Frequent Questions

When should I contact you about my wedding?

It is always best to plan ahead when selecting vendors.  As we accept a limited number of weddings per weekend, our calendar often books quickly.  We would love for your date to be on it, so it is important to contact us well in advance to begin planning.  Six months to a year is not too soon to schedule an initial consultation, though we have worked with brides with as little as a week’s notice!  Starting the process at or around the six month milestone allows us plenty of time to get to know you, finesse all the details to make your big day absolutely perfect and source your specific flower choices to ensure availability.

Can you work within my budget?

Of course!  As a working mom and small business owner, trust me, I know a thing or two about budgets! While we are always happy to prepare an initial proposal based on every picture from your Pinterest board, we find that the best results occur when we are able to pair your wish list with budget realities.  By taking your targeted budget into consideration from the very beginning of the planning process, our design team-Cydney, Lacey, Laure, Renee, and Irma- can offer creative and thoughtful suggestions that will make your wedding the day of your dreams without any budget nightmares.

What should I bring when I have my wedding consultation?

We love information.  Pin us, Facebook us, Email us, Tweet us.  The more you share with us, the better.  We want to create a spectacular and memorable event for you.  Swatches of dress fabrics and linens, pictures from your favorite magazines, a sketch from the napkin you doodled on at lunch.  Anything you can bring will be beneficial.  And do not limit your inspiration to wedding magazines and books alone.  If Southern Living has the prettiest flower picture you have ever seen, add that image to the list.  If your ideal color of rose should match your favorite lipstick, then wear that color to your consult!  Show us your style and we will make it our role to capture that style in flowers.

Can you help me stretch my ceremony and reception budget?

Besides suggesting specific types of flowers that will work within your budget, we can offer helpful suggestions as to what pieces may transition for dual use at both the ceremony and reception.  A few examples: bridesmaids’ bouquets can become table decorations; the bride’s bouquet can provide a lovely accent for a Sweetheart Table, petite posies dressing the aisle can transition to cocktail tables after the ceremony, etc.  We are also happy to give you feedback on DIY aspects if you are feeling crafty!  With great communication, we can offer creative ways to make the most of your floral decor budget.

Can you help me with other products & services related to my wedding?

We love to shop!  And we have a growing inventory of fabulous vases, votives, and props to show for it.  We are always looking for unique items to incorporate into every wedding and event, so if you are looking for accessories above and beyond florals, let us know.  We love a great treasure hunt, so if we don’t have it, we can certainly find it.

Can you recommend other wedding professionals that I can work with?

Yes, we would be happy to recommend the following wedding professionals to any bride. Just click on the link of the leading wedding organizations in the Raleigh-Durham area. When we meet, we can provide specific names for you, if you wish.

What are your payment options?

To secure your wedding date with the English Garden, a deposit of $500 is required.  The deposit is fully applied to your total wedding cost.  A mid-point payment equal to 50% of your remaining projected wedding balance is due ninety days before your wedding date with final payment due no later than twenty days prior to the big day.

Do you deliver & set up?

On your wedding day, you will have much more important things to do than tie on pew bows!  Yes, we take care of all of the details, unless you have a troupe of loving aunts and friends who offer to do so for you.  Our initial proposal will reflect our complete fee for delivery, set-up and any required onsite design.  We will also detail any fee for rental pick-up and/or breakdown.  On average this fee ranges between 12-18%, though we assess the needs of each wedding individually to ensure that any fee charged is fair and proportionate to the specifics of the event.

Do you have references?

Most definitely.  We are more than happy to provide you with both client and industry references.  We also encourage you to check out our wedding and event reviews at Wedding Wire and The Knot.