We’re always happy to answer your questions. If you don’t find the information you are looking for here, please contact us!
Do you do both flowers and wedding planning?
At this time, we offer floral design, event design, and wedding coaching.
Do you work off of Whidbey Island?
At this time, we are only offering floral design service for Whidbey Island and the San Juan Islands.
Do you only provide flowers and planning for weddings?
No! We are happy to provide flowers or planning for all sorts of events. We enjoy planning and designing for birthday parties, corporate functions, elegant dinner parties, and any event.
How does your pricing work?
Since each of our clients is unique, and we want their event to feel special and relevant to them, our primary focus is on custom work. We discuss your particular event and vision. We talk about the feel you want to create, and how different styles of floral designs will best help that vision come to life. We work together to develop the overall design & palette. The minimum spend for this service is currently $6500.
With the popularity of elopements and micro-weddings on the rise, we want to help couples access our florals for their wedding party. We offer studio pick up of a la carte bridal bouquets, bridesmaid bouquets, corsages and boutonnieres. The minimum spend required is $500. Pick up from our studio in Clinton is required.
If I just need a little bit of help or advice planning my wedding, can I hire you just as a consultant or coach?
Yes! We are available on an hourly basis to help you check over your plans to make sure there are no gaps or problem spots. This is a great investment for those who will not hire a planner. We offer wedding coaching at the hourly rate of $150.
What is the difference between event planning and event design?
Planning encompasses making sure all the logistical details are managed. For example: getting the vendors lined up, managing the timeline, making sure the coolers and ice are there on time, that the power cord is long enough to reach the amp, etc. Event design is working out the way décor elements can affect the flow of the event, and putting all the pretty touches together (from linens to seating charts to candle holders and more) in a way that works with the budget and the overall goal. Currently we are taking a break from offering wedding planning, but we still offer event design.
Why do you focus on using locally grown flowers?
There are many reasons! Buying from local farmers means we support the local economy and help to preserve farmland in our corner of Washington. The farmers we work with are committed to farming sustainably, and share our commitment to keeping our soil, air and water clean. Buying locally, instead of sourcing goods coming via airline from South & Central America, also reduces carbon emissions and packaging. Finally, sourcing locally grown flowers where possible also means you are getting fresher flowers, and that your event will look connected to the season & location where it occurred. You can read more about this here.
Why don’t you use floral foam?
That nasty green brick is full of formaldehyde and other carcinogenic, non-biodegradable substances! We don’t want to be exposed to it, and we don’t want to have had a hand in the existence of it on our planet! Tobey has invested many in educating herself in other techniques so that she can build fabulous floral arrangements and large-scale floral installations without using any foam at all.
Do you provide set up and strike for your florals and décor?
We provide full service set up and break down for our custom wedding design clients.
Do you support marriage equality?
Absolutely!! We do not discriminate here, and love to work with couples of all colors, faiths & persuasions!
Do you have an arbor for rent?
Yes, several! We have a natural, rustic Alder pole arbor measuring 8’ tall, 8’ wide, and available in 3’ deep or 8’ deep if you’d like to use it as a chuppah. It is available with or without draping. Clients with a floral or planning contract have dibs, of course, but it is available to anyone for rent. Floral or greenery decoration is additional (and we are well-known for this!). We also have copper and iron arbors available. See our rentals page for more info.
Do you have a store or public studio? How can I know what my event will look like if I can’t come by and see what you do?
We work out of a private studio that is not open to the public. This allows us to focus exclusively on producing your event instead of interrupting your designs to wait on customers. We’d be happy to make a date to meet you and show you our extensive portfolio of work, and to discuss ideas for your unique event. We have lots of reviews from happy customers that you can check out on our Wedding Wire reviews.
What is the first step if I decide I’m interested in working with you?
We highly recommend that you make an appointment for a short, 15 minute, 1 on 1 phone/zoom consultation. Send an email to tobey@tobeynelson.com with a couple of times that you are available and we will find a mutually convenient time to talk. While we are happy to correspond exclusively via e-mail, we find that a short phone call can help us understand what you are looking for much more quickly than a lengthy e-mail exchange or endless online forms. During our conversation, we will get a general idea of your likes, wishes, wants and budget before we send you additional information.