Goin’ to the Chapel: Flora and fauna
PW associate editor Anastasia Kotsosavas is getting married (to a guy with an equally long, equally Greek last name). In eight months, she’s going to walk down the aisle come hell or high water (or even worse: rain). She’ll be chronicling all her crazy planning experiences here. Donations can be sent to the PW offices.
The time has come to start looking for a florist for the wedding and reception. I found lots of beautiful flowers, but the problem is the pretty ones come with a hefty price tag. I really like calla lilies because of their sleek and clean quality. All the pictures I’ve bookmarked or cut out of magazines include them. However, with prices ranging from $8-$12 a stem (wholesale) I decided to only include them in my own bouquet.
Florists also range in price and each one charges for different services. Some charge delivery fees, some charge rental fees for vases. Prices for typical centerpieces start at $20 for a small simple arrangement and can go as high as $300 for a tall arrangement with specialty flowers.
Riehs Florist in Northern Liberties is fantastic. The staff was super friendly and they were very upfront about what they offer. Everything had a set price, which is really helpful when deciding what you want and what you can afford. Many other florists make up prices as they go along, which complicates things and makes me trust them less.
I’m no expert but I’ve noticed that if the vendor has a flashy office and offers you cappuccino, you’re going to pay out the ass. Most of the reasonably priced (but still high quality) vendors I visited worked in small, unadorned spaces or from home.
After some deliberation, I decided to go with a light purple rose. Pretty but relatively inexpensive. I should complement to the black and white damask tablecloths and add a pop of color.
In other news, I went to Michael’s craft store this week and saw aisles of black, white and purple wedding ideas. They also have these fabulous DIY damask wedding invites that will be a huge money saver. Typical wedding invites can range from $5-$20 each! With a big fat Greek wedding with over 300 guests that’s just not happening.
*Written by Anastasia Kotsosavas
