Wedding Trends for 2017

Summer is almost over, and with it, many brides are getting read for their 2017 weddings. This upcoming year is bringing some interesting new trends, which has caused an opportunity for florists to be more creative than ever!

COLORS EN VOGUE

Gone are the days of having only the choice of white or Ivory for your wedding dress. Designers have been slowly but surely bending the rules of dress design for a few years now. Whether it be the sassy hot fuchsia to ivory ombré dress that Christian Siriano rolled out for his 2017 wedding collection, or the blues and blushes seen in the Jenny Packham line, color is surely a rising trend.
With this being said, it gives brides more options than ever to make their bouquet as unique as their dress. Planning on walking down the isle in chic blush lace number? Why not accent it with a lush bouquet of white garden roses, silver brunia, peonies and seeded eucalyptus. Strutting a stunning robin's egg blue couture piece could mean accents of succulents, green roses, bear grass, and white orchids. The possibilities are endless.

UNIQUE AND CHIC

With the proper mechanics, there are endless ways to make your wedding truly unique, and have it reflect your interests, hobbies and personalities. The modern bride wants her wedding to be like no other, and with our creative designers, we can help you bring that vision to life.

Say you share a love of craft beer or wine. Don't get rid of those empties! Clean them, making sure to leave the labels in good condition. Use them as bud vases for cocktail hour or even a few on each table filled with flowers as centerpieces. Or, save your wine corks, and we'll use them to fill clear glass containers under the arrangements. 

Have you traveled together and gone on amazing adventures? Why not have each table reflect one of your destinations. Stylish tropical flowers for your trip to Hawaii. Yellow roses for that crazy weekend in Dallas. A graceful arrangement of hydrangea and roses for that week in Manhattan. You'll have flowers that tell your story, and make your reception one everyone is sure to remember. 

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE

A large part of choosing your wedding flowers is making sure to work with a florist who is well versed in weddings. Our team of designers have done thousands of weddings. We know that our experience can make your wedding planning experience a whole lot easier. From start to finish, our designers work with you to make your vision come to life. As we like to say, we've been making wedding dreams come true since 1913. Call 518-374-4414 to book your consultation today. 

Valentine's Day Made Easy!

The new year has begun! For us, that means preparing for Valentines Day. It's always our goal to make ordering the perfect flowers an easy process. This being said, here's a few tips that will make ordering a lot easier.

Consider the recipient's personality and taste
By default, most people automatically assume that you'll send roses. While many love and appreciate this classic tradition, there are other options. If the person you're sending to is more of a free spirit, with a laid back vibe, consider a non traditional arrangement. Below are a few options from our Teleflora collection:

Teleflora's Sweet Thoughts Bouquet











 Teleflora's Enchanted Cottage Bouquet









Consider The Logistics Of Delivery
As you may have guessed, Valentine's Day is one of the busiest delivery days of the year. If your special someone is at work, plan to know when they leave for the day. We can't guarantee any specific delivery time, as there are many stops. However, know that we will deliver the flowers before they leave for the day. This year the 14th falls on a Sunday. Consider sending flowers to their workplace on Friday, as it will be an early surprise that will be sure to make them smile!


Have Realistic Expectations
If you're unsure of what to order, you can always order over the phone or in person with one of our design staff. We are seasoned pros, so we can easily tell you what arrangement will meet your needs, and still be within your budget. Keep an open mind. Sometimes we have ideas that will surprise you! For instance, you can do a gorgeous mixed vase that the designer will make especially for you, or even wrapped flowers if that special someone has a favorite vase at home that you know they would love to fill with fresh flowers.
Each arrangement is made to order. While we make every effort to come as close as we can to the photo displayed, each designer will design a bit differently. Also, sometimes flowers come in damaged, or are unavailable, and a substitutions will be made. However, rest assured that the arrangement will always be filled to equal or greater value.

We've been in the floral business for over 100 years, and are family owned. We pride ourselves on excellence in design and customer service. We are excited for a new year of serving our customers. Here's to a Happy Valentine's Day (and 2016!).

