The Cost of Renting a Limo Vs Getting a DUI

The Cost of Renting a Limo Vs Getting a DUI

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When you see a limousine approaching, you may think it's a celebrity inside. But have you ever thought of renting a limousine to take you around on a night that you are drinking? Read on to find out why that may be a much better idea than driving yourself under the influence.

Standard Prices

A standard six-person limousine starts around $65 -$100 an hour. The rate can increase to $100 -$300 per hour for newer, more popular, or more unusual vehicles such as a Rolls Royce, Escalade, or a stretch Hummer seating up to 30 passengers.

Rates can change for more popular areas, during peak times, or during big weekends such as high school prom month. Furthermore, many companies have package prices for specific types of events. A wedding package may include a "Just Married" sign, flowers and balloons. A prom or other event might have a red carpet. For an exclusive limousine service between 4 and 8 hours, you can expect to pay at least $400 -$600 for a 6-8 passenger limousine, and possibly $800 -$1,800 or more depending on the type of vehicle, perks, and luxury options such as a mini bar, leather interior or video screen.

Alternate Cost

The alternative to finding appropriate transportation for your night out such as a limousine might be a ride with the police - and a driving-under-the-influence conviction on your record. Even if there were no injuries, the bail, fees, fines, and insurance costs will typically be in the thousands of dollars.

Stiff penalties are intended to discourage the dangerous behavior of drinking and driving. Fines vary among states, but most are hundreds of dollars, some over $1000. Your car gets towed. Your insurance rates will be doubled or even more. Some companies may even drop you the moment you're arrested. A new company will often assess your records for three to five years, during which time you'll need to have no further violations. Legal fees from the attorney will range from $250 for a simple guilty plea, to a few thousand or even tens of thousands of dollars for representation to contest the criminal charge. Alcohol evaluation, education, and treatment are often required on conviction before your license is returned - then there is a fee even for that a leg bracelet that may be part of your sentence. The cost can be well over $1000.

A Memorable Visit to New Zealand

A Memorable Visit to New Zealand

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Christchurch and Queenstown were wonderfully refreshing places to visit and more than met our pre visit expectations.

The Hotel SO at Christchurch had tiny rooms and baths but was functional and more than adequate for a nights stay. The Hotel had an atmosphere that was lively and 'funky'. Finding our way around Christchurch was not a problem at all as it is a small city. Our pre booking of the airport -hotel shuttle and a two day tram pass was adequate although we could have bought a combo ticket for the tram, gondola and punting at the tram station at lower rates and across the counter.

The Botanical Gardens, one of the ten best in the world, was a beautiful place to stroll around in. It would have been great if we had more time and could sit around and enjoy the serenity and majesty of the trees and flowering plants. We took the Punting ride on the River Avon through the Botanical Gardens and this too had a peaceful and calming influence about it.

The Gondola ride wasn't up to the mark and in retrospect was a waste of money. We just spent a short while at the top of the hill and had a cup of coffee / hot chocolate before we headed back. It was chilly and extremely windy on the hill top. You could literally get blown off. I have some interesting photos of Deepa & Saraswati with their hair swept crazy by the strong winds.

The tram ride through the city in quaint old trams was fun and we stepped off and on at places of interest. The National Museum for Maori Art and Culture and the Arts Museum were worth the time we spent at each. The Arts Museum had paintings of the early settlers and life as it was in those early days. It was good seeing Christchurch or New Zealand of old and it's evolution into the city and country of today. Every where we went we saw the value and esteem paid to the early settlers, explorers and pioneers and their dedication to the establishment of the fledgling settlements. Of course in terms of ancient civilisations and culture this place cannot match the places of historical interest such as Rome, The Mesapotamia, Indus Valley etc. The Maori tradition and history cannot match that of the ancient Chinese, Indians and Persians.

We squeezed in a visit to the 1864 Methodist Church and the Anglican Christchurch Cathedral. At both places we stayed awhile and said short prayers and spent moments of silence. Both Churches had beauty and calm though the Christchurch Cathedral was the more structurally beautiful and majestic. The Cathedral Square was quite a happening place and a place to sit around and rest awhile.

