Local Florist Honored by International Organization

Linda Maggert AIFD of One of a Kind Events in Northern Indiana has been recognized by the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) as a charter recipient of it’s new Certified Floral Designer (CFD) designation.

 

The floral industry’s leading non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of the art of floral design through education, AIFD created its CFD program, in part, to provide a tool for consumers to use when selecting a professional florist. CFD recognition is granted only after a floral designer has demonstrated his or her understanding of the concepts of design through educational pathways and a written design-knowledge assessment, he or she must then present his or her floral design work to a vigorous peer evaluation as conducted by an international panel.

 

Within the floral industry, AIFD has long recognized the most advanced of the floral design artists through membership and Accreditation. Having already achieved the coveted level of AIFD, Linda Maggert AIFD was granted the CFD Charter status.

 

For many other excellent floral designers who are not at the same level of artistry as is Linda, the new CFD program will still allow them to demonstrate that they are most capable of providing beautiful floral designs to consumers on a daily basis.

 

“The AIFD ‘CFD’ professional designation salutes a florist for his or her artistry and provides consumers with another tool to use for selecting quality professional work,” said Bill McKinley AIFD, Associate Dean at Kishwaukee College in Malta, IL and the chairman of AIFD’s CFD Development Committee.

 

As part of its recognition program, AIFD will assist consumers in locating a CFD qualified florists by listing them on its web site .

 

Florists who achieve the CFD recognition will be required to hone their artistry through continuing education in the field of floral design. “I am constantly looking for new ways to make each wedding unique, “ says Linda, the owner and head designer of One of a Kind Events which specializes in wedding planning and design. With outstanding personal service and creativity, she is sought after by brides from across Indiana and Ohio for her assistance in making their wedding day dreams come true. You can see some of her design work one her website. Congratulations Linda!!

Tip for Selecting Your Wedding Date

Wedding Wisdom in a Nutshell

 Bits and pieces of helpful information for all couples planning their weddings.

Wedding Connection members share their professional wedding tips with brides and grooms.

Check back often for great hints and planning tips, new ideas, and great photos for creating your dream wedding.

 

From Trista Rose Miller of Rose’s Bouquets

 

In order to have your pick of the best venues and vendors in town, plan your wedding to occur in a less popular month, like November or February.  Yellow tulips are beautiful in February!

Consider Desires With Wedding Budget

Wedding Wisdom in a Nutshell

 Bits and pieces of helpful information for all couples planning their weddings.

Wedding Connection members share their professional wedding tips with brides and grooms.

Check back often for great hints and planning tips, new ideas, and great photos for creating your dream wedding.

 

From Trista Rose Miller of Rose’s Bouquets

 

If you have a budget, decide which vendors/aspects of the ceremony you care most about, for example: flowers versus invitations, or food versus DJ, and spend your money there.  This bride chose a higher end photographer and didn’t hire a videographer

Rose’s Bouquets - A “Weddings-Only” Florist

Rose’s Bouquets is a weddings-only florist that services about 75 weddings per year.  With flexible packages to fit any budget, Rose’s Bouquets caters to your bridal needs and ideas.

 

 

Our personal service guarantees at least two consultations before your special day, assuring your wedding floral arrangements are exactly what you have dreamed.  Rose’s Bouquets uses worldwide suppliers who provide the highest quality flowers.  Delivery and set up is always included for your wedding! 

 

 

Contact us today at 260-602-7311 to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation. Be sure to check out our website for wonderful bridal arrangement ideas.

 

 

 

Five Questions to Ask Your Florist

By Trista Rose Miller

Owner/Head Designer Rose’s Bouquets

 

Ask your florist questions

 

Brides are confronted with so many decisions during their wedding planning.  Coordinating such an important day can easily became a full time job.  Keeping a detailed “To Do” list and timeline, along with delegating decision making as much as possible is key to keeping some sanity.  But many brides want to be involved of every aspect of their planning, from the style of flat wear used at the reception to the color of their bridesmaids’ nail polish.  An area of especially high stress is flowers.  Tackling the realm of wedding flowers can be a huge burden for the discerning bride.

 So where do you start?  Lots of planning guides will give you a list of questions to use in selecting potential florists.  Many of them can be helpful and extensive, but here are my top five:

 1.                  “How many weddings do you do per year?”

 A vendor that specializes in weddings is going to be an expert in the area that matters most to you.  They will make decisions easier as they can give informed advice on everything from the style of corsages to order the mothers, to the best flowers to use on a cake.  Their experience is invaluable.  A good weddings florist will understand the stresses of a bride and will allow their clients to make even seemingly insignificant decisions. No detail is too small. 

 2.                  “How do you handle delivery and set up?”

 A florist’s job does not end when the flowers leave the shop.  What does it matter if the flowers look great 3 hours before the ceremony, but grandma’s corsage is pinned upside down and red roses stain the bride’s gown because she was not warned of the danger?  If a florist really cares about their clients, they will offer delivery and set up services.  This should include pinning corsages and boutonnieres, and setting up every design on your order.  They should insist on it.  They may charge for this service and make it mandatory.  Don’t fight it.  The last thing you need is the stress of transporting fresh and fragile flowers across town-even if you planned to delegate the task!

 3. “How many events do you book per weekend?”

 This is a quality control issue.  A successful florist will have many bookings and be relatively busy.  A large floral shop could be prepared to handle numerous events per weekend.  But if the vendor you are considering doesn’t seem to have any policies in place for ensuring they have the time to fulfill your order with the highest standard, you should be headed for the door.  Fresh florals are a perishable product and there are only so many hours in the day.  Ask when your designs will be completed.  Flowers that set in a cooler for days before the event will have a much shorter vase life as they adjust to room temperature.  The florist should plan to have time to focus on the details of a wedding order AND have to time to do a quality set up onsite. 

 4. “Can I see a portfolio of your work?”

 There are lots of excuses as to why a florist would not have pictures of their designs.  But if a vendor does take the time to photograph their work, what proof do you have of their abilities to arrange your flowers?  Designs in the shop are only so helpful.  You want to see examples of events they did last month and last year.  Ideally they will have pictures of your ceremony and reception sites, as well as suggestions for designs to fill them with.  Experienced florists will even be able to show you specific examples showcasing your favorite flowers.  If they can only show you books with design ideas or websites of stock FTD bouquets, that isn’t good enough. 

 5. “Do you provide detailed estimates?”

 Don’t trust anything that isn’t in writing.  The floral market changes daily, as does the produce market.  Transportation costs are rising, which has a direct impact on floral costs as flowers are shipped to wholesalers and retailers from around the world.  But an experienced florist should have a good idea of cost trends and pricing on commonly ordered stems (roses, lilies, callas) and be able to give you an estimate.  Look for a florist that offers some type of guarantee on their pricing or estimates, or limit to the difference in estimate totals and actual pricing.  The pricing should be itemized, so you know what you are spending for each floral piece.  Along with pricing, you should receive details on the floral designs.  Specific varieties, colors, and sometimes even number of stems used in the piece should be clearly indicated.  If you don’t have these details, it is impossible to compare pricing with other florists or feel confident you are going to receive the designs you are envisioning.

 Overall, you should develop a rapport with your florist and know that they understand your “vision” for the day.  They should be willing to answer questions and provide direction in making decisions in an area that most people have little to no experience.  Answering voicemails and emails promptly and being punctual are the most basic of customer service skills.  But be discerning to find the florist that treats you more than just any customer.  Because after all, you aren’t just any customer-you are a bride!