Perhaps you have heard some of the controversy in the floral industry about ordering flowers from either a real local florist versus a national company that never touches a flower, only your money.
Yes, they sometimes offer incredible prices on arrangements, but by the time you add their service fees you are where you would have been if you had called a local florist directly. They employ sales and marketing tactics that promise the world to consumers and debilitate the floral industry while pocketing their percentage.
These national companies and "order gatherers" have to broker out the orders they take to a real florist as they do not fufill the orders themselves. They retain the service fees and then the florist they send the order to only receives 73% of the amount they have collected for the arrangement alone.
There are also large national companies that drop ship flowers directly from a farm. While this would be a spectacular gift for an aspiring floral designer, it is not a spectacular gift for a loved one  who has to design their own arrangement at the office. I assure you there will not be oohs and aahs from your girlfriend's co workers on Valentine's Day when the Fed Ex man shows up will a brown cardboard box. An arrangement artfully designed by your local florist will!

As a consumer myself, this doesn't sound like a good deal to me. Why would I make someone else wealthy that has nothing to do with the service or product I am purchasing? When you purchase flowers from us the total amount you spend on the arrangement goes to the arrangement. We charge a delivery fee and sales tax and that is it. There are no hidden charges.
This brings me to customer service. We stand behind our flowers. If you are not satisfied we will do anything in our power to make you a satisfied customer. Check out this link to see some of their ratings www.floristdetective.com .
So how do you tell if a florist online is legitimate? Look at the "About Us" section on the web page. Do they list a local address in the city you are sending flowers to? Call and ask for directions to the shop. Sometimes a fraudulent local address is listed. Ask for a photo of the actual arrangement being sent. We will happily e-mail or text you a photo of the arrangement being delivered. Look for online reviews.  Is there a local phone number or strictly a toll free number? Be nosy, it's your money.

Holiday Wreaths

Ancient Romans used wreaths as a sign of victory. Some believe that this is where the hanging of wreaths on doors began.
The origins of the advent wreath are rooted in the folk practices of the pre-Christian Germanic peoples who, in the darkness and cold of  December in Eastern Europe, gathered wreaths of evergreen and lighted fires as signs of hope in a coming spring and renewed light.
Wreaths are a beautiful and festive way to adorn our homes and welcome friends and family  at the holiday season. Whatever your decor is, there a wreath that will suit your style.

Fabulous living succulent wreaths.

A simple wreath of rose hips add a stunning punch of color.

A traditional evergreen wreath adorned with hydrangea, red roses, and beautiful ribbon.

Reindeer moss and pine cones create a natural and modern look.

A fun and whimsical holiday look.

Rolled pages of a book.

Metallic and very glam.

Very chic and modern.

A gorgeous look that can be used year after year.

A lush and natural fresh wreath that dries beautifully.

You didn't see your perfect look? Visit us and let us create the ideal holiday look for you!

 Our thoughts are with everyone enduring the hardships from the storms on the east coast. Our hearts go out to those that have lost loved ones and have had their communities devastated.

Tropical Wedding Flowers

Yes, traditional wedding flowers such as peonies, roses, and hydrangeas are gorgeous, romantic, and timeless, but I really love it when a bride is prepared to do something different!
Don't get me wrong, I do not love traditional brides any less. Professionally and artistically it is fun to do something less traditional though.
Check out some of these bouquets that are beautiful and unique as well.

This a fabulous fall bridal bouquet that includes burgundy scabiosa, burgundy anthurium, deep red roses, and dusty miller. It has a tropical touch with the anthurium, and a little edge with the dark color palette.

Lime green a fun and versatile color. Are you thinking "Lime green is versatile?" ? It is great with pink, purple, lavender, white, black, red, burgundy.....It makes other colors pop and and wedding photographs are vibrant. These great green anthurium and green cymbidium orchids are tropical but still work well in all wedding styles.

Fern curls are a great way to add texture and interest to both centerpieces and bridal bouquets. The photo above features cobra lilies, white anthurium, and interesting foliage.