Ordering Sympathy Pieces

Sympathy pieces are an important part of the work we do. The death of a loved one or friend is never easy. Flowers allow you to send a very personal message, especially in cases where you are unable to attend a wake or other service.

Casket Mounds/ Casket Sprays
The casket mound is generally ordered by the closest family member. Usually, Spouse, children, siblings, or a significant other. This piece sets directly on top of the casket. It usually will have a custom ribbon, which says something to the effect of Husband, Wife, Mother, Father, Son, etc. Each one is unique and reflects the taste of the family or individual that it is for.

Casket Inset Pieces

The pieces are most commonly sent by the grandchildren or children of the deceased. The inside of the casket is generally reserved for family members, however there are exceptions. Common pieces for the inside of the lid are satin hearts or crosses, corner pieces, or rose presentations. 

Easel Spray
These are large pieces that are put on stands. They are usually oval or diamond shaped, but can also be stylized to a person's unique tastes. They are one of the most popular pieces that people send.

Assorted Set Pieces

There are a number of large pieces that are meant to be put on easels. These include crosses, wreaths, heart wreaths, to name a few. If a person was religious, a cross would be a good fit. Or, if someone was an avid gardener, a wreath of garden flowers would be appropriate.

Traditional Funeral Baskets and Pedestals

These are two pieces that are designed in containers, generally in a triangular shape. The traditional funeral basket is a piece that is designed to sit on the floor, and works well when brought to the cemetery, as the base is meant to be placed on the ground. The pedestal is a piece that is designed to be placed on a pedestal in the funeral home, and can be made large and showy.

Dish Gardens

These are very popular and are often sent by neighbors and employers. They are easy to care for, and a designer can add fresh flowers in water tubes to bring color into the garden.

There are many other options that are available for sympathy flowers. If you call or stop in, we can help you make the best choice and make the process as easy as possible.

Saying Thank You With Flowers

Have you ever had someone do you a favor, and couldn't think of a way to thank them? Often times a simple way to say thank you is with flowers or plants. The type of arrangement or plant will be dependent up what the "thank you" is for.

For example, you recently stayed at a friends home for a few days to visit. For this, a vase floral arrangement would be appropriate. What you choose will depend upon a few things:

- How long you have known the friend

- How large their home is

- Their personal taste

If the friend has a small apartment, a cube arrangement or small vase will most likely be the best choice, as that will easily fit anywhere. You can always add flowers such as roses, orchids, hydrangea or other premium flowers to make it a more upscale piece. However, if the friend has a large house with a grand foyer entrance, then a large airy vase may be better suited to their taste. You could go with say, a wildflower feel featuring larkspur, roses, lilies, fancy greens and other delicate flowers.  It all depends on a variety of factors. If it's spring or summer, you could even sent a patio pot or hanging basket.

Another is example is sending a thank you a business that has helped you. Say, a doctor, lawyer, accountant, the bank. For this, something such as a dish garden or a low maintenance plant would be more appropriate. Most office professionals appreciate plants because they help to accent the office, as well as when properly matched, are low maintenance. 

If you're unsure, we are always happy to help guide you to the right choice to fit your budget and taste. Saying thank you can be done tastefully and with style when done with flowers and plants. 

Bridal Wars 2015!

Today's post is all about Bridal Wars! We were there yesterday to have fun and give brides a chance to earn a free wedding bouquet. For those of you don't know, Bridal Wars is a unique event where brides compete to earn awesome prizes from all different wedding vendors. Events With Style presents the event, and It's hosted by Randy Fenoli, star of Say Yes To The Dress! The day was filled with fun. Randy made sure to spend time with every bride, and even brought along Chewy!

Our challenge was called "Get It Girl". It was a bouquet toss relay. Each ring had a point value, and the bride had 60 seconds to toss and retrieve the bouquet as many times as possible to earn points. The other members of her team had the job of cheering her on. Our grand prize was a free brides bouquet!

Before the brides set out to compete, Randy got them pumped up to win!

Brides came in all sorts of team costumes, each unique, and all awesome! Check out this team, complete with curlers and kerchiefs!

It was a great day for both brides and vendors. We can't wait for next year's Bridal Wars!

