Exotic Flowers in Boston

There is no doubt that floral designer Preston Bailey is a genius at his craft. Bailey has created some of the most stunning floral arrangements and events for his clients. He has elevated his craft to an art. As a Boston florist, I have often sought out Bailey's work for inspiration. Talk about a walking and talking version of Pinterest. 

I also read Preston Bailey's blog. Recently Bailey weighed in his opinion on how vendors should dress when working on an event. As a Boston florist who creates many weddings in New England, we work with many other vendors like photographers, bakers, party planners and musicians. Although our staff is uniformed for event set up, we often bear witness to some sloven colleagues as well. And while I am not upbraiding Bailey for judging his colleague's attire, I am questioning some other glaring view points in his blog post.

In his recent post, Bailey takes us into the audience of a recent wedding that he created and attended. Bailey observes a videographer whose attires upsets him. Bailey writes " I realized with horror that the videographer following her was wearing jeans and Ugg boots! I understand that some cultures are more casual than others, but Ugg boots at a formal wedding ? Come on.

 The very worst part, though, is that when one of my colleagues said something to the videographer about her unprofessional attire, her reply was very rude and she used the F word. If this videographer is reading, you know who you are, and shame on you."

Bailey and his colleague’s heart are in the right place. Unfortunately we have witnessed a drastic culture change where decorum has been cast aside.

I do admire the videographer for telling his colleague where to go. I do not think it was Bailey's colleague’s place to offer any further disruption to the event.

Perhaps a well written note next time would be better received. Or coordinating a team effort before the wedding takes place. After all, if the bride was confident in the vendor, then Bailey should have made an effort to reach out to the vendor before hand. The bride chose Bailey and the videographer with reason. I feel it is unfortunate that Bailey does not mention the videographer's name here. If you can drop an 'F bomb' at a wedding, then can handle a bad blog post.

 Meet Dave Greenberg, the owner of Watertown Main Street Florist in Watertown, Mass. Like many Boston florists, Dave is hard working floral designer who shares his craft and beauty with others. Dave is searching for a life partner, he is even offering $1000 reward to do so and has created his own website, www.marrydave.com along with reward posters, t-shirts and business cards to promote his cause.

Dave looks like a great catch and I truly hope he finds his soulmate. But this story caught my eye because it so much more than a guy looking for love. This is marketing at its best. Completely outside the box and viral. David's story is national news and he has been featured in print, online, the radio and television throughout the country.

Originial, fresh, innovative and exciting; as a flower buyer I am inclined to think his work will be similar. Exotic Flowers delivers our own flowers in Watertown, so I have not witnessed Dave's work. I can say one thing - I am envious of his marketing prowess. 

Congratulations this is one of the best florist marketing ideas I have seen.

The following is an excerpt from "Walking Down the Cobblestone Aisles" - Exotic Flowers Free Wedding Planning ebook.

Chapter 2: Where to Say "I Do"...

"I dreamed of a wedding of elaborate elegance, A church filled with family and friends.

I asked him what kind of a wedding he wished for,  

He said one that would make me his wife.” ~ Author Unknown

With a multitude of posh hotels, quintessential New England sites and natural attractions, Boston brides can luckily fulfill any dream day wedding wishes that appeal to her!  Perhaps she has always had her heart set on the lavish gold of the Fairmont Copley Plaza or maybe her "dare-to-be-wild" personality draws her to the slopes of Killington Mountain?  From the glamorous city ballrooms  to tented receptions lit by the stars above, there is an ideal location to fit every couple's individuality as well as their budget.  By taking a closer look at the specific vision that appeals to those readying to walk down the aisle (or ski, swim, run), wedding planners can begin to design the model appropriate for them by taking in account their spirit, tastes and cost allowances.  Here are a few suggestions to get the ball rolling...

Boston Hotels~ There is no shortage of enchanting hotels in the Boston area, painting skylines with contemporary architecture and divine antiquity style.   The Four Seasons Hotel, which is centrally located, provides a choice of four rooms, allowing you to choose desired views, style and occupancy accommodations.  Not only will the staff assist you with finding photographers, transportation and decorators, this hotel also offers discounted rates for Friday/Sunday affairs.  The Ritz Carlton is another excellent choice providing visitors with historic grandeur and magnificent views of the Boston Commons.  Couples will also be delighted to learn that a five night complimentary Honeymoon package is included when booking their reception in the grand ballroom.  Other recommended hotels include The Omni Parker House, The Charles Street Inn and The Grand Harbor Hotel.

