Wollam Gardens Flower Crowns

Information about ordering, wearing and picking up Wollam’s handmade flower crowns!

Last year, Wollam Gardens and I hosted portrait session weekends for the first time at their seasonal flower farm in Jeffersonton, Virginia. It was a huge success and we are so excited for round two this Mother’s Day weekend! We decided to offer custom florals for these sessions, and it ended up being one of our favorite parts of these photos last year!

I have gotten quite a few people asking about the flower crown ordering process – where to purchase, how they’re made, sizing, pick up information, etc. So I thought I’d do a quick write-up answering some of your most-asked questions!

 

Q: What custom flower products are offered?

A: Wollam Gardens makes flower crowns, boutonnières and session posies (small, ribbon-tied bouquets) to bring/wear to your portrait sessions. A breakdown of their offerings can be found here.

 

Q: Are the flower crowns made of real flowers? Are they grown at Wollam Gardens?

A: Yes! Each flower crown is made with freshly cut florals and greenery grown at Wollam Gardens in their greenhouses and outdoor flower beds. The floral elements of each crown are “growers choice”, meaning the design and the flowers used are decided on by the designer depending on what’s in bloom that day. Each crown is unique in color and blooms.

 

Q: Can I purchase flower crowns for my Fall session?

A: Yes, flower crowns can be purchased at any time of year to wear to sessions. Wollam Gardens is a year-round farm, so there will always be a variety of blooms and greens to choose from. For flower lovers like us, they have a list breaking down all of their plants by season! You can find it on their website here!

 

Q: What size are they? Will they fit me and my daughter?

A: Flower crowns come in both child and adult sizes. They are made with adjustable, easy-to-hook latches that create a variety of sizes. Once you are wearing your crown, we will primp and pull greens to thin it out and nicely shape it to frame your face. Boutonnières and posies are one-size-fits-all.

 

Q: What is a “portrait session posey”?

A: Posies are small bouquets tied off with string or ribbon to hold during sessions. They are grower’s choice and are created from the best of what’s in bloom on the farm the day of your shoot.

 

Q: Will they compliment our outfits?

A: When you place an order for custom florals, I will ask you if you have outfits picked out and if you’ve chosen a specific color palette for your session. Once I hear back from you, I will contact Wollam and we will choose a floral palette to accent your attire (this will depend on what is in bloom!).

 

 

Q: If it’s hot outside, will they hold up until the end of our shoot?

A: I have found flower crowns to be very resilient! Once they are made, the staff keeps them in a cool storage space until they are ready for pick-up. The hotter the weather, the more prone flowers are to droop. But with our 30-minute time frame, this shouldn’t be a problem. I had one family wear their crowns around their house for the entire week after their session because they loved them so much!

 

Q: Can I order something that isn’t listed? I am bringing my dog to our session and would love for her to be wearing some sort of floral prettiness!

A: Yes! If you have an idea that is not listed above (like bouquets, corsages, dog collars, etc.), you can reach out to Wollam directly via their custom florals page. They would be happy to create something special for you!

 

Q: How much do they cost?

A: There is a lot of work that goes into handling and designing custom floral arrangements. Flowers are so delicate, you must use a soft touch when handling them and it takes a trained eye to create beautiful, balanced bouquets. Wollam’s staff does an amazing job at this. Every design is unique and they each have beautiful, organic shape. Their staff works hard all year round to fulfill these orders and give you the freshest cut florals they can! That being said, custom florals are not included in the price of your session. Child-sized flower crowns are $35, adult flower crowns are $50. Boutonnières are $18 and posies start at $35. A breakdown of pricing can be found here.

 

Q: How do I place an order?

A: There are two ways you can place an order. First, you can contact me and I will place it for you through Wollam’s website. I will add the total cost onto your session fee. Second, you can place an order yourself on this page of their website. In the past, I have found it easier to place orders myself so that I am in communication with Wollam about how many orders have been placed, what time they will be available, where to pick them up, etc. It is less work for you!

 

Q: How do I pay?

A: For orders placed through me, both floral and session fees can be paid via cash or check, Venmo or PayPal. For orders placed through Wollam Gardens, there will be an online ordering form at checkout where you can put in your credit information.

 

Q: Where do I pick up my order?

A: If I have placed the order, I will have your flower crowns ready when you arrive for your session. If you placed your order, Wollam Gardens will provide you with pickup instructions – typically, they will have an employee there to meet you at a designated time with information about storing and transport.

Q: If we pick them up early, how should we store them?

A: Picked flowers get finicky in heat! If you are picking up custom florals before your session, it is best to keep them in a refrigerator if possible. A medium to large cooler will work as a short-term solution (be sure they’re not touching ice or a cooler pack and are not smushed, you can place a thick towel in between for protection!). If neither are an option, have the AC blasting in your car and keep them out of direct sunlight.

 

Q: How far in advance should I order?

A: You can order as early as you like once your session is booked! You have up until a few days before your session to make final changes to your order and to the color palette chosen for your florals.

 

Q: Can I order flower crowns if my shoot is at another location? 

A: Yes! Some of the photos in this post were taken at Seven Oaks Lavender Farm wearing flower crowns made by Wollam Gardens. They are gorgeous any time, any place!

 

 

*To place orders, visit http://wollamgardens.com/photo-session-florals or contact me here!

For an interview with the Wollam Gardens staff about their farm and flowers, click here.