Alternative Wedding Venues

Finding a new venue so close to the wedding date can be hair-raising but if you’re willing to explore other options, there are several unique wedding venues that may work out perfectly for you.

1. An outdoor park

If the weather in your area is generally fair, how about holding your ceremony in your local park? Outdoor wedding venues are fun and relaxed events that offer more opportunities for scenic wedding photoshoots. And because of the pandemic threat, outdoor wedding venues are even more ideal because they offer everyone more space to move around in and plenty of fresh air.

2. A boat

If you live near a lake, river, or the ocean, you may be able to charter a boat easily. Since large gatherings are still not recommended, a wedding and reception inside a boat with several of your loved ones may be a more intimate and fitting way to hold your nuptials.

If you and your partner are avid divers, you can also do an underwater wedding with the reception to be held on the boat.

3. A retreat

Many retreats are set in scenic locations in secluded areas. Not only do you get the perfect backdrop for your wedding shoots, you also get to enjoy your wedding day in a quiet location that’s far from the crowd. And since retreats either have cabins or rooms, it can also double as a place to lodge your guests who come from distant locations.

4. A home

If you have a big enough space at your residence, or if you know someone with a beautiful property who will graciously lend it to you (or charge you a reasonable sum for it), go ahead and hold your ceremony there. The money you save on rental can then be spent on transforming it into a magnificent place fit for a wedding.

Speaking with Vendors

A wedding planner, if you have one, can take care of all the details for you when changing wedding venues. For example, he or she will be the one to reach out to all the vendors (from the caterers and cake designer to the florist shop) to inform them of the change.

Don’t worry! Most are flexible enough to accommodate a location change provided that the location isn’t too drastically far from the previously agreed upon one (and the date of the wedding hasn’t been moved). If anything, they might simply charge you an additional fee to cover transport and other miscellaneous details.

Rest assured, your wedding will be a memorable and love-filled affair wherever you hold it.

Make your wedding extra special.

Flowers add color, style, and beauty to weddings. Contact us to learn more about our wedding flower offerings.

Sending flowers, for example, is a great way to tell people that we are thinking of them. People often buy flowers for special occasions, but one of the best reasons for sending flowers is when there’s no reason at all. It’s a simple act of thoughtfulness that can put a smile on anyone’s face.

Why flowers?

They’re a bit of happiness that you can put in any room to brighten it up. They also do more than beautify a place. According to some studies, the presence of flowers can reduce anxiety and stress, brighten one’s outlook in life, and provide a long-term positive effect on a person’s mood. Now more than ever, we need that little bit of cheer in our lives.

Other ways to say you care

Aside from flowers, you can also try giving these practical gifts below. We’re sure your recipient will love them.

1. Plants and dish gardens

Unlike cut flowers, plants can last for a long time. It doesn’t matter how much of a green thumb your recipient has, there are hardy plants that can survive and thrive with minimal care. There are also many varieties that provide health benefits such as peace lilies, spider plants, and chrysanthemums. These indoor plants are some of the best when it comes to purifying the air.

Plants also add a delightful ambience to a home and a sense of tranquility. They’re sustainable and if given the proper amount of attention, will be there for you to enjoy for years to come.

2. A gift basket

A well-designed gift basket can show your appreciation for someone just as well as flowers and plants. It’s a nice thing for a receiver to get because each one is filled with little presents that can range from the tasty to useful. They’re easy enough to fill with things that your recipient prefers, but you can also order well thought-out ready-made ones.

A safe delivery experience

The current pandemic has put safety at the forefront of every business owner’s mind, including florists. Most have adapted to the new norm by offering contactless deliveries or following safe social distancing protocols. If your local florist doesn’t offer touchless delivery, it’s easy enough to request one to ensure that your gift can be left outside the door without requiring a signature.

Put a smile on someone’s face.

Remind your loved one that you are thinking of them even through the distance. Contact us for your gift of flowers today.

1. You can save more money.

Some large floral shop chains will usually just redirect your orders to a florist somewhere in the same state or region as you. This florist will make up your order but you get to pay an additional fee to the big name flower site to be the middleman. In case they do not redirect your order but will make up your order themselves, you will then have to pay more for shipping, handling, and any other extras.

