Michaleen's Frequently Asked Wedding Questions
We know that planning a wedding can be fun, but sometimes confusing and overwhelming! Please read through this list of frequently asked questions and answers to hopefully help you in your wedding flowers planning process.
How far in advance should I book Michaleens for my wedding flowers? You can book at anytime, however we only take a limited number of weddings per day so that we can ensure quality service and attention to each wedding that we book. Some brides book a year to six months in advance to hold a date with us.
How do I book my wedding with Michaleens? We require a non-refundable $300 deposit which will hol the date for your wedding. The deposit will go toward the cost of your wedding flowers.
What if I have a specific budget? Or a low budget? Don't worry, we do weddings of all sizes and prices. If you are working with a speciic budget, feel free to let us know how much you want to spend. Then our designers can help suggest particular flowers and containers to fit within that budget. We are happy to help you. All weddings are important to us, wether you are ordering just one bouquet, or 30 centerpieces.
What do I do if I live out of town, or can't schedule an appointment with Michaleen's while I am in town? We offer in house appointments as well as phone consultations. If you know you are going to be in town on a given day, please call in advance to set up your appointment. Our Saturdays especially fill up fast with bridal appointments. We are also happy to set up a phone consultation with you. Don't worry, lots of our brides are from out of town. We have helped plan weddings for brides in Afghanistan, England, France, Japan, and all across the United States.
What is a phone consultation? We offer phone consultations, where we set aside time to have a phone meeting with you to discuss your floral needs for your wedding at a specific time. We can browse our website together, look at any images that you would like to send via email, or check out other websites. That will help us to give you ideas for your flowers if you are not able to meet with us in person.
What happens and what do I need to bring to my appointment or phone consultation? Most appointments last between a half an hour to an hour. It is best to bring any color swatches, photographs, and ideas that you have for your wedding to help us get a feel for the style of flowers that you are looking for. We will discuss your ideas, and help you to get a list together of the flowers that you will be wanting. After that we will follow up with you and provide you with a estimate for the cost of the wedding flowers. After receiving the estimate, you are welcome to make changes, add items and remove items as you need to.
What if I don't know what flowers I want? We are happy to give you suggestions, show your photographs and utilize our website to help you find something that you like, or create something competely new for you your wedding. If you don't know names of flowers, don't worry, we are here to help you.
What if I like the arrangements on the website, but I don't see exactly what I want? Each wedding at Michaleen's is unique. We can create any look for your wedding that you like. We want to work with you to make your own vision for your wedding flowers a reality. If you see a bouquet on our website that you like the colors, but want to change the floral content, or container, that isn't a problem. We can also create something completely new! We do add images to our website weekly, so keep looking for something that may inspire you. We can do any style of arrangements. From rustic, simple chic, wildflower to elegant and upscale we an accommodate you.
Once my wedding is booked, how soon do I need to give you my final count for centerpieces, bouquets, etc.? We will be ordering your flowers about a month before the wedding from our wholesaler and local growers, so that is a good time to have received all of your rsvps and made final counts.
What happens if the seasonal flowers I want aren't ready for the week of my wedding? If you choose something very specific that has a limited growing season, we will warn you, and offer you some suggestions for second choice items. There are many choices for flowers that we can provide year round. With mother nature, some local choices may arrive early or late depending on the weather, so a second choice will ensure that you will still have a similar look and feel for your flowers.
Can I book my wedding with Michaleen's before having an appointment or phone consultation? Yes! Many brides book the date in advance to ensure our services on the day of the wedding, and will schedule an appointment closer to the wedding.
Do you have Farmer's Market Flowers? Yes, we get fresh flowers delivered directly from a local grower who also sells at the Famer's Market. We use these beautiful fresh flowers in our arrangments, and also offer fresh mixed buckets for you to arrange yourself if you would prefer. We have a variety of clear glass vases, containers, and glass canning jars typically seen at Farmer's Market.
Do you have rental items, Huppas and Arches? Yes, we offer a variety of rental vases, stands, huppas and arches, as well as plants. We have different choices, and you will see many of them showcases in our wedding slideshow on this website.
Can I provide my own containers for my centerpieces or other arrangements? Yes! We will need a sample and dimensions of your containers ahead of time so we will know how many flowers we will need to fill them, and make sure that they will work with your choosen design. Please make sure all vases are clean and clear of stickers upon arrival so they arrangements will look their best.
Michaleen's Florist specializes in weddings and events in the Ithaca, NY area, including Cornell University and Ithaca College weddings.
Call us anytime at 607-257-3203 or email us at mickey@michaleens.com