Wedding Tips – Page 2

Hydrangea Wedding Bouquet Design Tips

August 10, 2009 by Jamie Jamison Adams 2 Comments

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.

Filed Under: Wedding Flowers Tagged With: Hydrangeas, Wedding Bouquets, Wedding Flowers, Wedding Tips

The Growing Affect of Multi-Cultural Weddings

May 14, 2008 by Flower Shop Network Leave a Comment

It’s not surprising that the growing popularity of multicultural and ethnic weddings leaves florists with the often daunting challenge of “thinking outside the box” for their nuptial flower arrangements. Cultural heritage affects nearly every facet of the wedding ceremony, stemming into the floral arrangements more often than expected. Brides, couples, and ethnic wedding planners are now enlisting the aid of florists to help give the bridal couple a memorable ceremony with a somewhat different meaning to the word ‘traditional.’

It is important in this ethnic wedding boom for florists to sculpt ceremonial floral arrangements and decorations around a cultural wedding theme. According to an article in the March issue of Floral Management magazine, taking the time to research the heritage and customary wedding traditions of a bride or groom may be the just the unique difference that helps guarantee the job for that couple’s wedding.

Many people wonder how different traditions affect wedding flowers. There are, in fact, many faux pas that can be avoided by researching the bridal couple’s heritage. For instance, it is customary for many Asian brides to change outfits three to five times during the ceremony. Florists may wish to alter the floral arrangements to suit the various colors of the bride’s gowns. A consideration for florists decorating a Jewish wedding ceremony is the Jewish bride’s desire for a beautiful chuppah, the wedding canopy that the couple stands beneath during the ceremony. Florists of Jewish brides will need to provide flowers for the chuppah as well as pew markers.

The first ethnic wedding for florists may seem a bit formidable but a few tips exist to make the project easier. First, be prepared to do a lot of research. Understanding the customs of the couple will help to give them the wedding of their dreams as well as the perfect floral decorations. Secondly, do not be afraid to ask questions. Remember that while some customs remain the same, each wedding ceremony celebrates an individual couple.

There are many places in which you can find information about cultural practices. In fact Wedding and Party Network has developed a Wedding Traditions resource that includes many cultural wedding traditions. They constantly update the information and even allow their readers to give input.

Filed Under: Floral Industry News, Wedding Flowers Tagged With: Floral Industry News, Multicultural Weddings, Wedding Flowers, Wedding Tips, Wedding Traditions

Fall In Love With Fall Wedding Flowers

September 15, 2006 by Flower Shop Network 1 Comment

Fall wedding flowers burst upon the scene in a kaleidoscope of colors. Paint an idyllic wedding picture on this fall’s canvas when using a rich palette of the season’s colors.

Whether the celebration takes place during the sun dappled day, or in the crisp autumn air of evening, the fall wedding introduces a season of excitement. September, October, and November bestow bright flowers and abundant foliage – just the right ingredients for a fabulous fall ceremony.

Deciding on the type of fall floral arrangements will often determine the style of wedding. Consulting a professional florist can be of invaluable help when considering the theme and cost of the wedding. Don’t hesitate to convey what you envision for your wedding along with a review of your budget.

When meeting with your florist, it’s wise to discuss the size and location of your wedding and reception. And, don’t forget to include the number of attendants and guests. It helps if you provide your favorite wedding photographs, color preferences, and fabric samples when talking about your ceremony. A professional florist can assist in creating a plan that helps you to make informed decisions, which can save time and reduce stress.

A CORNUCOPIA OF COLORS

The fall season lends its self to vibrant colors. When selecting fall wedding flowers consider the colors of: Yellow, Gold, Bronze, Orange, Red, Dark Pink, Burgundy, Rust, Brown, Purple, Egg Plant, Green and Tan. Although the types of wedding flowers are usually chosen by the bride, the color palette of the flowers are often determined by the color of the bridesmaids’ dresses.

