About Us

Owner and Lead Designer, Doris Crawford has been involved with weddings for over 25 years. Working in almost every aspect of the wedding industry. She is experienced in wedding cake creations, bridal gown sales and event planning. But her passion and ultimate talent lie in the area of floral design.
Over the years, she has worked in a number of Minnesota’s most prestigious floral shops.
On the flip side she is also a flea market addict and is an avid “repurposer.”
Her prolific gardens have been designed and cultivated with wedding flowers in mind. She uses these “free flowers” to stretch and enhance the bridal budget. In season, these flower beds, provide an abundance of peonies, tulips, hyacinth, delphinium, phlox, lilies, cone flowers and asters to name a few. Autumn brings an interesting variety of berries and foliage. We practice “green” here and return to Mother Nature what she so gloriously bestowed upon us by recycling through composting.
Her goal is to use every resource available to create floral designs that express who the bride and groom really are.”

Frequently Asked Questions:

How far in advance should we book a florist?

This depends on how long you have to plan your wedding, but a general guideline is to start talking to your florist about 6 to 8 months before your wedding, and sign a contract with them about 4 to 6 months before the big day.

We book up quickly so the sooner the better. (It also enables you to start crossing things off your list! Peace of mind is the best thing you can do for yourself!)

What should we bring to the consultation?

Bring swatches of bridesmaid dresses, pages from magazines with bouquets and floral arrangements that you like, the type of container you’d like to use, and any ideas you may have. We are most receptive to your ideas, and are anxious to listen to your vision. You’ll also want to make sure that they think your budget is realistic for your ideas. … Also, it is helpful if you bring as much information as you have about the wedding itself.

THINGS TO DO TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR FIRST CONSULTATION:

You’ll need to have booked your ceremony site, and know how many arrangements you’ll need to decorate it.
You’ll need to have booked your reception site, and know the prominent colors of the venue (so the flowers don’t clash)
If you are doing floral centerpieces, you’ll need to know approximately how many wedding guests you are having, and thus how many centerpieces you’ll need. (Most round catering tables seat 8, 10 or 12 guests; rectangular tables generally seat 8 people)
How many bridesmaids you are having, and the color of their dresses
The number of corsages (for mothers, grandmothers, and sometimes readers or other special guests) and boutonnieres (for the groom, groomsmen, ushers, and sometimes readers or other special guests).
If you’ll need separate arrangements for the rehearsal dinner, post-wedding brunch, entryways, bathrooms, gift or cake tables, or buffet tables

Who can come to the consultation?

Anybody can come!

What happens at the consultation and what will be included in the portfolio?

During our consultation, we will discuss all of your ideas. We will work together to create a custom design for your wedding day, from the ceremony to the reception. At the end of the consultation we will provide you with a verbal estimate of the items we discussed. You can use this as a guide to better understand the pricing of flowers and how it will fit into your budgetary needs.

We require a $200.00 deposit to secure the date at which time you will receive a detailed portfolio of all floral arrangements, rental items, and decorations which will be incorporated into your wedding or special event.

Can I change my mind about the flowers I have selected once we’ve secured our date?

Absolutely. We understand that selecting a florist is during the early stages of planning. Many brides use the consultation as a way of establishing a relationship with us. We understand that ideas change as the planning process develops. We suggest you write down questions and ideas in a notebook. Final decisions should be made one month before your wedding date.

How many times will we meet before the wedding?

We meet twice with every bride, once at the consultation and again closer to the wedding. These are of no charge to you. However, once you have secured our services we can meet as many times as you like for an additional $25 per hour. Once again, we suggest you post your ideas, questions and comments in a notebook and revisit your “journal” monthly. You will find that many times, given a week or two you will have answered your own question. We are however always available by phone or email.

How many weddings do you take per day?

We generally only take one wedding per day. We want to dedicate our services to you to ensure the highest quality and that your special day goes off without a hitch, so we keep our numbers low. The possible exception (to taking more than one) is a smaller wedding that only requires ceremony flowers; then we may take on additional business.

Who delivers the flowers the day of the wedding?

We deliver the flowers. It is so important, and quite frankly, the crescendo of our efforts, to be able to provide you with the best service and most beautiful flowers on the greatest day of your life.

How many years of experience do you have?

Soul of the Rose was established in 2002. Prior to that, Doris has worked in several well known, high end floral shops around the Twin Cities Area.

What venues have you worked with?

We have worked with many Twin Cities venues. If you are curious about the venue you have selected, send Soul of the Rose an email and we’ll let you know if we have worked directly with them.

Are you a flower shop?

We are not a flower shop. We are a Design Studio which focuses on weddings and special events.

Do you do flowers for events other than weddings?

Yes! We do flowers for corporate events, private parties, and benefits. We do require a $400-500 minimum depending on flower selection.

Do you require a deposit?

We do require a $200.00 deposit to secure the date. The deposit will then be deducted from your final bill.

How are flowers priced?

Pricing mainly depends on the budget and desires of the couple. The size of the wedding party and style of the ceremony and reception decorations greatly impact pricing. Flower prices vary according to season and availability. Holidays such as Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day do affect the price of flowers due to supply and demand.

Soul of the Rose remains competitive with other Twin Cities florists.

How much should we spend on flowers for our wedding?

The average price of wedding flowers in MN varies depending on the flowers used the time of year and the style of the design. A great resource for average price of flowers in your area is http://www.costofwedding.com

Although every design is custom created for each event, general prices are as follows:

Bridal Bouquets … $85.00 and up

Bridesmaid Bouquets … $45 and up

Boutonnières … $8.50 and up

Corsages … $18.50 and up

Flower girl bouquets … $20 and up

Table Centerpieces … $12.50—$500.00

Buffet Centerpieces … $75.00—$650.00

Wreaths … $50.00—$300.00

Cake flowers … $45.00—500.00

Prices do not include state and/or county tax and out-of-area delivery.

Do you work within a range of budgets?

Yes! We have designed flowers to meet a wide range of budgets. If budget is a concern, the best thing to do is come with your budget in mind and we will do our best to accommodate it.

When is final payment due?

Final payment is due two weeks before the wedding date.

Do you dry wedding bouquets?

Sorry. We do not but we can provide you with the name of someone who does.