Flower help-Gerber Brides should read this

PeteysBride Posted: Jun 11, 2007 12:05 PM

Flower help-Gerber Brides should read this

Ok so i need help..I feel like this topic has been the biggest pain in my hoo-haw throughout the wedding planning: flowers.

Originally we wanted gerbers but after seeing how quickly they died when out of a water source I nixed the idea. Lats night was my best friend's shower and we took them out of water for a game we played for maybe 15 minutes tops and by the end they had started to curl. This was in an AC room, not a hot one, which is what the 4 florists I have spoken to have told me makes gerbers wilt quickly. Sooo late July heat will probably make them curl unless they have a water source. All the florists I spoke to want to charge us between 70 and 85 dollars for a bo-k of 5 gerbers! CRAZY! We were going to do hand-picked bo-ks but after seeing what can happen to them out of water, had to nix that idea. So now this is oure new dilemna...

If we have to pay a florist for bok's, should we suck it up and stay with gerbers which is our main theme, or just buy heartier flowers like dahlias or roses in our colors and hand tie our own? Please vote!
Choice #1: Dahlia bo-k's for BM's: They would be in colors of our theme but hand tied like these

Choice #2 for BM's-red orange and pink rose bo'ks
Some of these I posted for color but they are all the basic idea of roses and maybe some greenery

Choice#3 for BM's: Stick to our original gerber bo-k idea and suck up the obscene cost.

OR anyone have another idea? please post pics and suggestions if you do.

SusiBtoM Posted: Jun 11, 2007 12:13 PM

Re: Flower help-Gerber Brides should read this

If you have your heart set on using Gerbers - I think they are gorgeous, can you use the water tubes that individual roses usually come in ? They can be covered by a ribbon corset around the stems.

Dahlias leak a milky substance. The stems have to be sealed by burning the ends, but that also seals in some water.

Do a test run with your favorites.

BnBdreamin Posted: Jun 11, 2007 12:38 PM

Re: Flower help-Gerber Brides should read this

Here's my .02.... you may want to rethink your florist first of all. It sounds like you're being led to over think it. Try not to.

Why don't you consider doing a mix for your bouquets? A bouqet of all the same flower of any flower will be more costly. Let them add the fillers in to soften the blow and you may even like the look better.

I went in wanting all pink carnations because they are my very favorite flower. But for my final meeting with my florist (Towne Florist in East Islip, incredibly awesome!) I was at the point of planning where I let go of some of my anal details and told them, you know what, I came to you because I trust you since my high school prom! Surprise me and do what you want in all pink but please add extra pink carnations. And I had no idea they were going to add gerbers in mine and when I saw our bouquets, I was thrilled because they looked so happy and bright and pink!

Here's a link to some pro pics where you can see my flowers...

You can do the same but make your 'extra' flower be the gerber. I think that will accent your gerbers more to have some other roses and such in the background. See how much only two or three gerbers stand out in ours.

Here are pics of our bouquets at the ceremony... almost 6 hours after they were delivered and not a lick of water and our day was in the high 80's. No wilting. MIL put SIL's bouquet in water after the wedding and she said she just threw it away the day before we got back from our honeymoon!

I would not go by your shower experience with the gerbers. Sounds like you were kind of man handling them with whatever you were doing and that will not be the same situation as your wedding. Your wedding flowers will be fine.

Good luck, hope I helped and hope you figure it all out!

Fara Posted: Jun 11, 2007 12:42 PM

Re: Flower help-Gerber Brides should read this

Would consider mixing? Like do mostly roses or dalias and stick in a few gerber daisy's (get the best of both world's).

Just a little side note: someone told me they used tulips and I asked wasn't she nervous b/c tulips don't stand up that long, and she said they were fine, as long as they lasted through the pictures that is all that mattered. Don't know if that helps, just something to think about.

GinaZ Posted: Jun 11, 2007 12:48 PM

Re: Flower help-Gerber Brides should read this

my sister had regualr daisys and they held up great! She also had gerbers on the table (but in water) and they looked awesome! If it is what you really want, I think they will last through the ceremony. But if you dont want to worry about it, maybe go with a stronger flower.

BnBdreamin Posted: Jun 11, 2007 12:55 PM

Re: Flower help-Gerber Brides should read this

Posted by PeteysBride

This was in an AC room, not a hot one

P.S. This is why I think something's awry with your florist... flowers do not do well in too cold either. That's why they grow in a 'hot' house. So something's not making sense what they're telling you. Sure, don't leave them on the back window ledge of your limo on a hot day but they will be fine in normal outside weather.

redvelvet Posted: Jun 11, 2007 01:05 PM

Re: Flower help-Gerber Brides should read this

Gerbers are one of my fav flowers. i am using it in my CPs and am considering them for my boks. however, if you can't use them, go with the dahlias. those boks are gorgeous!!

PeteysBride Posted: Jun 11, 2007 02:53 PM

Re: Flower help-Gerber Brides should read this

Well every florist I spoke to and every article I found on gerbers said they are very fragile flowers. A friend of mine has worked for a florist for 10 years and she advised me against them as well because they need to be wired to stay sturdy and in very high temps like the 90's that July often hits, they don't do well. Unlike some flowers which thrive in hot houses, they don't. And the flowers weren't all manhandled. Some were just laid on a plate and still wilted so it was more of a visual hammering home what everyone kept telling me.

-shrugs- Id mix them but no matetr what flower we use, we get hammered with one price, so figured might as well go with pricer flowers if thats the case. We have to thik about what to do.

cuteauburnininny Posted: Jun 11, 2007 03:17 PM

Re: Flower help-Gerber Brides should read this

i am having gerber daisies for my bridemaids bok's. i am paying 65 for each one. i was going to do all roses but my florist knew i was ona budget and suggested the gerber daisies since that was my other choice. it was between the both of them.so i opted for gerber for the girls and a mixture of roses and gerbers for my moh.