.

$27.00

6 yellow tulips at $3.00 each.

$18.00

9 yellow garden roses at $7.00 each.

$63.00

3 tall votives at $4 each

$12.00

3 short votives at $3.00 each.

$9.00

1 stem of white phalaenopsis orchids at $35 each.

$35.00

Supplies including ribbon, oasis, water tubes, wire

$24.16

Labor at 20%

$89.54 

Total cost of this centerpiece is $447.70.

We have already explained in detail what goes into meeting with clients, creating the proposal, making the inspiration board, sourcing out the flowers, and finally prepping the flowers the week of the event.  Just as in creating a bridal bouquet, all those same processes apply for designing a centerpiece.  When the time comes to make the centerpiece, the flowers around the base are put together the day before in a shallow plastic plate with oasis foam, which holds water and allows the flowers to stay fresh.  The flowers are carefully placed to hide the mechanics underneath so none of the foam or plastic plates show.  The floral base is transported with the candelabras, which are carefully packaged in large boxes with lots of cushion and packing material, in air-conditioned delivery vans.  Each candelabra box and floral base takes up over 4 square feet of space, which adds up quickly when you are packing up vans for a delivery.  They are also heavy!  Weaving in and out of hotel elevators and narrow staff corridors with multiple boxes and multiple trips on carts makes for a very long day.  The candelabras are put together on site, each box containing carefully wrapped parts, in a total of 22 pieces.  Each arm gets four dangling crystals, which also have to be added for a grand total of 54 parts.  Once put together, it takes two people to gently lift the centerpiece into the middle of the table.  Votives are placed around the edges and dropped inside the cups.  The tall votives are packaged in boxes and also have to be unwrapped and placed—water from the kitchen plus floating candles to complete the table.  An average delivery and set up for an entire event... from the time we begin loading the van till we clean up the studio and are finished for the day... typically takes about 5 hours and usually takes between 3-8 people.

Cleaning up is the same thing except backwards.  Most clean ups are very late at night after the event is over—sometimes the next day, but most of the time very late at night.  The tall votives are emptied of their water into buckets and repackaged in their boxes.  The burned votives go back into crates.  All 54 pieces of the candelabras are carefully wrapped back up and put away in their boxes.  Everything is loaded back into the vans and brought back to the studio.  An average clean up takes about an hour and usually takes between 3-8 people.  

The last phase of the process is not glamorous, but important and ultimately meaningful.  CLEANING. Everything is cleaned, repackaged, polished and restocked.  The votives are painstakingly dug out, then run through the dishwasher.  The candelabras are wiped down and polished to keep the crystal clean.  The water tubes that held the orchids need to have the water emptied and be put away.  The plastic liners are also wiped clean, and old oasis is discarded.  The flowers themselves are often repackaged into vases and delivered to nursing homes, hospitals, and non-profits—as was the case for the centerpiece showcased here.  The clean up is very tedious and on average takes quite a few people at least a full day to clean up from a weekends worth of event's.

And we're exhausted just thinking about it...  : )  But the end result is priceless when you see the happy client, and hear guests literally oohing and ahhing over what was created.

ownfairygodmother.com

Austin 512.644.6886

Houston 972.804.3295

Real Wedding: How Much Does it Cost? White Hot Centerpiece

Pin It In Austin, Longhorn color palettes are common appearance, but there are so many options as to the implementation of the burnt orange and white hues.  The Flower Studio put together this elegant option to show the couple's team spirit.


Image by Andrew Sterling, Flowers by The Flower Studio

So, how much does it cost, and what does it take to create it?
First, the light box is painted white to match the orange and white theme of this UT inspired wedding. Then, it is wrapped with a white moiré ribbon enhancement. New LED batteries need to be inserted in each light for a lifespan of approximately 8 hours. The cymbidium orchid spray is bound with wire at its base, and a large coil of wire is formed to fit around the inside of the bottom of the vase. Clear gems are placed on top of the coil to weigh it down. If this is not done, then the cymbidium spray will float to the top of the vase when later filled with water. The vases, approximately a $200.00 retail value are gently packed in cartons for transportation. They are unloaded on location and placed on a cart.  Each vase is then filled with roughly 16 gallons of water, raised onto the center of the table and carefully placed on the light box. This takes the strength of about 3 people. The orange rose petals are then positioned on top of the water level and followed by the white hydrangea florets. The take down of these centerpieces takes just as much energy!

The water has to be emptied out of the vase (typically in the kitchen area of the venue) before being put back into containers for transport back to the Studio. Not just a simple table arrangement!

Light box and LED light - rental
 $   30.00
1 yard of white moiré ribbon 
 $   10.00
Vase - rental 
 $   30.00
Clear gems
 $   12.00
Wire
 $   15.00
1 stem of cymbidium orchids
 $   85.00
5 Orange Unique roses for petals are $4.00 each 
 $   20.00
4 stems of white hydrangea $6.00 each 
 $   24.00
Labor 25% 
 $   56.50
Total cost
 $ 282.50

So how much did you guess that it cost?  Kathy and Megan were closest with $275 and $290. Courtesy of The Flower Studio one lucky winner has won 2 VIP tickets to the Bridal Showcase by The Driskill being held on August 26, 2012 with guest speaker “Queen of Cakes”, Sylvia Weinstock. Each ticket carries a value of $45.00 for a prize value of $90.00.  You  may see Fairy Godmothers on Sunday at The Driskill, but we aren't participating in the showcase this year.  We have a wedding at The Driskill this weekend, and our focus will be our client.  Please stop and see The Flower Studio, and feel free to contact us about our services as well!

ownfairygodmother.com

Austin 512.644.6886

Houston 972.804.3295

Real Wedding: How Much Does it Cost? Bouquet 2

Pin It Did you see this bouquet on our Facebook page yesterday?  What was your guess?  How much does it cost?  This one was created by STEMS Floral Design.  Read on!

