Blooms by Vickrey

We gave a concept and color idea and we got an amazing interpretation of our African-inspired wedding! The florist took the African fabric we gave them and decorated for the ceremony space so beautifully that almost everyone commented on it. The table and bouquet flowers were unique and gorgeous, yet keeping within our budget. We couldn't have been happier!

I chose to work with Blooms because they are known as one of the best florists in Central PA. However I was a long distance bride and due to that, have a different set of criteria. For one, I do everything over email. If you are not comfortable sending proposals, or attached photos, you should not engage with someone who does not live in the area. How a business can even survive without these essential skills was way beyond the groom's comprehension.

The other challenge I had was getting them to think creatively and propose more than one option. I brought a few pictures to my first meeting to show a few examples of things I liked but truthfully I specified NO flowers that I had to have or any flowers that I didn't like. I expected them to take advantage of our open minds and propose something fantastic. The first proposal came in astronomically high and with no visuals. What a sell. They then trimmed the budget but I had no idea what a $75 maid of honor bouquet might look like next to a $85 version. Ultimately I gave my centerpieces away because I was not convinced that they could pull off what I wanted. All I asked for was something simple incorporating branches and candles... JDK, our caterer, did an awesome job with these ultimately. and they were able to EMAIL attached photos. 4 versions with accompanying pricing, so I could compare what $70 looked like and what $100 each looked like. Our centerpieces were less than $65 a table and everyone loved them!

Though I liked my bouquet, I felt the boutonnieres lacked originality- just white roses. They were like the ones I bought for my prom dates back in high school. And they did our pew decorations which consisted solely of big loopy bright white satin bows. Again, had I known what they looked like, I probably would have skipped that expense entirely.

Maybe if you live in the area and are very specific about your vision, this would be the right florist for you. I hope you'll have a better experience than we did.