Wedding Flowers – Todich Floral Design Blog

FULL NAME: Zlatko Todic

COMPANY NAME: Todich Floral Design

TITLE/POSITION WITH COMPANY:Managing Director

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Please tell us about your company here:

Todich Floral Design is an award winning wedding and event’s florist that has a highly skilled and creative team of managers, experts and florists who are passionate about flowers, having been in business for over 15 years; Todich Floral Design has built up an exceptional reputation with both clients and contracts.

Based in South London, We provide a bespoke bridal flower service throughout all of London and the south east of England.  From ceremony to reception our flowers create the perfect mood for a bride’s big day, we are proud to say that we treat each of our happy couples with the best client service.  One of the most important days of a couple’s life deserves an expert florist’s attention and planning.

Attempting to blend artistry & elegance with our own innovation, We produce high quality designs on a daily basis, Our aim is to turn floral dreams into reality, our florists create fresh, innovative, contemporary arrangements which keeps bringing clients back over and over again.

What should couples be aware of when selecting a florist for their big day?

Nothing ties your wedding together quite like your wedding flowers, so it is vital that the florist you book is the right one for you and your style. Good florists get booked up quickly; therefore it is essential that you look for the right florist as early into your wedding plans as possible.

We recommend you meet your chosen florist in person, take a note of the their website and style, Ask yourself – do they look like they are bursting with fresh ideas or that they have been stuck in a rut for the last 10 years?, If first impressions are good, ask to see the florist’s portfolio, paying particular attention to past weddings that they have worked on.

Couples should also be aware that it is important for the florist to know how much that you are willing to spend; this should be discussed in the first consultation, and that the florist can then recommend designs within your price range.

Know what you want, don’t feel obliged to book anyone there and then. If you need more time to make your decision, just say so. A good florist should understand how important it is to choose the right person.

Lastly ask for a contract – Before you sign make sure you receive a written quotation. This should clearly list the prices that you have requested in the consultations. Once you are happy with this should you enter into a contract with them, when you have confirmed your order, you’ll probably be asked to pay a deposit, with the final balance due a few weeks before the big day. Bear in mind that if you change your mind about the flowers you want or the number of arrangements you require in the run-up of the wedding day, this could affect your final bill.

What are some simple things that a couple can do to ensure that their flowers are consistent with what they visualized for their wedding?

It is recommended that couples should take the time to identify the central, personal theme of their wedding, as this can shape the decorative style of the whole day. For some brides, their theme may be a colour, a piece of music or era, while for others it may be jewellery or vintage. Once the bride has found her theme and costumed her wedding to this style, it can become very inspiring for the florist.

Many brides are consistent with the theme throughout the wedding from the bridesmaid’s dresses down to the stationary and furnishings, putting a scrapbook together of your theme including colours and fabric samples will make this a much easier visual display for the florist to match the flowers within your wedding venue.

Can wedding bouquets be customized or can only certain flowers be used in bouquets?

The wonderful thing about flowers is that there are hardly restrictions; with a huge variety of colours, styles and flowers, there is a diverse range for brides all year around.

Most flowers are available all year, obviously there are a few exceptions and fluctuations in prices depending on the time of year you marry, but a good florist should always find a way to work around these issues, either by stating the flowers availability in the first few consultations or by substituting to a similar alike flower

The time of year can also help set your theme. For example, spring brides could go for scented pink and whites peony’s, freesias and sweet peas, whilst those having a summer wedding might decide to go for a bouquet of sunflowers, gerberas and still grass, In autumn, we would suggest zantesdeschia’s, coffee break roses and  twigs in spicy vibrant colours. And in winter, look for sumptuous flowers in deeps colours such as crimson tulips and violet anemones

Your bouquet can always be customised to your taste, If you are after a classical period bouquet  then It is the attention to minor details that is important in creating this style, accessorising is key, and incorporating diamantes, pearls, brooches and velvet ribbon can made your flowers stand out and be a beautiful unique design.

What is the customary process for placing deposits and paying the remaining balance?