Outdoor wedding at the Mohawk River Country Club in Rexford

Dexter Davis Photography - Outdoor Wedding At Mohawk River Country Club

I think Dexter captured the sheer fun and joy that Joylyne and Yury were having on their wedding day.  I know I sure can't operate my fancy camera half as well.  It takes a pro to capture and frame the day as it goes so quickly by.  We were all blessed with great weather at the MRCC that day which was especially important for the outdoor ceremony.  We are always ready though with a back up plan and an arch to set up inside. Check out our website for all the rental items that we offer.

Happy Brides Are The Best Brides!

We're taking a minute today to share recent reviews from our brides! Read on Folks!

"Out of all of the vendors I had for my big day.. felthousen's blew EVERYONE out of the water. My new year's eve wedding called for sparkle and elegance, and that's just what felthousen's provided. My centerpieces were breathtaking, and the customer service I have received was absolutely amazing. Can't stress enough how professional, and dedicated these employees are to making everything right. I will never, ever use anyone else for flowers- and have since used them for every occasion, and everyone always gives THE best reviews. Priced so fair, and their quality of service is well beyond any price tag. Do not go anywhere else, felthousens did amazing." 

4/01/2015 

"We absolutely loved the way our arrangements and bouquets came out for our wedding. We worked closely with Larry, who is one of the friendliest and easy to work with people. We went to him with a very vague and general idea of what we wanted, and he ran with it. We couldn’t have been happier with the final product. We were especially happy with the way the archway was decorated for our ceremony. Larry even found a way to re-use the bridesmaids’ bouquets and incorporate them into decorations for our reception! Larry is phenomenal and really knows his craft." 

7/11/2015 5 STARS

"After talking with a few florists we decided to use Felthousen's. Mark was helpful and creative from start to finish. I sent him pictures of what we were looking for and came up with a design and price that was affordable. I was set on a specific type of vase, which Mark provided me the ability to purchase my own vases which they then used. Mark new the venue, Hall of Springs, and the catering company and made the whole experience very seamless. My mom, aunt, and myself met Mark a week before the wedding to review a mock up version of the centerpieces. This allowed us the ability to add and/or 

take out any flowers I didn't like. In the end, we recieved dozens of compliments on the centerpieces, bouquets, and everything in between. We are so happy with the final product, we would definitely recommend Felthousen's Florist to anyone looking for high quality and creative floral designs." 04/19/2015 

"I worked with Jessica from Felthousen's for my wedding flowers. I couldn't be more happy with my decision. I did a lot of research before choosing a florist for my wedding. Felthousen's was definitely the best value for the product. I budgeted a lot for my flowers for my wedding and I still wasn't prepared for what most florists in the area quoted me for what seemed like little to no flowers. No one seemed able to give me what I wanted within my budget and kept trying to talk me into getting something different. Felthousen's was AMAZING. Jess understood my vision and had no problem working with my budget. She was so patient with me and spent hours suggesting the perfect flowers that would stand up throughout the day in the heat for a summer wedding. They even purchased candelabras and let me rent them from them when they heard how much I wanted them for my centerpieces! My wedding flowers turned out absolutely gorgeous. Jess delivered beautifully and the amount of flowers I got for my budget was absolutely stunning. I can't say thank you enough and I am so grateful and would absolutely recommend them to anyone in the area!"

05/30/2015 

"Jennifer at Felthousen's was amazing to work with to plan my wedding flowers. When I visited the shop, I had no idea what I wanted and she pulled the most beautiful bouquet and center piece examples together for me. On my wedding day, everything was as perfect as I could've imagined and things looked exactly how we discussed.
I would recommend this florist to anyone for any occasion, not just weddings!"

10/11/2014 

"Michaela at Felthousen's Florist is amazing! She guided me through the process and made it so easy to be excited about them. I went to her with a couple of colors and specific flower ideas, she took these and created flowers so beautiful I couldn't have imagined anything better. I requested thistles and roses to represent my families and these were incorporated beautifully into our bouquets. My husband's favorite color was an important element in our wedding and Michaela instantly identified the perfect flower to use! Thank you for adding such beautiful flowers to our ceremony, our reception, and our cake!"

