Interview With April Haywood, Professional Florist; Candlelight & Roses

April Haywood of Candlelight & Roses is a successful professional florist based in the Reno-Tahoe area.
Her creativity, unique design, and budget-friendly prices make her a top choice
when selecting a wedding florist.

Q.What tips would you give to brides and grooms to make their wedding day run more smoothly?

"The first step to a less stressful wedding is to relax. There will be hick ups in every event but things will go much smoother if the emphasis is on the love and commitment and not on what "could" go wrong."

Q. How should a bride plan her time line in regards to the flowers that will be delivered?

"We usually deliver 2 hours prior to the ceremony to allow for some pre-wedding pictures. The key is to have the flowers arrive early enough to get all the guys flowers pinned on prior to the photographer being ready for pictures."

Q. How can a bride and groom maximize their time spent with a florist?

"When I meet with couples to pick out their flowers, I find that it is easier for them to just let the professional lead them through the meeting. There is always a beginning, middle and end but a newly engaged couple would not know in which order this should go. They should trust their professional florist to help guide them through the process because we have been helping couples for years and know what will be easier on them."

Q. How long have you been in the floral business?

"I have been doing flowers since I was in high school over 15 years ago. I have been specializing in wedding flowers for over 12 of those years."

Q. What options are available for wedding day and dress rehearsal floral selections?

"We don't commonly provide flowers for dress rehearsals due to the additional costs. It simply isn't something that is usually requested."

Q. How should couples choose a florist?

"Most people choose their florist by price but this is a mistake. There should be an interview process. Couples should pay special attention to the way the florist presents themselves. How much floral knowledge they have, advice offered, professionalism. They always want to make sure they are choosing a florist that specializes in weddings. It takes special skills and knowledge to be successful in the wedding floral industry. Ask other wedding vendors if they have worked with this particular florist and what their opinion is. A referred florist is being referred for a reason."

Q. What sets you apart from other florists?

"I feel that we have a reputation to be proud of. We work very hard for our clients and our business ethics are surpassed by none. We have a unique style, high quality product and we strive to be on top of the latest trends and colors. Weddings are our business and we love what we do. It is a business but it is also a passion."

Reno's AHA Bridal Faire-Visit Me At Booth # 804

The American Heart Association's Reno Bridal Faire is this Sunday, January 24th at the Grand Sierra Resort.
I welcome your visit to my Booth #804, where you can receive huge discounts on all my wedding packages! Drop by and say Hi!

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Yes, now is the time to get a jump on your wedding plans. Most wedding professionals say a year is not too long a time period for planning a wedding. Today, more and more brides work full time and just can’t devote that much time to their Big Day.

By attending the American Heart Association’s Bridal Faire, you’ll be able to spend your time wisely. In just one day - and in one place - you’ll have an opportunity to visit with more than 150 wedding professionals to help plan your wedding while saving time and money in the long run.

Bridal fairs aren’t just about checking out the bridal fashions, sampling cakes, and winning door prizes. Go there with the idea to hire your wedding vendors at the show. Here’s why: most wedding services offer budget-saving discounts if you decide to book them right then and there. Bring your checkbook or credit card, an envelope for your receipts, and your fiancé, mom, and others to help you make decisions. If they cannot attend, bring along a cell phone so that you can call them from the show and help you decide.

Don’t want to make quick decisions at the fair? Then bring something to take notes. Don’t be caught without any way to write down quotes from a potential ceremony site, florist, or musician.

Also prepare a sheet of address labels, and write your email address and phone number onto those labels before you attend the fair. At each booth, you may find a drawing for a prize like a free honeymoon, free flowers, dinner for two at a restaurant, or a substantial discount off of particular services. Instead of wasting your time filling out forms for each drawing, just affix the address stickers to each entry form you encounter and move along to the next booth.

Follow up with those you meet after the bridal fair while their wedding services are still fresh in your mind. The more generous wedding vendors may extend their bridal fair discounts a few days beyond the fair, especially if you hit it off well with them. But if you wait weeks or months, not only will you be paying full price, you may also find that they are no longer available on your wedding date.