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To hire or not to hire – is the usual dilemma of most couples when it comes to the topic of hiring a professional wedding florist. Some still have that notion that hiring one is impractical and a waste of money. If you are on a tight budget, do-it-yourself arrangements may be your best bet. But if you’re still not sure about it, you may want to know why a florist may just be the “fairy-god mother” you’ve been waiting for.

Why do I need a wedding florist?

It may seem easy to arrange flowers. All you need to do is buy your supplies in Dangwa or at your preferred flower shop or market and get your relatives or friends to help you make the arrangements. But there are lots of factors that need to be considered that you are unaware of.

1. Proper care of flowers

Flowers in general are delicate and require proper handling. And though you are making all the necessary measures to ensure that your flowers will be at its best form during the wedding, there may still be a big possibility that you will end up with unattractive flowers on your celebration. It’s because different flowers require different ways of handling. There are those that need to be put in water, other flowers should not be exposed in too much light; tulips in particular should be kept in a cool place. Florists are well-informed about this field. You can be assured that your flowers will be at its best shape for your most special day.

2. The Right flowers for your wedding

You may already have your favorite flowers in mind to use for your wedding but sometimes they may not work well with one another. There are flowers that would make a great bouquet but may not be the perfect centerpiece for your banquet table. It is best to have someone who knows the what and what-nots of floral arrangement. You can even have a big chance of saving a lot of money just by hiring the right person to do the job.

3. Creative/Artistic touch

If you have a specific theme in mind, you should really book a florist. If you can turn your own concepts into reality or you have a relative or friend who can do that then you can go about with your do-it-yourself plans. But florists are florists because they have the expertise and the capability to put magic in your wedding flowers.

4. Stress

The most important purpose of having a florist is to take away the burden off of your shoulders. It is your big day and the idea of standing in front of a huge crowd is already nerve wracking. If you want a worry-free day for you and your soon-to-be partner, you need people who know their job and would help you achieve the memorable event you wish to have.

How much would it cost to book a florist?

Most florists have ready packages that you can choose from, but these packages are often flexible and would depend on what the couples want for their wedding. Don’t hesitate to talk to as many florists so that you would know who has the best packages that can fit your budget.

Ms. April Yu of April and Karen Yu Flowers said that the prices for every floral arrangement vary, depending on some factors like: guest size, season (Christmas, Valentines Day, and All Saint’s Day), type of flowers used, and other materials and extra details that needs to be incorporated on the design.

Couples these days already have the chance to customize their own floral packages to suit both their taste and their budget.

At present, the price of flower arrangements done by professional florists range from Php30, 000 – Php100, 000 depending on the factors mentioned above.

How early should I book a florist?

After booking your ceremony and reception venues, you can already start planning your wedding theme and booking a florist. As early as 6 months to 1 year in advance is the ideal time to look for a florist. This would ensure that you’d get all the flower supplies you need and you may even get discounts and other freebies. Wedding fairs often showcase different florists and you may want to try attending one to get a good start.

Keeping yourself open-minded with every option for your wedding flowers will help you achieve the perfect floral arrangements without compromising your budget. What you need to do is prepare ahead of time and find the right people that you would be most comfortable working with.

Here in the Philippines, there are a lot of options when it comes to wedding flowers. The most popular ones, though, are roses, tulips, chrysanthemums, gerberas, and carnations. Majority of these flowers are available locally, except for a few like tulips and Ecuador roses. Most of the flower supply here in the Philippines comes from Baguio, which is considered the country’s flower capital. But the most popular destination for buying flowers is Dangwa, in Manila. The flowers there are sold at relatively lower prices compared to other markets because their supply comes directly from Baguio. With the wide array of choices displayed before your eyes, you will know first hand how the flowers look like and what would suit your taste and your budget. You can choose to buy the flowers and the accessories and arrange them yourself, but if you don’t have the extra hand or time to do so, there are a lot of available local florists in Dangwa to help you with your arrangements. Just ask the sellers, most of them are equipped with the basics of wedding floral arrangement.

Price Range (Wedding Flowers in Dangwa)

Entourage Flowers – (consisting of bride’s bouquet, principal and secondary sponsor’s flowers, flower girl’s baskets and headdress) *Prices range from Php5,000 – Php10,000 depending on the flowers used.

Church Flowers – (consisting of pedestal aisle arrangement, spray arrangement for altar, candle holder arrangements, and topiaries) *Prices range from Php7, 000 – Php15,000 depending on the flowers used.

