A Classic Seaside Wedding in Maine

February 24, 2020 Eliza Gray

Samantha and Doug hosted their wedding and reception at Newagen Seaside Inn in Southport, Maine.

“Surrounded on three sides by the sea …” – historic Newagen Seaside Inn brochure, c. 1920

Venue: Newagen Seaside Inn, Southport, ME | Photographer: Jaimee Morse Photography | Floral Design: Pretty Flowers | Napkins and Table Runners: LaTavola Fine Linens | Water Goblets: A Family Affair

Source: https://www.prettyflowersmaine.com/blog/cl...

What Wedding Flowers Cost →

December 26, 2019 Eliza Gray

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Congratulations, you’re engaged!

By now, you’ve set a date and have begun thinking about planning your wedding. If you have a budget, there’s a lot to consider if you want to stay on track. Before meeting with vendors, take a moment and prioritize the aspects of your wedding are the most important to you, as a couple.

If flowers are high on your priority list, a good rule of thumb is to reserve 10-15% of your total wedding budget for flowers. (For instance, if your wedding budget is $60,000, then $6,000-$9,000 is a good amount to set aside for floral designs).

Many couples allocate the majority of their budget to renting a venue or reserving a tent, renting tables, chairs, specialty linens and glassware and hiring a fantastic planner, photographer, lighting company and caterer. From there, couples think about flowers, their cake, dessert and small details like place cards, menu cards, Save the Date cards and formal invitations.

If flowers are important to you as a couple and you have a tight budget, keep your guest list small. Inviting fewer guests means fewer rentals (tables, chairs, linens, glassware), plated meals and alcohol. You can treat your guests to a more intimate experience with finishes that are luxurious and unique.

Below is a rough breakdown of what wedding flowers cost:

A Bridal bouquet can cost anywhere from $150-$200+. Much depends on the size and varieties of flowers used and seasonal availability.
Boutonnieres are labor intensive and cost anywhere from $20-$25.
Corsages require detailed work as well and cost $35 a piece, on average. Poseys can cost $35-$50 each.
Bridesmaids bouquets range anywhere from $75-$100+, depending on size and seasonal availability.
Ceremony Flowers can cost $400- $1200+ depending on the scale of the design. Some couples opt for a simpler design of flowers - either attached to one side of the arbor or chuppah. Other couples opt for elaborate arrangements lining the aisle with a grand display at the altar area.
Welcome Table flowers make a great focal point for your guests. Many couples choose to place their escort cards here. Expect to pay $150-$300 depending on the size of the table.
Cocktail Tables are small in size and a comfortable place for guests to stand while enjoying a post ceremony drink. Small arrangements are recommended for these tables, generally costing $25-$40 a piece.
Centerpieces. Reception tables are either 60” or 72” round or an 8’ -10’ rectangular table. Round tables allow for either low and wide or tall and dramatic centerpieces. If a couple has 20 round tables, a florist might suggest alternating the height of these arrangements to add interest to the room. Round table arrangements can cost a minimum of $125 and can easily reach $300+ depending on how full and dramatic the designs are.
If the reception includes rectangular tables (either separated or arranged end to end in a row), flowers can either be arranged in groupings or in a line. Assorted arrangements placed down the center of the table can cost anywhere from $135-$250+ per table. Garland is another option*, costing $20/ft on average depending on the type of greens used. Adding flowers increases that number to $35-40/ft.
*If the dinner service is “Family Style”, a long continuous line of garland will not be possible.
Gift Tables, Bars and Dessert/Cake Tables. For each of these tables, adding floral arrangements can cost about $100 each. If you’d like to save a little on your overall floral budget, you can choose to display bridesmaid bouquets on these tables instead.
Finally, don’t forget about delivery and set up fees* (which include labor, van rentals, travel time, day-of installation and rental pick up the day following your wedding). Wedding florists are service providers, so there will be sales and labor tax as well.
*Delivery and set up fees can vary based on the scale of your wedding.

Pretty Flowers’ complete wedding design starts at $4000.

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Why Hire Us For Your Wedding? →

October 9, 2019 Eliza Gray

This may be your first time planning a wedding or your second. Maybe you’ve done some homework, maybe you know exactly what you want- maybe you don’t.

When putting together your team of vendors, how do you decide on a florist? What should you look for?

Consider Pretty Flowers for these reasons:

Communication. You should feel like you can talk openly and freely with your florist. Like any effective relationship, its success relies on trust. You should also feel heard. We answer all emails within 48 hours. If you have a busy work schedule and don’t have time to send emails or take a call, we’re happy to text, too.