In Queenstown we were fully looked after by Nokia and the Event Management staff. True to form we were give an outstanding time. . . experiences of a life time in terms of the food and wine, the hotel stay experience at the Hotel Sofietel, the Adventure activities and the beautiful cultural fare. Lots of care and attention to detail made the visit comfortable and memorable. The Sofietel Hotel and Spa was extremely comfortable and right in the heart of the small town of just 17, 000. They do however receive over 1. 5 million tourists every year. Life for the residents clearly revolves around tourism. The Taxi engaged to ferry us around to each activity were driven by well educated retired folk who engaged us warmly in conversation every time. A world of a difference from the cab /taxi experience in most other cities.

Of the many memorable experiences we had was 'The Souring into the Heights' Programme as part of the Delgates Programme. I had the experience of flying in an open cockpit ancient World War 2 Tiger Moth. It cant get more memorable than that can it?? I also took a helicopter ride along with four others and landed on a mountain top over looking the Remarkables Mountain range and valley and the River Wakapitu. The sights were truly breath taking. I took plenty of photos but the camera simple cant do just to the majesty of the scenic beauty.

We had a fun filled day at the Queenstown Hill and the Walters Peak were we had a range of activities covering kayaking, horse riding, sheep shearing, and an exhibition of a sheep dogs skills. The setting was simple out of the world. Deepa in particular freeked out with multiple Luge rides, kayaking, horse riding, et al. We had flown into Walter's Peak in an eight seater Islander Aircraft which was a wonderful experience in itself. Quaint little aircraft these, very well suited for the type of flying we engaged in through valleys and along the mountain side before landing on a grassy plain. The experience and the sights were superb a once in a life time experience. The restaurant at Walter's Peak and the sheer beauty of the surroundings was just wonderful. I couldn't help clicking away with my camera.

The return journey was in a steam boat, TSS Earnslaw, a coal fired steam engine driven steamer which has been plying since 1912. On board was a grand old lady playing the piano and encouraging every one to join in a sing along session of old favorites such as Waltzing Matilda, My Bonnie Lies over the ocean etc. It was a fun and relaxing journey back to the hotel.

As usual Nokia ensured we had great networking time over dinner. The first day was at the Prime Restaurant where the food and also the ambience was not all that good. The next day at Gantley's was far better. The ambiance in particular was superb. Like wise the venue of the Awards Nite at the Mount Soho winery and restaurant was wonderful. So to was the Opera recital by Dame Kiri Te Kanawa. She is reputed to be one of the outstanding performers in the world and her singing even to as uninitiated a ear as mine was truly beautiful and soul stiring. We were told she sang at the wedding of The Prince of Wales and Lady Diana!!!!! We were really fortunate to hear such a highly rated performer.

Another great experience was the 25 minute thrill ride we took on The Shotover Jet. A speed boat that hurtles along the Shotover Canyon at 80kms /hour, driven by experts who twirl the boat around 360degrees and also shoot along the walls of the canyon giving you the impression your going to crash into them. It was a fun filled ride and a wonderful experience.

Beautiful and Affordable Wedding Flowers For Every Season

Beautiful and Affordable Wedding Flowers For Every Season

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Wedding flowers can be very expensive, but they don't have to be! You can have the wedding flowers chosen by royalty without breaking the bank.

Spring Wedding Flower Choices

For a spring wedding, there are many colorful and inexpensive flowers to choose from. Sweet pea with its delicate pink hue is a beautiful accent for wedding flower bouquets and centerpieces and is reasonably priced. It was once used as altar decorations for weddings by Italian royalty and is still perfect for spring weddings.

Purple wedding flowers such as irises and lilacs when arranged with delicate pink sweet peas and some traditional white wedding flowers like lilies scream of springtime. Irises come in a variety of colors and are very fragrant, relatively inexpensive, and are a traditional wedding flower favorite.

According to legend, a blue iris and a white iris in a vase were placed at a bride's table signifying that marriage would have its bright times as well as its dull ones, and this was the beginning of the "for better or worse" phrase found in the traditional wedding vows.

Chrysanthemums have always been popular choices for wedding flower bouquets and centerpieces. They come in many colors and are inexpensive. A wedding flower bouquet of peonies, sweet pea, irises, chrysanthemums, lilacs, and lilies can be absolutely breathtaking and easy on your budget at the same time.

