The Art of Flowers

How to arrange your own wedding flowers!

2010-03-07T07:24:00.000-08:00

Don't let the economy have an impact on YOUR BIG DAY! If you are getting married this summer, plan a fun night in for you & your bridesmaids...DESIGN YOUR OWN FLOWERS! Of course, you may want a little help with your bouquet, but take advantage of saving money and do your own flowers! Most of this article is thanks to "Suite 101" with a little input from me...

Wedding bells are ringing in your ears, and the cash register is chinging as your wedding expenses add up. Well, there's a way to reduce the cost of your flowers by a huge amount - arrange them yourself!

Select a Color Scheme
Before deciding on flowers, you need to decide on wedding attire colors, if you do not already have your bridal and groom parties' clothing selected. Your flowers will compliment the attire of your entire wedding party, so it is crucial to have a color scheme.

Real or Silk?
The next step is to decide on fresh or silk flowers. The advantage to silk flowers is that they can be arranged and ordered at any time. Silk flowers can be found in several online locations or craft stores.

Pick Your Varieties
If you are interested in using fresh flowers, it is a good idea to use flowers that are in season at the time of your wedding. This will save you an enormous amount of money.

Get Ideas for Bouquets
Decide how elaborate you would like for your bouquet(s) to be. If you are looking for a cascading or large bouquet, you may want to enlist the help of a true floral designer. You will want to choose a few different varieties of flowers in different sizes and shapes. This will add visual interest to the bouquet. If you like the simplistic look, aim for one type of flower such as all white roses or an armful of large lilies tied with a simple ribbon.

Start looking at bouquet ideas online and in bridal magazines for ideas. TheKnot.com has a great gallery of bouquet ideas listed by color.

Practice creating bouquets using cheap flowers from your local grocery store. This will get you comfortable with shaping the bouquets.

Get Quotes
Start pricing flowers after you have decided on colors, types, and sizes of bouquets. Check with your local florist first. A floral wholesaler will probably not sell to an individual without a tax ID #, but some savings can be found at Sams Club.

ALthough there is alot of hype about ordering wedding flower packages online, I do caution you that I have heard several horror stories about receiving the wrong colors or wrong flowers altogether.
If you do decide to order via the internet, make sure you have the flowers arrive soon enough that that are opened up by your wedding day.

Tip! Be sure to order enough flowers! You will probably have some messups on the day of arrangement. Make sure you don't short stock your supply. Order an extra box if you are using delicate flowers.

Prepare for the Buds
Once the flowers arrive, you will need to have a room prepared for them to open or stay fresh as you will want to make bouquets the day before the wedding. Lilies and some other flowers will arrive in bud form. They will need time to open. Have several large and small buckets on hand to put flowers in with specially treated water. PLease ask for some flower food from wherever you purchase your flowers. Be sure to follow the directions exactly.

Showtime!
Make the bouquets. It's important that you have the supplies you need:

•Clippers that are made for cutting flower stems. Purchase these at a craft store. (FEEL FREE TO USE SHARP SCISSORS)
•Floral tape - You'll use this for wrapping boutonnieres. Again, craft or floral store. It becomes sticky when you pull it, and it only sticks to itself. A little tricky, try a couple first so you don't have a big clumpy mess.
•Large Floral Pins - Use these to attach boutonnieres. Craft supply stores have pearl-tipped pins for a fancy look.
•Ribbon - Use this to decorate your bouquets and boutonnieres.
•Hot glue gun and sticks - Use hot glue to attach ribbon and join ends of ribbon when wrapping.
•Bouquet holders - Purchase bouquet holders at your local craft shop. These can help in arrangement. Some floral suppliers provide these as part of the floral package.
Put your bouquets, boutonnieres and other arrangements together in a place with a sink. Many times the location has this available in a kitchen area. Store your arrangements in a refrigerator overnight so they don't wilt. Make sure the temperature is turned up to a cool, humid setting to trap moisture.

In lieu of fancy, designed florals, use ferns and hanging ivys in nice containers to decorate the ceremony area. There a lots of centerpiece ideas using 1 or just a few flowers per table.

By using your imagination, arranging your own flowers for your wedding can make the day that much more memorable.

Boy, this economy HURTS!!

