Guest Interview- Week 5 Floral Design

Photo Credit: Von Devore Photography
This week we go back to floral design. This topic is so very near and dear to us. Without a GREAT floral designer our overall room and table designs could fall flat. That is why we LOVE working with Sisters Flowers. Time and time again, Sisters has made me say “wow”. For those of you that read this blog regularly know that I am not easily wowed. I know that when a new client tells me they have already signed Sisters Flowers, that we are sure to produce a fabulous event!

The pictures shown throughout this interview show some gorgeous centerpieces Sisters Flowers has produced for us at Lacy Branch Events!!


Below is the interview LBE = Lacy Branch Events and SF= Sisters Flowers

LB: What exactly do floral designers do?

SF: We meet with the client and their coordinator, gather information from them, and put together a design that is unique to their event.


LB: How would you describe your design style?

SF: We have four designers and we all have our own personal preferences (wildflower, contemporary, traditional, etc.), but each event is designed on the client's style, not ours.


LB: What is a common misconception Brides & Grooms have regarding flowers?

SF: One common misconception is that their flowers will be the exact color, shape, size, etc. as the picture in the magazine that they bring in to us. Emily's favorite saying is "Flowers aren't widgets."-meaning that flowers are an individual living thing, and one is never the exact same as another. Pictures should really be used as inspiration and not just to copy.


LB: Are there any hot, right now trends in bouquets such as color or flowers?

SF: It seems like yellow will be popular next year. The natural garden look is also coming back, where as contemporary modern has been popular for the past couple of wedding seasons.


LB: What about centerpieces?

SF: Bigger is better. Brides are really looking to make an impression on their guests when they walk into their reception room. Big centerpieces will do that.


LB: Do seasons really matter anymore? Or are flowers available at anytime regardless of season?

SF: Most flowers are available all year round. A few exceptions would be peonies, tulips, ranunculus, dahlias.


LB: If a Bride asked you whether they should use silk flowers or not to save money, what might you tell them?

SF: We would say good quality silks are not cheaper and that we really stress using fresh flowers. We feel they should always be fresh.


LB: Do you think flowers inspire wedding trends or vice versa?

SF: Garden flowers could definitely inspire a bride to be a little more casual or less structured, while callas and orchids could be considered more contemporary and inspire that trend/look.


LB: What do you love most about your job?

SF: Sweeping the floors, taking out the trash, and scrubbing buckets. :) No really, we do love our jobs, even the less glamorous parts. It's especially satisfying to have a bride and her family tell us that their flowers were even prettier than they imagined.


LB: If you had one piece of advice to give couples what would it be?

SF: We have two pieces of advice:

First, hire a wedding coordinator. This will keep you on budget and save you lots of time and frustration.

Second, no matter what, don't be afraid to tell your florist what your flower budget is- which should be 8-10% of your entire wedding budget. This will help your florist to give you the best options and designs for your budget instead of just pricing random things.


LB: What is your favorite flower combination and why?

SF: Our favorites depend on the occasion and the person it is designed for. Our favorite color combos include orange and hot pink, orange and bright green, orange and purple, green and yellow, classic white and ivory mix.

Thanks to our dear friends Emily & Shelly over at Sisters Flowers for taking time to answer our questions.

Guest Interview- Week 4 Photography

We took a couple of weeks off from Guest Interviews while we did The Knot party. We are back in the swing of things, and this week we feature Kelly Park, a photographer, and owner of Kelly Park Photography. I recently met Kelly at an industry networking event. It wasn't long before I realized how talented and how adorable Kelly is. She is not only a very gifted photographer but just a sweet person. I asked Kelly to help me with the Knot Industry Party and she agreed without hesitation. You can see how much Kelly loves what she does in all of her work. I find her style to be so fresh, modern,chic,and stylish. Now I know what makes her one of the most sought after photographers in the St.Louis Area and beyond.


Below is the interview LBE = Lacy Branch Events and KP= Kelly Park

LBE: Tell us a little bit about your style of photography?

KP: My approach to photography is to capture real emotion. Throughout our session I talk with my clients and in the process it enables them to relax, laugh and be themselves.

LBE: What do you feel are some important questions couples should ask when they meet with potential Photographers for their Wedding Day?

KP: I think it is important for the photographer and couple to share the same vision. Couples should verify that the photographer they are meeting with is the same photographer who will be shooting their wedding. Don’t be afraid to ask about the photographer’s equipment. I use a Canon Mark ii and prime lens and continue to upgrade. I love to chat about the technical side.