For the Summer Wedding

If a summer wedding is in the works, you have some really nice but inexpensive flower choices available to you. Yellow wedding flowers like yellow chrysanthemums combined with blue or purple hued accents such as irises or wisteria are great for spring and summer weddings and are particularly pretty when combined with orange tiger lilies.

Alstromeria has blooms that look very much like orchids and they have many blossoms per stem, making them a more economical choice. Alstromeria comes in several different colors and keeps fresh for a long time.

Dahlias are another great but economical choice, particularly if the wedding is taking place in late summer. Consider a wedding flower bouquet and centerpieces made with alstromeria, dahlias, daisies, irises, tiger lilies and chrysanthemums for sophisticated color, style, and savings.

Colorful Flowers For Your Autumn Wedding

Fresh wedding flowers of choice for fall are anemones. Their deep hues of red and blue bring rich vibrancy without major expense. Many brides in Italy wear crowns made of them at their weddings. Asters many years ago were almost like family heirlooms, passed from one generation to another.

Where better to use asters than in fall wedding flowers, since weddings are often the prelude to the next generation? Delphinium, with its strong stems and delicate purple blossoms is the symbol of strength, particularly with regard to the marital bond.

Wedding flower bouquets and centerpieces containing anemones, asters, delphinium, gerbera daisies, gladiolas, and chrysanthemums not only add spectacular color but are easy on the budget, too.

Wonderful Flowers for a Winter Wedding

Winter wedding flowers can be absolutely elegant and budget friendly, too. Red, the color of love, is simply dashing with white, which symbolizes joy. Star of Bethlehem with its delicate white blossoms resembling stars is absolutely gorgeous combined with amaryllis or poinsettias.

Adding Euchalyptus to the greenery in your winter wedding flower bouquets and centerpieces enhances the natural beauty of your flowers.

Hawaiian, Tropical, and Beach Themed Wedding Flowers

Tropical wedding flowers for themed weddings usually contain a mix of anthurium, bird of paradise, proteas, tuberose, and heliconia, all typically a bit more expensive. You can still use them to create a fabulous bouquet and add them to centerpieces without breaking your budget. You will not want to go overboard with them. Use them sparingly to make a scene. Remember, with these bold choices, less is more.

Hawaiian wedding flowers and centerpieces can be made with hibiscus blossoms, bird of paradise, heliconia, and palm fronds giving the desired effect without all the expense. Are you getting married on the beach? Beach wedding flowers should include some local flower varieties native to the area. This may mean hibiscus, crepe myrtle blossoms, wisteria vines and palm fronds. If you are not sure what grows locally, ask a florist from that area what choices are available to you at a reasonable price.

A Creative Way to Save

Bring out the artist in you! Consider taking a class in flower arranging at your local vocational school or college and buy wedding flowers from a wholesale distributor for creating your own wedding flower masterpieces.

You don't have to be wealthy to have the flowers chosen by royalty. Fresh wedding flowers in season arranged to perfection save you money and add exquisite beauty that you and your guests will remember for many years to come.

Wedding Flower Bouquets - Learn About the Different Shapes, Sizes & Styles

Wedding Flower Bouquets - Learn About the Different Shapes, Sizes & Styles

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The perfect clutch of flowers will have the power to do two things - complement any color and style of wedding dress and help set a joyous mood at every turn. There are thousands of color combinations and a rainbow of hues to select when your planning your nuptials. Arranging gorgeous blossoms into the perfect wedding appropriate bouquet can be done in many different style and sizes. Depending on your dress, the formality of your wedding and your color palette, the size of your bouquet can have an affect on the unique look of your ceremony. Being savvy about your flower bouquet can create an eye-catching and memorable experience for your guests. No matter what type of blossoms are in your bouquets, you can be assured your wedding flowers will enhanced the beauty of your special day. Read on to learn more about the different types of wedding flower bouquets:

Hand-Tied Bouquets

These bouquets have a nature inspired look and are perfect for summer weddings that take place outside, such as in a garden or on the beach. These flower blooms are simply tied together, usually with a fancy ribbon or bow. These wedding flower bouquets are suitable for almost any setting, whether formal or informal. Adding textured flowers such as roses, peonies and chrysanthemum can add an extra elegance to your bouquet. If you are looking for a more personalized hand-tied bouquet, instead of using a ribbon, use meaningful objects such as your mother's old wedding dress, etc. These bouquets are eye-pleasing and classical.

