Last March, my husband and I found out I was expecting and I was desperate for some more help in the shop so I hired just about anyone that walked in the door.  I was lucky enough to find an amazing designer that was full of experience and knowledge and had the energy to match.  She, along with the rest of the team, helped me get the shop through the spring wedding season, proms and Mother’s Day. 

In the middle of summer we had the opportunity to work with the Distinguished Young Woman organization and were designated as the official florist of the California State Finals.   I was honored to work with such beautiful young women and watch them perform.

In the fall I hired on another great designer just before we got into the fall weddings.  On our last big wedding weekend (2 weeks before my due date) I watched in awe as the team pulled together 2 gorgeous (and large) weddings in one day.  I had worried for months that the baby would come before that weekend but I was in luck and we made it through.  In fact he decided to hangout for another week past my due date until he was finally booted out.

On November 13 the newest Flower Bar team member was born.  He gave me a whole new perspective on the business.  No longer was this just a hobby that fed my creative side and kept me busy but it would have to provide for his future.  I would have to learn to take charge and make the hard decisions.  I would have to learn to work smarter not harder.  I would have to learn how to be the business owner. 

In the coming months we had the busy holiday season, bridal shows, winter formals and Valentine’s Day.  On Valentine’s Day I had other obligations that took precedence so I was not able to be in the shop.  My team completed Valentine’s Day without my assistance and I knew we were finally where we needed to be.  I am now running the business instead of it running me.

Arrangement provided by Wounded Heroes Fund.

 The bouquets are small and flirty, not the large wedding style that are more commonly seen.  The boutonnieres are typically just a simple single flower with some greenery since most of the guys are not thrilled with wearing them in the first place.  We don’t blame you!

 Maybe even more exciting than helping with the selection is seeing everyone come in come in with their makeup done and hair up to pick up the flowers.  Sometimes their flower choices are not quite what they had imagined but I am always happy to change it using whatever flowers we have available in the store.  After all, this is a learning process and I am happy to be a part of it.

Here is a list of blooms and options available to accessorize the bouquet and boutonniere.  Yes, you get all of these options for $34.95!  I love a good deal. J

Blooms

• Alstroemeria
• Asters
• Carnations
• Cushions
• Daisies
• Gerbera Daisies
• Lisianthus
• Roses
• Spider Mums
• Spray Roses
• Stock
• Sunflowers
• Tulips

Accessories

• Choice of sheer ribbon color
• Glitter
• Pearls
• Rhinestones

I have learned…

my initial instinct is to micromanage.

I want things to be perfect.

the 2 points above make me a not-so-perfect boss.

centerpiece mockups should be done (FREE of charge) for even medium sized events.

I can’t work 80 hour weeks and expect to cook dinner every night.

I can’t work 80 hour weeks and have a decent relationship with my husband, family or friends.  Sorry everyone!

Heck! I can’t even work 80 hour weeks and keep my sanity.

my hands don’t need to be in everything when it comes to daily operations of the shop; everyone is perfectly capable of functioning without me.

I don’t like selling; I would much rather give.

I didn’t meet my goals for 2011 (probably because I don’t like selling.)

I like to bite off more than I, or my small shop, can chew…pretty sure I get this from my mom.

there is a specific dollar amount that the shop can handle with its current size and maintaining quality standards.

the dollar amount must be enforced.  Sorry Brides, we do get booked and must turn business away.

bringing on more people to “help” doesn’t always help.

I’m much cheaper than my customers.

I have tried to make things cheaper to the detriment of my customer’s satisfaction.

I have priced and sold product below the cost of creating them.

weddings and events get cancelled.

rented items get broken or do not get returned.

the 2 points above mean I should have a contract.

I CAN’T DO EVERYTHING ON MY OWN.

candelabras that appear to be made for taper candles are not always made for taper candles.

dripless candles drip with a small breeze.

even though we verify table counts the week of an event, far too often there are more tables when we arrive to set up.

flowers don’t always arrive to us as I ordered.

petals will not stay on an aisle when there is a breeze.

even though I don’t like baby’s breath used in the traditional way a LOT of customers do.

