Evanston Love! Part Two: Florists

Aug 6, 2018 | vendors

Here is some more Evanston love for you this week.  I’m talking about all the terrific florists who have chosen to operate their businesses here.  We’re lucky to have so many–and these are only the ones I’m personally familiar with!  I know there are even more.

It’s hard to choose a favorite out of this bunch, so I’ll start with the two I’ve worked with the most.  I always like to recommend Mille Fiori on Central St. because they do excellent work and somehow always manage to say “Yes” to a project, even in the middle of the summer at the last minute.  Hardly a wedding season goes by that I don’t do at least one wedding with them.

A round banquet table in front of a mantlepiece. Both feature floral arrangements in shades of red, pink, and purple.

Centerpieces and mantlepiece arrangement by Mille Fiori Flowers. (Photo by Agnes Malorny Photography.)

I don’t get to work with Sarah at Four Finches as often, but that is because she has a very different business model.  She concentrates on one wedding at a time (I think one per weekend) so that she can work her magic.  She is very hands-on on the day of the wedding, as well–something any planner will appreciate!  And did I mention that her flowers are always stunning?  That’s the important thing to know.

A spread of cheese and crackers on a round table dominated by a tall floral arrangement in peach, blue, and purple.

A gorgeous floral arrangement by Four Finches. (Photo by Studio Finch. Cheese display by Catered by Design.)

I’ve only worked with Ixia Flowers once, a number of years ago, but I was impressed enough to make sure to keep them on my list.  I wish I had a nice photo to show you, but that wedding was the one without a professional photographer (and my photos don’t at all do justice to the work).

I also had the good fortune to work with May Floral last year.  While the  business is located in Chicago, Lovely Bastian, the owner, lives in Evanston.  I think that counts!  She was a treat to work with, and I loved her flowers!  They were just right for the occasion.  She also found just the right blossoms for our mutual clients’ one-of-a-kind flower lantern.

A loose bridal bouquet in pinks and purples.

Just the right bouquet for this bride. (Photo by Cage+Aquarium.)

And, in a couple of weeks, I’ll be working with Joanne of FlowersFlowers in downtown Evanston.  I can’t show you photos of her work yet (but stay tuned later in the year when I start posting wedding photos!), but here is what she says about why she is in Evanston, “Evanston chose me! FlowersFlowers had been in existence for over 5 years when I bought it, and I decided that Evanston was the perfect city for my shop, with its lively downtown, diverse demographics, and a general appreciation for the beautiful and unique flowers in my shop.”

That sums up what a lot of us love about this town.  And if that weren’t enough, here are a few more florists that I don’t know personally:  Preston’s Flowers and Gifts on Central St.; Saville Flowers downtown (which has been there since long before I was a kid); West End Florist & Garden Center (so far in northwest Evanston that you might mistake it for Glenview); and Bloom 3 on Chicago Ave.  I think we have almost enough florists here!

DIY Weddings: Flowers

May 28, 2012 | Budget Planning, DIY, wedding planning

Do-It-Yourself is all the rage.  And there are lots of things you can do yourself for your own wedding (or a friend’s). But there are some DIY ideas that require a little more thought before implementation.  This is the second post in a series on the beauties and pitfalls of DIY.

Perhaps because her livelihood is on the line, a florist friend of mine refers to DIY wedding flowers as “f— it up yourself” flowers.  And because I don’t want to anger all my florist colleagues, I am going to agree with her–up to a point.

This is a professionally designed and created floral display. Photo by Magical Moments Photography.

This is a professionally designed and created floral display. Photo by Magical Moments Photography.

The reason you hire a professional floral designer is because they have specialized knowledge.  It’s true that you can send someone to the farmer’s market on the morning of your wedding to pick up flowers.  But will the buds all be open?  Florists know how to time the opening of flowers so your wedding flowers look picture-perfect.  And do you really want to be tying bouquets on the morning of your wedding?

There is nothing wrong with this bridesmaid's bouquet that the bride made.

There is nothing wrong with this bridesmaid's bouquet that the bride made.

On the other hand, I have seen DIY flowers that are perfectly nice.  It all depends on the look you are going for.  If you want a home-made look or a casual feel, your flowers might end up the way you want them if you do them yourself.  If you have special training in art, design, or floral arrangement, you’re probably ahead of the curve.  But this is one area where I would recommend to most people to hire a professional, especially if the flowers are important to you.

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