08/23/2014 

"Felthousen's was an amazing pick for our bridal bouquet and bridal party flowers!!! We did not want centerpiece flowers and did not want to spend and arm and a leg in this area, and Felthousen's was able to satisfy our needs perfectly in terms of price and quality. They also made us two huge displays to go up at the alter which we were able to move into the reception afterwards. Gail was very easy to work with and what I imagined she made happen!!! I would highly recommend them if you want flowers without a fuss!!!"

06/07/2014

"If you are looking for a Florist stop right now!!!! Your search is over! Hire Felthousen's, you won't be sorry. Picking a florist for me was one of the hardest parts of planning for my wedding. I had very very specific and unique ideas of what I wanted for my flowers and a lot of florist either didn't seem to get it or wanted to charge me a million dollars for it! Felthousen's was my floral dream come true. Mark took all my crazy Pinterest Dreams and brought them to life! I was really picky about my flowers and all the details and he really did exactly what I wanted. My flowers looked amazing!!!! It really looked like I spent a million dollars on them but Felthousen's pricing is amazing!!!! My husband and I were amazed at the quality and quantity of flowers at our wedding for by far the most reasonable price I was quoted for my wedding flowers. They also offer very personalized service. When I changed my mind or wanted to add or change something it was never a problem! They were very understanding. When I walked into my reception for the first time and saw what was in my head all set up perfectly on my wedding day it brought me to tears."

05/02/2014

Not Your Grandma's Wedding Bouquet!

These days, wedding bouquets are more personalized than ever before. Years ago, brides were limited to what was available from the local growers, and what season it was. There were no chemicals to help preserve flowers, or, given the time period, refrigeration to ensure freshness.

Fast forward to the present. Thanks to modern innovation in technology, transportation and agriculture/floriculture, designers have access to endless varieties of flowers and plant materials.

Your wedding bouquet is an important part of your special day. It should be unique, and reflect your taste and personality. This is where a wedding consult comes into place. When you come in for your consult, you'll be able to sit down with one of our designers and go over you ideas. Even if something is out of season, usually there is a similar flower that will give you the same feel. Many of the bouquets you see online are silks. Mother nature has quite the color palate, but she can't cover it all. This is where it's important to trust your designer to make it just right for you.

There are ways to incorporate colors into your bouquet by using other materials, such as ribbon, or painted foliage. For example, seeded eucalyptus takes silver and gold paint well, and can easily be incorporated into your bouquet. There are also many different types of colored gems and pearls that can be placed into the center of a rose or other flowers as well.

There are two main types of bouquets; cascade, and hand tied. Cascades can give a very dramatic and romantic feel. They can be teardrop, crescent, or other shapes as well. They are arranged in a plastic and foam bouquet base, often times with hand wired flowers and foliage to achieve the cascading effect, hence their name. Hand tied bouquets are just that, hand tied. The flowers are arranged by hand and wrapped in ribbon to hold them together. The advantage being, that the flowers are able to be kept in a water source right up until you take them out of the vases for photos or the ceremony.

This being said, you can surely understand that the sky is the limit when it comes to creating your wedding bouquet. From the simple bride who prefers a timeless rose bouquet, to the bride that wants an over the top bouquet with glitter and bling, we can do it all!

We invite you to stop in for a free consultation with one of our wedding designers. We've been making wedding dreams come true for over a hundred years! Below is just a small selection of the wedding bouquets we have created for our brides here at Felthousen's.

Wedding Wire Couple's Choice Award

Our commitment to quality and excellence in floral design for weddings has once again earned us a couples choice award!

 

Cake Flowers

When planning for wedding flowers, it's important to remember that there are many options. One of these is the ability to transform your cake from ordinary to extraordinary! 

Traditionally, the cutting of a wedding cake is a very special part of your day. You'll visit with a baker and carefully select a cake that suits your palate. You'll make the choice of shapes, number of tiers, or if you will use a "dummy" cake. All important things to consider for such a special day.

There will be lots of photographs taken during this special moment, and the beauty of cake flowers can bring a special touch to these portraits. Our designers will take the time and expertise to discuss this during your bridal consultation to ensure that your cake flowers are absolutely stunning!