Hiring Jen was one of the best decisions we made for our July 2021 wedding! There is no other florist in the area who can come close in terms of value for money. We found Jen after... beginning to worry that we would have to cut way back in our vision in order to stay on budget. A few months later, when we drove away with our van overflowing with beautiful, organic, fresh-cut flowers for under $1,900, it literally felt like a steal! We went with a combination of DIY buckets and arrangements by Jen, and were thrilled with the results. Jen means it when she says she loves helping couples achieve their dreams, and she cannot help but go above and beyond. Our venue had a scenic backdrop, but otherwise flowers were our only decoration, and they were perfect. Colorful, lively, romantic, and and beautifully styled, they made a statement all on their own.
For us, doing some "DIY" elements with Jen saved money, but it was also a really fun and memorable experience. For our version of a bachelor/bachelorette party, my husband and I took my small wedding party for a visit to the farm, where Jen led us on a tour and taught us to make our own bouquets and boutonnieres. We loved meeting Jen's animals and had a great time taking photos in the fields overflowing with blooms. Jen's tour was really an education - she taught us the name of each flower and shared what she loves about it. As a result, when we saw the final arrangements a month later, the flowers themselves felt like familiar friends.
Jen offered all of the tips we needed to feel confident in making our arrangements, and was very generous with the supplies she included in the order (wire, tape, pins, etc) so we would be prepared. She also carefully loaded everything for us when we came to pick up the flowers, and we were able to store them in for two days before the event without any issues. Putting the arrangements together the day before the wedding took time, but it was a great bonding activity for members of both our families. It definitely helped to have one or two crafty "captains" to take charge of the process!
Eastern River farm is a growing family business, and Jen has a lot on her plate. She was incredibly responsive and generous with her time throughout the process, but at times she needed a reminder of the details we had discussed, especially as our order changed over time. In the end there were absolutely no mishaps or errors, and Jen always reached out to double-check each step, but we found it helpful to make sure we sent Jen an email every time we spoke on the phone, so we would have that written note for both of us to refer back to. Couples who are overwhelmed by the planning process or want a "set it and forget it" experience may be stressed out by Jen's approach, but we ultimately valued her friendliness, flexibility and enthusiasm and were willing to send a few extra emails to clear up any confusion along the way.
We would absolutely recommend Jen and her team to any flower lover for their next special event. Thank you so much to everyone at Eastern River Farm!