My next post will you show you some tropical weddings that are far less traditional!

Autumn is my favorite time of the year. This is the time of year I truly miss living in Chicago. I miss the cool crisp weather, sweaters, leaves changing colors, fires in the fireplace, and the abundance of the season.
Living in Las Vegas definitely affords a different autumn experience. It is still breaking the hundred degree mark regularly, so it makes it difficult to find fall inspiration yet.

Yesterday I purchased a couple of fantastic heirloom pumpkins complete with gnarly stems and an abundance of warts. Some interesting pumpkins and gourds are a great inexpensive anchor to build a beautiful autumn tablescape around.

You don't have to spend a small fortune on fall decor. Autumn lends itself to the bounty of the season. There are many beautiful natural fall elements you can incorporate into your decor very economically.

Look for pretty Bittersweet Berries, peacock or pheasant feather, autumn leaves, harvest corn, pinecones, seasonal fruit, etc. Add seasonal flowers such as sunflowers or dahlias for special celebrations.  The options are endless. 

This can also be carried out in your outdoor decor. Have fun with it and be creative!

Weddings are an expensive affair. There are so many components to factor into a wedding, it is easy to blow your budget. Below is a table to show you the average cost of a wedding today. 

We are very adaptable at A Beautiful Bouquet and can accommodate any budget. If you are in the process of planning your big day call us for a consultation. We would love to help you make your wedding day even more memorable!

I love pink. I don't wear it and it is not part of my home decor, but it is my favorite color still the same. The ultra girly hue reminds me to have fun and not take things too seriously.
 We made these this morning for a lucky girls quinceanera celebration.  Bright pink roses and pink hydrangea nestled in a clear cylinder vase accented with curly willow branches and white dendrobium orchid blossoms.
They are fun and dramatic and would be great for any wedding or party! They can also be done in other other colors beside pink.
Have a great weekend!

Congratulations to Perla and David who were wed on Saturday, August 18!!! They selected a beautiful summer color palette of guava and ivory, so stunning for the photos!

The end of summer is coming soon! School starts next week! I can barely contain my excitement!

Autumn has always been my favorite time of the year. I love the holidays and the cooler weather. There is nothing more wonderful than gathering with friends and family to celebrate and enjoy each others company.

We have been working diligently preparing for this holiday season. Visit the shop to see the array of great autumn silk botanicals and wreaths we have available.

Also, check out our new Pinterest page. We will be posting both our work and the work of others to inspire your imagination for your upcoming wedding, event, or holiday celebration.

Flowers and Your Pets

We love our animals...daresay, probably more than flowers. We frequently have customers ask what flowers and plants are dangerous to their beloved pets.
I will say, it is probably best that they ingest nothing that that comes from a florist. Flowers and plants are treated with a variety chemicals that are not safe for anyone to consume.
I have my own miniature zoo at home and know keeping everyone in check is nearly impossible. There are certain flowers and plants I will never bring into my home. It is not worth the heartbreak involved in losing one of my pets. What I do have in my home, I make sure is non-toxic by nature. Cut flowers are put out of reach when I leave the house. The kitties are intelligent and strong willed and are a force to be reckoned with when they want something, so sometimes the flowers even go behind a closed door.
If you think your pet has ingested something potentially harmful call your veterinarian immediately.


The following is a list of common flowers and plants that you would find at a florist shop that are dangerous to your pets. For a more complete list please visit www.aspca.com.

Lilies- Calla, Asiatic, Oriental, and Gloriosa
Ti Leaves                                                       
Ficus
Babies Breath                                                 
Iris
Begonia                                                         
Anthurium
Bird of Paradise                                            
Foxglove
Ivy                                                                 
Delphinium
Carnations                                                     
Hyacinth
Dieffenbachia                                                 
Gardenia
Chinese Evergreen                                          
Gloriosa Lily
Corn Plant                                                    
Pothos
Dahlias                                                           
Hydrangea
Cyclamen                                                      
Philodendron
Daffodils                                                         
Larkspur
Chrysanthemum                                              
Lily of the Valley
Sweet Peas                                                     
Peace Lily 
Eucalyptus                                                    
Peonies
Sweet William                                                
Schefflera

Jade                                                                 
Tulips

Congratulations to Darren and Angela on their wedding day!!! It is a hot and humid day out at Lake Las Vegas, even at 7:30AM. The setting was ideal otherwise, with a gorgeous blue sky and no wind.