Experience. We have 35 years’ combined experience designing flowers for weddings at most of the venues along the Maine coast. If we haven’t been to your wedding destination, we will plan a site visit to get a lay of the land and meet the on-site manager prior to designing your proposal.

Flowers. We source local flowers and greenery as much as possible. We’re proud to support the many hard working flower farmers in Maine. We also shop from the New England Flower Exchange in Chelsea, MA for more unusual flowers from all over the world. These resources enable us to create the artistic bouquets and arrangements that are unique to you and your wedding.

Creative Thinking. We love a challenge and we love design. Give us an opportunity to create something spectacular and dynamic for your wedding that leaves your guests with a lasting impression.

Design elements. What better way to enhance beautiful florals than with contrasting fabric, specialty vases, glassware and decorative elements? We‘re happy to offer these extra items, because we believe that beauty is in the details and we want your tables to look like a work of art.

Proposals. We’re visual people working in a visual industry, that’s why we feel it’s important to provide each couple with a detailed proposal with colors, flowers and inspirational photos that will walk them through their wedding from beginning to end.

Planning and Coordination. Do you need someone to help manage vendors, organize rental delivery dates or handle logistical tasks? We’re happy to provide this additional service so you and your guests can relax.

Vendor Relations. There are many amazing vendors in our great state of Maine and we’ve worked with a lot of them. A successful wedding happens when everyone’s efforts come together seamlessly. That’s why we like to reach out to vendors before your event to communicate and discuss how our services might overlap. And, if there any gaps in service, we will address them too.

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5 Ways To Add Blue To Your Wedding →

January 23, 2019 Eliza Gray

Blue is a great color and it’s one of my favorites. Incorporating blue into wedding flowers is a common request among our couples. There are only a few “true blue” flowers- the rest are up for debate. What I might consider blue, another person might consider lavender and vice versa. Another challenge is “true blue” colors can sometimes appear garish on their own. While we always aim to meet our clients’ vision, we also encourage them to think outside the box.

Here are 5 ways to incorporate the color blue in a tasteful, sophisticated way.

1. Add layers of blue flowers and berries to create depth

Claudia wanted subtle color so we used light blue Delphinium, dark blue Viburnum Berries and dark centered Anemones. We also layered in Silver Dollar Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus seeds, purple leaf Acacia and a few ‘Earl Grey’ roses for a soft dusty lavender/gray color. The combination of flowers, seeds and berries created a layered and textural bouquet with soft color.

2. Incorporate blueberries to your tablescape

Possibly one of the simplest ways to add color to your tablescape is to incorporate fresh fruit. Besides, what’s a better blue than blueberries? Adding a few small compotes of fresh blueberries adds just enough color while maintaining a sophisticated look. What’s more-your guests may also appreciate blueberries as a light snack before the first course.

3. Have your wedding party wear the color

These days, we see a lot of Bridesmaids wearing different styles of dress all in the same color palette. With good reason. Combining different styles and patterns adds interest to photographs and allows for each wedding to be truly unique.

4. Rent specialty linens in a unique hue of blue

Dark blue linens can be glamorous, romantic and sophisticated if used in the right way. Adding velvet dark blue linens? Now, we’re talking. Dark blue textiles pair nicely with dark wood, brass, gold and pops of white. When using dark blue linens, werecommend renting walnut cross back chairs for a more earthy and regal look than the standard white chair.

5. Add blue glass goblets and dinnerware for a pop of color

Renting a unique collection of decor items is a cost effective way for couples, planners and designers to add a touch of color and texture to a tablescape. The blue goblets (above) vary in style and height but all have the same deep blue color. Renting colored water goblets adds a lot of sophistication while only costing a few dollars per guest.

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The 10 Best Greens for Event Work →

January 3, 2019 Eliza Gray

Most couples hire Pretty Flowers in the summer as it’s a popular time to get married. Summer in Maine is arguably the BEST place to be June-October. Generally, the weather is perfect but when we do have heat wave, they always seem to fall on the day of an event. As a wedding florist, the weather (temperature and humidity) can have its challenges. Most dramatic floral displays are designed without water- in a sense, that’s what makes them dramatic. They’re defying what’s natural or common. Amy and I do our best to use biodegradable materials when designing with water, but when a water source isn’t a possibility, we rely on some tried and tested greens that hold up-even on hot days.

1. Southern Smilax (Jackson Vine)

This AMAZING vine grows down South (south of Maine, that is!) Lush with a capital L. It’s become one of our favorite choices for event work on a grand scale. We strung this very forgiving and hardy vine along the entrance to Krista and Victor’s clear top tent from Exeter Tents. Even in the heat of this July wedding, this greenery did not wilt (remember, it’s from the south).