2010-03-05T16:14:00.000-08:00

It sure is hard to own a small-business these days! I am down to working by myself for the first time in 12 years, my mom pitches in when needed, my dad too! At least everyone knows that if you order flowers from Julie's, then Julie definitely designed them!!! Thanks to all of my customers and friends throughout the years, I am hanging in there and will be BOOMING when the tides turn....

Holiday Bazaar at Frankfort Christian Academy

2009-12-02T12:57:00.000-08:00

Don't miss a GREAT chance to do your shopping locally!

Houseplant care for Winter

2009-10-28T14:52:00.000-07:00

As I unwrapped my new delivery of plants and planters today, I realized that winter is coming (along with the cold)! If you have houseplants that you would like to enjoy through the winter, follow these care instructions for happier and healthier houseplants... (1) Water plants less during the winter! Remove decorative container covers so that water can drain through the pot. Don't allow plants to sit in water! (2) With the exception of orchids and succulents (like Christmas Cactus), plants should be kept moist. (3) Houseplants like sunlight, but NOT direct SUNSHINE! Move them out of the rays. (4) Most plants enjoy the same temperatures we enjoy, but thrive a little cooler (around 60F). (5) Before you transplant outdoors, check for hardiness at www.usna.usda.gov. Not all plants received at funerals or for gifts are necessarily the right hardiness level for Kentucky!

Stevi and Gabe's Wedding

2009-10-26T14:47:00.000-07:00

Oh sure, it's been several months since the big day, but not a week goes by that I don't think about those too! Perfect example of how a florist has a role (although tiny) in the lives of their customers. I'm sure Stevi was stressed when she had to choose a florist. She may have even gotten more than one estimate, but I would have KILLED her and Gabe both if they had gone elsewhere for their wedding flowers! I've done flowers for these two for 10 years it seems like! From proms and Sadie Hawkins to break ups, and cutesy cups when the girls all tuned 21, to hanging with the guys at Mulligans when the girls all had Bunco...Letting Gabe smoke out the back door cause he was too lazy to walk up front to trying to decorate the hugeness of the CIVIC CENTER for their humongous wedding! I love these 2, and although I make some durn pretty flowers, they don't hold a candle to these two when they see each other and all their friends. Love is much prettier than flowers, but I helped along the way. Mrs. Gottler, hope you don't mind me using some of your pictures!

Ordering Flowers

2009-10-26T14:29:00.000-07:00

PLEASE WATCH MY SCROLLING SLIDE SHOW TO SEE SOME OF THE BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS AVAILABLE AT JULIE'S! ONCE YOU'VE FOUND A DESIGN YU LOVE, CALL ME AT 502.695.3778 TO PLACE YOUR ORDER.

When people call and want to see pictures of flower arrangements, I try not to cringe. I know what they mean, my customers just want to see a picture to help them now what they like. What I like to hear is "Just make me something pretty". Those catalog pictures are so generic and look like any florist, anywhere.... They are made to be available any time of the year, in any city, and performed by any designer. To ensure this, they use "economy flowers" like carnations and daisies, novelty containers, and very basic floral skills. I don't get any special warm fuzzies from these. Instead, we "embrace the season or the person" using the finest flowers available or a little something personal and create something you know was made JUST FOR YOU. Finally, I promise to create a custom arrangement based on your special needs and requests. If the recepient does not like the arrangement for any reason, I will either replace the arrangement or pick up the flowers and refund your money--GUARANTEED. Call me for floral suggestions and availability toll free at 502.695.3778

Wedding Flowers

2009-10-26T14:19:00.000-07:00

Weddings are not the cornerstone of our business, but a welcomed pleasure in addition to my bouquets made daily. It has been fun over the years to made wedding dreams of friends, both old and new come alive, with the addition of just a few pretty flowers. Please look at my archived blogs for a free wedding planning guide, as well as please fill out my contact form for some additional information from Julie's. My bridal couples have entrusted me to ensure that their floral dreams become reality. I understand the importance of my role, and embrace the challenge. My standard is not only to acheive your visions, but to surpass them. Perhaps this is why I am recommended by The Capital Plaza Hotel's event managers, local caterers and party planners. I would be happy to set an appointment and provide a complete proposal at no obligation. Because we are "fanatical" about the quality of my events, I book a very limited number each month. Please call for availability, or stop by to view my portfolio. Congratulations on your engagement and good luck with your wedding!

