SAVE THE DATE for the Royal Wedding coming up April 29th at Westminster Abbey. Sure, you may not get to be there in person, but I know we will all be watching or reading all about it for months to come.

FLORISTS: Now is your chance to be involved in this historic, Royal event. Think of how YOU would create Kate’s wedding bouquet by wedding florist Rob Van Helden for her magical day. Would you use classic white, or something more bold and colorful?

How To Enter: Create a bouquet fit for a queen, and post pictures of it on our Facebook Wall of in the comments of this blog post. You can use pictures of past bouquets you think are spectacular enough for Kate’s big day.

How To Win: Once everyone in the world has seen Kate’s wedding bouquet on April 29th (Unless there is an official preview earlier), we will take a look at our entries and see which florist’s bouquets were the closest. Those florists (and their websites) will be featured, on our blog and in our Newsletter.

This is a friendly competition from Flower Shop Network for all of our florist friends. We can’t wait to see what you come up with!

Possible Influences of the Bouquet:

• Perhaps they will use the colors of Great Brittan’s flag in the Royal Wedding flowers?
• April is known for spring flowers. Daffodils are blooming in the royal parks along the planned procession route.
• The wedding reception will be held at Buckingham Palace and will be hosted by Her Majesty The Queen.
• Here is a look at the Royal Wedding china to be used in the reception. It seems they are using a lot of light blue, will it be used in the bouquet?
• Princess Diana’s cascading bouquet featured gardenias, stephanotis, yellow roses, freesia and ivy from the Royal Gardens. Will Kate do the same?

This post is brought to you by local Grand Rapids MI florists.
Not in Michigan? No worries, use Flower Shop Network to find a real, local florist in your area!

Ask the Expert: Blue Orchid arrangements
My daughter is getting married May 7th, 2011. She wants to use Blue Orchids in her floral arrangements, her colors are Navy Blue, White and a touch of silver.(winter in May) What other flowers could you suggest for the bridal bouquet and brides maids bouquets? Thanks for your help! Shelly

Flower Shop Network Flower Expert Reply:

I personally don’t know of a naturally occurring blue orchid. The most commonly used ‘blue orchid’ is the blue Dendrobium, however it is actually a Purple Bombay Dendrobium dyed blue. This flower is more of a purplish-blue color rather than your desired navy. (See picture to the left.) I’ve also seen Misteen Dendrobium dyed blue. This flower is a white orchid with light-pink tipped petals; when dyed blue, it still has hints of purple.

Florists also have the option to use a special floral spray paint and can make your flowers the perfect color for you! This is definitely best left to the professionals as it is very hard to achieve a natural look.

Because blue orchids are dyed, achieving a navy blue orchid might be difficult. Another option would be to use white orchids and navy blue accent flowers.

Some great blue flowers include:

• Hydrangea
• Agapanthus
• Cornflowers or Bachelor Buttons
• Phlox
• Delphinium
• Forget-Me-Nots
• Love-in-a-Mist (Nigella damascena)
• Dyed Daisies
• Dyed Roses
• Dyed Carnations
• Dyed Mums
• Blue Flag Iris
• Scabiosas
• Bluebell (Scilla)
• Grape Hyacinths

If you still aren’t able to find the navy you are looking for, you might consider using it in other ways, such as feathers, ribbon, wire or crystals. Get with your local florist about this and she will be able to design something fabulous!

For more great ideas, check out our sister site, Wedding And Party Network’s bridal bouquet gallery.

This post is brought to you by local Springfield IL florists.
Not in Springfield? Don’t worry, use Flower Shop Network’s directory of real local florists to find a florist near you!

Ask the Expert: Are lily of the valley used in bridal bouquets. Back when I was married (in the 50s) lily of the valley and also stephanotis were often used in bridal bouquets and they are beautiful but I never see them anymore. Any reason? Carolyn

Rose and Stephanotis Bridal Bouquet

Flower Shop Network‘s Flower Expert Reply: Every generation has it’s favorite flowers. In the 50′s, it was most likely stephanotis and lily of the valley. ‘Casa Blanca’ lilies or callas are probably the flower of choice for today’s brides.

That doesn’t mean stephanotis and lily of the valley aren’t or can’t be used in wedding bouquets. The rose and stephanotis bridal bouquet in the picture was a recent creation by MaryJane’s Flowers for a wedding in Berlin NJ.

Now that wedding flower options are not necessarily contingent upon seasonal availability, brides have more choices. They are no longer bound by what is considered a “wedding flower”.  Today’s brides have the freedom to choose any flower (depending on their budget) for their bridal bouquets and wedding flowers. As a result, brides are interjecting their personalities into their wedding flower choices and designs.

