Review is written by Staff @ The Ring and is based on • Interviews with this vendor • Interviews with past brides
Modern, artistic designs are a must for every wedding floral design that Lori Grover creates through her new company, Sticks and Stems Floral Studio. Whether it's feathers and pearls or jewels and wire, Lori says she sets herself apart and meets the style needs of Hamilton and area brides by combining current trends with classic looks, adapting her own unique style, and staying true to her fascination for using non-traditional flowers. She admits that she's always looking to create that wow factor in every design, which she finds comes from focusing on the details – extra flourish or embellishments that set her designs apart and make them pop. But most important to Lori is making a personal connection with each of her bridal clients and making sure that the planning process is as fun for brides as it is for her.
Lori's inspiration is often the brides themselves; she says she feeds off their excitement and is determined with each wedding to be creative and flexible, use her imagination, and above all, exceed her customer's expectations. So when we met with Lori in her Waterdown home studio, it was to talk about flowers, design, style, pricing, and the many options this professional floral designer offers, all of which are likely to have Hamilton area brides loving her as much as we do. Let us tell you more…
A lifelong dream falls into place
With her parents owning a garden centre, Lori grew up around flowers and says it was always her dream to open up her own shop one day. She's also surrounded by many entrepreneurs, so it just felt right for her to open Sticks and Stems Floral Studio, which she did in 2009. "The timing was perfect, and everything just fell into place," she told us.
While Sticks and Stems is new, Lori isn't new to the floral industry, having started out over ten years ago in a small flower shop as a designer. Over the years, Lori has had the pleasure of gaining hands-on experience by working with different flower shops, and other talented designers who she says have helped shape her own personal style.
Throughout the years, Lori has participated in every aspect of floral design from the first consultations, to ordering, creating the arrangements, delivery and set-up, and says that each part of it is so much fun. "I love weddings and I love flowers," she says. "I feed off the excitement of my brides. I love to learn new tricks and improve on skills – every wedding is a chance to get better at something I love to do."
Fun, creativity and style that comes in on budget
Since Lori is so passionate about floral design, it's her mission to make sure her brides get caught up in that same passion and excitement when they're planning their flowers with Sticks and Stems. "I make sure every bride is beyond happy." Lori says she takes the time to connect with her brides and with their vision for their wedding day. She then uses that connection, her own creativity, the vision of the bride, and plenty of flexibility with the look, options and style of each floral design to deliver wedding flowers that look amazing without going outside of the budget."
What Stephannie Schlichter liked best about Sticks and Stems was their variety of flowers, colour, and price points when she booked them for her April 2009 wedding flowers. "Lori takes the time to understand what your style and price point is and then directs you to some of the options that best fit, so that you are not being overwhelmed by having to go through every flower," Stephannie told us. She adds that Lori was fantastic to work with. "She works to gain an understanding of your vision for your wedding and then works within that to create concepts that complement your vision."
We wondered how Lori sticks to her determination to exceed her customer's expectations and found out that, for her, one of the most important parts of working with brides is making a personal connection with them. This allows Lori to make sure that that everyone's on the same page when it comes to style and vision. September 2009 bride, Julie Butler, told The Ring that right from the first meeting with Sticks and Stems she was made to feel comfortable, that she was able to express her ideas, wants and requirements - of which there were many, since she hired Lori to do all of her wedding day flowers (from bride and bridesmaid bouquets to boutonnières, corsages, and ceremony and reception décor). "Sticks and Stems listened to my ideas and gave suggestions as required. Most importantly, I loved their design concepts, styles and colour schemes." She adds that her favourite memory of working with Lori was the personal relationship she gained, and the fun she had while planning her wedding with Lori. "We had fun, which made the planning process easy and effortless."
But it's not just brides who love working with this floral designer. Lindsey Ryder of Ryder Photography told us that Lori has a friendly and easy going personality that enables you to feel right at home working with her.