In 2008, I moved into a smaller location only 2 doors down from my shop on the corner. I am now focused on fabulous flowers, events, and specialty items. Please entrust your flowers to me!

117 Brighton Park Blvd
Brighton Shoppes
Frankfort Kentucky
502.695.3778

Sympathy Flowers

2009-10-26T14:14:00.000-07:00

Sympathy florals are an important part of my work. After being in business for over 10 years, I've had the pleasure of doing the flowers for lots of babies, birthdays, proms, weddings, and sadly enough, several funerals of my customers and friends who left us way too early.

At Julie's, I put the same detailed focus on our funeral work as I do on any occasional flowers. I like to think of sympathy arrangeents as the bet way I can say "Good-bye" on behalf of the family and friends of the deceased. I have also been chosen as the preferred florist by Rogers Funeral Home. Rogers Funeral Home is a Frankfort tradition, being in business over 200 years, as well a high school hang-out of my Dad and his buddies. Rogers shares my same vision of providing extraordinary customer service paired with outstanding product quality.

Please see photos of the kind of sympathy arrangements I create by clicking on my scrolling slideshow. Although I try not to photograph a particular casket spray, as I like to create each work specially for that person. While I generally only use photos of arrangements I've created, this is extremely difficult to do in a funeral home setting. I rely on the photos provided by my floral suppliers, as I can recreate the look and feel of anything pictured. Please call to discuss your particular needs for sympathy flowers and I will be honored to help.