At Todich floral design, you simply pay a 20% deposit to secure you wedding day with us. This way the whole day is solely devoted to you, we understand the emotions for the perfect wedding with every bride which is why we pledge to provide you with the best service possible. We arrange only your flowers and aim to make sure that the flowers are perfect for your wedding day.

The remaining balance is due a month prior to the wedding, this is so that we can reserve your chosen flowers in advance, as well as order in any accessories if required from the discussed consultations.

How do Asian wedding florals differ from English wedding florals?

The flowers of an Asian wedding tend to predominantly be bright, vibrant colours; a mix of oranges, reds and yellows seems to be the main theme, bright and beautiful is the key. Asian brides traditionally do not hold a bouquet but instead the bride, groom and guests wear colourful garlands.

The flowers of an English wedding are dependent on season. Spring and summer weddings are always most popular due to the weather and the beautiful flower varieties you can choose from at this time of year, Traditionally bouquets consist of white and one other simple colour, however now, vibrant splashes of colours such as a bouquet of sunflowers and cerise gerberas seem to be an up and coming modern trend.

Are the flowers for the ceremony and the wedding reception two separate orders or are they typically all ordered as one package?

The flowers for the wedding ceremony and reception are treated as one order as it is all written in one quote, we however do dispatch separately as we would have discussed with you in the consultations.

How far in advance should couples order their wedding flowers?

It is best to book your florist as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. We at Todich floral design only every take one wedding a week, as it’s important for us to be able to give time and energy to each bride’s wedding flowers

One year before the wedding date we recommend the happy couple compile a scrap book of ideas, this way determining a theme, colour and style of the day; this will give the florist enough inspiration to match the flowers to your style. As a rule of thumb, we recommend discussing flowers with your florist once the dress has been chosen.

Considering that weddings take place on specific times and dates, how can a couple ensure that wedding flowers are delivered at the right time, for the ceremony and the reception?

Keep in touch with your florist, arrange plenty of consultations, and make sure your florist has a list of emergency contact numbers. 3 days before the wedding, check that the florist had ordered all the flowers. Always make sure that all important information is in writing confirming both florist and the clients and mutual agreement.

Most florists set up three hours before the ceremony, so couples must plan a suitable schedule, we recommend that couples double check with the venue that the florists will be able to set up at a pre-arranged time.

Is it fairly common for couples to meet with the florist prior to their wedding?  If so, what should a couple bring with them to a consultation?

It is very common for couples to meet up with the florist; we always arrange more than one consultation with future brides so that we can develop a relationship and an understanding to exactly what you wish, the florists at Todich floral design truly believe that the most important thing about the initial consultation is the rapport. Prior to the consultations we recommend that every bride should put together a scrap book of ideas. Gathering favourite images of flower varieties from magazines and the internet is a great way for brides to find what they do and don’t like. We advise adding photographs of your chosen venue in the scrapbook as this will also help us and you determine the looks you are after.

When you have chosen your wedding and bridesmaid’s dresses, build to your scrapbook, treat it like a mood board, creating pictures of your dress, adding fabric samples and different textures to create more inspiration for your big day. Your scrapbook will be your guide to your favourite colours and flowers.

If like many brides; you do not have a scrapbook prepared then we at Todich Floral Design are always happy to spend time showing our portfolio of past weddings in our consultations.

It is always helpful if you tell the florist as much information as possible, we would love to hear about your dreams for your big day and what you would like to achieve.

Approximately how much should a couple budget for their flowers, in proportion to their entire wedding budget?

Approximately 10-15%, we always ask about your budget at the very first meeting, as it’s extremely important to agree on how much we are working with before starting on the design concept. We will then try to accommodate the design agreed within that budget, and when the proposal is accepted, we stick firmly to the budget unless any further additions are requested by you. A bridal bouquet should cost anything from £45.00 upwards. A really simple bouquet shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg but, equally, a bride who wants local English flowers should be prepared to pay as much, or more, than a conventional bouquet.

Is it true that flower prices fluctuate throughout the year?  If so, by how much do these prices fluctuate?