I realize that there are many more learning lessons to come but I really hope that I got through a large chunk of them this year.  I would like to say sorry to everyone who has experienced any of my learning lessons and THANK YOU to all of those that have stuck with me, supported me and the shop, and kept me going when I didn’t think I could go anymore.

I am excited for the upcoming year and I have lots of plans and goals that I WILL follow through with.

Thank you for a wonderful year filled with learning lessons.

January’s birth flower is the carnation.  It is a multi-layered and feathered flower with soft and silky petals.  Concealed in its core is a sturdy structure, which makes it one of the most long-lasting blossoms.

Those born in February can celebrate their birthdays with the beautiful iris flower, frequently associated with 25th anniversaries, symbolizing wisdom, hope, and faith.  These flowers come in a variety of colors to include purple, blue, white, and yellow.

The birth flower for the month of March is the daffodil.  The cheerful and warm hue of this flower exudes new life and hope.  It is often used in 10th anniversary celebrations.

April’s birth flower is the daisy, which we often correlate to childhood innocence and playfulness.  Daisies also capture the essence of the spring season in a lively array of happy colors.

Those born in the month of May are blessed with lilies as their birth flower.  There are different types of lilies signifying different meanings such as the Madonna lily for virtuosity and the lily of the valley for humility.

June celebrants are fortunate to have the rose as their birth flower.  Rich in its history, the rose remains as one of the most coveted flowers, epitomizing beauty, love, and passion.

The Delphinium is the birth flower of July’s birthday celebrants.  It is a summer flower shaped like a dolphin, used in floral bouquets and vase arrangements.

Symbolizing integrity and inner strength, the gladiola is August’s birth flower.  These flowers come in a variety of pastel colors namely pink, lavender, and white.

September’s birth flower is the aster, traditionally believed to possess magical powers that ward off evil spirits.  Today, asters are ornamental amulets that invite love that endures.

Celebrate October birthdays with marigolds, brilliant flowers in a variety of autumn hues.  Flower arrangements filled with marigolds convey a message of affection, grace, and love.

Epitomizing perfection and optimism, the chrysanthemum is November’s birth flower.  Ancient cultures have used these flowers for noble purposes, with Confucius asserting its suitable use for meditation.

Everybody knows December’s birth flower, the poinsettia.  It is the classic symbol of good cheer and jubilation, fitting for this month’s Yuletide celebrations.

Roses

When women were asked about what type of flower they would like to receive on Valentine’s Day, majority of them chose the classic rose.  This finding is not surprising because of the rose’s rich history and association to romantic love and passion.  Red tops the list of preferred colors but peach, yellow, and lavender are gaining popularity in the recent years.

Lilies

Lilies make it to the second place in terms of favorite Valentine’s Day flowers as they last longer than roses and are very ostentatious when they bloom.  Lilies look very pretty with a fragrance that is sweet smelling.  Although a number of lily varieties are available, the most popular are Stargazers and Asiatic lilies.

Orchids

Orchids are most preferred by women who are older in age.  A single stem already has multiple blooms.  In vase arrangements, a few stems of orchids create a full floral arrangement.  Vibrant colors such as purple and fuchsia are preferred on Valentine’s Day arrangements.

Flower Bar is a premier Bakersfield florist committed to bring you the best floral arrangements for different special occasions such as Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, and many more.

In the 1980s, the most famous wedding was that of Princess Diana and Prince Charles.  This royal bride was joined by a breathtaking shower cascade bouquet as she walked along the aisle towards her debonair prince.  Princess Diana’s bridal bouquet ignited a trend in wedding bouquet arrangements, with brides from the world over wanting to have a similar grandiose arrangement on their big day.  Since that time, bridal bouquet preferences have changed and evolved, just as quickly as apparel fashion.

Current trends in bridal bouquet design exhibit a move from the more ornate to simple and elegant arrangements such as hand-tied bouquets as well as posy bouquets.  The types of flowers used are no longer limited to roses, tulips, lilies, daisies, and carnations.  Exotic flora such as anthurium, has been used by many Bakersfield flower shops to create perfect bouquets for stylish and contemporary brides.  More recently, brides have accessorized their bouquets with crystals, decorative wire, and other sparkling stones.  Bouquet colors are no longer limited to an all-white arrangement, with a trend towards the pink and purple color schemes.  Flower Bar is a premiere Bakersfield florist updated with the latest trends in wedding bouquets.