Reception Flowers – (consisting of table centerpieces, pillars for backdrop and entrance, and dove cage arrangement) *Prices range from Php10,000 – Php20,000 depending on the flowers used.

Exploring the many possibilities when it comes to your wedding flowers will help you come up with perfect floral arrangements without exhausting your wedding budget.  All you need is determination and lots of creativity.

BUDGET is one very important aspect that is always considered when it comes to choosing the flowers for your wedding. A large chunk of the wedding budget will most likely be allotted for the ceremony & venue rental, or for the food expense. Often, the budget for wedding flowers is compromised and couples resort to do-it-yourself floral arrangements. It may work out to your advantage if you have the skills or if you have relatives or friends who are capable of making beautiful arrangements for you. But if you are new at this field it would be best to know your options before making hasty decisions. A trip to Dangwa may just be the solution you need. Or maybe hiring a professional wedding florist may work out well to your advantage. Flowers may not be the most essential part of your big day, but it is still important. After all, it would show up in almost all of your wedding pictures.

“I know everything happens for a purpose. God has something in store for each of us. Our prayers may not be answered so quickly, or overnight, but God will give us the answer in His perfect time; when we are fully ready to receive it. We just have to faithfully wait for it.” – Marie France Moreno

September 15, 2009 seemed like an ordinary day. Doing her usual errands, Maffy was not prepared for what will come her way. While drafting a contract for a client, she left her Facebook account open. A message came in. She could not believe her eyes. It was from a Roel Vincent Castro, congratulating her for winning the Win-A-Wedding promo of Hizon’s Catering. Apparently, the guy who left her a message also joined that promo and saw the announcement of the winner online. The message was clear, but somehow Maffy found it hard to consider. “It must be a scam”, she thought to herself. Roel even sent her the notification message from Hizon’s Catering with her and her fiancé Andy’s name on it. She immediately checked her email and was stunned when she saw the email from Hizon’s Catering confirming that she and Andy were indeed the couple who won the Win-A-Wedding raffle promo. It was as if she was floating on mid-air. “Is this really true?” She asked herself over and over, trying to grasp some sense of reality to this somewhat surreal experience.

She never expected to win. In fact, she only tried to register in the online raffle once. Continuing with her everyday life, she was oblivious to the huge surprise that will come their way. But it was a blessing really meant for them. Out of more than seven thousand entries, their name was selected. For them it was a great sign, a confirmation that the love they have for each other was really blessed in a lot of ways. For Maffy in particular, it was as if fate has lead her to this moment, and to this man. It was all in perfect timing.

Since a little girl, Maffy always envisioned herself marrying at the age of 27. Whenever asked about it, she consistently gives the same answer, “I’ll get married at 27.” Pondering about it, she doesn’t have a definite explanation how that idea came about. It was only now that she began to connect the pieces altogether. Two years ago she met Andy. They came to know each other through Andy’s cousin. He was interested the first time she saw her, but she didn’t feel the same way back then. Coming from a failed relationship, she was a skeptic when it comes to love and to possible suitors. But his perseverance won her heart. He became her good friend, constantly sending her messages through text. The connection furthered when they realized that they came from the same Alma Mater in high school. Slowly, the friendship blossomed into love. Now, at the age of 27, Maffy’s dream of getting married finally came true. With the wedding scheduled on December 2010, and with the help of Win-A-Wedding promo by Hizon’s Catering, this lovely couple is only months away from making their dream wedding a reality.

“I want to tell everyone that the Win a Wedding Promo is real It was such a great feeling to be the luckiest among all the brides who joined the raffle. I registered my name on the last day of the raffle, I passed by the Weddings and Debut Bridal fair to drop the ticket and that was it! I didn’t purchase anything or made any commitment.

The following day I received a call from the Hizon’s Catering CEO Baby Hizon. I was shocked  and I couldn’t believe that I have just won a fairy tale wedding. Everything only registered in my brain when I visited the office to meet the company’s General Manager Joseph Hizon who started the raffle. Now all I can say is that we are so blessed and are the luckiest among all the soon-to-wed-couples who dreamt of being the winner of this promo.”

Maria Theresa De Lara (Winner of Win-a-Wedding Promo 1, whose wedding happened last Dec 21 2009 at San Agustin Church Intramuros, with the reception at La Castellana, Intramuros)