It is my joy to be married to a wonderful woman, Wendy. She truly has many talents and two of them are flower arranging (now called floral design) and teaching. Recent parishes in Newport, Rhode Island and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania have benefited enormously, significantly from Wendy’s work and from the work of teams formed under her tutelage and care.
It is so very common for brides (sorry to be sexist but it is an accurate observation), for brides to see Wendy’s work and ask, “Can you supply flowers for our wedding?”. Sometimes the brides ask for the unique aisle flower stands that were made by Wendy out of copper tubing; yes Wendy purchased, cut and shaped the tubing and the effect is glorious. When the time and personnel costs are mentioned generally, actually always, the decision is made not to have the unique aisle flower stands. Generally floral designers have, or have access to, wonderful simple and elegant stands that fit snugly beside a pew and carry a candle and flowers.
As a parish priest for nearly forty years I have suffered the agony of worshiping alongside the most awful arrangements, though I suppose always done with loving devotion. I will refrain from description and location just in case a scissor-waving wire-twisting church volunteer begins to stalk me and plan my demise.
But then I have also been witness to a murder as so-called professionals present triangular arrangements with no flowers at back and a size generally far too small for the setting… but of course all this at a cost.
My point is this… why not attend church a few times early on and take note of the standard of floral design, you may well find it very sensible and reasonable to go with local talent some of which is probably very experienced and gifted.
AN