Cascade Bouquets

Cascade wedding bouquets are designed to resemble a "waterfall" of blossoms. Although these bouquets are beautiful to look at, they are usually only complementing to taller brides and dresses with a simpler design. Since the bouquet itself is larger, it is important to balance out the proportions of size and color with your dress. These bouquets are usually filled with flowers such as calla lilies, orchids, stephanotis and long, flowing greenery. The soft accents of green are an excellent backdrop for any other vibrant colors in your bouquet. A cascade bouquet can be striking on it's own!

Posy

These smaller flower bouquets are popular among flower girls and bridesmaids. Tiny flowers such as spray roses, baby's breath and lily-of-the-valley can create cute bouquets for your wedding. Another creative option for the posy flower bouquet is to use a couple larger flowers as focal points to complement your color scheme. These flowers arranged together can make quite a statement at your ceremony! This style of bouquet is perfect for children and has the ability to accompany every dress type. Some more examples of flowers that would work are hyacinths, hydrangeas and multicolored roses.

Over arm

This modern look is elegant and simple, yet extremely beautiful design for any wedding. Over arm bouquets are most commonly seen with long-stemmed flowers such as orchids, calla lilies and roses. These flower buds are your best guarantee because of their sturdy and durable stems. Wrapping these flowers together with a ribbon is also a stylish option. Figure fitting dresses are perfectly complemented with an over arm wedding bouquet. Keep in mind, holding the flowers for long periods of time during photos may make them become heavy - select lighter flowers if this is the case.

Round Flower Bouquet

Round wedding flower bouquets are the most commonly*seen as bridal flowers. Although similar to the posy style bouquet, round bouquets are larger in size and usually contain a collection of various flowers. Using color to your advantage for these bouquets is important - use complementing or contrasting colors to create the biggest visual impact. Any wedding, whether formal or casual, can accompany a round wedding flower bouquet. If fragrance is an important part of your floral design, consider adding sweet smelling roses, lilacs or peonies to your bouquet. Capitalizing on flower texture, color and size, you can be assured to have the most striking bridal flower bouquet your guests have seen!

A lovely, creative and personal flower bouquet is just as much a part of your wedding day as finding the perfect dress. Selecting blooms based on the style of your dress, the color of your wedding palette and the availability of your flower choices can assure you that your choosing the right flowers - and help you save money at the same time. Your bridal flower bouquet is the glorious finishing touch to radiating the true beauty of your entire wedding. Call on flowers to set the mood and scene for the wedding you have dreamed of since childhood. Knowing the various designs of bouquets can help you select the perfect arrangement of complementing flowers for your wedding day.

The Latest Wedding Flower Trends - Fresh Details For Bridal Bouquets

The Latest Wedding Flower Trends - Fresh Details For Bridal Bouquets

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Bridal bouquets have been the mainstay of wedding flowers from the time of antiquity. Brides have carried bouquets since the times of the ancient Greeks when wedding bouquets of herbs were carried to ward off bad spirits. Wedding bouquets continued to evolve through the Victorian age when many flowers were placed in bridal bouquets because of their meaning. These days, the bridal bouquet is still the focal point of wedding flowers and it is undoubtedly every bride's best accessory.

Just as the use of herbs and flowers in wedding bouquets has evolved, so have other details of the bridal bouquet. With fresh new designs for wedding flowers, bridal bouquets are becoming more and more unique and personalized. Wedding flowers are an excellent way to show your style and put some distinctive touches on your wedding ceremony and reception décor.

So, how do you make your bridal bouquet stand out? Read on and discover the most inventive new ideas for bridal bouquets and decide which fresh trend is right for your wedding flowers.

Here's what's new in bridal bouquets:

Monogramming

Monograms are becoming very popular for all aspects of weddings including wedding flowers. The monogram is generally of the groom's last name, but can be a combination of the groom's initials and the bride's initials.

Monograms can be featured with wedding flowers in a few different ways. Bridal bouquets wrapped with ribbon and fabric can display monograms embroidered onto the fabric or sewn onto the fabric with beads or rhinestones. Bouquets can also feature monograms created with wire or piping. Monograms are a great way for brides and grooms to show pride in their family names and add personalization to their wedding flowers.