While Lori can do traditional work, she prefers to be a bit more creative and imaginative with current, artistic designs to really let her unique style shine. "I like to incorporate current trends with classic looks. I don't want my bride's pictures to look dated in ten years…" she says. That being said, while Lori has her own unique style, she will definitely work with brides in terms of their style, colours, and flower choices. "… I take great pride in my work. I stay on top of current trends, while staying adaptable to my bride's style." Stephannie described Lori's style as sophisticated and beautiful. "From the minute you meet Lori, you can tell she is passionate about what she does and takes a vested interest in making sure every component of the floral arrangements has a purpose within the overall look. She adds that little detail or accent that makes the most simple of arrangements look rich and sophisticated."
"Sticks and Stems' designs were contemporary, elegant, modern and exciting," Julie told us. "They did everything they had to do in providing me with the flower arrangements I wanted. They even went as far as to outsource items that were not readily available to them. This proved to me an exemplary service in wanting to fulfill my visionary dreams."
Danielle Ouimet of Gatherings Floral Studio told us that if she wasn't a floral designer herself, she would hire Sticks and Stems to do her wedding flowers. "Lori's the only other designer on earth that I trust," Danielle says. "There are so many things I love about working with Lori… She is young, vibrant and creative. She knows what is current and trendy in the floral design industry. She is industrious and focused and always puts her clients first."
Flowers that stand out
Lori loves to be different in her designs and create a bit of an extra “wow” factor when it comes to flowers. For her, it's all about the details – "it's that little extra flourish or embellishment that will set a bride's flowers apart and really make them pop," she says. For Stephannie, Lori also generated ideas that she hadn't thought of before for colour themes and adding depth to the arrangements and bouquets. "Lori is prompt, courteous, does what she says she will do and is very professional," she adds.
In checking out Lori's portfolio, it's not hard to see that she succeeds in incorporating incredible detail in her arrangements. She has a great way of working with every piece of the flower, including the stems, and loves using non-traditional flowers, incorporating river rocks, grasses and greenery into her arrangements, making them unique and memorable.
Lindsey agreed that Lori is very detail oriented when it comes to her floral designs, telling us that it's apparent that Lori is an artist. "She chooses complementary flowers, ribbons, and accessories to bring her designs together in the final product," says Lindsey. "She is focused on delivering a stunning, unique floral design that fits the bride's theme, colours and likes… Her style is clean and captivating."
Packages & prices
Brides typically spend an average of $1200 to $1500 on their flowers at Sticks and Stems, but just like Lori wants to suit your style, she says she can also work with any budget and will advise appropriately on what designs and flower choices will work.
Julie says that Lori provided options and looks that fell within her price range while still maintaining the look she envisioned. "The final results were amazing and I felt confident that I received amazing value for my purchase."
"Lori is down to earth and willing to work with a bride and groom's budget," says Danielle. "All of her floral work is great; her centrepieces are always bright and fun and her decorating ideas are unique, too."
Sticks and Stems stays true to their flexible approach all the way through, which is why they don't have pre-determined packages or prices as this depends on many factors.
Walking you through it…
Plan to contact your florist at least three months to one year before your wedding. Email or phone is the best ways to get in contact with Sticks and Stems, but Lori also says you can also use the form on her website, or Facebook to get in touch.
Lori likes to get to know her brides and grooms to determine their style, wants and needs – and of course, budget. So, she recommends booking a preliminary consultation with her (which, by the way, is free) either at her in home studio, or your place.
"Don’t be afraid to discuss budget during your first conversation with your florist as this will determine everything that is planned and designed after that point," suggests Lori. "There is such a wide price range between flower choice and arrangements that budget must first be determined."
"I like to get an idea of the overall look my brides are going for," Lori says of the initial consultation. "I try to make a connection with them to find out the couple's personal style, so that the flowers will reflect them." Aside from needs and budget, Lori will also discuss colours, swatches, and ideas and combine those with her suggestions.