It is very true that flower prices fluctuate throughout the year. Dependant on the flower’s season they can increase rather dramatically by about 80%. Roses at valentines almost treble in price and the beautiful spring flower peony can almost half in price as the height of their season. Peony’s only lasts for 4 weeks, which makes them very difficult to get hold of for the rest of the year. Couples should try to take seasonality into account when deciding on their wedding flowers. The florists at Todich Floral Design suggest that couples pick varieties of flowers that will be at the height of their season around the date of their wedding. This way, you will find that the flowers will be particularly stunning and fresh, and your budget will stretch that little bit further

We however warn that brides should be cautious of choosing their wedding date over busy public holidays; florists are very busy around Mother’s day, Valentine’s Day and Christmas, which means flower prices will always cost more at these times.

What else should a couple consider when selecting a florist for their wedding day?

Couples should feel confident and trust their instincts, if you feel you are on the right wavelength with your florist then this is a good start.

Don’t feel pressured to spend over your budget but be open to new floral designs and ideas; Give the florist a chance to share different and even unusual designs with you. Sticking to one type of flower and one style can often limit creativity and flexibility with different styles. We find that 90% of the time, when a bride is shown a completely different arrangement, they fall in love and this is often the one they choose.

We at Todich Floral Design love a challenge, an event where we can use all depths of our imagination to create wonderful unique floral designs. So when we had our client Hilton hotel contact us for flowers an end of year lunch event in their ballroom, we jumped at the chance.
The theme was ‘casino’ and with the venue decorated to fit precisely this. Our sales consultants were ready to offer their ideas. We were asked to provide the flowers that can be incorporated in this theme and look funky, fun, and eye-catching.

With the key colours black, white and red, our florists put together 9 simple floral posies, with a mix of red flowers and scented blue pine we included beautiful roses and striking gerberas into the arrangements. To be consistent with the theme of the event we then stylishly added poker dice, chips and weaved poker cards into the scented blue pine. To make the arrangements vibrant and eye-catching we also included a lime green candle into the centre of the posies. Our florists had a lot of fun creating these designs, and they looked magnificent when finished with the poker paraphernalia.

The flowers definitely made an impression and most certainly finished the look of the event, we fulfilled what was requested and both florist and clients were happy with the results. We think they suited perfectly… excuse the pun!

If you would like us to provide flowers for yourself or an upcoming event then please do not hesitate to get in touch, We would be happy to book a consultation with you and talk you through any ideas that you have in mind.

Simply give us a call on 02077371166 and we would be happy to help.

Todich Floral Design

We at Todich Floral Design are always proud when we are asked to provide the flowers for a wedding or event.  We love getting our florists to create beautiful new designs and coming up with new unique styles which have not been seen before.

Recently we were asked to provide the flowers for Surrey County Cricket Club as the event was to celebrate the ‘End of Season Awards’.

The event was held at the Kia Oval in Kennington, London, which was a very stylish venue of monotone colours.

In-keeping with the event, we were asked to provide low table centres, tall vases and a grand candelabra for the stage. After our sales consultant visited the venue our floral designers came up with simple stylistic designs which would match the colour theme of the event.

For our low table centres, we put together a selection of seasonal white flowers, open white lilies, white gerberas and black sprayed pampas grass, these combined flowers made stunning centre pieces on the tables; also the monochromatic displays juxtaposed the elegant black table cloths.

Our tall vases were contained beautiful white lilies, gerberas and orchids which were elegantly spiralled around the vases and left resting on the tables. We used black vases which complimented the overall colour scheme and we were conscious to providing continuity and add elegance to the ceremony.

Our candelabra arrangement was the main focal point at the venue and needed to look spectacular and eye-catching. We used a tall black vase and filled the flowers with larger gerberas and lilies. The design was contemporary and matched the other vases.

We were very happy with the results and more importantly the client was impressed with the finishing touches of the venue. The awards are a richly deserved celebration of a superb season for Surry County Cricket Club and we look forward to providing more flowers for them in the future.

If you would like us to provide flowers for yourself or an upcoming event then please do not hesitate to get in touch, We would be happy to book a consultation with you and talk you through any ideas that you have in mind.

Simply give us a call on 02077371166 and we would be happy to help.

