Vendor Profile: Floral Affairs

As you walk into Floral Affairs at 324 Deerfield Street in Greenfield, you are immediately welcomed with the smell of fresh flowers. The shop is bright and full of displays for the current holiday. Rebecca, the owner, greets you with a smile. Inspiration is just a hello away.

Floral Affairs is a full service floral shop with a few gift ideas mixed in. I first found them on the web and was immediately impressed by the arrangements they offered. Once I walked in and saw them in person I knew I had found a real gem in Greenfield. It was only further confirmed after talking with friends and finding they loved them too.

Rebecca is also the floral designer in the shop. Her philosophy on flowers for weddings is, “you only get one day to get it right.” This philosophy shows in her work. As a self-proclaimed perfectionist, she spends a lot of time consulting with her brides to make sure the flowers are perfect. She will walk you through step-by-step planning, creating a wishlist, and fitting it into a realistic budget. Some of the questions she asks include: What color are the dresses? What style or feel odes the wedding have? Where is it located?

Her major piece of advice to brides is before you order flowers, have three things set in stone: the dresses, the location for the wedding, and have a clear style or theme for the wedding. All of these things are very important for picking the right flowers. If your dresses end up one shade off from what you thought it can clash with the flowers. You also want to have them feel like they belong with the rest of the wedding.

For the DIY brides Rebecca has started a new program. The bride orders all of the flowers in bulk, makes the arrangements with guidance and the store stores and conditions the flowers for the day. This is great for brides trying to save a little money, but also for the brides that like to be creative. Rebecca recommends getting your bridal party involved too.

Overall, this has been a great experience getting to know Rebecca and the floral shop. I would recommend them to anyone I come across who needs flowers, not just weddings.

Check them out at http://www.floralaffairsofgreenfield.com/

Vendor Highlight: Aliber's Bridal



Photo by Gibby Images

Aliber's Bridal has been in business for 92 years, making it a cornerstone business in Greenfield Massachusetts. My first real experience there was when my friend was looking for her wedding dress. Aliber's was our first stop. We walked in and started looking for dresses. We were greeted right away, and the sales woman was very helpful in finding dresses in our budget. Even though my friend did not get her dress there, the experience was a positive one. Since then my experiences have only improved.

In 2010, Aliber's changed hands, and the helpful saleswoman we had years before was now a dedicated seamstress, one of three on staff. The current owner, Cristen, has given the shop a beautiful look and focuses on quality customer service on a daily basis, living up to the motto "No One Does I Do Like We Do."



Photo by Michael Paul

"Remember, it's one day; stress gets blown out of proportion and you need to remember to breathe. Leave the worries to the professionals, that's why you hired them," She said to me. With that in mind, here is some advice she has given before you start to shop for your wedding gown. Make sure you have the day and place set already. Having a clear budget helps to find the right gown for the right price. Aliber's requires a 50% deposit so make sure to have that with you. Also, plan for at least six months for delivery if you order a dress that is not in stock. Unlike Aliber's, a lot of places require you to pay for the whole dress up front and you have to take it with you when you leave. Aliber's houses and insures your dress until the week of the wedding, making sure the dress is perfect for the day of the wedding.

Other features that set Aliber’s apart include a white bag for privacy, making sure a certain someone doesn't get an accidental peek, and they are a full Service Bridal Salon, which includes Alterations, tuxedo sales and rentals and prom and bridesmaid dresses. They are also happy to do outside consultations. Prices range from $150 to $1600.

Bridal Party advice: There are a couple of options to think about. You can order all the same dresses, which makes everyone uniform. You can buy all the same color but have the girls pick different tops and/or skirts, this helps when dealing with different body types. You can also order different dresses but in the same color, a little variety might be what you're looking for. Lastly, you can order any range and colors, making each girl unique. If you do order dresses of the same color, make sure to order from the same company or location. This insures you will have the same dye lot and no slight changes in color from dress to dress.

As for the Groomsmen: If you rent 5 Tuxes, the Groom gets his for free and up to 2 ringbearers at a discount.

Photo by Gibby Images

Also, don't forget shoes, accessories and jewelry, all available at Aliber's. So whether you make it your first stop or your last, make it a stop on your way to that perfect day.