"Lori was very easy to talk to about my visionary dreams for my wedding," Julie says. "I felt comfortable working through different ideas and scenarios… She was able to explain to me the different flowers and how they could work best together."
While Lori recommends that brides do some research to determine their preferred floral style, she adds that it's ok if you don't know anything about flowers and that's where Lori's expertise can help – you can count on her to educate you so you make the right decisions.
As soon as Stephannie gave Lori an outline of her day and colours, Lori immediately began generating ideas that were practical and fit perfectly within Stephannie's vision. "With Sticks and Stems, once we had finalized the vision and look, I had the utmost confidence in Lori and didn't think twice about what the final product was going to look like. In the end, it far exceeded my expectations."
After the consultation, Lori will email you a quote outlining what was discussed, and breaking it down by individual arrangement. Lori is upfront and honest so there won't be any surprises. When you're ready to book, a 25% deposit is required.
If changes need to be made, you can meet with Lori again; otherwise, she will do a final consultation four to six weeks before the wedding to confirm the details. Julie told us that Lori was very flexible with changes she had during the planning process and she helped her stay on budget. "Lori was fantastic to work with overall! I would use Sticks and Stems again as well as recommend them to others."
On the wedding day, Lori personally delivers the flowers to the bride (or discussed location), taking care of any necessary set-up, and making sure everything is "absolutely perfect!"
"I'm definitely seeing two main colour trends right now in wedding flowers - either soft and romantic(think whites, with a hint of soft blush pink), or bold and dramatic(black, white, and red). I am also loving the look of groupings of cylinder vases with a bundle in each of one type of flower. Clean and simple, yet it makes an impact when you enter a room."
Details, details, details
• Lori recommends booking Sticks and Stems 3 months to 1 year before your wedding.
• A 25% deposit is required to reserve your date.
• Prices range depending on your floral needs, but the average bride spends between $1200 and $1500. Taxes are extra.
• Sticks and Stems is located in Waterdown, and services Burlington, Oakville, Hamilton and surrounding areas.
Modern, artistic designs are a must for every wedding floral design that Lori Grover creates through her new company, Sticks and Stems Floral Studio. Whether it's feathers and pearls or jewels and wire, Lori says she sets herself apart and meets the style needs of Hamilton and area brides by combining current trends with classic looks, adapting her own unique style, and staying true to her fascination for using non-traditional flowers. She admits that she's always looking to create that wow factor in every design, which she finds comes from focusing on the details – extra flourish or embellishments that set her designs apart and make them pop. But most important to Lori is making a personal connection with each of her bridal clients and making sure that the planning process is as fun for brides as it is for her.
Lori's inspiration is often the brides themselves; she says she feeds off their excitement and is determined with each wedding to be creative and flexible, use her imagination, and above all, exceed her customer's expectations. So when we met with Lori in her Waterdown home studio, it was to talk about flowers, design, style, pricing, and the many options this professional floral designer offers, all of which are likely to have Hamilton area brides loving her as much as we do. Let us tell you more…
A lifelong dream falls into place
With her parents owning a garden centre, Lori grew up around flowers and says it was always her dream to open up her own shop one day. She's also surrounded by many entrepreneurs, so it just felt right for her to open Sticks and Stems Floral Studio, which she did in 2009. "The timing was perfect, and everything just fell into place," she told us.
While Sticks and Stems is new, Lori isn't new to the floral industry, having started out over ten years ago in a small flower shop as a designer. Over the years, Lori has had the pleasure of gaining hands-on experience by working with different flower shops, and other talented designers who she says have helped shape her own personal style.
Throughout the years, Lori has participated in every aspect of floral design from the first consultations, to ordering, creating the arrangements, delivery and set-up, and says that each part of it is so much fun. "I love weddings and I love flowers," she says. "I feed off the excitement of my brides. I love to learn new tricks and improve on skills – every wedding is a chance to get better at something I love to do."