Todich Floral Design

Follow our countdown to ensure nothing is overlooked on your special day.

One year left

• Firstly we at Todich Floral Design recommend that every bride should put together a scrapbook of ideas.  Gathering favourite images of flower varieties from magazines and the internet is a great way to find out what you like or do not like. We also advise adding photographs of your chosen theme and wedding venue in the scrapbook as this will also help us and you determine the look you are after.

We exhibit at the Earls court wedding show every year and find that brides visiting the shows often find a new style which they hadn’t considered before.  We honestly believe that it makes a big impression if the brides are able to handle the bouquets,  With brides feeling the weight, and looking up close, feeling the different textures of the flowers, helps them see more clearly, which floral style is best suited.

Ten months left

• When you have chosen your wedding and bridesmaid dresses, add fabric samples to the scrapbook, so that you can refer to the book when you start to choose the colours of your flowers,
• We at Todich Floral Design treat every bride’s special day as if it was our own. We understand the importance of a wedding, and we have no time limit for our consultations and we are happy to discuss the wedding flowers with you, We recommend booking with us earlier rather than later so that we can devote out time solely to you, With a scrapbook at hand we would be able to gather an understanding and guide you for the best colours and flowers, If you do not have the scrapbook prepared then we would be happy to show your our portfolio of past weddings and guide you through all the recent designs.

• When you confirm your booking with us, we will confirm all the details discussed in writing. Including an estimated breakdown of costs.

Six months left

• We at Todich Floral Design would very much recommend you show the florist your wedding venue, either by inviting us with you or showing us photographs of the grounds and interior. We want to make your day perfect, and with one of the florists seeing the layout we would be able to guide you to the best way to decorate.
• It is around now that we suggest is the best time to finalise your flower order, together with the number of arrangements needed.

Three months left

• If you have decided that you would like to wear flowers in your hair, then we recommend that you order a trail set with us and have a run-through with your hairdresser one of two times, to make sure everything is perfect for the special day.

One month left

• The big day is looming and this is the time for final confirmations, the florists at Todich Floral Design recommend brides hold a final meeting with us so that the number, style and colour of arrangement are finalised.
• Provide all necessary details of all delivery addresses, we are happy to deliver to your chosen address in the morning of the wedding, or if you would rather, we can deliver the evening before, leaving you with less stress for the wedding day, but we recommend you double check the venue for delivery times first.
• Like most florists we recommend you find out when the florists expects the bill to be settled, as a general rule of thumb, it is normally 10 days in advance.

One day left

• We at Todich Floral Design have your flowers ordered 1 or 2 days before the big day, we make sure we buy the flowers at their freshest, and make all the designs up the day before the wedding, allowing time for flowers to open and flourish, ready for the big day. If you by chance change your mind or if we have a problem with buying the flowers requested then we order the alternatives as previously discussed and agreed to in the consultations.
• Always remember to discuss any last minute arrangements
• We would always make sure that all last minute arrangements and possible alternatives have already been discussed, if unforeseeable circumstances occur. Being in the industry for over 15 years, we are very much in the know of emergency numbers and the best people to contact should any problems occur.

The wedding day

Everything is now over to you, your big day is here and the excitement and new life beings. The very last steps are very easy final checks for your big day.

• Don’t forget to store any other buttonholes and corsages in a cool dry place.
• Always remember to give buttonholes for the groom’s side of wedding party to the best man.
• We deliver the hand-tied bouquets in water, and just before they leave us we spritz the arrangements in water so that they remains as fresh as possible
• Last but not least, remember to dry off their stems at least half an hour before you leave for the ceremony, so there is no danger of them staining your dress.

If you would like any further information or would like to book a consultation then please do not hesitate to give us an email at sales@todichfloraldesign.co.uk or call us on   020 7737 1166               (+44 20 7737 1166)

It’s the magic and romance of weddings that we at Todich floral design love most, we tell every bride that her bouquet is one of the most important elements of the wedding day, We want out brides to feel special when they see their bouquet for the first time, Lots of girls get tears of joy and an excitement that the special day is almost here.