So it just maybe that the brides whom weddings you are attending are choosing more trendy flowers. However, I am confident that stephanotis and lily of the valley are still being used in wedding bouquets. They really are beautiful flowers and should be considered a wedding flower option.

Wedding flowers are taking a new shape in the 21st century. Budget-savvy brides want the same gorgeous wedding flowers but aren’t willing to break the bank for them. What they are willing to do is compromise. If you’re a budget-savvy bride or a wedding florist, these tips will help you create the perfect atmosphere for the wedding without losing a beat. Here’s a little information on what we like to call “transitional flowers.”

Transition flowers or transitional flowers are wedding ceremony flowers that can also double as reception flowers. Florists can create specific designs that look beautiful in both places. Double use = fraction of the cost. Examples and design tips are listed below.

Transitional Flowers & Suggested Uses

Tall Altar Arrangements

• Ceremony To Reception — Use these ceremony flowers as buffet table decorations at the reception.
• Design Tips — These arrangements may need to be designed in a round shape rather than a one-sided style if the tables are circular or two-sided.

Low Unity Candle Arrangements

• Ceremony To Reception — These wedding flowers can double as head table centerpieces.
• Design Tips — An option for a head table centerpiece is to remove the side tapers or remove all of the candles and replace with flowers.

Standing Candelabras

• Ceremony To Reception — These flowers make great cake or head table accents.
• Design Tips — A suggestion is to change the color of the candles for a unique look.

Altar Candelabra Arrangements

• Ceremony To Reception — These flowers are excellent head table arrangements.
• Design Tips — Like standing candelabras, these arrangements can be used at the head table but with a different color palette of candles for a unique look.

Aisle Candelabra Arrangements

• Ceremony To Reception — These wedding flowers are the perfect guest table centerpieces.
• Design Tips — Place these arrangements in plant saucers and a table centerpiece is made! Continue reading “Ceremony To Reception Flowers For Budget-Savvy Brides” »

Ask the Expert: Best way to ensure hydrangeas in a wedding bouquet
I have a bride that wants to use hydrangeas in her bouquet and her bridesmaids.  I am really afraid of using fresh blooms as I know they wilt quickly.  Her wedding is in March. Can you tell me the secret to ensuring that the bouquets will hold up and not wilt.  Thank you so much.

Plant Expert Reply:
The first step to ensuring the hydrangeas don’t wilt is the care you give them when they hit your door. Proper hydration is the key. In Hydrating A Hydrangea Bouquet For A Wedding, the steps for hydrating hydrangeas are outlined.

The steps are as follows
1. Submerge heads for 2 to 4 minutes under tepid water. (You can submerge the heads for up to twenty minutes for significant hydration).
2. Gently shake the bloom heads dry.
3. Recut the stems (preferably under water and at an angle).
4. Place in water.

These steps will ensure that the hydrangeas have been hydrated properly. Now you will need to keep them hydrated and how your store them is the key. Keep the hydrangeas in a high humid environment with very little air velocity. In other words, don’t put them near the cooler fan or door and keep the air around them moist (misting if necessary). Temperature is also a factor; 35 to 38 degrees is optimum. Don’t store near fruit, vegetables or other ethylene gas producers. It is best to create the bouquets the morning of the wedding. However, this isn’t always possible. When you create the hydrangea bouquets leave the stems long enough that the bouquets can be placed in water without getting the ribbon wet (if a hand tied bouquet). Leave the bouquets in water until an hour before the wedding. This process should keep the hydrangeas well hydrated for the wedding and alleviate any wilting issues.

Some designers use hydrangeas in floral foam when creating wedding flower arrangements or bouquets. Advanced preparation is still the key in this technique. You will want to cut the stems so that they look like an arrow rather than just a one sided angle cut. Some people recommend using a floral preservative or powdered alum when preparing the hydrangeas, other see no need.  You might want to experiment with a couple of stems before the wedding to see which works best for you.

Good luck and keep me posted.