A professional florist can explain your floral options. Discussions will include the difference between selecting flowers that are in season, as opposed to choosing flowers that are out of season. Out of season flowers increase prices significantly.

With nature’s brilliant colors, here are just a few of the fall wedding flowers that are in season:

ROSES (Rosa) – Many people tend to think of roses as either traditional red or delicate pink. However, the colors of roses range from gold to chocolate. Brides may want to consider the radiant rose colors that include golden apricot, tomato-red, deep yellow, red-orange, tangerine, dark burgundy, coral-orange, burnt- orange, or chocolate brown. These striking shades make beautiful wedding bouquets, floral decorations, and arrangements.

DAISIES (Gerbera) – There are a number of varieties from a single petal to a double petal. The bright colors and varying sizes of this flower make for beautiful bouquets and eye-catching arrangements.

SLIPPER ORCHIDS (Paphiopedilum spp.) – This fall flower’s colors of brownish red, green and yellow can set the seasonal tone.

CALLA LILY (Zantedeschia) – The “green goddess” has deep green leaves and generous blooms. This is a sophisticated flower that often stands on its own. Not only do calla lilies come in the traditional white, but they also come in the rich and beautiful shades of cream, yellow, burgundy, and bronze.

GLORIOSA LILIES (Gloriosa rothschildeana) – A glorious bloom that makes a bold statement. The strikingly curved petals in lustrous red will certainly turn heads.

ORIENTAL LILIES (Lilium Oriental) – Versatility is the key. Colors include white, cream, yellow and burgundy. One of the most famous hybrids is Stargazer, which has a white background with reddish/pink markings and dotted throat.

HYDRANGEAS (Hydrangea quercifolia) – The late blooming Oak Leaf Hydrangea gets its name from the shape of its large leaves. These beautiful leaves often turn colors of brilliant yellow, orange, red, and burgundy.

SUNFLOWERS (Helianthus annuus) – When you think of autumn, picture the Sunrise Sunflower. The medium short deep double yellow petals and dark center make an excellent choice for use as cut flowers that have a long vase and arrangement life.

CHRYSANTHEMUMS (Chrysanthemum indicum, Chrysanthemum x morifolium) – The word chrysanthemum is taken from the Greek, chysos (gold) and anthos (flower). This fall flower is generally found in the following forms: button, daisy, decorative and spider (or quill). The size, color, height and time of bloom make it one of the most popular fall flowers for bouquets and arrangements.

BABY’S BREATH ( Gypsophila paniculata) – This is the delicate name for the “work horse” of arrangements. Colors range from white to pink to blushed purple. Baby’s breath can be coupled with flowers and greenery to create fullness and depth or stand-alone in an interesting container, or elegant vase.

THE ORNAMENTS OF AUTUMN

Fall wedding decorations can be more than colorful cut flowers. A medley of textures such as beautiful berries, fall foliage, and autumn accessories create the look of a bountiful harvest.
Consider the use of berries when decorating tables, window ledges, archways or columns.

Autumn Berries

Rusty Rose Hips
Red Nandina
Red or Black Aronia Berries
Flaming Pyracantha
Orange Pepper Berry
Orange Cotoneaster
Rustic Bittersweet Vine

Burnt Sienna Hypericum Berry
Pink Pepper Berry
Blue Privet Berry
Fall Blueberries
Green or Red Viburnum Berry
Cranberries

Cuttings from fall foliage make stunning centerpieces and arrangements.

Autumn Foliages

Red Oak Leaf Hydrangeas
Red Dogwood Branches
Red Huckleberry
“Redbore” Kale
Liquid Amber Branches
Yellow Maple
Vine Maple Branches
Eggplant Smoke Bush

Green Cherry Laurel
“Illumination” Periwinkle
“Bright Lights” Swiss Chard
“Ogon” Japanese Sweet Flag
“Yellow Ripple” English Ivy
Black-Eyed Susan Vines
Grapevines

Don’t forget autumn accessories add interest.