"Young princess, when you get your wedding ring,

your man is saying she's my queen." ~Nas

Boston Landmarks~ For the bride searching for reception locations which reflect the authentic Bostonian essence, she is in luck!  Landscaped with the stunning gardens of the Boston Commons, galleries such as the Museum of Fine Arts which hang the highest, celebrated art work and the towers of Alden Castle staging the perfect wedding for a prince to his princess, Boston is comprised of beautiful sites which not only tell the stories of our yesteryear but also stand proudly to encompass the beginning of a couple's journey together.   The Old State House of Boson offers the comprised package of luxurious event rooms while also revealing a rich tale of our city's heritage and the Boston Public Library is a desirable location equipped with a courtyard for cocktails and function hall which amply fits 350 guests.  For those interested in the Boston Tea Party, The Odyssey or Spirit Cruise Lines are a fabulous choice to coast these majestic waters which shows crystal clear skylines of Boston at sunset.  Whichever location of historical reference you choose, guests will be enthralled by the interesting atmosphere which of these cherished sites possess.

New England's Natural Attraction~ There are a multitude of reasons why planning an event within a natural setting can be an alluring alternative to traditional venues.   Resorts, function halls, restaurants and hotels rest under restrictions, sometimes creating problematic situations such as room rates, availability and occupancy constraints.  A secret which many couples are unaware of are the natural surroundings that bless New England, including  stunning forests, oceans and even large acreage meadows.  One reason for considering an "earthy" wedding is that nature provides the wedding decor for you.   Rooted paths with wooded landscapes exuding the aroma of sweet pine and silky sands with melodic sounds of crashing waves are available at no cost and are exquisites sights for reciting your "I do's".  Limitless guest space is another positive attribute, as long as it is kept in mind that the  wedding date should not coincide with the months engulfed by New England's Nor'easter season.   Suggested locations include Harold Parker State Forest located in North Andover, Ma,  Long Beach of Gloucester, Ma and Blissful Meadows of Uxbridge, Ma.

 Recently we received national recognition from both FTD and Teleflora for our achievements in quality and success as a local Boston flower shop. 

Exotic Flowers recently was awarded quality star performance from FTD for 2011. "The purpose of awarding the FTD Quality Star is to highlight and celebrate florists who provide superior quality." At Exotic Flowers in Boston, we work every day to exceed our clients expectations for any Boston flower purchase. Whether you buy one red rose at Exotic Flowers in Roslindale or the wedding staff at Exotic Flowers creates more than fifty centerpieces for your Boston wedding, our Boston flower shop works hard for our clients.

On the heels of the FTD quality star, Teleflora has anointed Exotic Flowers in Boston as National Account for the fifteenth year in a row. 

The Teleflora National Accounts program recognizes the success of local florists. The National Accounts are comprised of the top 5% of more than 15,000 Teleflora flower shops nationwide. At Exotic Flowers we send flowers worldwide every day. The Teleflora and FTD networks enable us to send flower from Boston to Belgium - Milton to Miami - Roslindale to Russia.  

We can send flowers nationwide, even for same day flower delivery. 

Some clients ask; why send to New York from Exotic when I can get airmiles through FTD ? It is quite simple, if you care about the person, use Exotic Flowers. We have been in business more than fifty years. We attend trade shows, conventions, visit flower shops and send test orders. Why use Exotic for flowers in New York, because my friend Nic at Starbright will do a great job for you. Can 1800flowers promise that ? I doubt it.

 Rick Canale, yes that is me. As my twitter profile suggests; married to Suzie with 2 sons. My interests include family, food, wine, baseball, reading, Boston, flowers and orchids. My family comes first and everything else second. My blog posts are not only meant to inform, but entertain as well. You can often find me hanging out at Exotic Flowers in Boston. My goal is to deliver breathtaking flower arrangements to residents, workers and visitors in Boston and New England. My favorite flower is the phaelenopsis orchid.

