Silk flowers???? - Wedding Forum

caline · #1 (**permalink**) 07-02-2006, 01:56 PM

I have a major dilemma going.

I totally love calla lilys, and want them in my bouquet, on the tables, in button holes etc. The problem is, I am getting married in August, and they are out of season.

Now, a few florists have said 'no problem'. Today I've been to see the florist contracted by our hotel. They are saying calla lilys are going to be extortionately expensice, like £12.50 a flower. They say that, how other florists get around this is to say "yeah, fine, can do", then get you to sign a contract, which in the small print says they reserve the right to change any of the flowers in the contract, if the ones stated are unavailiable. When the callas are too expensive, they just stick some roses in their place.

I just don't know who to believe. Whats worse is I've got a bit of a calla lily them going on and have spent £ on other things calla related, such as paper for the invites.

Anyone know if white callas are an issue in August??

Help!!!!!!

Caline

Heather · #2 (**permalink**) 07-02-2006, 02:20 PM

I got married in September, and my florist didn't have a problem with getting hold of Cala Lillies!

In the end due to lack of communication on her part, which I think was due to me only having a small wedding so she wasn't as "keen" I ended up doing my own flowers, and used some fake cala lillies!

Hopefully some of the other ladies will have some more helpful information.... I loved my lillies though and still have them now which is an advantage of the not real ones!

H

KarenE · #3 (**permalink**) 07-02-2006, 02:22 PM

Sorry Caline, I have no idea if they are going to be difficult to source or not...

I can say we had silk flowers, and I'm not sure the casual observer would have been able to tell.
(You can see them on our picturetrail account)

Kezzer · #4 (**permalink**) 07-02-2006, 03:41 PM

Flowers I think are like fruit, there's alway somewhere in the world that can grow then regardless of the time of the year. But probably as the hotels florist has said they're gonna be pricey

Might be worth speaking with other florist & stipulating that regardless of their contracts & their smallprint...no cala lillies no deal!

Laurie · #5 (**permalink**) 07-02-2006, 05:33 PM

I've got silk callas in my bouquet and they look absolutely fab, my whole floral stuff is silk which means I get to keep it all. They look real though, silks have come on a long way over the last few years.

Most flowers can be bought at any time of year but do expect to pay a premium for out of season flowers. I'd also be concerned with how long they last if they've been imported from far away.

sairy mary · #6 (**permalink**) 07-02-2006, 06:03 PM

babes, i cant see any reason why you cant have calla lililies for your wedding, they are available everywhere and i grow em myself!!!!, ive even checked on a site just to see, and it says they bloom in the summer season like other ones, and even then you can still get them anyway, ive seen them even in tescos!!!! try a few other florists who might be a bit nicer, and might fit your budget a bit better too!!!!

caline · #7 (**permalink**) 07-02-2006, 06:33 PM

Thanks for all the advice.

3 other florists in the area have said callas aren't a problem. Just the florists contracted by the hotel to do the table decs etc. You can take the money out of the wedding package and take it to a different florists.

The thing is, think I'd prefer the real thing, but the contracted florist has the advantage of having the silks as an option. Must admit the silk callas she showed me today were gorgeous!

Need to talk to some other people.

Thanks again
caline

Ang · #8 (**permalink**) 07-02-2006, 06:57 PM

Silks would be gorgeous and a lasting memory of the day but to be honest I'd be wary of using a florist who's trying to make a problem out of something that shouldn't be an issue. A good florist will do their best to get you what you want. I've heard of florists handpainting flowers to get the colour right if they can't get the colour you want but I've not yet heard of one turning up on the day with roses as a substitute for lillies. Hope you can get it sorted out.

Ang · #9 (**permalink**) 07-02-2006, 07:01 PM

I've found this and cala lillies are very much in season in August. It's just the colours that aren't always available

http://www.flowers.org.uk/flowers/fa...splaymonth.asp

#10 (**permalink**) 08-02-2006, 04:48 AM

I have no idea about how difficult they will be to source at that time of year but just wanted to say hope you get what you want.

x

caline · #11 (**permalink**) 09-02-2006, 01:35 PM

Just a quick update. Went to see a florist today and she said 110% no problem with fresh calla lilys in August. She said she knows the other place, and they specialise in silk flowers and don't really do much at all with fresh ones.

Feel really cheesed off that the woman yesterday really made me think I couldn't have my callas, and just so she'd get more buisness.

They will be more expensive in August, but not anything like £12.50 a stem!!

So, callas are back on...wahey!!!!!

Caline

#12 (**permalink**) 09-02-2006, 02:22 PM

Brilliant news!

x

KarenE · #13 (**permalink**) 09-02-2006, 03:05 PM

yayy

Ang · #14 (**permalink**) 09-02-2006, 03:09 PM

great news. I think I'd be tempted to let your venue know this is what their recomended florist is doing.

caline · #15 (**permalink**) 10-02-2006, 06:32 AM

Yeah Ang, think I might do that.
Considering having the silks for the table decs as the hotel 'florist' (silk flower specialists), provide vases, table mirrors and candles. If I had to buy these its going to cost me a fortune.
Then I'd have real callas for by bouquet, BM and the boys button holes.
Maybe I'll let the hotel know after the wedding, so not to upset the 'florist' before!

Caline