A simple and clever way to reduce the cost of flowers at your event…..
During this time of economic downturn clients often want a lovely venue for their wedding or corporate event but don’t want to spend literally thousands of pounds on flowers. Top venue booker Verity Deaville aka ‘Verity Venue’ met up with Staffordshire based businesswomen Deb Millington from G&D Floral Elegance to learn about the growing trend of hiring silk flowers……
Verity Venue: Many clients nowadays are looking to reduce their event budget but still want top quality so could you explain the benefits of hiring in silk flowers vs real?
Deb Millington: Of course, the main benefit is most certainly the cost – as hiring silk flowers can be up to 75% cheaper than real flowers! However it’s not only the price, our clients can see exactly what they are ordering, the flowers are not going to wilt, no pollen for hay fevers sufferers and the quality of our silk flowers are amazing.
Verity Venue: Presumably as the hire of silk flowers are cost effective clients can choose from a wide range and not governed by seasonal demand?
Deb Millington: Definitely, clients are often shocked at the quality and choice available for their budget, for example we arrange a beautiful wedding arch (see pic) made up of cream roses, gyp, gladioli and orchids costing over £300 in real flowers but with silk would only be £100 so it’s a third cheaper but offers the same fairytale effect. Our full silk flower wedding package would be worth over £2500 for real flowers but in silk would only be £600 to hire so you can see the value straight away.
Verity Venue: Is there a good range for clients to choose from?
Deb Millington: We have invested in the most popular arrangements including, bridal bouquets, bridesmaids baskets, corsages, button holes, wedding arch’s, rose bay trees, pedestal arrangements, pew ends, chair decoration (flowers only not the covers), window ivy displays, tall candelabras with trailing ivy, altar and top table arrangements, decorative vase lighting, martini vase arrangements, gold fish vases, tall floral vase arrangements and bronze candle lanterns!
Verity Venue: What happens in the event of damage or loss of the flowers provided?
Deb Millington: It’s very unusual that the flowers get damaged, but we do ask for a £100 excess deposit, occasionally people forget to return the wedding button holes but most of the time this doesn’t happen as we provide a box for any of the smaller items to be collected at the end of the event. The deposit is fully refundable where there are no damages.
Verity Venue: What about the bride’s bouquet? Is it possible to buy the bouquet from you?
Deb Millington: Our silk flowers are available to hire but for brides we can make up a replica on request for purchase so brides have a keepsake of their special day.
Verity Venue: It sounds good and your flowers look lovely but my clients may worry about the quality of the flowers if they have been used for a previous event?
Deb Millington: No need to worry, at G&D Floral Elegance each arrangement is made up by hand and if any of the flowers look worn or damaged we replace them immediately, each arrangement looks brand new every time and our quality is 100%. One of the advantages of using silk is that the client can see before hand exactly what they are ordering so are there no unwanted surprises on the day of the event.
Verity Venue: Great, except for wedding flowers what else do you offer?
Deb Millington: Weddings are of course our largest market, but we also cater for corporate events and provide fantastic flower arrangements, table decorations (see pic) for awards evenings, private and charity dinners, parties, christening and funerals.
Verity Venue: Deb, how do clients get the flowers back to you after the event?
Deb Millington: At G&D Floral Design we take care of everything, we set up the evening before or the morning of the event and return after the event to collect. For weddings that take place in a Church we are also happy to move the flowers from the Church to the wedding venue.
Verity Venue: I will most certainly be recommending hiring silk flowers to my clients in the future, the cost savings are fantastic and your flowers are absolutely lovely.
Notes to the Editor
About Verity Venue
Verity Deaville aka ‘Verity Venue’ is the MD of Deaville&Co, specialists in venue search and event management. Verity has over 15 years booking experience, is a Chartered Marketer and has a passion for finding perfect venues for her clients. Verity can help source the ideal venue for anything, from team building, training, meetings, conferences, to party’s, weddings, awards or dinners you name it she will find it. Event Management also available.
T: 01260 273026 / M: 07588 677449
Twitter: deavilleandco
Facebook: www.facebook.com/verityvenue
About Deb Millington
Deb Millington is a partner in a family business G&D Floral Elegance, with her husband. The company is based in Stoke on Trent. They pride themselves on providing a quality service and going that extra mile. They aspire to provide a fairytale wedding or event for their customers at a price which is affordable.
T: 01782 542647 / M: 07779 333356
http://www.facebook.com/pages/GD-Floral-Elegance/240186296087975?ref=hl