For those who need to send flowers for any special occasion, it is as easy as ordering and paying online.  This convenience has led to the entry of numerous floral delivery marketing businesses.  These internet website companies take orders from individuals online and pass it on to their network of florists from different states.  Bulk of their work is geared towards ensuring they rank high in the search engines and close as many orders as possible.  While there is nothing wrong with that, these goals have been achieved at the expense of product quality and customer satisfaction.

The days of working with local florists and forging good relations with them are long gone.  Most people prioritize convenience over quality or do not even bother about quality and beauty anymore.  However, since fresh flowers change every season, there are many benefits from working with a local florist for your flower delivery requirements.

Local florists are often small family-owned businesses that work very hard to ensure that you get your money’s worth.  Each arrangement is a unique masterpiece using only the freshest blooms, frequently locally grown.  They possess the knowledge and skill in floral arrangement and provide their customers the most unique and special flower product for your loved one. 

There are no hidden charges when you order from local florists.  Pricing is direct and honest with an added bonus of personal touch.  Moreover, your local florist will do everything in his/her power to get your orders delivered on time.  Buying from your local florist will also help your local community as you support small businesses in your area. 

Flower Bar is a premiere Bakersfield flower shop who specializes in all types of floral arrangements for special occasions such as weddings, anniversaries, funerals, and more.

While modern day brides choose flowers for their bouquets based solely on aesthetic appeal, ancient brides were not as fortunate, as they had no other choice but to carry an unattractive bundle of aromatic herbs and spices that include garlic.  This was a customary tradition believed to foil any attempt from evil spirits to bring bad luck to the newly married couple.

Ancient Romans and Greeks favored garlands of distinct smelling herbs and spices over bouquets, which symbolized the couple’s new life together, full of hope and blessings of fertility.  The Celtics, on the other hand, created their bridal bouquets using heather, ivy, and thistle, exuding scents assumed to possess magical powers that kept evil spirits at bay.

Flowers made their grand entrance to the world of bridal bouquets during the time QueenVictoriamarriedPrince Albert.  Marigolds were the queen’s favorite, along with other edible flowers to include dill, hailed as the “herb of lust”.

During the Victorian era, flower bouquets and arrangements were sent as secret messages.  Flowers have evolved to a language called florigraphy, which lovers used to convey their messages of love, longing, and desire for their soul mates.

Centuries later, these traditions have slowly ebbed.  Brides of today are accustomed to choosing flowers by preference to create the perfect bridal bouquet in a variety of arrangements such as nosegay, posy, biedermeier, hand-tied, and other contemporary free-form design.

Tulips

Carolus Clusius is the Austrian biologist who introduced the tulip flower species.  This spring flower is a bulbous plant that grows six delicate petals that come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes.  Tulips grow in the wild ofCentral Asia, with nearly 100 different species.  Through the years, the tulip has been regarded as a symbol for perfect love, imagination, and even infatuation.

Orchids

Naturally abundant in places with tropical climates, the orchid is another exquisite spring flower that joins this list of floral favorites.  These flower types grow fruitfully on tree trunks or branches but tend to bloom from the ground in temperate climates.  It is not easy to grow orchids, as they require special care and attention.  In fact, studies have shown how classical music contributes positively to the size and beauty of orchid blooms.

Roses

The most glorious of all flower types is the rose, naturally captivating, romantic, and sweet smelling.  For centuries, it has been the flower associated with love and beauty.  The rose comes in numerous varieties, colors, and sizes.  It is the most popular flower to date, with the best blooms during the spring season.  These long-lasting blossoms have an extensive history and were even used as barter currency during the ancient civilizations.  Florists love the rose not only for its physical features but also for its sturdiness.

Daisies

The second most popular spring flower is the daisy, deriving its name from the literal Anglo Saxon meaning of “day’s eye”, which is appropriate for the characteristic open-blooming of the daisy at dawn, the start of the day.  Throughout the years, daisies have symbolized purity, innocence, and loyalty.  These flower types grow abundantly and are relatively easy to maintain.  With a wide variety of colors, varieties, and shapes to choose from, florists frequently use daisies in bouquets and arrangements for their dainty appearance and versatility.