Here are a couple of photos of Angela's beautiful summery color palette of orange and yellow. She selected submerged orange mokara orchids with orange deco wire in tall modern cylinder vases.  These are just a sneak peek, there will be more photos to follow later.

Good morning everyone! It is going to be 114 degrees in Las Vegas today. We find it difficult to stay motivated in this heat, but summer is our opportunity to plan, execute projects, and play catch up on the the neglected items from the busier times of the year.
We are busy planning for the upcoming fall and winter holidays to bring you gorgeous and exciting exclusive "Beautiful Bouquet" designs. We want you feel as inspired by the spirit of the holidays as we are.
Stay cool today and we will keep you updated on what is new and exciting here!

Summer Flower Care

The fourth of July is almost upon us and summer is in full swing. Living in the middle of the desert, flowers require extra special care during the brutal summer months. Even if you live in a more temperate part of the country, summer heat is not kind to fresh cut blooms.
If you tend a flower garden at home, be sure to cut flowers either early in the morning or later in the evening as flowers will have the most water retention during those times of day. Flowers always need a fresh clean cut with a sharp knife or pruners immediately before going into water. Scissors are generally not a good option, as they can crush the stems and prevent the flowers from drinking properly.Cut from an inch to half of an inch off the bottoms of the stems.
Most florists use a preservative mist called "Crowning Glory" or a similar product. It helps to prolong a flower's life and is clear and unscented. This can generally be purchased at your local craft store or online.
You may use flower food if you wish. I personally feel vase water that is changed daily is the best. Be sure your vase is immaculately clean and change the water daily. Bacteria growth will cut the life of your flowers down considerably.

And certainly last, but not least, keep your flowers cool. Keep them out of direct sunlight. Keep them away from any heat from appliances or anywhere drafty. Both heat and moving air take moisture from flowers at an accelerated rate. If you have purchased flowers and are delivering them yourself, never leave them in a vehicle without air conditioning running. It only takes a very short amount of time in the heat for them to be wilted and in disrepair.

Affordable Tablescape

O.K., I must admit, Babies Breath is pretty low on my list of favorite flowers. Actually, I cringe when someone requests it. Being a florist for twenty five years plus, I just know there are so many more beautiful options. This photo caught my attention though. This would such a pretty and affordable option for a bride on a budget. The monochromatic look with crystals strung between the vases (which happen to be upcycled wine bottles painted white and rolled in epsom salts) and some interesting spheres create an elegant tablescape. How gorgeous would this be for a winter wedding with some evergreen boughs on the table? The possibilities are endless.

Wedding Bouquet With Brooches

There are so many components that make a wedding day special and memorable. The family and friends that share the day with you, the vows your share with one another, and of course the more tangible things. The wedding dress, the venue, the rings, the food, and your flowers and decor. We love the idea of having a special keepsake from your bridal bouquet that can passed down to future generations. The bridal bouquet pictured is so spectacular with the beauty and fragrance of fresh blooms and the gorgeous vintage brooches. Perhaps you purchase them or use ones that already are part of your family heritage. Either way, we loooove this amazing look!

Wedding Car Decorations

Congratulations to Marion and Brian, a lovely couple from Germany getting married in Las Vegas. Brian wanted to surprise his bride with something special as their affair was small and intimate. 

Good afternoon everyone.! This is our first post. It is a cool 100 degrees right now. Summer is upon us, as is the more quiet time of the year for florists.
We hope to relay stories, information, share great ideas, and inspire you to enjoy the beauty of flowers and the hard work that accompanies their perfection.
We love what we do and we hope you love the end result!