Ask the Expert: CAN I USE BAMBOO PLANTS WITH BETA FISH?
FOR MY DAUGHTER’S WEDDING, WE WANT TO HAVE OUR CENTERPIECES WITH BETA FISH SWIMMING IN THE BOWL.  WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOME KIND OF GREEN PLANT FLOATING OUT OF THE TOP OF THE PLANTER.  I KNOW SOME USE PEACE LILIES, BUT WE LIKE LUCKY BAMBOO AND WONDER IF THAT WOULD WORK.   I DON’T WANT TO HURT THE FISH, JUST HAVE THE CENTERPIECE LOOK NICE AND BE DIFFERENT.  PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.  THANKS DEBBIE

Plant Expert Reply:

As far as I know lucky bamboo is not harmful to fish.  However, a long-term relationship between the two is probably not a good idea.  Although lucky bamboo will live in water, most fish forums do not recommend it for use in an aquarium.  I’m not sure why. It maybe an oxygen issue or something else.  (This might make a good science experiment for a high school student.) My suspicion is that the roots of the lucky bamboo will rapidly take over the bowl which is something the fish do not like.

As for the wedding, I see nothing wrong with using the lucky bamboo in the centerpieces.  I would use 3 or 6 stalks of lucky bamboo per centerpiece (which represents happiness) .  At the head table, I would create a larger centerpiece with 21 stalks (blessings).

Red or gold ribbon is often tied around lucky bamboo for extra lucky or good fortune. You may want to tie ribbon the same color of the bridesmaids dresses or wedding bouquets around your stalks instead.

Good luck and keep me posted.  When you create the wedding centerpieces, you should submit a photo of them to WeddingandPartyNetwork.com. They have an awesome wedding flower photo gallery.  Just think, you might start a new wedding trend.

Ask the Expert: November/December flowers
I’d really like a bouquet with blue hydrangea and a couple white cabbage roses mixed in, but I think hydrangea will be out of season in late Nov, early Dec. Is there another blue flower I could substitute?

Thank you!

Amy

Plant Expert Reply:

You’ll be glad to know hydrangeas are available to florists year round.  So you won’t need to subsititue another flower for hydrangea blooms in your wedding bouquet.

Although hydrangeas are used mostly in spring (March, April, May) and summer (June, July, August), we are seeing a rise in hydrangeas use in fall weddings (September, October, November).  Winter brides (December, January, February) often use hydrangea blooms when they want a large white bloom.  This beautiful bloom is a wonderful wedding flower choice.

If you still need ideas for blue wedding flowers let me know.

Whether a budget-oriented bride or not, being able to use wedding decorations in many areas is always a big perk. Many florists are starting to use bouquets (bridesmaids or bridal) as centerpieces on the main table at the wedding. This is a way to keep the bridesmaids bouquets and wedding bouquets fresh before and after the ceremony. Plus, the bridesmaids are able to just snatch the bouquets out of the water and take them home as a wedding favor!

Using unique vases and containers takes this technique to the next level. Showcase the floral bouquets just a little better with a beautiful vase. Creative containers simultaneously keep the flowers fresh and bring to life all of the effort put into creating the beautiful bouquets.

This idea also works for parties such as bachelorette parties. These bouquets liven up the party decorations and also make great party favors! It’s a win-win for hostesses and guests.

This design technique has become a very popular trend in wedding flowers and is seeing an increase at parties. Florists are happy to showcase their prized creations for a little longer. Brides and hostesses are glad to save a few bucks but still have an elegant, beautiful wedding or party. If you’re looking for a quick centerpiece idea, try this trendy new design technique!

Bouquet Centerpieces from The Flower Patch in Gypsum, CO

Short Vase Bouquet Centerpieces from The Flower Patch in Gypsum, CO

Ask The Expert: Help! I’m hoping because of your name you’ll know the anwser.  I’m a fairly new florist, and I have a bride that wants a few passionflowers in her bouquet.  But I can’t find them as cut flowers anywhere.  I could try to grow a few vines, but I don’t want to promise her if I can’t find them anywhere already grown.  Any idea how I could get a few for a Sept 5 wedding? Susan

Reply:

The idea of using a passion flower in a wedding bouquet sound simply romantic.  However, in the real world it wouldn’t be as romantic as it sounds.  I can not think of any cut flower grower that carries passion flowers.  In fact, I doubt that the flower would last long once it is cut from the vine.  If the bride wants to incorporate the passion flower in her wedding, you might try using potted passion flower vines.  I would, however, caution her that the plant may not have blooms when she wants them.  You might try Logee’s Greenhouse in Connecticut if you need the plants.

Just a little side note:  Love was not the inspiration behind the Passion Flower name.  This flower actually was inspired by the Passion of Christ on the cross.  Spanish Christian missionaries from the 15th and 16th century felt that the physical structure of the plant symbolized the Crucifixtion and the filaments in the flower represented the crown of thorns.  So, they named the the flowering vine passion flower.

Ask the Expert: What flowers/colors will be in for Jan weddings
What flowers and colors will be “in” for January weddings?