Fun, creativity and style that comes in on budget
Since Lori is so passionate about floral design, it's her mission to make sure her brides get caught up in that same passion and excitement when they're planning their flowers with Sticks and Stems. "I make sure every bride is beyond happy." Lori says she takes the time to connect with her brides and with their vision for their wedding day. She then uses that connection, her own creativity, the vision of the bride, and plenty of flexibility with the look, options and style of each floral design to deliver wedding flowers that look amazing without going outside of the budget."
What Stephannie Schlichter liked best about Sticks and Stems was their variety of flowers, colour, and price points when she booked them for her April 2009 wedding flowers. "Lori takes the time to understand what your style and price point is and then directs you to some of the options that best fit, so that you are not being overwhelmed by having to go through every flower," Stephannie told us. She adds that Lori was fantastic to work with. "She works to gain an understanding of your vision for your wedding and then works within that to create concepts that complement your vision."
We wondered how Lori sticks to her determination to exceed her customer's expectations and found out that, for her, one of the most important parts of working with brides is making a personal connection with them. This allows Lori to make sure that that everyone's on the same page when it comes to style and vision. September 2009 bride, Julie Butler, told The Ring that right from the first meeting with Sticks and Stems she was made to feel comfortable, that she was able to express her ideas, wants and requirements - of which there were many, since she hired Lori to do all of her wedding day flowers (from bride and bridesmaid bouquets to boutonnières, corsages, and ceremony and reception décor). "Sticks and Stems listened to my ideas and gave suggestions as required. Most importantly, I loved their design concepts, styles and colour schemes." She adds that her favourite memory of working with Lori was the personal relationship she gained, and the fun she had while planning her wedding with Lori. "We had fun, which made the planning process easy and effortless."
But it's not just brides who love working with this floral designer. Lindsey Ryder of Ryder Photography told us that Lori has a friendly and easy going personality that enables you to feel right at home working with her.
While Lori can do traditional work, she prefers to be a bit more creative and imaginative with current, artistic designs to really let her unique style shine. "I like to incorporate current trends with classic looks. I don't want my bride's pictures to look dated in ten years…" she says. That being said, while Lori has her own unique style, she will definitely work with brides in terms of their style, colours, and flower choices. "… I take great pride in my work. I stay on top of current trends, while staying adaptable to my bride's style." Stephannie described Lori's style as sophisticated and beautiful. "From the minute you meet Lori, you can tell she is passionate about what she does and takes a vested interest in making sure every component of the floral arrangements has a purpose within the overall look. She adds that little detail or accent that makes the most simple of arrangements look rich and sophisticated."
"Sticks and Stems' designs were contemporary, elegant, modern and exciting," Julie told us. "They did everything they had to do in providing me with the flower arrangements I wanted. They even went as far as to outsource items that were not readily available to them. This proved to me an exemplary service in wanting to fulfill my visionary dreams."
Danielle Ouimet of Gatherings Floral Studio told us that if she wasn't a floral designer herself, she would hire Sticks and Stems to do her wedding flowers. "Lori's the only other designer on earth that I trust," Danielle says. "There are so many things I love about working with Lori… She is young, vibrant and creative. She knows what is current and trendy in the floral design industry. She is industrious and focused and always puts her clients first."
Flowers that stand out
Lori loves to be different in her designs and create a bit of an extra “wow” factor when it comes to flowers. For her, it's all about the details – "it's that little extra flourish or embellishment that will set a bride's flowers apart and really make them pop," she says. For Stephannie, Lori also generated ideas that she hadn't thought of before for colour themes and adding depth to the arrangements and bouquets. "Lori is prompt, courteous, does what she says she will do and is very professional," she adds.
In checking out Lori's portfolio, it's not hard to see that she succeeds in incorporating incredible detail in her arrangements. She has a great way of working with every piece of the flower, including the stems, and loves using non-traditional flowers, incorporating river rocks, grasses and greenery into her arrangements, making them unique and memorable.