Different Textures

Today's wedding flowers feature a variety of different blooms and other items that combine together to create exquisite textures that add a bit of the unexpected to bridal bouquets. The simplest way to add varying textures to your wedding flowers is to use several different types and shapes of flowers mixed together. Keeping in mind which wedding flowers are in season for your wedding, choose flowers that compliment each other with different textures. Flowers with varying textures like carnations and roses or spider mums and calla lilies lend contrast to bridal bouquets.

Another way to add a bit of texture to your wedding flowers is to use some non-traditional items in your bouquet. Shells, fruit, pinecones, feathers, leaves and berries are some unconventional items that you can use to add texture to your wedding flowers.

Breakaway Bouquets

A fresh and clever idea in wedding flowers, breakaway bouquets are gaining in popularity for creative brides. Made up of any type of flower, breakaway bouquets appear to be one large bouquet, but are actually composed of three separate bouquets. The bride will carry the large combined bouquet down the aisle and then she'll break the three bouquets apart and they'll be used as other wedding flowers.

Of the three bouquets, one is usually used for the bouquet toss, another is for the bride to keep and the third is for the bride to give as a special gift to a friend or loved one. Breakaway bouquets add a unique touch to traditional wedding flowers.

Bright Colors

Another sweeping trend for wedding flowers is the use of bright colors in bridal bouquets. Though many brides still stick with traditional shades of white and cream for their bouquets, the freshest wedding flowers feature vivid hues like bright orange, hot pink, electric purple and magenta.

Bright colors can easily be used in combination together to make up a bouquet with citrus hues or bold purples and pinks. These colors can also be used alone as a single color bouquet or can be part of a monochromatic bouquet mixed with more muted shades.

As the focal point of the wedding flowers, your bridal bouquet can set the theme for your wedding with the details that you select. Monogramming, funky textures, a creative breakaway option or a splash of vibrant color will give your bridal bouquet just what it needs to be a unique and special part of your wedding.

Wedding Flowers Made Easy

Wedding Flowers Made Easy

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Everyone wants there wedding to be perfect. From the wedding dress to the flowers everything has to turn out right. Having the wedding of your dreams doesn't have to be frustrating and stressful. There are tons of articles online that explain in detail how to create the perfect wedding or if you're not into do it yourself projects there are always wedding planners that can take a lot of the stress off of you and make a lot of the decisions for you.

Wether you use a wedding planner or decide to do it yourself one of the biggest decisions you will make will be the flowers.

Chances are you will purchase more flowers for your wedding than at any other time in your life. Everything from the wedding bouquet to the centerpieces at the reception must match and follow your weddings theme.

Things like the type of wedding dress you pick out, the time of year the wedding is held and the colors of your wedding will have an effect on your wedding flowers.

Things have changed since the old days of traditional wedding flowers. Now days traditional center pieces can be replaced by scattered rose petals. A single perfect calla lily can function as the bridal bouquet or a rainbow of colors can be appropriate. These days anything goes. Any flower in any color can be used for a wedding.

When choosing your wedding flowers there are a few things you should think about.

First what type of wedding are you having. If it's a formal wedding you will want to stick to the more traditional wedding flowers.

More informal weddings can use a variety of flowers. Along with the style of the wedding you must consider the colors of your wedding. If possible take a swatch of one of your bridesmaids dresses to the florist with you to help match the right color.

The time of year that your wedding will be held can be a big factor in the type of wedding flowers you use. Using local florists and flowers that are in season will ensure you have fresh flowers and will save you a little money.

If you're marrying in the summer in a fairly humid climate you won't want to use gardenias, tulips, lily of the valleys or wildflowers because they are not hardy flowers and will wilt easily in the heat. Flowers such as sunflowers, zinnias, lilies and hydrangeas are hardy flowers that can stand up to high humidity and heat without wilting.

Choosing the flowers for your wedding can be frustrating but your local florist can be a big help. You local florist can work within your budget and let you know what is and is not available.

Wedding Flowers - Decorations With Style!

Wedding Flowers - Decorations With Style!

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When we think of wedding flowers we often think of the bride's bouquet, but flowers can be wonderful accessories in almost any surroundings. Using wedding flowers as decorations is popular, particularly for a summer wedding. Wedding flowers also provide a wonderful fresh scent that will last throughout the day.