Start researching early

It is best to book your florist as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. We at Todich floral design only every take one wedding a week, as it’s important for us to be able to give time and energy to each bride’s wedding flowers. So as soon as you’ve decided on the venue, the date and the dress, it’s time to turn your attention to the flowers.

Ask for an Initial Consultation

It is always helpful if you tell the florist as much information as possible, we would love to hear about your dreams for your big day and what you would like to achieve. Bringing in photographs or magazine clippings is great for the florists, we even suggest creating a mood board of pictures of your dress, the bridal party’s outfits and samples of fabric so we can try to grasp a definite theme or colour scheme coming through, making the consultation much easier.

If you have not found anything suited then we have a portfolio full of past designs which we would be happy to talk through with you. We always arrange more than one consultation with future brides so that we can develop a relationship and an understanding to exactly what you wish, The florists at Todich floral design truly believe that the most important thing about the initial consultation is the rapport.

Be clear on your budget

We always ask about your budget at the very first meeting, as it’s extremely important to agree on how much we are working with before starting on the design concept. We will then try to accommodate the design agreed upon within that budget, and when the proposal is accepted, we stick firmly to the budget unless any further additions are requested by you.

The Season

Try to take seasonality into account when deciding on your wedding flowers, and pick varieties that will be at the height of their season around the date of your wedding. This way, you will find that the flowers will be particularly stunning and fresh, and your budget will stretch that little bit further. The time of year can also help set your theme. For example, spring brides could go for foliage, bulbs and sprouting twigs for a fresh country feel. Those having a summer wedding might decide to go for a generous herbaceous border flowers mixed with lush green grasses. In autumn, we would suggest seed heads, fruits, twigs and hot, spicy vibrant colours. And in winter, look for sumptuous flowers in deeps colours such as crimson and violet.

The Theme

Take time to identify the central, personal theme of your wedding, as this can shape the decorative style of the whole day. For some brides, their theme may be a colour, a piece of music or a season, while for others it may be a love of fairy lights or perhaps jewellery. Once the bride has found her theme, it is very inspiring for the florist, who can then biggest design concepts to reflect the ideas and create truly wonderful displays that will remain in the memory of the couple and their wedding guests for ever.

You

Finally, it’s important that the flowers and shaded you choose work with your hair, colour, skin tone and bridal make-up. Think of your bouquet as an accessory, and choose it as you would a handbag or a pair of shoes. If you’re unsure, consider paying for two or three different sample designs and practise holding them to see which weight, style and colour you prefer.

If you would like any further information or would like to book a consultation then please do not hesitate to give us an email at sales@todichfloraldesign.co.uk or call us on 020 7737 1166 (44 20 7737 1166)

(If you like the look of the bouquet in the photo above, then you can order from our sister website flowers24hours, just follow the link  http://www.flowers24hours.co.uk/lickety-split/1670.html

The floral displays at your ceremony are vital for creating that all important first impression. This blog contains our top tips for guaranteed wedding wow factor!

Whether you are tying the knot in a register office, religious setting or at a licensed venue, we at Todich Floral Design can create help amazing displays to perfectly match your chosen type of service. While you don’t have to spend a large amount of money, some floral accents at your ceremony are essential; as this will be the first time your guests get a feel for the style and theme of your day.

It’s a really good idea to show us photos or even allow us to visit the space at least once before the wedding so that we can make everything perfect for your special day, we can make the most of the architecture and atmosphere, and have an idea of any colours to avoid or to complement, we would make sure that the flowers would make a great first impression.

We would be happy to guide you with ideas through a consultation at our studio. The floral designers at Todich Floral Design will give you hints and tips for areas you may not have been considered, for example why not decorate the entrance to your venue?, Traditional floral arches, such as a stunning mix of lilies, roses, orchids, hydrangeas, leather leaf, chrysanthemums and aspidistra leaves are a wonderful way to welcome your guests.

The same impact can be made with large pedestal arrangements at either side of your venue entrance. The impressive displays can contain any flowers you wish and it is always a cheaper and better to choose flowers in season.