Wedding Flower Planning Guide

2009-10-25T19:13:00.000-07:00

Julie's Wedding Flower Planning Guide Welcome to Julie's free wedding flower guide. I know how exciting planning a wedding is, and I also know how confusing it can get! The below information is a simple guide to help you decide what kind of floral arrangements you'll need to complete your wedding. I've also provided price ranges and average prices for each type of arrangement, to give you an idea on budget. This is meant to merely be a guideline, so please call to set up a consultation with me to create the wedding of your dreams. It is my responsibility to help inspire you while keeping within budget realities. I look forward to working with you! Julie Derringer Benge, Kentucky Master Florist BRIDAL PARTY FLOWERS - Flowers help to identify the bridal party, and can also help set the mood of the wedding. Cheerful and bright, or simple and elegant, these flowers can vary greatly based on your own personal tastes. Bride's Bouquet The bridal bouquet is one of the most important elements of the bride's attire, and deserves special attention. There are many colors, scents, sizes, shapes and styles of bouquets to choose from. The most popular style today is the hand-tied bouquet, although cascading and free form styles are also common. The traditional bridal bouquet is composed of white flowers. Stephanotis, gardenias, white roses, lilies of the valley and orchids are popular choices when creating an all-white bouquet. If you prefer a colorful bouquet, you may want to also consider using colored roses, tulips, stock, freesia, lisianthus and gerberas, which all come in a variety of colors. Whichever flowers you select, final arrangements should be made well in advance to insure availability. Price Range: $60-$500 Average Price: $135-$180 Bride's Toss Bouquet You may want to consider having a smaller, less expensive bouquet made specifically for tossing. Average Price: $40 Bridesmaids' Bouquets The bridesmaids' bouquets should compliment the bridal bouquet and are usually smaller in size. Size and color should coordinate with the bridesmaids' dresses and overall style of the wedding. While bridesmaid's bouquets are usually identical, you may want to choose different colors/flowers/styles for each of your bridesmaids. Price Range: $35-$125 Average Price: $55 Maid of Honor's Bouquet The maid of honor's bouquet can be as similar or as different to the other bridesmaid's bouquets as you wish. Many brides choose to make the maid of honor's bouquet somewhat larger than the other bridesmaid's bouquets, while still using the same flowers. Another popular choice is to have the maid of honor's bouquet a different color than the other bridesmaid's bouquets. Price Range: $40-$150 Average Price: $95 Corsages (Mothers, Grandmothers, etc.) Corsages don't have to be identical, but like the bridesmaids' bouquets, should coordinate with the dresses and overall style of the wedding. Gardenias, orchids and roses are excellent choices for corsages, as their availability in a wide range of colors allows each corsage to compliment any outfit. Average Price: $25.00 Boutonnieres (Groom, Groomsmen, Fathers, Grandfathers, etc.) Boutonnieres are generally a single blossom such as an orchid, rose, stephanotis or freesia. The groom's boutonniere is often slightly larger than the groomsmen's boutonnieres. Average Price: $15 Ceremony Main Altar The purpose of flowers at the main altar is to direct the guests' visual attention toward the front of the ceremony space. Therefore, this arrangement must be large enough and tall enough to be seen by guests seated towards the back. Since each ceremony is different, these flowers can be as elaborate or simple as your style dictates. Most of my brides lately have been using a large arrangement on the altar to be a unity arrangement and are discarding the rental of a separate unity candle holder. Price Range: $50-$700 each Average Price: $95-$150 each Free Standing Arch with seasonal flowers $450 Aisle Pew Markers Flowers, candles and ribbons are often used to mark the front aisle pews and to add color to the ceremony site. A cluster of flower, a cascade of greens, or a bundle of flowers and ribbons are all popular choices. Average Price (Greens and Ribbon): $15 each Average Price (Flowers, Greens and Ribbon): $35-$50 each RECEPTION SITE - Flowers add beauty, fragrance and color to your reception space, and can transform a stark room into a warm, inviting space. The flowers for your reception should be a reflection of your style and color scheme. Centerpieces Table centerpieces should compliment the other flowers in the reception space. The centerpieces should also work with the linens and table settings you have chosen. It is important to keep centerpieces low enough so your guests can easily converse with each other. If you want a more dramatic, tall centerpiece, a raised floral arrangement that begins above eye level is a better option. If budget is a factor, alternating high and low centerpieces is a cost-efficient way to add impact to your event. Price Range: $30-$300 Average Price; $65-$175 Head Table Centerpiece Your guests will take their cues from those sitting at the head table during your reception. This important table should be decorated with a larger, more dramatic arrangement than the other guest tables. Price Range: $50-$400 Average Price: $150 Buffet Table/Cocktail Tables If buffet tables are used, a floral arrangement will add beauty and color to the food display. Depending on the size of your buffet, you may want several arrangements across the table that uses the same floral scheme as your centerpieces. Likewise, if you will be utilizing cocktail tables, they can be decorated with petite arrangements using the same floral scheme as your buffet tables and centerpieces. Buffet Table Price Range: $175-$750 Buffet Table Average Price: $400 Cocktail Table Price Range: $15-$50 Cocktail Table Average Price: $25 Wedding Cake Fresh flowers are a beautiful addition to a wedding cake. We can work your flower scheme into cake decorations. Price Range: $40-$250 Average Price: $70 Labor A 30-35% labor fee is attached to all wedding floral packages. This labor fee covers the cost of the following: consultation time with wedding designer, wedding floral proposal and up to three proposal revisions, site visits with your designer, locating, ordering and prossessing of flowers, boxing, delivering, ceremony and reception set-up, and pick-up of any rental items. Sorry, but due to demand I am unable to "temporarily hold" dates. To confirm my services we require a 20% or $300, (whichever is greater)non-refundable deposit. There is an additional 50% balance due 60 days prior to the event. The balance is due 14 days prior. I am fanatical about the quality of my work and I now only accept a limited number of events to ensure I achieve my standards. Please contact me at 502.695.3778 to check date availability and to set up a complimentary 30 minute "meet and greet" with me during store hours to get some ideas started and send you with a list of questions to being determining your floral needs. When you better know what flowers you may need for your big day, we can schedule a formal consultation after hours. This full consultation allows you to plan your wedding flowers in detail with my help. At this point you will be provided with a general list of what flowers I will be using and the estimated price. Upon payment of your deposit, you will receive detailed descriptions and pricing for your flowers. I look forward to beginning the planning process with you!

Pre Wedding Consutation Contact Form

2009-10-25T19:04:00.000-07:00

New jewelry at Julie's

2009-10-11T14:26:00.001-07:00

Stop by and check out my new one of a kind designs, inspired by market in Chicago. Lots of butterflies and natural elements!

Goodbye yellow brick road & Kevin's new ATV

2009-09-26T17:58:00.000-07:00

I think that says it all, Julie the florist is no longer Julie the ATV rider/storage facility! Thanks to all that showed interest in that blasted Polaris, but he has found a fabulous home down in the dirty south!

4-wheeler returns home!