Wedding Flowers and The Ceremony

The main role for wedding flowers, during the ceremony, is as part of the bridal party bouquets. However, look a little further and you will see a whole host of opportunities for you wedding flowers.

Why not use a bow of material with one pretty flower in the center, on the back of every chair. Simple yet effective. Wedding flowers can also be used as part of the ceremony venue decorations. It may be possible, for example, to line the aisle with flowers or to ask a bridesmaid to scatter petals on the path, in front of the bride.

Wedding Flowers and the Reception

Wedding flowers are not traditionally part of the reception decorations. But, there is no reason why flowers cannot be a fundamental part of your decorative design. Flowers can be used as center pieces on the tables, they can even be used as a fun way of telling people at which table they should be sitting. For example, you could have a rose table, a lily table and a violet table.

Instead of favors, it could be a great idea to use wedding flowers such as a single rose as gift for every woman. Wedding flowers can also be used to decorate the venue itself, for example, as part of the room decorations - a fresh and vibrant alternative to balloonr!

Wedding Flowers as Gifts

It is traditional to give gifts to those who have helped with the wedding arrangements, such as the mother of the bride, bridesmaids and mother of the groom. Why not combine any other gift you have chosen with some wedding flowers. As you will be ordering in bulk, the cost of a few bouquets will be much less than you originally thought, so ask your florist what they can do for you.

Wedding flowers are often thrown away at the end of the day; try to think ahead as to what you can do with all the displays that you have purchased, after the event. As most couples head straight off on honeymoon, they are unlikely to be able to make the most of the wedding flowers, so have some friends in mind that may appreciate the displays.

If you want to preserve your wedding flowers, why not get them dried or pressed flowers? Alternatively, you could consider planting the flowers or even having more long-living specimens such as decorative cacti.

When it comes to wedding flowers, there truly is no limit to your imagination!

Wedding Flowers Defining Your Expectations

Wedding Flowers Defining Your Expectations

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The wedding flowers that decorate the church will go a long way toward setting the mood for your wedding. Done right, a selection of well placed wedding flowers can give your event the sense of joy, expectation, solemnity, or pageantry you and your intended anticipate for your wedding. Done poorly... well, your wedding flowers will set the wrong mood for your wedding at best. At worst, your wedding flowers will make it appear that your wedding happened in a tacky looking facility or several decades earlier (actually, it can get worse, but we won't talk about that - The point is to make sure we stay on the top of the scale with our wedding flowers, not the bottom).

The success of your wedding flower arrangements and decorations depends on your florist's attention to detail, sense of style, flair, expertise, and the connection that the two of you achieve. Don't assume that because a particular florist is highly respected you will get the wedding flower arrangement of your dreams. If there is no meeting of your minds, if you don't feel like they are grasping what you are trying to communicate about your wedding flowers, theme, or both, keep looking. In most cases your wedding flowers will be more to your liking with your second choice that fully understands the theme and mood you are trying to set than with the reputed best florist in the city who isn't listening or just isn't managing to understand what you want from your wedding flowers.

Finding the right wedding flower specialist is easy if you begin your search prepared and know what to look for and what to stay away from: Being prepared means doing some dreaming about your wedding flowers. Doodle. Search bridal magazines. Look at wedding flower schemes in books and dream. Go to bridal shows. Go to weddings, if you can get an invitation, and dream. Collect pictures of wedding flower arrangements that you think will fit into the theme that you want to design your wedding flowers around. In short, have a pretty clear idea of what you want in your wedding flowers before you ever start visiting florists and bring the pictures with you. This will help them understand your vision for your floral arrangement.

The second step is like the first: Don't even think of going to a florist without swatches of the material from your dress, the bridesmaid's dresses, and any other fabric that might affect the wedding color scheme (this is true of your cake decorator too). This is most especially true of your dress. White wedding dresses come in a wide variety of shades of white, so to ensure that the wedding flowers will properly accent your dress bring a swatch. A professional florist will know how to set it off so that the wedding flowers draw the attention to you in just the right way.