Suzie Canale grew up in Andover, Massachusetts and is a graduate of Salem State College.  She began writing as a children's book author after a twenty five year career in the wholesale floral industry in Boston at Back Bay Wholesale where she was inspired by flowers named after child friendly foods.  She developed the concept of "The Beantown Tales" - a series of books geared towards educating children to make positive changes within the key concerns of our society.  Suzie is the recent recipient of the Green Difference Award for Green Book of 2011 by the Massachusetts Green Schools Organization as well as anHonorable Mention in the 2011 New England Book Festival children's division for her first installment of the Green Series, "The Land of Chocolate Cosmos".  She has also authored "The Popcorn Hydrangea of Poppingtom" and "The Candy Roses of Cape Care,".
As she continues her career by writing books, articles and blogs for online websites, magazines and local businesses, she is also busily raising her two sons. Married to Boston florist Rick Canale, Suzie's blog posts focus on weddings, wedding flowers and wedding planning for the Boston area. You can also download her free ebook for wedding planning.  Her favorite flowers are sweet pea and of course chocolate cosmos.

       Jonathan Bornstein is a Newton resident and graduate of The Roxbury Latin School and Cornell University. Jon is the owner of L. Bornstein and Company, a wholesale floor covering distributor servicing the needs of members of the floor covering trade throughout New England. Jon is active on twitter and writes an amazing blog about great sandwiches that he has ingested. His contribution to the Exotic Flowers in Boston blog ranges from Halloween treats to being a Jew at Christmas. His favorite flower is the gerbera daisy.

Exotic Flowers in Boston is always on the lookout for guest writers. If you would like to write for our blog, let us know. We will make it worth your while.

Chapter 1: Setting the Date...

"A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person"~Germaine Greere

Setting the date is the first issue of wedding planning that every Boston bride should initially tackle since this can very well determine every other aspect of her special day.  While the most popular months to wed have historically been during the spring of April, May and June, couples now have ample reason to investigate the benefits of reciting their "I do's" during the other nine months of the year.   Spicy color decor, Budget efficiency/availability and exciting wedding locations all provide an alluring incentive to sway from the traditional matrimonial season.   Flexibility can be your greatest asset when mapping out your bridal endeavor, often rewarding the savvy soon-to-be's with  higher economic efficiency,  essentially giving the couple "more bang for their buck."  Although spring weddings represent the blessings of new beginnings, beautiful blooms and pastel fabrics, there are several incentives to pique curiosity towards the possibility of reciting vows during the winter, fall and summer seasons of New England.  

Vibrant Color Splashes and Textures~ While the traditional springtime wedding often encompasses pastel linen and centerpieces filled with bulbed blooms, events which take place during the winter, fall and summer have a vast selection of rich fabrics, exotic flowers and fun styling potential!  Creep out of the ho- hum routine and dare to be different by implementing exciting colors and textures such as crimson table clothes accessorized with gold tableware.  Autumn weddings are stunning when we begin to experiment with large color spectrums of green, orange and red while incorporating the festivities of the season using brightly hued maple leaves and pumpkins to decorate rooms.  Summer soirees are equally impressive using tints of hot pink, yellow, orange, sky blue and lime green to create eye popping pieces whether seen throughout the dining area or worn as bridesmaid's gowns.

Buffering Budgets and Availability~ It is a true known fact that "off season" wedding events are generally less expensive and have a wider availability of trendy locales than those taking place during the spring.  Due to the higher rate of matrimonies occurring during this time, functions rooms reflectively become higher in demand causing the price to rise.  For example, the bride who books her wedding at a popular venue during June is almost guaranteed to pay anywhere from a 10% to 15% higher rate than the bride who chooses to tie the knot in the exact same place during January or July.  Friday night and Sunday afternoon weddings are also climbing in frequency due to the decrease in price compared to the usual Saturday night affair.  Couples who have their hearts set on a particular spot to recite their vows may run into issues of fully booked hotels and reception sites during peak season, making flexibility a key to nabbing a dream wedding location. One more thing to keep in mind for those considering the option of throwing an off season wedding, spring in New England is often unstable with frequent snowstorms and frigid temperatures so the more compromising bride may find more change in her purse as well as better agreeable weather patterns.

Fabulous "Alternative" Venues ~ There's no telling the interesting places where couples can be married by using a little imagination during the chillier or steamier months of the year.  New England is gifted with many blessings from Mother Nature which are easily transformed into sensational ceremonial and reception sites with breathtaking views and inspiring symbolism.  Marrying atop snow capped mountains, ice skating rinks and along lakeside shores are not only striking for your wedding photos, but are conveniently entertaining sites for winter and summer activities!  Other possibilities might include events thrown at carnivals , aquariums or apple picking orchards. The northeast is filled with natural treasures stunning coastlines so take advantage of the eclectic resources that she offers throughout the entire year.

Suzie Canale

www.beantowntales.net

On Twitter @SuzieCanale