To Have ... and to Spend! Wedding Flowers...

I ran across this Grand Rapids Press article...published back in 2011... it talked about how the cost of weddings was at the highest point it had been since 2008... three years earlier... It was based on the information from this survey and informationFeatured in theknot.com and Wedding channels 2011 Survey...The National Average for Flower Spending was slightly lowerthan 2010... ($94) - it actually went down rather than increased... this was significant to me... because I think our industry has a tendency to devalue what flower bring to an event...It's a personal thing that happens with 'designers'... as they want to insure they are creating the most beautiful setting and memory for their clients no matter what the cost to them as professionals.We need to remember that "The Flowers" we so effective create and design.. will be remembered forever... and seen in picturesfor generations to come...Flowers truly "Make the Wedding"..... it's one of those things that we as designers - instill with passion and place our heart and soul into... for each and every bride, arrangement and event...You'll also note that Detroit (was above the national average)  and Grand Rapids (my home town) fell below the National average for weddings... by about $300.. that's significant and the totals were much lower than I expected... I do realize this study is now 5 years old... and I searched the internet for more recent survey or similar report... and found the 2015 report....2015 Wedding Survey Results- Click Here to view the Report!Flowers did increase from 2011 to 2015... from $1894 to a (questionable) $2300... that's only $500 over all... I'm curious... because today there are a great deal more "wedding and event designers"... all interested in creating beautiful flowers... but at the same time... I would have anticipated a much larger increase in the cost of flowers... Also interesting to note... that the 2011 list did not include an expense for event planner services... but the 2015 list includes a service fee of nearly $2000.  This service is a 400% increase over that of flowers... Will you remember years from now... (or even notice in the photos) that you had a wedding planner?You will notice the flowers... for sure... Just sayin'Wedding Just Got Easier!!! Preview J's NEW "The Secrets to Beautiful Wedding Flowers" 2 DVD Set is available now... buy BOTH and get J's Color Card for FREE! Time's a-wastin'!Flower Thoughts from J is a FREE Opt-in Email Subscription.Delivered Monday-Friday from J Schwanke, the Host of Fun with Flowers and J on uBloom.com! P.S. Making Lasting Memories with Flowers = IS what we do WELL!We certainly add value to any Wedding Event...