Why don’t you add a sense of gravitas to the occasion? If you’re working to a small budget, a hanging arrangement may be best for you, cascading orchids, scented lilies and beautiful dainty roses would be an eye-catching display for you and your guests.

To create an effect with an impact with a significantly lower cost, then it would be a great idea to reduce the sequence of displays at the table centres.

Including some colour to your ceremony room, church or synagogue by adding small floral displays to pew ends or to the first chair in each row can create a wow factor!,  why not include trailing posies of fragrant Singapore orchids and roses to just a few chairs lining the aisle.

And, of course, the classic way to decorate any ceremony room is with an eye-catching pedestal. A display of roses, guilder rose, tulips , eucalyptus and ruscus arranged in a church font perfectly complements the venue’s décor, and is bound to have made an impact everyone.

For more ideas then please do not hesitate to contact our experienced floral designers by email at sales@todichfloraldesign.co.uk or telephone 020 7737 1166 (44 20 7737 1166)

It was only a few years back that the ‘something old’ in the familiar wedding day adage might have meant, at most, a family necklace glimmering above the neckline, or an old piece old fashioned,  attire only worn to not cause dismay to certain family members,  but in the last year a sea of change has taken place, with more and more brides choosing to reject the new and instead rediscover the charms of pre-loved pieces.it seems the pre-owned fashion Items with a history has definitely made its mark to stay.

Vintage has sky rocketed in popularity, the recent royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton unsurprisingly showed the princess wearing a traditional 1950’s style lace dress and holding a simple white bouquet of Lily-of-the-valley, Sweet William, Hyacinth, Ivy and myrtle.

The classic craze has certainly flourished within the flower industry.  Vintage has definitely set its mark among the brides to be.  Todich Floral Design kept with the trend and exhibited at The Wedding Show 2011 in Earls Court with an exquisite display of vintage style pieces, including the infamous Amnesia Roses, Vanda orchids and Scabiosa pods. All of which caught the eyes of the happy couples.

The Amnesia Rose in-particular have become very popular over the last few years, due to its reliability with flower heads that are always fully open and all year round, it is no wonder that these extraordinary roses are a firm favourite when creating Vintage style wedding flowers. Its unique beige, lavender and green colours tone magnificently with many other flowers, we also find that mixing the roses with soft pinks and whites also create a dramatic effect. Quite often because of their mystifying beauty, Amnesia Roses are used in simple clusters with just foliage to accompany them.

By choosing a mixed bouquet of seasonal English flowers with a small amount of foliage running throughout the bouquet you would be able to create a vintage look’. Many brides are dressing the venues with simple designs to create a natural garden appearance.

The designers at Todich Floral Design say ‘It is the attention to minor details that is important in creating a classical period look. Accessories can also be incorporated into your flower designs such as using diamantes, pearls, brooches and velvet ribbon, we would be happy to quote you on any unique or intricate ideas you may have to make your special day, a day to remember.

So don’t forget, being original is the key, mixing of old and new, and by adding seasonal pastel flowers will create the antique classical look which you are looking for.

(If you like the look of the bouquet in the photo above, then you can order from our sister website flowers24hours, just follow the link http://www.flowers24hours.co.uk/vintage-dream/30.html

Last night at the awards dinner Lambeth Council chose us as South London’s Best Business for Customer Service.

Lambeth Business Awards 2011

Todich Floral Design shortlisted for best green business, award for innovation and best customer service categories.

An Original online florist, Todich Floral Designs offers same-day London and next-day UK flower, plant and gift delivery. The Camberwell based company, established in
2001, accepts online orders for any business or private occassion from its Railway Arch base off Lilford Road. Managing director Todd Z Todic said: “It was a wonderful surprise to hear that we had been
shorlisted in three categories: Best Green Business, Award for innovation and Best Customer service. “We were all thrilled to be selected for nomination again and feel honoured to be part of the Lambeth Business
Awards scheme. “It brings the aspirations of the whole community together with one aim.

“We all feel like winners already for being nominated in three categories and this has raised our morale, reinvigorated our belief in ourselves and made us determined than ever that we are on the right track and that our work is beneficial to all employees and our local community.”