Frequently asked questions...
Logistics
How do I get my bouquet to your place of business?
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Have a friend or relative drop it off.
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We can pick it up for a fee of $1.50 per mile (one way) with a $20 minimum.
How soon after the wedding do you need the bouquet?
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As soon as possible. Fresher flowers make for better preserved flowers.
I see no chance to get my bouquet to you immediately after the wedding. Can I store it and bring it later?
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Cut half an inch off the stems, and put the bouquet in the refrigerator. Make sure the flowers do not freeze. Then, bring the bouquet to us as soon as possible. Please give us a call for other options.
I do not live in Southern California. Can you still freeze-dry my flowers?
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Yes! Ship your bouquet overnight in a one-time-use cooler with frozen gel-packs. Give us a call and we will explain in detail. We will ship the finished product back to you.
Timing
How long does the freeze-drying and mounting take?
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The freeze-dry process itself takes approximately two weeks. Our machine may just have started a cycle, so your bouquet may have to wait two weeks (we will flash-freeze it and keep it in storage). Mounting takes a few weeks, depending on workload and frame availability. Please allow us some time to order your frame!
We will be on our honeymoon, can we choose a frame, dome, or glass case when we get back?
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If you are like most people and do not stay away for months, yes! The freeze-dry process itself takes two to four weeks, and during this time you can select a frame, dome, or glass case. The sooner you order, the sooner the product will be ready.
Warranty
What if I am not happy with the end result?
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We will work with you to make any reasonable adjustments. However, we cannot take responsibility for the quality of your flowers. Remember that flowers are a perishable natural product, and variations are normal.
What if you damage or destroy my flowers?
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Occasionally we replace damaged flowers in a bouquet at no charge (even if you damaged them!). Of course you will receive a full refund if your flowers are beyond recovery through a fault of ours, an act of God, or our electricity supplier.
Is there a danger my bouquet will fade?
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Keep it as much as possible out of sunlight, or direct daylight, because flowers will fade when exposed to the ultra violet radiation of the sun. We do not extend a warranty on fading.
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Our domes come with optional UV protection. For an additonal cost of approximately 10%, the acrylic dome has built-in ultra-violet protection, filtering out more than 99% of the harmful ultra-violet light.
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Make sure your bouquet does not get too hot or too humid.
Financials
Do you accept credit cards?
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We accept Visa, MasterCard, and American Express.
Please explain the cost structure.
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The freeze-dry process itself costs $125 for a regular, and $150 for a large bouquet. Mounting the bouquet in a frame is highly recommended because it protects the bouquet from bugs, moisture, and ultra-violet light. Prices for frames range from approximately $80 to over $600, depending on the option(s) you choose. This price includes mounting, and is fully taxable (at 7.75%; CA residents only).
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Included in the freeze-drying is a boutannier or corsage.
Do I need to pay a deposit?
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A $80 non-refundable deposit is required before or at bouquet drop-off for the freeze-dry process. At the time you order a frame, dome or glass case, 50% of the cost is required as deposit. We need to do this because all these frames, domes and cases are special orders, and non-returnable.
Why is the process so expensive?
It is not really so expensive if you consider the value added to the product; a freeze-dried flower will last for many years. Some factors determining the cost are:
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The freeze-dry machine we use for this process is quite expensive.
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In addition to the freeze-dry machine, we have a "sand-vac" machine to dry flowers that are difficult to freeze-dry.
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Electricity, pre- and post treatments, and a labor-intensive preparation.
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Our highly trained, professional staff spends many hours on each individual order.
Other
My bridesmaid wants her bouquet to be freeze dried too, how much will that cost?
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The groom's boutonniere is free of charge. For additional flowers we will charge extra, depending on size and quantity. Call for a quotation.
Can I visit you to see your work and decide if I want to do this?
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Certainly you can! Please be so kind to call and make an appointment, so we can make sure we will be there for you.