LBE: Have you seen any shift or trend changes in Wedding Photography as of late?

KP: It depends of the type of style of photography you are interested in. I love looking through fashion magazines and seeing what the latest trends are. I am inspired with people, for me, each wedding is unique and I love to see each couple create their own trend.


LBE: What are three points you would like people to know when shopping around for a Photographer? Are all Photographers created equal?

KP: No, I do not think all photographers are the same.

I think it is important to find the right fit for a bride and groom.
1. Style: Traditional or Photojournalism? What type of photographer is the bride and groom looking for?
2. Photo Image Consistency: Ask to see an entire wedding gallery from a wedding day, are the photos consistent?
3. Personality: Enjoy your photographer!

LBE: What is your favorite part of shooting the Wedding Day?

KP: I have several favorites, I’ll share three:

1. When the bride puts her wedding dress on. I love the excitement that lights up her eyes and I love to see the mother of the bride’s expression!
2. When the bride and groom walk down the aisle as a married couple and exit the ceremony site. I love to see their excitement as the groom gushes over his new bride.
3. When the father of the bride shares a speech at the reception. Tears always fill my eyes when I hear a dad talk about his daughter.

LBE: What would you say if someone told you that they were trying to save overall costs by letting "a family friend" shoot their Wedding?

KP: I would say save in another area. People always tell me, “I wish we had gotten a better photographer”. Photographs are priceless, capture it well!



Thanks for the great tips Kelly!!
www.kellyparkphotography.com

Guest Interview- Week 2- Floral Design

This week we feature Lisa Gallager, a floral designer, and owner of Belli Fiori Florist in St. Louis.

Lisa is always a pleasure to work with. Her imagination and flare for creating unique and modern designs makes her one of our top floral picks. Belli Fiori also has a store front in The Hill area where you can "cash and carry" flower arrangements.

Below is the interview LBE = Lacy Branch Events and BF=Belli Fiori

LBE: What exactly do floral designers do?

BF: Floral designers create arrangements using flowers. They apply the elements and principles of design such as scale,line, color, balance, harmony, etc to design a gorgeous bouquet.


LBE: How would you describe your design style?

BF: I like to think my style is clean lines, modern and contemporary.


LBE: What is a common misconception Brides & Grooms have regarding flowers?

BF: I think brides really do not realize how much flowers can cost. They see a lot of pictures in magazines and want certain flowers or certain centerpieces but it doesn't really fit into their budget. It then becomes my job to help create something similar but more budget friendly when needed.


LBE: Are there any hot, right now trends in bouquets such as color or flowers?

BF: I'm seeing a lot of requests from brides for yellow bouquets or mixes of yellows and other colors for next spring.


LBE: Do seasons really matter anymore? Or are flowers available at anytime regardless of season?

BF: Seasons matter for some flowers such as tulips or peonies. But for other popular wedding flowers, such as hydrangeas, callas, or roses, these are available year round.


LBE: If a Bride asked you whether they should use silk flowers or not to save money, what might you tell them?

BF:Unless they want to use spend the money on really good silks, I would suggest spending the money on real flowers. Sometimes "bad" silks cannot compete with the look of real flowers. I tell brides to think about how those pictures of the wedding day are going to look especially if the flowers don't complement anyone.


LBE: Do you think flowers inspire wedding trends or vice versa?BF:I think trends really affect the flower choices and colors. Trends such as round, compact bouquets really lend themselves to the type of flowers used, such as hydrangeas that really conform to that shape. Also, whatever the popular color wedding colors are at the moment will have an affect on floral choices. I was seeing a lot of blue mixes and purple mixes but now that seems to be shifting a little.


LBE: What do you love most about your job?

BF: I love having the chance to get creative with bouquets and centerpieces that I know will really excite the couple. There is nothing better than presenting a bride with her bouquet and knowing that you had a part
of bringing joy to someone on their big day.


LBE: If you had one piece of advice to give couples what would it be?

BF: Try and be as prepared as possible for the meeting with the floral designer. Things to bring to a floral appointment or consultaion include color swatches, either fabric or even paint chips (this will help give the designer a clear idea of the colors you would like to use). And unless the bridesmaids are wearing a neutral color, please make sure that the color of the dresses has been chosen. You want to make sure that the designer comes up with some ideas that will complement, not clash with the color of the dresses. Also bring pictures of bouquets and/or centerpieces that you really like.

A floral designer will ask questions to get an idea of your style but sometimes it may be hard to describe something. So, if you have a picture of what appeals to you, then it will help to clarify the look that you are trying to achieve. Doing some homework beforehand will really help the appointment go smooth and you will get what you want in the end.