2. You can get better service.

Many floral shop chains utilize call center employees to handle calls for them. Any inquiry or complaint you might have will go through these employees who might not personally know a thing about your order. If you order directly from your local florist, any concern you have about your order will be immediately addressed by them and remedied sooner.

3. Your flowers will arrive fresher.

Purchasing floral arrangements from a flower shop near you means you get blooms while they’re fresh and while they’re in season. Many flowers that come from outside your region have usually been cut and spend several days in refrigerated storage before they get to you, which means they’ll likely wilt in your home within a few days.

4. Your arrangements are unique.

Working with a local flower shop means that you receive excellent recommendations that are customized to your style, needs, and budget. They’ll help you decide what specific colors, blooms, and design will convey your meaning the best.

5. You can get your orders quickly.

Staying with a local florist means that you will get your orders much more quickly than if you order from a giant floral supply chain. Plus because they will get to you sooner, you’ll be able to enjoy their blooms for longer.

Local flower shops aren’t any different from national floral supply chains. They have the same ordering capabilities and can provide you with many beautiful designs to suit any occasion. Once you’ve established a relationship with your local florist, you can be sure you’ll have someone who knows precisely what you need when you need it.

Supporting small businesses

Thinking local not only helps you cut on costs, but it can also help you and the community in the long run. Every dime you spend on a local enterprise is money it will spend on helping boost other local businesses. For example, your local flower shop is most likely to use a local bank to store its earnings, use a local farm to source flowers, use local crafters for ribbons, and so on. When your community thrives, everyone benefits.

Get fresh blooms today!

Our experienced local florists will help you pick out the best in-season flowers for you. Contact us now and receive your flowers as soon as possible.

At Dragonfly Flowers we are committed to continuing to provide service while keeping both our customers and staff safe during this difficult time.  We will remain open and delivering in order to provide you with the ability to send your emotions to friends and loved ones through the beauty and  emotional healing power of flowers. 

To protect our staff, clients, delivery drivers and the community in general, we are taking significant steps to adjust the way we do business for the coming weeks.

On March 18th, we closed our store-front to the public, have greatly limited our interaction with the public and have adjusted our hours, delivery options and staffing levels to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

We've adjusted our daily cut off time for deliveries to 11AM.  We will do our best to accommodate special delivery instructions on an order by order basis.  Please bear with us, as things seem to be changing by the hour.

Some fresh flower availability has been affected by airport closures and border changes.  Some substitutions may be required, but we will ensure that every order is filled to full value. 

To encourage people to stay home, we are allowing for curb-side pick ups, but encourage you to choose our free delivery option within city limits.

Dragonfly Flowers COVID-19 No Contact Delivery Policy Update:

>  No contact deliveries in full effect.

>  Recipient phone numbers are required for ALL DELIVERIES.

>  Drivers are to take every precaution and use practices recommended by health officials for hand washing and sanitizing.

>  Due to possible below freezing temperatures, no deliveries will leave the store without recipient contact.

>  Recipients will retrieve their flowers from the doorstep once our driver has made contact and is a safe distance away.

>  Deliveries to apartment complexes or office buildings will be called first to allow the recipient to pick them up in the lobby area.

>  Hospital and care home deliveries will be conducted at the discretion of the institution and in some cases may not be allowed.  In this case we will seek an alternate delivery address from you or cancel your order at no cost to you.

Our policies and procedures will be updated as required to ensure we are operating in the best interest of our staff and the public as a whole.

We'd also like to take this opportunity to thank all people at the front lines of our medical system for their hard work and dedication.

We hope you and yours are doing well and staying positive through this and thank you for both your patronage and understanding as we navigate these new realities.

Buffie and the Team

On behalf of all your friends & family at Dragonfly Flowers, we would like to take this opportunity to thank you and express our deepest appreciation for all your business throughout the years.