Once you have done your homework it is time to start actually looking for a florist to provide your wedding flowers. As in every other discipline, your first move should be to talk to people who have recently gotten married and get referrals from them. There is no shame in learning from the success and failures of others and doing so will generally save you a lot of grief. In the process, no doubt, you will discover that while most any florist can provide wedding flowers, some are more skilled, gifted, and experienced than others. Your goal is to identify these people and choose one of them to take the stress of your wedding flower needs off your hands.

Remember, wedding flowers work or don't work on the florist's attention to detail, creativity, and their ability to match your style. But part of their ability to perform depends on you communicating what you want and providing pictures and swatches. It's your wedding; make sure it goes right by taking the time to prepare before you go shopping for those wedding flowers.

Wedding Flowers Cost Cutting - Top 5 Cheapest Flowers for Wedding Elegance

Wedding Flowers Cost Cutting - Top 5 Cheapest Flowers for Wedding Elegance

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Wedding flowers cost cutting is often a concern for brides-to-be who want floral elegance featured at their wedding but don’t know how to save without cutting flowers out of their special day. As a retired wedding florist, I can suggest that the first rule of cost cutting on wedding flowers is to select your main flowers carefully. You can also save money by ordering your flowers by post.

You require choose a flower which is going to look beautiful, I will coordinate with your theme or color system, I will give the beautiful flower but its smell is not strange and it can make you get headache on your special day. The flower will look so romantic and it is appropriate with your special wedding. Do you need extra cash for your own ideas? You can apply it for the best results by read more information about paydayfinanciallender, that will help you to get more cash on your pocket.

5. The Rose

Not the cheapest of the cheap flowers but definitely on the list due the rose's ultimate role as The quintessential flower of romance. This all-star in the world of weddings comes in most colors and even in bi-colored, stripped and tipped roses too. Though roses are commonly associated with strong fragrance, not every rose is scented and even those that are scented are not overpowering. All these reasons make roses the ideal choice as a wedding feature flower. Of course, in order for your roses to be as cost conscious as possible, choose popular long stem rose colors such as red, pink, white, yellow or orange (in that order) Also, choose simple hand tied rose bouquets for minimum labor and a modern look. If you want to save even more money, make your own wedding bouquets. It's not that complicated especially if you are following good step by step instructions written by a florist and if you are making hand held bouquets. If you decide to make your own boutonnieres and corsages, make sure to use sweetheart roses for a more elegant and long lasting look. On the same note, if ordering from your florist make sure she will use sweetheart roses for your body flowers.

4. The Gerbera

If gerbera daisies are your favorite flowers, you might want to choose this look for your wedding or for your special event. Inexpensive, cute, modern, easy and quick to work with, you will not have to worry about being able to achieve these simple bouquets in time if you decide to make them yourself. Gerberas come in a wide variety of colors and can therefore blend well with any color theme. Although you can easily choose hand-tied bouquets for the bride and the whole wedding party, you could also decide to have a more elaborate bouquet for the bride including a few gerberas or amongst other flowers while your bridesmaids could carry gerberas exclusively. You will have to provide a constant water source between the times when you or your girls will be holding the gerbera bouquets. This can be an advantage at your reception in the sense that if you provide elegant vases at the hall for them to place their bouquets in when they get there, these can also decorate and add style to your reception. For the boutonnieres and corsages, gerberas also come in the miniature versions although they are still approximately 4 inches in diameter; this is the ideal size for body flowers. Just one per lapel or wrist will suffice.

3. The Sunflower

Sunflowers are perfect for fall events and look beautiful with hypericum berries or other fall berries and foliage, Although sunflowers come in a few different colors besides yellow now, such as orange, brown and rust; going with yellow sunflowers ensures getting the healthiest and longest lasting budget flowers that will shine at your wedding. Sunflowers are perfectly suited for hand held bouquets. The bridesmaids could carry 3-5 sunflowers with fall foliage, berries and accents tied with a pretty bow, whereas the bride could carry a more elaborate bouquet featuring 5-7 sunflowers (any more would be too big) with 3-6 fall roses, berries and fall foliage, tied with a pretty bow. As for corsages and boutonnieres that will coordinate with a sunflower wedding...even the mini sunflowers are way too big for body flowers. Instead, I would suggest either mini yellow gerberas with the black center or novelty chrysanthemums, preferably with the black center as well.