Autumn Wedding Decorations

Apples, Pears, Persimmons, Pomegranates and Artichokes
Grains, Nuts, Melons, and Gourds
Dried Garland or Flowers
Spanish Moss

Ribbons that reinforce the color scheme
Raffia
Woven Baskets
Colorful Pottery

FALL WEDDING DECORATING TIPS

Continue an autumn atmosphere your guests will remember by considering the following areas for decoration. These locations may be enhanced by the use of flowers, berries, foliage and accessories.

THE WEDDING CEREMONY: The altar, columns, candelabra, backdrop for the ceremony, archways, podium, for Jewish weddings the chuppah, the aisle, end of pews, communion rails, vestibule, guest book table, doors leading to the sanctuary, and stair rails outside the entrance.

THE RECEPTION: The entry area, place card table, buffet table centerpieces, table arrangements, head table design, free standing decorations, candles, stage decor, wedding cake and cake table and restrooms.

The wide variety of fall wedding flowers and large array of berries, foliage and accessories make autumn a wonderful time of year for your special celebration. Whether your theme is large and elegant, or intimate and casual – let a professional florist customize an unforgettable fall wedding for you!

Photo by C & C Sensations, a local florist in Waynesboro VA.

Find a local florist to help create your fall wedding flowers.
Planning a wedding? Check out Wedding and Party Network for all of your wedding needs.

Filed Under: Floral Design, Trends, Wedding Flowers Tagged With: Autumn Flowers, Autumn Weddings, Fall, Fall Color, Fall Flowers, Fall Inspiration, Fall Trends, Fall Weddings, Flower Trends, Wedding, Wedding Bouquets, Wedding Ceremony Flowers, Wedding Decorations, Wedding Flowers, Wedding Reception Flowers, Wedding Tips

Decorating Ideas For A Wedding Reception

September 14, 2003 by Kelly Curtis 1 Comment

What is true of nearly every wedding is the fact that the guests spend far more time at the reception than they do at the ceremony. So when it comes to flowers, the astute bride will focus more of her attention, and her budget, on decorating the wedding reception. The ideas are as varied and unique as each individual bride, but the primary goal is always the same: to provide a happy and memorable experience for the guests and the bridal party alike. And flowers are, of course, the obvious choice for creating a festive and celebratory mood.

Find Your Reception Theme & Stick With It

Among the most important ideas in decorating for a wedding reception is to establish a specific theme and stick with it throughout the venue. This may be based on a particular color or color harmony, or a certain motif, such as a heart or a fleur-de-lis, which is repeated in all the decorations. Very often, the color scheme is related to the color of the bridesmaids’ dresses; when the attendants enter the room, they complement the environment with their colorful presence. Tablecloths, napkins, and flowers are then selected to coordinate with the gowns. It is important to consider the existing colors in the room as well, even when it comes to selecting the bridesmaids’ dresses.

Reception Entryway Flowers

The wedding guests’ entry experience will greatly influence their mood at the reception. This is an area which should be emphasized for maximum impact. Decorating ideas include hanging garlands of fragrant blossoms over the doorway, flanking the entrance with grand floral arrangements or masses of foliage plants, hanging heart-shaped wreaths of flowers on the doors, swagging fabric overhead, or strewing the floor with rose petals. Miniature twinkle lights can certainly add to the festive atmosphere, and may be incorporated into trees or garlands.

Free-standing Flower Arrangements

Free-standing floral arrangements, strategically positioned around the room, can contribute greatly to the wedding reception decorating plan. One idea is to stuff the canopy of a rented ficus tree with flowers, creating a large-scale floral topiary. Or place extravagant, cascading flower arrangements atop tall columns, which may be situated among the tables or around the dance floor. These large scale designs can do a lot to dramatize the room, and create a sense of intimacy among the guests.

