We (Your Simply Mumtaz team) are very excietd to present our next Guest Blogger - Eddie Zarastian from Tic-Tock Couture Florals! He's a fabulous florist and an amazing colleague. Please enjoy the photos and his Top Tips for Planners Working with Florists... But, first a little about Eddie and a special congrats on being named Event Solution's 2011 Creative Director of the Year!
Eddie Zarastian has come a long way in the years since he took his place as one of the youngest ever inductees to the American Institute of Floral Designers. And 2010 was a year of unprecendented growth and fun! Between gorgeous weddings and events, shoots for Ceremony Magazine and Grace Ormonde's Wedding Style, not only has the Creative Director for tic-tock Couture Florals somehow managed to work with some of the industry's best, and do not one, but *two* episodes of David Tutera's My Fair Wedding. He was also a contestant on the inaugural season of the Logo Networks' hot new show, The Arrangement. For several weeks, Eddie spent his days going toe-to-toe with nine other floral designers in fierce rounds of competition and elimination battles that would make other designers wilt. And, though he may not have said it at the time (what with all of those late, late nights shooting and early, early mornings at the flower market?) he loved every minute of it and from the moment it wrapped could not *wait* for it to air! He started 2011 off with a bang, working with one of his personal heroes Oprah Winfrey and spending New Year's Day doing the launch of OWN, the Oprah Winfrey Network.
Top Tips directly from Eddie...
Planners, you want the very best from your floral designers and we want to give it to you. Here are a few tips from the "help us help you" category:
1. Communication: Yes, please. Share the details, the look, the feel, the smell. the taste, the color pallet, the texture. Have photos from previous events? Inspiration? Are we looking for something understated for the board of directors or something over the top and celebratory for the top sales people? Sharing all the details from the beginning means we're going to have everything we need to "knock it out of the park". 
2. Let's get to know each other. You, your client and I. Let's all take a look at each other's websites, check out past events, portfolios, get a feel for who each other are, what we do and what we love. 
3. Please understand that we can not just do "less" of a particular design to bring down the budget. We can create something for you within your budget but asking for a $200 version of a $600 design just doesn't really work. 
4. Speaking of budget, what is it? It shouldn't be a secret. A talented designer can create the look and feel the client wants in a range of budgets. We've all had those moments where we tell the client about something, or show it to them and then watch them nearly keel over when they find out how much it costs. Now, they're disappointed and feel like they can't have the very best, which simply isn't true. That's why we generally work this way: tell us about the look, the feel, the overall vision...tell us about the dream. Then tell us what we have to work with. Then let us do what we do. We will create something that says just the right thing with just the right budget.
2. Let's get to know each other. You, your client and I. Let's all take a look at each other's websites, check out past events, portfolios, get a feel for who each other are, what we do and what we love. 3. Please understand that we can not just do "less" of a particular design to bring down the budget. We can create something for you within your budget but asking for a $200 version of a $600 design just doesn't really work. 4. Speaking of budget, what is it? It shouldn't be a secret. A talented designer can create the look and feel the client wants in a range of budgets. We've all had those moments where we tell the client about something, or show it to them and then watch them nearly keel over when they find out how much it costs. Now, they're disappointed and feel like they can't have the very best, which simply isn't true. That's why we generally work this way: tell us about the look, the feel, the overall vision...tell us about the dream. Then tell us what we have to work with. Then let us do what we do. We will create something that says just the right thing with just the right budget. 
Thank you for reading Eddie's Guest Blog... Hope you enjoyed it! Stay tuned for Molly Ann from Luminaire Images as next month's Guest Blogger. 
1) We often describe many of our events as “residential.” We love to design comfortable environments, warm and familiar for our guests. Thematic transformations certainly have their time and place, but can sometimes come across as “gimmicky.” Recreating an atmosphere such as one found in a boutique-style hotel, plays a key role in many of the event landscapes we create. Events aren’t necessarily just about fantasy, but are often about bringing the reality of some amazing or non-existing place to life. 
2) Attention to details and scaling is always a key element: flower arrangements, existing fixtures, furnishings, tables, stages and of course the event space itself. Beautiful elements and designs are wasted when the scales are off. The use of proper scale and complimentary design elements will offer a complete and unified look to your events, even if they are not terribly expensive or intricate. 
3) We love the idea of designing with “found objects.” We utilize different elements we find ourselves surrounded by every day. We find these things bring life and soul to an event, whether they are unique vases or vessels, antique chairs, custom pillows/throws, candlesticks, driftwood, reclaimed wood, or broken tiles. Using such elements helps keep events fresh and original with a great sense of personality and style. 
4) Try using local artists and craftsmen: painters, potters, glass blowers, seamstresses, carpenters, and sculptors. They can be creative resources full of ideas and skills helping to bring your visions to life. Just recently we have had custom built acrylic and wooden bars made, glass vases, votives and events favors custom blown, pillows sewn, and the walls of a permanent installation hand painted with amazing detail--all by locals excited for the opportunity to be part of memorable events. 
5) For many of our recent events, we have used natural herbs, potted plants, perennial fruits, tailored boxwood, and other succulents in place of more traditional floral displays. Combinations of these elements bring a vibrancy and warmth to a table, dramatic display, or cocktail setting. These kind of solutions can also prove to be very cost-effective, as such floral and foliage is often less expensive (depending on your location), and are great substitutions easily made and put together in a pinch. 
Thank you for allowing me to share some of our ideas at Perfect Surroundings. We sincerely hope you find our design tips useful, and wish you all the best throughout all of your future creative endeavors!