2009-09-08T07:26:00.001-07:00

After several years in storage, my faithful 4-wheeler returns home to be bathed & ready for sale! Yes, this was an emotional purchase. Once I knew just as the lemon law expired that shouldn't have been made. As I was headed to work, I passed that lovely ATV, starpped down and headed to my house... I thought again foolishly, maybe I should take it riding one last time. Luckily, the fates convened and my first order this morning was for flowers for my friend Aubrey, at UK Hospital after an ATV crash. She's fine, and luckily, I am now staying far away from the ATV. $3,500 or best offer...any takers?

Running with dull scissors

2009-04-08T18:35:00.000-07:00

All of my friends see how hectic it can be at Julie's. First I'm there, then I'm here...Please know that all arrangements, whether permanent or fresh get my seal of approval if not my hands each and every time. This is the most gorgeous time of year, with the start of beautiful color popping out in our yards...let's hope that the morning frosts don't zap the blooms. Oh, by the way...Is a cat with no tail running by a sign of an early summer? Let's hope so. He just ran by the front door!

Administrative Professionals Day/Week

2009-04-05T09:51:00.000-07:00

In this year's tight economy I wonder what will be the trend to say "Thanks!" to all of your support staff for making life manageable & getting the job done....This year I would suggest a simple vase of tulips with a fun message "A word of thanks for my "Tu-lips"...Corny? It's the thought that counts! Spend $25 and receive free delivery on Wednesday, April 22nd!

Living in History 2009

2009-03-25T11:58:00.001-07:00

Living in History 2009
Originally uploaded by julie.benge

Today I am giving thought to what type of flowers would accent the interior of First Baptist the best...especially this time of the year. Not white. Definitely not red. Hm.

Why we Love Bbrooks!

2009-03-22T17:45:00.001-07:00

birthday flowers
Originally uploaded by brookem_danno

This is another beautiful arrangement made my a member of Bbrooks. You will just never be disappointed....

2009-03-22T13:01:00.000-07:00

Don't forget to always scroll down to see our floral slideshow!

Spring smells just Fabulous!

2009-03-21T14:58:00.001-07:00

We have successfully installed our new floral cooler just in time to receive beautiful spring flowers imported from Northern California! Look for garden roses, tuberose, peonies & lilacs in our signature style coming out this week...

b brooks fine flowers

2009-03-05T16:41:00.000-08:00

I was thrilled to be asked to join a network of national florists called b brooks fine flowers. This is the "FTD" of upscale, designer-type florists. It is by invitation only.... Not to knock the 2nd largest floral network in the world (FT#@D), they obviously have more on the ball financially than I do, but I hesitate to give props out to a vase arrangement of carnations and babies' breath. Feel free to call me a flower snob. I am.

Centerpiece Rejected

2009-02-08T07:49:00.000-08:00

Who wouldn't love a beautiful stylish centerpiece of pale pink variagated snapdragons (almost the color of an antique rose) and fragrant stock? I learned yesterday that evidently one of my longtime customers did not feel love upon receiving it. I THOUGHT THE ARRANGEMENT WAS PERFECT... I used a short white pottery container with a black dotted swiss design, filled it with the gardeny flowers with a clump that spiked up in the center, to seem like it was growing naturally. Seated on the side was a muted porcelain lamb with kind of an artsy style to it. Then I took this beautiful handmade silk ribbon, twisted it with a sheer ribbon and cascaded the ribbon from the tip of the snapdragon down to the edge of the pot. WELL...needless to say, it did not have the one flower she requested (nor did any other supplier in the area). BUT you would know she was quick to tell me that my competitor florist DID have it (hm, what a loyal customer). I am a little on the sensitive side, so I would have gotten the flower from them and killed myself trying to fix it, but they were closed...Now I look like the bad guy, she had no centerpiece because she wouldn't keep the one I made, and I'll lose a nice customer to another florist next time (even thought they were closed).

KFA Convention

2009-02-01T17:53:00.000-08:00

Well, after attending one day of our yearly convention, I am enlightened with some new ideas for floral shop management. Didn't see much by the way of new designs, but the keynote speaker was fabulous. All of us creative types may lose something on the business side, but with a little structure and determination, my shop will survive the tough economy & a drastic downsize... Hope all of my customers realize that I'm still here and going strong!