As prices climb and event budgets continue to shrink, flowers are often one of the first things to be scaled back, or cut completely. Here are the designers planners say give them more bloom for their buck.
Cornelia McNamara Flowers, a boutique floral and event design firm that recently relocated from New York to Chicago, created butterfly-themed designs for the annual Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis gala, held last October at the Renaissance Hotel. Co-chair Kristy Mau describes McNamara as “one of the most theatrical florists I have ever worked with.” McNamara used seasonal branches, locally sourced flowers, and hundreds of handmade butterflies to create 40- by 50-foot chandeliers and tabletop centerpieces that fit within the charity’s $8,000 budget. “She was incredibly resourceful,” Mau says. “She rented instead of bought and didn’t have to fly things in. And, throughout, she never compromised the ‘wow’ factor.”
The Special Olympics celebrated its 40th anniversary with the Inspire Greatness gala at the Hilton Chicago in July. For the inaugural event, the planning committee hired Ivan Carlson & Associates, an event design and production company, which also handled the florals. Manager of special events Suzi Berner worked with Tina Carlson, president and creative director of Ivan Carlson & Associates, to create 50 centerpieces of crimson and ivory roses in silver vases adorned with crystal droplets that came within their budget. “We listened to the client’s goal, which was to have gorgeous decor that wasn’t too expensive. We then checked the floral markets to find a flower that had presence and was affordable for them. The client was open to many different ideas, and they were willing to collaborate on every aspect of the design,” says Carlson.
For Redmoon Theater’s annual Spectacle Lunatique in March, development director Elizabeth Stewart Finlayson turned to designer Naznin Inamdar at Belmont Blooms for memorable arrangements that didn’t blow the theater company’s budget. “Belmont Blooms was able to create simple designs that met our requirements and held their own against Redmoon’s artistic landscape, while creating a stunning visual effect the moment you entered the space,” says Finlayson. Inamdar nestled lavender orchid stems within river rocks in a cube-shaped vase for each of the 60 tables at the gala. “Last year Redmoon had a budget of $1,500 for the Lunatique, and I was able to come up with three to four different arrangements at cost price for them,” Inamdar says. “For nonprofit organizations, I normally take the budget they give me, and match it by 50 percent to put together each piece.”