I am reaching out today to update you on our current efforts to help minimize the risk of exposure and anxiety amidst the COVID-19 outbreak. Please know that we have reviewed our options at length, with both our employees and the best practices put forth by the Government of Canada. Our first priority is to keep our staff and our clients safe.

Effective immediately, we will be closing our showroom and walk-in services until further notice. However, we believe now more than ever that it's important to spread love and happiness to our community. We will be continuing to receive phone and online orders, and will make deliveries with extra precautions for eliminating the spread of the virus. We will NOT be requiring signatures upon delivery, and we will leave all arrangements and potted plants at the door.

If you have questions regarding a funeral service or other event, we will be happy to discuss your options on a case-by-case basis throughout the weeks ahead. You can still reach us during regular business hours through our business phone number and email.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any concerns or questions regarding this notice. We thank you for your continued patronage as we navigate these difficult times.

We are keeping all those affected by this outbreak in our thoughts.

As always, thank you for choosing Dragonfly Flowers.

Sincerely,

The Team at Dragonfly Flowers

Here’s what’s new on our website

• Improved searching, that lets you preview our products as soon as you start typing
• Better navigation, so you can find what you’re looking for quickly, and easily
• New products featured on the homepage, so you see what’s in season
• New images, to showcase just how beautiful our fresh flower arrangements truly are
• Improved checkout, with the ability to use PayPal and Apple Pay
• A Help Center page, with frequently asked questions, delivery and payment information, flower care tips and much more.
• And a blog! Visit us right here for news, events, and flower care tips from the shop.

In addition to quality flowers, bouquets and gifts, we also take pride in excellent customer service. If you’d prefer speaking with a florist to talk about custom arrangements, recommendations, or nationwide delivery, we’re still available over the phone and in-store to make sure you have all the information you need. You can message the flower shop through our Contact Us page, or call us at (204) 633-5200 to speak with one of our experts.

We hope you’ll enjoy our new online store as much as we do, and that you find everything you’re looking for to celebrate your next special occasion!

Rumor has it, the tradition of celebrating birth flowers originated long ago, when the Romans began commemorating birthdays by using certain, special flowers. Depending on the birth month, different flowers were given as gifts and used for celebration decorations.Today, you can keep the tradition alive by sending a meaningful arrangement that’s tailored your loved one’s birth month. Each seasonal flower symbolizes unique characteristics and qualities, so send a gift that’s original, special and extraordinary – just like they are.

January - Carnation

Also popular for St. Patrick’s Day, Mother’s Day, Teacher’s Day and weddings, carnations are sweetly fragranced and feathery soft.

Meaning: Fascination, Distinction and Love.

February - Violet

This birth flower’s presence in religious works of art often denotes spiritual wisdom and faithfulness. Though this flower’s name is also it’s typical color, you can also find violets in sky blue and soft yellow.

Meaning: Modesty, Faithfulness, Distinction and Virtue.

March - Daffodil

Synonymous with spring, daffodils symbolize new beginnings and rebirth. They are also often given for tenth wedding anniversaries, and promise happiness and joy.

Meaning: Spring, Devotion, Rebirth.

April - Daisy

April’s birth flower represents a forever-young attitude. Put some spring in their step with an arrangement that brings child-like joy.

Meaning: Innocence, Youth, and Blissful Pleasure.

May - Lily of the Valley

These birth flowers boast a gentle and sweet fragrance, and traditionally denote humility.

Meaning: Happiness, Sweetness, Humbleness and Hope.

June - Rose

Roses of all colors have many different meanings. Love, beauty, passion, perfection…visit our webpage on Flower Meanings for an in-depth look at the feelings and emotions that roses can signify.

Meaning: Love, Gratitude and Appreciation.

July - Water Lily

These birth flowers are also known as “Queen of the Water,” and symbolize life, love and enlightenment.

Meaning: Joy, Sweetness and Laughter.

August - Gladiolus

Derived from the Latin word “gladius,” meaning sword, these flowers represent strength with grace.

Meaning: Moral Integrity, Sincerity and Generosity.

September - Aster

These flowers symbolize both elegance and wild beauty, as they bring a punch of color to autumn-time landscapes.

Meaning: Daintiness, Love and Affection.