Lindsey agreed that Lori is very detail oriented when it comes to her floral designs, telling us that it's apparent that Lori is an artist. "She chooses complementary flowers, ribbons, and accessories to bring her designs together in the final product," says Lindsey. "She is focused on delivering a stunning, unique floral design that fits the bride's theme, colours and likes… Her style is clean and captivating."
Packages & prices
Brides typically spend an average of $1200 to $1500 on their flowers at Sticks and Stems, but just like Lori wants to suit your style, she says she can also work with any budget and will advise appropriately on what designs and flower choices will work.
Julie says that Lori provided options and looks that fell within her price range while still maintaining the look she envisioned. "The final results were amazing and I felt confident that I received amazing value for my purchase."
"Lori is down to earth and willing to work with a bride and groom's budget," says Danielle. "All of her floral work is great; her centrepieces are always bright and fun and her decorating ideas are unique, too."
Sticks and Stems stays true to their flexible approach all the way through, which is why they don't have pre-determined packages or prices as this depends on many factors.
Walking you through it…
Plan to contact your florist at least three months to one year before your wedding. Email or phone is the best ways to get in contact with Sticks and Stems, but Lori also says you can also use the form on her website, or Facebook to get in touch.
Lori likes to get to know her brides and grooms to determine their style, wants and needs – and of course, budget. So, she recommends booking a preliminary consultation with her (which, by the way, is free) either at her in home studio, or your place.
"Don’t be afraid to discuss budget during your first conversation with your florist as this will determine everything that is planned and designed after that point," suggests Lori. "There is such a wide price range between flower choice and arrangements that budget must first be determined."
"I like to get an idea of the overall look my brides are going for," Lori says of the initial consultation. "I try to make a connection with them to find out the couple's personal style, so that the flowers will reflect them." Aside from needs and budget, Lori will also discuss colours, swatches, and ideas and combine those with her suggestions.
"Lori was very easy to talk to about my visionary dreams for my wedding," Julie says. "I felt comfortable working through different ideas and scenarios… She was able to explain to me the different flowers and how they could work best together."
While Lori recommends that brides do some research to determine their preferred floral style, she adds that it's ok if you don't know anything about flowers and that's where Lori's expertise can help – you can count on her to educate you so you make the right decisions.
As soon as Stephannie gave Lori an outline of her day and colours, Lori immediately began generating ideas that were practical and fit perfectly within Stephannie's vision. "With Sticks and Stems, once we had finalized the vision and look, I had the utmost confidence in Lori and didn't think twice about what the final product was going to look like. In the end, it far exceeded my expectations."
After the consultation, Lori will email you a quote outlining what was discussed, and breaking it down by individual arrangement. Lori is upfront and honest so there won't be any surprises. When you're ready to book, a 25% deposit is required.
If changes need to be made, you can meet with Lori again; otherwise, she will do a final consultation four to six weeks before the wedding to confirm the details. Julie told us that Lori was very flexible with changes she had during the planning process and she helped her stay on budget. "Lori was fantastic to work with overall! I would use Sticks and Stems again as well as recommend them to others."
On the wedding day, Lori personally delivers the flowers to the bride (or discussed location), taking care of any necessary set-up, and making sure everything is "absolutely perfect!"
"I'm definitely seeing two main colour trends right now in wedding flowers - either soft and romantic(think whites, with a hint of soft blush pink), or bold and dramatic(black, white, and red). I am also loving the look of groupings of cylinder vases with a bundle in each of one type of flower. Clean and simple, yet it makes an impact when you enter a room."
Details, details, details
• Lori recommends booking Sticks and Stems 3 months to 1 year before your wedding.
• A 25% deposit is required to reserve your date.
• Prices range depending on your floral needs, but the average bride spends between $1200 and $1500. Taxes are extra.
• Sticks and Stems is located in Waterdown, and services Burlington, Oakville, Hamilton and surrounding areas.