Decorating The Wedding Cake Area

The wedding cake is a primary focal point at every reception, and should be decorated accordingly. Stage the cake in a prominent position in the room, on a special table of its own. Consider creating a backdrop of foliage, flowers, screens, or fabric, since this will be a setting where many photographs will be taken. Drape the table in layered linens to emphasize the importance of the scene, and elevate the cake on a large platter or silver plateau to make it more prominent. Of course, fresh flowers will always enhance the wedding cake itself as well as the table. One lovely decorating idea is to position the cake on top of a clear glass disk, perhaps 24″ or 30″ in diameter, which is supported by glass bricks. Fresh flowers can then be arranged beneath the cake, gracefully spilling out onto the table from under the glass as the cake seems to float.

Reception Finishing Touches

To add a charming and sentimental personal touch to the wedding reception decor, place framed photographs of the bride’s and groom’s parents from their own wedding days on the cake table or the guest book podium. It’s a loving expression of heritage and gratitude.

The individual guest tables provide unlimited opportunities to personalize the reception decorations. Consider clustering several small vases of fresh flowers into a larger composite centerpiece. Guests can then take the individual bouquets home as a memento of the happy event. Placing the vases atop mirrors, and interspersing votive candles and glass gems, adds a dimension of sparkling light to the completed tablescape.

Your local florist has lots of other creative decorating ideas for a wedding reception. Call or visit today, and begin planning an unforgettably special event.

Filed Under: Newsletters, Wedding Flowers Tagged With: Wedding Decorations, Wedding Flowers, Wedding Reception Flowers, Wedding Tips

Beautiful Wedding Flower Pictures

August 15, 2003 by Kelly Curtis Leave a Comment

The wedding season is here, and brides-to-be across the country are busily planning the details of their nuptials. From the gowns to the food, from the invitations to the music…. and including, of course, the flowers…. careful decisions are being made which will assure a beautiful and memorable event. It is, after all, meant to be a once in a lifetime experience, and every detail must be perfect.

The Right Wedding Bouquet For Photographs

But no matter how lovely a wedding may be, the fact is that once the festivities are over, it will be the pictures of the event which remain as a permanent record of all those beautiful wedding flowers. Thus, it’s very important to choose bouquets and other floral decorations which will be seen to their best advantage in photographs. A professional florist who has experience in designing for the camera can be an invaluable ally in making sure that your wedding flower pictures are just as beautiful as were the flowers themselves.

The Camera ‘Sees’ Things Differently

Remember that a camera lens “sees” things differently than a human eye… For example, a camera does not perceive depth as well as a person can. For that reason, open spaces within a bouquet should be exaggerated in order to keep the flowers from appearing as one big blob in the photographs.

Dealing With Flash

Flash photography can make the problem even worse, as the bright flash of light tends to flatten out the subject being photographed. This is especially true when dealing with monochromatic (all one color) combinations of flowers. By carefully combining a variety of textures within the bouquet, which will create an interplay of light and shadow, a professional floral designer can compensate for the flash effect and help ensure that the wedding flower pictures will be exquisite.

For instance, hydrangea blossoms, with their rounded form and fluffy, soft texture, have become very popular wedding flowers in recent years. Combine them with velvety-petaled roses or waxy, star shaped stephanotis flowers, and you’ll have the beginnings of a picture perfect bouquet. The variety and contrast among the forms and textures of these flowers will help them stand out from each other in photographs.

Dark Flowers

Color is an important consideration for wedding flower pictures as well. Keep in mind that dark, receding hues such as burgundies, purples, blues and deep greens can appear black in photographs, and may turn out looking like black holes in a floral arrangement or bouquet which was gorgeously colored in real life. Appropriate lighting and a skilled photographer can help compensate for this difficulty. Still, it’s a good idea to anticipate the problem beforehand and work with your local florist to create wedding designs which are easier to photograph.

Visit our gallery of wedding flower pictures to see images of all kinds of wedding- appropriate blossoms and blooms. Then consult your professional florist for expert assistance in creating a beautiful and memorable event…. one which will live forever in superb pictures as well as in the hearts and minds of your guests.