2.Olive

Dress it up, dress it down- this gem does it all. Olive branches can make an event casual, light and airy but can also make a wedding glamorous and sophisticated. Olive has a silvery underside which reflects light-creating depth and interest for great photos. We used cases of Olive branches for Allison and Ben’s wedding at The Black Point Inn in Scarborough, Maine. We created a thick base of Olive on our massive Chuppah and then covered it with gorgeous flowers.

3. Gardenia

One of Amy’s favorites- Gardenia foliage is a richly colored green and has a glossy finish. This foliage can also have petite leaves- perfect for Boutonnieres and corsage work. If you want a sharp looking bouquet like the one Amy designed below, pair this greenery with crisp white flowers like Sweet Peas, Garden Roses and Peonies.

4. Sea Star & Umbrella Fern

These are some of my personal favorites when it comes to ferns. They are a wonderfully light in form but rich in texture. Sea Star Fern almost reminds me of the skeletal remains of a fern dug up by some archaeologist somewhere. These ferns are the perfect accent when paired with greens with broader leaves like Eucalyptus or Dusty Miller or in this case, some of Amy’s Japanese Maple branches.

5. Salal (Lemon Leaf)

Lemon Leaf is the first green I became familiar with when I started designing 13 years ago. It’s rugged and dark green and has a nice lemon shape (hence the name). It holds its own out of water and makes a wonderfully thick garland as shown below. Brianna and Aaron chose to have us drape the garland over the arbor at Point Lookout in Northport, Maine so that it could be reused after their ceremony. At the reception, they were able to repurpose the garland by laying it out on their long head table with no trouble at all.

6. Eucalyptus, Silver Dollar or Seeded

There’s a reason why this green is everywhere these days. Eucalyptus has gained in popularity for its versatility and form, beautiful blue gray color, its soft fragrance and how well it holds up with event work. Kate and Mitch’s wedding in Portland, Maine had 18 Farm Tables and required at least 150 feet of ‘Silver Dollar’ Eucalyptus garland. Henry + Mac captured the drape of the Eucalyptus perfectly in this image below.

7. Magnolia

Business in the front. Party in the back. This is a wonderful, thick green, best used for larger pieces, mantles and garlands. Occassionally, you can find smaller leaves at the tips of the branches, that are great for smaller centerpieces. Admittedly, we don’t have enough of an opportunity to use this fine specimen (as evidenced by the random photo I found online) because we book most weddings in the season when Magnolia is not available at the Chelsea Flower Market. However, we do use it in our Thanksgiving floral and winter indoor (and outdoor) decorations.

7. Hanging Amaranthus

I had too many pictures to choose from. All you need to know is that this dramantic “green” is just that. DRAMATIC. Commonly referred to as “Love Lies Bleeding” this plant/flower/accent does the job. It’s best used when it can hang loose. Let gravity do the work! We try and support our local flower farmers as much as we can during the growing season. Lucky for us, Maine is home to…15 flower farms? (Actual statistic pending until I get confirmation from MOFGA).

9. Bay Leaf

The first thing you’ll notice about this green is the earthy, minty scent. This is not the kind for cooking, by the way. This Bay Leaf has long, narrow leaves. A nice alternative to ‘Diamond’ Eucalyptus because it’s more green than gray. I love the structure of this green and how well it holds up out of water. We used Bay Leaf for this little flower girl’s crown. Simple and sweet.

10. Italian Ruscus

The LBD in everyone’s closet. Cost effective. Glossy. Richly colored. Pointed leaves. Holds up without water. Ruscus is versatile. Wonderful for boutonniere and corsage work but also perfect for large designs. Ruscus also makes a great, simple garland*. A few bunches of the long stuff laid along the centerline of your table will create an easy tablescape. *Weight that lightweight Ruscus down- with candles, flowers…something. If the slightest breeze comes through your tent, Ruscus will not stay put.

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Tara + James | The Stone Barn at Sebago Lake →

November 28, 2018 Eliza Gray

We had the pleasure of providing the flowers for Tara + James’ wedding on September 29th at The Stone Barn. The Stone Barn is a part of St. Joseph’s College and is situated at Sebago Lake in Standish, Maine. She of the Woods & Malorrie Ann Photography photographed the day.

Tara’s bouquet was wild and textural with rich, varying tones of yellow, tan, taupe and chocolate. We incorporated Crocosmia pods, Miscanthus grass, Seeded Eucalyptus and Copper Beech leaves to give Tara’s bouquet volume and interest.

