Chicago's Best Florist? (for a huge culinary show!)

Hi all,

It's been a long while since I posted here and I think my account was deleted! So I just re-registered and here is my question!

I'm participating in one of the largest culinary competitions in the USA, it's going to be at the National Restaurant Show in Chicago, McCormick Place in mid-May...

I need to know from you great people who live in Chicago, who is BAR NONE, The Finest and best florist in the city. I need to commission a florist to decorate/create a floral display for a specific culinary competition and it needs to be world class.

Any recommendations are appreciated... But I would love to hear from those who have florists they've delt with, who are contemporary, creative, and not so much the kind that make everything look like a funeral or a wedding!!!

Thank you so much!!!

Chef Jill (from CA... who will be in Chicago in May!!!)

Hi Chef Jill.

We used Fleur in Logan Square for our punk rock wedding because we wanted something contemporary. My wife's bouquet contained artichokes!



Here is the head table


The bridesmaids carried these kissing balls which they put on the grass to complete the centerpiece


Fleur was extremely easy to deal with, and we highly recommend them.

Fleur Chicago
3149 W Logan Blvd
Chicago, IL 60647
t: 773.395.2770
f: 773.395.2745
info@fleurchicago.com

BTW - I go to the NRA show every year, so maybe I'll be there when you are competing.

I love Stems. I used them for my wedding and they put together arrangements that were beautiful, lush, organic, and unique. The individual bouquets were gorgeous as well. Many of our guests now use them for individual floral arrangements. The only guidance we gave them were color (fall colors for a fall wedding) and size (we wanted tall arrangements) and the fact that we didn't want anything too "arranged" or traditional. We were all blown away.

Stems
850 North Ashland
Chicago, IL 60622
312/243-4470
stemschicago.com

onetallcagirl wrote:It's been a long while since I posted here and I think my account was deleted! So I just re-registered and here is my question!

Chef Jill,

Accounts, aside from spam/shill accounts, do not get deleted. Your previous user name was OneTallCaChef and is still active.

Regards,
Gary

One florest that seems to get the call very often for large scale corporate type displays is Ronsley. They are very experienced in staging large scale floral displays. They're a bit of overkill for sending your sweetheart a dozen roses or for a "normal" wedding but if you've got the budget, they've got the chops.

Ronsley Special Events
501 West Huron Street
Chicago, IL
(312) 649-0777

Hi all,

Thanks sooooooooooo much for this great feedback. I appreciate a ton. Fujisan, thanks for posting images - that is totally helpful and I love what they did for you!

I'm going to be contacting all mentioned above to get some idea of cost, design direction and so on. I appreciate all the great info!

Thank you!

yeah, i'm going to go with stems as well. we get them in our office, and they're amazing!

Another florist who is just amazing is Natalie Orr of Hello Darling who was just listed as one of the "up and coming" floral designers in Chicago Social Bride. Prior to her floral career, she was a fine art photographer.

Her contact information is 773-742-4736, www.darlingevents.com. I've worked with her professionally and she's fantastic; creative, upscale and sharp in her design eye.

Thank you all! *waves*

HI,

This is not a florist, this is someone over at Sol de Mexico who makes wonderful centerpieces from unlikely components:





Sol de Mexico
3018 N. Cicero
Chicago, IL
773-282-4119

Regards,

Cathy2 - I will look into that as well - thanks so much. Everyone has been creative in their replies and I appreciate it.

OTCG