Filed Under: Newsletters, Tips & Tricks, Wedding Flowers Tagged With: Floral Photography, Tips & Tricks, Wedding Tips

Fabulous Wedding Day Flowers

April 14, 2002 by Kelly Curtis 1 Comment

As spring fever rises with the temperatures, newly engaged brides-to-be will soon be planning the wedding flowers for their upcoming nuptials. In an earlier post, we discussed some of the special details that can be incorporated into the wedding bouquet flowers and the personal flowers for members of the wedding party. Here we’ll take a look at some ways to add personality to the flower arrangements at the wedding ceremony and reception.

Aisle Flowers For The Wedding Ceremony

Flowers can really make the mood of a wedding, and floral arrangements created with an eye for stylish detail will be remembered long after the bride has gone down the aisle. Speaking of the aisle, this is an area which is a focal point for the ceremony and ought to be treated as such. For example, the aisle can be transformed into a veritable garden by placing clusters of flowers and foliage at the ends of the pews. These floral clusters may be accented with a cascade of ribbons or sheer tulle for an even more romantic effect. Or for a sophisticated alternative, the ends of the pews may be swagged with fabric which matches or coordinates with the bridesmaids’ dresses and is tied into an over-scale, Dior bow. Alternate the bows with floral torchieres created on inverted cones covered in gilded leaves.

Protecting Aisle Decorations

For a really elegant feeling, the aisle may be “closed”, meaning that garlands of flowers or fabric are draped between the pews, preventing access from the center aisle which is reserved, untrampled and pristine, for the bride and her wedding party who enter on a white cloth runner (guests are seated from the sides).

Guestbook Table Flowers

The guest book podium provides another opportunity for flowers to delight the wedding guests. Consider laying a garland of fresh and fragrant blossoms across the book stand, and later it can be reused around the base of the wedding cake or at the head table. Or place a simple but gorgeous hand-tied nosegay into a small vase near the book. Add long, flouncy ribbon streamers, and afterwards the bride can lift it from the vase and reuse it as her tossing bouquet at the reception.

Wedding Reception Flowers

Wedding guests typically spend more time at the reception than at the ceremony, so this is an area where the wedding flowers can have maximum impact. Enhancing the guests’ entry experience here will create a lovely ambiance for the rest of the celebration. This can be achieved by hanging flowers over the doors to the room, flanking the entrance with large arrangements of aromatic flowers or lighted ficus trees, and letting the room with sparkle with candlelight.

Wedding Cake Flowers

The cake itself can be the centerpiece of the wedding reception. Consider placing it at the entry to the room where all the guests will encounter it as they come inside. Drape the cake table in a tulle skirt to which fresh rose petals have been glued, and pull the corners up into peaks which are accented with clutches of more, full blown roses tied with shimmery satin ribbons. Complete the tablescape by tucking roses and stephanotis blossoms between the cake layers and on the top…..scrumptious!

Head Table Flowers

What’s the most romantic new trend at the wedding reception? Do away with the onerous head table with its sometimes prickly political alliances, and seat the bride and groom at a small private table for two which is elaborately layered with luxurious linens. Position the table in the center of the room, surrounded by all the other guests, place some glimmering candles and an intimately designed wedding centerpiece in the middle, and add coordinating fresh floral garlands to the backs of the chairs.

The Ultimate Wedding Flower Detail

Of course the ultimate, memorable detail among wedding flowers is to place vases of them in the restrooms, which will surprise and delight the guests. This sort of attention to their comfort certainly heightens the festive occasion.

Your local professional florist has a lot of other ideas for personalizing your wedding flowers and creating an unforgettable experience for everyone who attends. Call to set up an appointment for a wedding consultation today.

Rustic Wedding – Aisle Flowers photo by Back to the Fuchsia, a flower shop in Saugatuck MI.

Filed Under: Newsletters, Trends, Wedding Flowers Tagged With: Wedding Decorations, Wedding Flowers, Wedding Reception Flowers, Wedding Tips

Hydrangea Wedding Bouquet Design Tips

The Growing Affect of Multi-Cultural Weddings