Drawing and flowers by STEMS Floral Design, Image courtesy of Diaz & Diaz Photography

At STEMS, they work with you to create your vision of the perfect bridal bouquet.  For Katie, this was it.  So now that you've seen the concept and the creation, let us show you how they got there.

Brandon L. guessed  $528, and Amanda P. guessed $530 on FB yesterday.  They were both incredibly close!
Ingredients:
15 red garden roses at $7 per stem.
$105.00
2 bunches of red ranunculus at $30.00 per bunch.
$60.00
15 stems of red parrot tulips at $4.50 per stem.
$67.50
1 bunch of red spray roses 
$30.00
5 turquoise succulents at $9.00 each.
$45.00
3 stems of white phalaenopsis orchids at $34.00 each.
$102.00
Supplies: including ribbon, pearl pins, floral tape, wire
$15.00
Labor: 15%
$64.43
Tax: 8.25%
$35.43
The total cost of this bouquet is $529.36.

It's important to us, for you to really understand the process before even getting to the point of physically creating this bouquet.... which all too often gets overlooked.  The florist typically meets with clients on average 1-2 times to help develop the look and feel of what we are creating for the wedding.  Each consultation typically lasts between 1-3 hours.  Putting together each proposal takes on average 3 hours.  In that 3 hours, STEMS creates custom inspiration boards that give a clear picture of what they are proposing along with written descriptions that describe everything down to the last detail. The inspiration boards have pictures of every item they will be making, and often include detailed sketches that offer a fun glimpse at what's ahead. Putting a number of the amount of emails and phone calls would be difficult to say the least.  There are no limitations on how often you can consult with the STEMS designers, and with them, you have at your disposal the combined knowledge of 15 years worth of experience and five designers.  STEMS often does walk throughs, again complimentary, with clients (and often your Fairy Godmother if that is part of your package) at venues to make sure everyone is on the same page.  

When it's time to order the flowers, they generally begin the process three weeks out to secure the best product from their favorite vendors.  This is a process that has been fine-tuned for over eight years of being in the business.  Once the flowers are ordered, the vendors seek out product from all over the world, and it is flown in by airplane, driven on trucks, and finally arrives at the studio in lots and lots of cardboard boxes.  Each box is carefully unpacked, and the flowers are put into water with preservatives to help them open up and reach their full potential after a long journey.  Keeping the flowers happy and getting them to open at precisely the right time, is a process that has been fine-tuned and learned over the years.  Did we mention their energy bill?  Flowers happen to like it very, very cold most of the time....

NOW it is time to make the bouquet—a total of 68 stems in this bouquet and over 100 actual blooms, which took the designer about an hour and half to make.  The end result is stunning and always worth every minute of planning when we see the bride's reaction.  

The STEMS team absolutely loves what they do and are so glad to help shed some light on the process of floral design and the costs involved.

ownfairygodmother.com

Austin 512.644.6886

Houston 972.804.3295

Real Wedding: How much does it cost? Bridal Bouquet

Pin It As planners, we are responsible for not only finding the best, most reliable, quality vendors, but we are also responsible for keeping a couple on track for budget.  We are working with a few vendors over the next few months to help explain where costs come from.  Watch for the images on Facebook for "How much does it cost?" and the answers will follow the next day on our blog.  Guess on Facebook, and you could win a Gift Certificate to one of the vendors for products or services!
Today's gorgeous bridal bouquet is from Coby Neal at The Flower Studio.

Nessa K Photography

Throughout consultations, The Flower Studio makes very detailed sketches and list each of the flowers that will be used in the bridal bouquet and accompany them with a cost so the bride knows precisely what she is receiving.

Sketch by The Flower Studio

Flowers are ordered 2 weeks prior to a major event. They are received at their Studio four days prior to the event, processed with H2O and a floral preservative, refrigerated and then used in design.

Prices of fresh product may fluctuate according to the season and the supplier. The designer labor cost is a percentage that ranges from 20% to 35%. (35% is industry recommended.)  This bouquet took approximately an hour and 20 minutes to make. After the design was complete, it was sprayed with a floral wax to help the flowers retain freshness and finally, carefully packaged for delivery!

This bouquet is composed of approximately 92 stems of flowers!

7 stems of bullet allium $3.65 each
$25.50
1 Bunch of wax flower
$22.50
15 Green Roses $4.00 each
$35.00
10 Echinacea $3.13 each
$33.13
10 Stems of alstromeria $3.00 each
$30.00
1 Bunch of basil
$15.00
1 bunch of Rosemary
$15.00
1 Bunch of mint
$15.00
1 Yard of chocolate ribbon
$10.95
12 corsage pins at $0.03 each
$0.36
25% labor
$74.45
The total actual cost of this bouquet was:
$372.67

What was your guess?  Rachel guessed $372, and Keri guessed $373!

ownfairygodmother.com

Austin 512.644.6886

Houston 972.804.3295