October - Marigold

These flowers say “autumn” all over! Brilliant and richly colorful, marigolds represent warmth and grace.

Meaning: Joy, Modesty and Grace.

November - Chrysanthemum

Depending on the color, Chrysanthemums can represent love, innocence, or unrequited desire. As a birthday gift, these flowers say simply: “Be happy!”

Meaning: Cheerfulness, Friendship and Abundance.

December - Narcissus

Named after a character in Greek mythology, these flowers collectively send the message: “you are special” or “you are the only one.” Send that same message with this classic bloom that also symbolizes hope and good fortune.

Meaning: Self-Esteem, Hope and Good Wishes

Which is your birth flower? Does it reflect your personality traits? For the next birthday celebration in your life (whether yours or a loved one’s), remember birth flowers for truly original gifts and decorations.

Most arrangements will last from four to seven days or longer depending on the type of flowers included and the level of care they receive. Here are a few helpful tips for keeping those blossoms looking healthy and vibrant for you to enjoy.

• 1. Remove any leaves that will be below the waterline. Leaves in the water promote bacterial growth, which will cause the flowers to wilt quickly.

• 2. Using garden shears, cut the end of the stem off while holding it underwater. This allows the stems to draw in water instead of air. Make sure it’s a clean, diagonal cut, so the flowers can drink nutrients from the water easily.

• 3. Change dirty water regularly. Wash the vase and replace it with nice, clean water every other day. Giving the flowers a clean environment will keep them happy and ward off bacterial growth.

• 4. Avoid placing your flowers where heating or cooling vents can blow air on them. Areas directly under ceiling fans or on top of appliances that give off heat (like older televisions, radiators, etc.), will cause your flowers to dry out and wilt faster.

• 5. Place away from direct sunlight. It may seem counterintuitive, but your flowers will maintain their freshness much longer if they’re not overheated.

We value all the emotions flowers can make us feel – excited, sentimental, appreciated, loved. Help the feeling last longer by taking care of your arrangement and keeping it looking it’s freshest for days on end. Have other questions about your flowers? Feel free to contact us or call our professional florists at the shop, and we’re happy to pass along the information you need.

If you haven't yet heard of them, Coal and Canary is a Winnipeg based Candle Company that was created due to the passion of Tom Jansen and Amanda Buhse to develop quality, expertly crafted artisan products.  They've created a candle line that is both pleasing to the eye and fantastically fragrant.

These unique candles are hand poured in small batches with soy and vegetable wax blends and feature a wooden wick that burns clean and free of smoke and soot.  When lit, the wick produces a soft crackle and the fragrant candles burn for 45-50 hours.

There are several  scents to choose from, with new scents that have whimsical names arriving for each new season.

Dragonfly Flowers is offering these candles for delivery and in store as a stand alone product as well as a wonderful add on to any flower arrangement.

Mother's Day is a wonderful time to celebrate Mom by making the day all about her.  Sending flowers has been a big part of that process through the years and this year was no different.  The staff at Dragonfly Flowers spent the better part of the week at the store with few breaks and stayed for long hours so that we could service as many customers as possible.  This year we had the most wonderful team of designers, sales and support staff that weathered the holiday with flying colours and got along great, despite being tired and over-worked.  

During a period of calm on a much needed dinner break where pizza was served for their 15th take out meal of the week, an ugliest corsage design competition broke out.  I'm not too sure how it all started, but before I knew it, there were 4 designers frantically creating the most un-beautiful works of art they could imagine.  As the flowers, bows, ribbons and even a little birds nest flew out of the junk boxes, these monstrosities began to take shape.  As they worked and laughed their way through it, a time limit of 15 minutes was set and it was determined that names would be drawn to see who would have to wear who's abomination the following day during one of our busiest days of the year.

Here's the result!

Vote for your favourite (or perhaps least favourite?) on our Facebook page!  

As a reward for their hard work, the winning designer will be awarded a $50 gift card to the restaurant of their choice.

VOTE HERE.

Dragonfly Flowers was chosen as the Top Choice Florist in Winnipeg for 2015.