LBE: What is your favorite flower combination and why?

BF: My favorites change constantly. With every new season, the color palette changes so I get to work with new color stories. I love going to market and finding the truly unique flowers and incorporating them into arrangements with your every day flowers.

Thanks again Lisa for taking time out of your very busy schedule to help us better understand floral design.

Guest Interviews..

Over the next month or so we are going to have several guests featured on our Blog. We think it is so important to share not only what we do as Coordinators & Designers, but what other people in the industry do as well. We are very, very, excited about the lineup we have in store. We hope that you are equally as excited. Each week we will post 1-2 different interviews. There will be Photographers, Florists, Caterers, DJ's, just to name a few.

To kick off the interviews, this week we feature Pam Bredenkamp, an amazing photographer, and owner of Signature Studio.

Pam has been published in magazines like St. Louis Bride, St. Louis Bride and Groom, Wedding Pages, and has been interviewed for Wedding Pages, Ladue News, and Wedding-Club.com. I first met Pam through ISES and bridal shows. Her happy demeanor and sense of humor makes you want to get to know her. I am glad that I can now call her a friend.

Below is the interview LBE = Lacy Branch Events and SS=Signature Studio's

LBE: Tell us a little bit about your style of photography?

SS: We are a photo-fusion of various styles, a hybrid if you will, of fashion, documentary, photojournalistic and a sprinkle of traditional to taste.


LBE: What do you feel are some important questions couples should ask when they meet with potential Photographers for their Wedding Day?

SS: I think it is important to know your photographer, so you can develop a relationship. One of the best compliments we received was from a couple who had a very whimsical/creative style, who thanked us for really getting to know them and approaching their wedding as if we were old friends.

Another good question is how long have you been in business, do you have errors and omission insurance, backup equipment/plan.

Ask whose Preferred Vendor's list they are on. This says a lot about the integrity and professionalism of the photographer or studio.


LBE: Have you seen any shift or trend changes in Wedding Photography as of late?

SS: I can't speak for the wedding photography industry as a whole, but what I have experienced lately is that couples just want great images. It's not about the quantity of images but the quality of those images. In other words, instead of viewing over 1000+ images our couples would rather view 500ish amazing images.


LBE: What are three points you would like people to know when shopping around for a Photographer?

SS:
1. Don't be afraid to ask for references

2. Ask to view a complete set of images from a previous wedding at your venues. Many times this can be done online with a password.

3. I understand that price does play an important factor when making a decision about any vendor but don't make it the only factor.
The lowest price is not always the best price. A quote I read once and have since adopted; “The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low prices is forgotten”. With the exception of your dress and jewelry, your photographs are about the only thing you get to keep from your wedding day; make your investment with a true professional.

LBE: Are all photography studio's created equal?

No, not all photography studios are created equal. Some studio's have a fleet of photographers, who may not know whose wedding they are photographing until 3 weeks (or less) before the wedding. How invested can that photographer be in your wedding? How or when could they have developed a relationship with you? Have you seen this photographers work? Does it match your style? We only do one wedding a day so we can invest as much time required ensuring we understand the events of your day and working with the planner to develop and ensure the timeline is met.


LBE: What is your favorite part of shooting the Wedding Day?

SS: Great question. I have the best job in the world! I just love weddings but my favorite, and I never get to photograph it - my associate does, are those final few moments at the back of the church between the father and the bride just before the doors open and they make their way down the isle. It's such a tender time for both, but we try to focus on the father. This is truly a pivotal moment for him.

LBE: What would you say if someone told you that they were trying to save overall costs by letting "a family friend" shoot their Wedding?

SS: Oh another good question - you are on fire tonight. There are so many ways to answer this question. Usually when this is the case, the couple has a guest list that is way over their budget and has to trim elsewhere. A good rule I read in a magazines was if you wouldn't have the guest over to your house for dinner then they don't need to be invited to the wedding.

My first thought was, unless their "family friend" IS a professional photographer I would reconsider that idea. It may be a very kind jester from their friend but usually not the outcome the couple are expecting. After all, who will create the finished album?

When we are working a wedding show we are approached several times by brides that "had a friend" photograph their wedding asking if there is anything we can do with the images because they are all fuzzy. We try to help them as much as we can but it usually ends up costing the couple more in the long run than if they would have hired a true professional in the first place.

Thanks again Pam for taking time out of your very busy schedule to help us better understand photography.