2. The Carnation

Although carnations sometimes get a bad rap as being the cheapest undesirable flower, the truth is, carnations are long lasting, smell sweet without being overpowering and are easy to work with. For wedding elegance, I would suggest going with white or cream carnations if you want to use only carnations. If you prefer a mix of flowers, I would recommend combining carnations with daisies and poms for lovely mixed bouquets that won't cost much and will have that wildflower look but will last so much longer and won't wilt in the summer heat (as long as they have a source of water) Mini carnations are the perfect size for corsages and boutonnieres. One bloom with a bud is the ideal body flower when combined with a touch of foliage and perhaps a filler flower such as baby's breath.

1. Daisies and Poms

Often neglected out of weddings, I cannot imagine why. Poms are pretty, long lasting and come in many types and forms. Daisies and poms are available in white, cream, yellow, orange, pink, purple, lavender, orange and rust. They come in 3 varieties appropriate for weddings: button poms are like little flat balls atop a stem, flat poms look as the name implies and daisies which need no introduction. If you like the wildflower look, combine daisies with other types of forms in bouquet holders with greens and foliage. If you prefer a classier look, focus on flat and button mums. The bridesmaids could carry a round bouquet in a bouquet holder featuring poms, foliage and fillers while the bride could carry a cascading or round bouquet with poms, roses, foliage and fillers. The groom, groomsmen and parents could be wearing body flowers featuring similar types of mums, daisies, foliage and fillers. Be fore warned though that if some petals are pulled out of the main head of the flower, they will fall apart. Ultimately, daisies and poms will offer the best value and elegance for the lowest cost.

Wedding Flowers Centerpieces - 6 Hints and Ideas For Every Season

Wedding Flowers Centerpieces - 6 Hints and Ideas For Every Season

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There are many options to choose from for centerpieces, however wedding flowers centerpieces are probably the most popular. There are many great flower choices regardless of the season of your wedding.

To get you started, listed below are 6 hints to consider when thinking about flower centerpieces.

Set a budget for your wedding flowers centerpieces. Flowers can be very expensive, so have an idea of how much you will be able to spend. This is one area a good Florist or wedding planner can help. Tell her or him what you are looking for and what your budget is, and they will be able to give you ideas to work with.

Choose flowers that are in season to help keep you within your budget. Having off season flowers imported will definitely cost more and possibly be a hassle. Where you live might also determine what flowers are available at different times of the year.

If you are having a destination wedding, choose flowers that are native to that location. Take advantage of what is available locally. Most larger resorts have wedding planners or Florists onsite to help with the selection and set up of your centerpieces.

Look for unique containers or vases to make your centerpieces unique. This can help to take a boring centerpiece and make it memorable. For example, instead of plain old clear glass vases, choose vases that are a different color or have designs in them.

If your budget is really tight, consider silk flowers. Good ones look very real, and your guests might not even know the difference. Check craft stores for do it yourself supplies. There are also professional designers that specialize in silk flowers.

Match your flowers with your wedding theme. This can be a color combination, a season like Fall or just about anything. Your theme can run through all of your table decorations including flower colors and containers.

To help with the selection and coordination of your wedding flowers centerpieces, you should consider working with a Florist. It is definitely possible to do them yourself, however Florists have access to the freshest varieties of flowers and they can give you valuable ideas.

As mentioned previously choosing flowers in season can help to keep you in budget, and they are also easier to find in season. Listed below are the most popular wedding flowers for each season.

Spring

There are many flowers to choose from for Spring including cherry blossom, daffodil, dogwood, hyacinth, sweet pea and tulips. Match up the vibrant colors of the season with your flowers to create eye-catching centerpieces.

Summer

Hot Summer options include dahlia, daisy, gladiolus, snapdragon, violet and zinnia. This is the perfect season for a daisy theme wedding or a combination of the colorful flowers of this season.

Fall

Popular choices for Fall include sunflowers, chrysanthemum, and hydrangea. Try sticking to deep reds, gold and other colors of the season.

Accent your flowers with leaves, pumpkins or apples to finish off your wedding flowers centerpieces.

Winter

Amaryllis, evergreen, poinsettia and roses are great choices for Winter. Evergreens can be decorated if you are having a holiday wedding, and you can never go wrong with roses especially around Valentine's Day.