Wedding Flowers
Trends & Tips
Fashion Wedded to Flowers |
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Today's bride has very little in common with the shy and sheltered young
woman beloved of eighteenth century novelists. The woman who is planning her
wedding this year does her communicating on the Internet, and lives an
active lifestyle juggling career, social and personal interests. The one
thing she shares with the bride from an earlier century, however, is the
deeply held belief that her wedding day should be absolutely perfect. And
"perfect" for a modern day bride means a wedding that is increasingly
creative and personal.
Today's weddings are crafted and presented as carefully as stage
productions. What makes it possible is the incredible number of wedding
styles a bride can choose from and the corresponding array of fashions
available to her. And to help her pull it all together, creatively and
with ease, is the expert guidance of a professional florist.
A major new development is the choice of flowers for the wedding being
used to underscore and enhance the general motif of the day. According
to the Society of American Florists and the American Institute of Floral
Designers, three popular bridal trends with new interpretations are
emerging: royal garden, romantic sophistication, and contemporary chic.
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Royal Garden
The Fashion
Gently shaped wedding gown of silk voile, slim silhouette, widely scooped
neckline, slightly lifted waist, fullness to the back ending in a small
train.
The Setting
A summer pavilion, stone urns on pedestals, garden trellis woven with
flowering vines.
The Bridal Bouquet
Flowers with an old-world European garden flair such as, fragrant and
regal Casablanca lilies combined with peonies and astilbe enhanced with
a french-braided ribbon.
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 Romantic
Sophistication
The Fashion
A smoothly fitted lace wedding gown with an overskirt of filmy tulle
bursting into fullness just below the waist.
The Setting
Circular tables double-draped with short cloth over long; silver
candelabra entwined with foliage.
The Bridal Bouquet
An abundance of soft, romantic roses or a single Duchess rose bud
centered in a cluster of individual rose petals highlighted by
variegated ivy and silk streamers.
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Contemporary Chic
The Fashion
Body-conscious column cut completely on the bias with trumpet hem in
four-ply silk jersey, penne velvet or matte finished satin.
The Setting
Low light, high ceilings, jardinieres on fluted columns, glass-top tables
with architectural bases, champagne flutes.
The Bridal Bouquet
Simple, yet dramatic... pristine callas as the major design element,
unexpectedly combined with freesia and punctuated with lily grass.
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| Within these three newly interpreted trends, as
well as many others, each can be personalized. By working with her florist,
the bride-to-be can start to paint the picture of her "perfect" wedding day
and feel confident that it will be carried out with elegance and ease by a
professional who knows how to beautifully translate her personal style. |
| Tips on Working with Your Local Florist |
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Before contacting your florist, select the date, time and
place for your wedding and reception, and know the colors and style of the
gowns you and your bridesmaids have selected.
Look through bridal books and floral guides. Sketch ideas, cut out
pictures or take photographs of flowers to show your florist. By sharing
your ideas and personal style, your florist will be able to translate your
concepts and special requests into workable floral designs and
arrangements that are just right for you.
Set up an initial consultation with your florist to discuss specific
design ideas that fit both your personal style and budget. Make
arrangements for your florist to visit both the ceremony and reception
sites. Before leaving the first consultation a second appointment should
be planned to review recommendations and budget.
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Creative Ideas for Wedding and Reception Flowers |
At the Ceremony
Adorn the ceremony entrance with flower-filled urns (move to reception
later).
Use flowers and candlelight at different levels to give dimension to
design.
Use a single rose to mark the seats of both the groom's and bride's
mothers.
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At the Reception
Garland the center of the head table with flowers and foliage; add
votives.
Use bridesmaid's bouquets to create a more lavish buffet table
decoration or to surround the cake.
Have your florist create guest table centerpieces with 4-5 separate
clusters of flowers so that each couple can take a centerpiece component
home.
Float large fragrant flowers such as open roses or gardenias in crystal
containers with votives.
Sprinkle rose petals on the cake table and walkways; toss rose petals
instead of rice.
Have the "throw-away" bouquet double as a cake top.
Decorate goblets and cake knives with flowers.
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Source: Society of American Florists
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