*Photo by: She of the Woods + Malorrie Ann Photography*

VENUE: THE STONE BARN | PLANNER: PINCH ME PLANNING | FLOWERS: PRETTY FLOWERS | PHOTOGRAPHY: SHE OF THE WOODS + MALORRIE ANN PHOTOGRAPHY

Karina + Seth Marry at Live Well Farm →

October 29, 2018 Eliza Gray

Karina is an identical twin. I didn’t know this until I arrived on site at Live Well Farm and handed the bridal bouquet to the her, only to see (who I thought was) her again a few hours later holding a Bridesmaid bouquet and wearing a white gown. Their resemblance was incredible!

Karina, Seth and her identical twin sister on the right.

Karina + Seth met in College at Northeastern and moved to Cambridge. Karina grew up in Spruce Head, Maine and still returns to visit friends and family. Choosing Maine as a destination for their wedding seemed to be a no brainer. Live Well Farm is located in Harpswell, Maine- just a short drive from the town of Brunswick, where Bowdoin College is.

Karina and Seth pose by the water in Harpswell, Maine

Karina opted for subdued colors; muted shades of mauve, taupe and sand. We used ‘Amnesia’, ‘Quicksand’ and ‘Sahara’ Roses with accents of wine colored Ranunculus and Sarracenia orchids.

We loved that the Bridesmaids and Bride all wore shades of white.

Seth is wearing a ‘Amnesia’ Rose Boutonniere with a backing of Eucalyptus greenery.

Tori + Steve →

October 26, 2018 Eliza Gray

Tori + Steve were referred to us by Emily Hricko of Emily Elizabeth Events, who also happens to be Tori’s older sister.

Tori + Steve chose The Breakwater Inn in Kennebunkport, Maine for their ceremony and reception location. They lived in Boston and were looking for a destination venue convenient for their guests to travel to with the space to accommodate them all.

Nothing beats an ocean backdrop and the sophistication of black tuxedos.

Lindsay Hackney Photography of Derry, New Hampshire photographed their wedding.

Sperry Tents Seacoast provided the beautiful white sailcloth tent, the walnut cross back chairs and the tables linens.

Their 3-tiered cake was provided by Let Them Eat Cake, out of Kennebunk, Maine.

We added flowers to the top and alternating tiers.

Pictured here are ‘Juliet’ Garden Roses, (watch the video link to learn all about this amazing flower), orange Ranunculus and cream Lisianthus.

VENUE: THE BREAKWATER INN & SPA | RENTALS: SPERRY TENTS SEACOAST | FLORALS: PRETTY FLOWERS | PHOTOGRAPHY: LINDSAY HACKNEY PHOTOGRAPHY | CAKE: LET THEM EAT CAKE

Krista + Victor →

October 24, 2018 Eliza Gray

Krista + Victor married on Friday, July 6, 2018 at a private, oceanfront home in Freeport, Maine.

Heidi Brisette, owner of SHE Luxe Weddings was the mastermind behind this wedding. The design was all about romantic white flowers and dripping, vining, greenery.

The clear top tent had hanging structures with draping greenery and Hanging Amaranthus.

Structures suspended by Event Lighting Concepts

No detail was overlooked. Walnut cross-back chairs…luxurious linens and taupe colored candle tapers.

Krista and her wedding party embodied casual sophistication. We paired crisp white flowers against rich greenery for contrast.

Jaimee Morse Photography captured this day and night perfectly.

Wedding Planner: SHE Luxe Weddings | Photography: Jaimee Morse Photography | Floral Design: Pretty Flowers | Lighting: Event Lighting Concepts | Catering: Aurora Provisions

Pink + Plaid →

January 24, 2018 Eliza Gray

Eliza + Tim married at Live Well Farm in Harpswell, Maine on October 7, 2017. Live Well Farm is a quaint venue once owned by native-Mainer Patrick Dempsey from Grey's Anatomy.

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Live Well Farm is nestled on five acres near the sea in Harpswell, Maine. It's large enough to accommodate a tent with 200 guests but also cozy enough for a more intimate reception.

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Eliza's vision was executed by The Purple Orchid. Eliza chose a beautiful pink wedding dress and wanted rich, fall tones with an emphasis on plaid. Eliza and Tim even coerced their guests to partake in the theme by adorning themselves in the plaid of their choice.

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Eliza was a breath of fresh air for us as designers. She really allowed us to creatively express her vision without much restraint. We chose beautiful flowers ranging from soft peaches and pinks to richer, deeper tones of pimento and plum.