Malak has been working with flowers since 1985. She enjoyed the work so much that she bought her own business five years later and recently opened a second location. She offers fresh and silk flowers, and can provide everything from aisle runners and arches to a variety of containers and baskets. She offers three wedding packages or can custom-design the whole event. Her prices are very reasonable, yet she never compromises on the quality and freshness of her flowers. Malak has a huge portfolio featuring many different styles. I found her work to be very creative, incorporating paper fans into an Asian floral design and floating lemons and limes into a tall tropical design. Her business is 95 percent referral. She told me about one very large family of 950 people that keep her doing their weddings year after year. She has even had brides come back for her to do their renewal of vows.

For a bride on a low budget, I saw beautiful work both at the church and the reception. For the ceremony, tulle and pink cording were swagged from pew to pew all the way down the aisle. The bride’s bouquet was elegantly formed with large ivory timeless roses and soft purplish misty. The bridesmaids’ bouquets had the same large roses but added alstroemeria and freesia. At the reception site, Malak decorated the large wood stair railing with fern, roses, alstroemeria, mums, larkspur, and stock. The centerpieces were made with white football mums, mini red carnations, and alstroemeria.

Wedding clients love the "fresh cut" look Malak provides. One mother wrote, "The bridal bouquet was so special, we are having it freeze dried." The Saratoga Chamber of Commerce, a regular customer, has also sent her thank you notes saying, "You outdid yourself with this lovely arrangement. We received more compliments than ever before – you are a treasure!" Also: Rosies & Posies, 98 Paseo De San Antonio, San Jose, CA 95113, (408) 293-3773.

Before you hire a florist