Weddings

Every bride desires to make her wedding day special, and her wedding flowers - the choice of floral theme, color and display- is one of the most effective and fun ways to do so. For centuries, brides have carried bouquets and decorated wedding sites with floral arrangements. Today, the range of exciting possibilities is endless, providing an opportunity to set a distinctive tone for your wedding. Browse our wedding floral guide, and gain the confidence plan your wedding flowers and the ability to design a floral theme that reflects your unique personality and wows your guests. Along the way, learn to work with your florist, and your floral budget, to execute it.

Getting Started – An Overview:
Aside from the bouquet you spring for each Mother’s Day, chances are you’re a novice when it comes to flowers. However, now you are a bride–to–be planning your dream wedding, and suddenly you must make decisions on bouquets, boutonnières, reception centerpieces and ceremony arrangements. Overwhelming? We know! Fortunately, we are here to guide you through this process so you can enjoy planning your wedding flowers without wilting from the stress. Read through these useful tips gathered from experts in the field.

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Get a Mock Up
To ensure that wedding flowers that are the correct style and color on your wedding day - ask your florist to provide a mock-up of each floral item ordered. Reputable shops should be able to do this.

— Scott Seltzer, Embellished - Princeton, WI

Scaled to Size
Your bridal bouquet should be no larger than your face or head; even a cascading bouquet should be about as wide as your face. Extra large bouquets overpower the bride and photograph well.

— Pamela Carpman, Price Images - Marshfield, MA

Come Prepared
Before meeting with your florist, collect a variety of images from bridal magazines and websites. On the corner or back of each one, write mini-editorials about what you like or don’t like. (i.e. - I like the colors, don’t like the shape, are these flowers available, can I have the same bow, etc.) After awhile, you’ll have a very specific idea about your likes and dislikes and will be able to articulate them clearly to your florist.

—Kathie Colella- Jardiniere - Portsmouth, NH

Make it Count
In decorating your event spaces, remember the importance of your guests’ first impressions as they enter your ceremony or reception settings. Brides often spend a lot of money on things that go largely unnoticed. If budget is a concern, first spend on areas that are the most noticeable - such as arrangements in the entrance way or candles on ledges, windowsills or walkways.

—Loretta Barnes - Amaranth Florist - Narberth, PA

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Bridal Boutique Expectations and Tips

Visiting bridal boutiques can be a new experience unlike any you’ve experienced. Here are some tips to help set your expectations:

1 Making Appointments
Once you’re ready to try on dresses, make appointments with bridal boutiques. Don’t be shy about asking if they carry a particular designer or if they have dresses within your budget. Most bridal boutiques will carry dresses that are in the $1,000 and under range. There are upscale bridal boutiques that offer designer/couture dresses that begin in the $3,000 range and go quite a bit higher.

Allocate approximately 1-2 hours per visit. Some boutiques are extremely busy on the weekends and may only give you an hour with their sales person. If you have the time on the weekdays, it’s a good idea to schedule your visit during this time. Bridal shops are generally not as busy on weekdays and are more generous with their time.

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APPROPRIATE ATTIRE
The groom and groomsmen attire should be tied into the formality of the wedding, as well as the time of day and season. A casual, garden wedding at high noon in mid-August may not be the best setting for a black wool tuxedo. A navy, lightweight blazer and linen slacks would be more appropriate, both for fashion and comfort.

BASIC FORMALWEAR “TERMS-OF-ART”
Ascot: Also referred to as a cravat; double-knot tie with wide ends that fold over the chest and is fastened with a stickpin. Usually worn with a winged-collar tuxedo shirt and a cutaway or morning coat; this look is most appropriate for a very formal morning wedding.

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It is the company of friends and family that make a wedding memorable. Rewarding those who come to share your special day with a thoughtful favor gift is a wonderful way to show your appreciation. Choosing wedding favors that excite the senses give your guests a chance to relive the pleasure of your wedding day.

The latest trends in wedding favors are those that create an experience for your guests long after the wedding is over. Unique wedding favors are more than just a souvenir. The most unique wedding favors will engage the senses of your guests and recreate the festivities of your special day. Here we’ll take at five of the hottest wedding favor ideas:

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The destination wedding reception theme is growing in popularity each year. Many brides and wedding planners realize that basing their event’s decor around a particular locale or setting helps them finalize details and more easily make decisions on decorations, food, favors, and especially atmosphere. Destinations can be real, for example Paris or Aruba; they can be abstract, for example beach themed receptions or Asian-influenced events; or, they can be based on a particular interest or pastime for the bride and groom. For example, I once worked a wedding reception in which the bride made everything fairytale – there were fairy statuettes at each table and the bridesmaids were dressed in gowns suggesting woodland nymphs. The guests were given candles tied with silver ribbon as a favor, symbolic of a light leading them through enchanted woods.

When planning a destination wedding, a lot of ambiance is communicated through the selection of favors. Later, these same mementos serve to remind the guests of the fun and splendor of the reception. Favors can do more than just communicate gratitude – in many ways, they are the souvenir of the reception, the reminder given to guests to commemorate their time at your festivities. As such, the favor assumes a special importance, and should be selected with consideration and care by the bride and wedding planner alike.

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Favor Facts - A Guide to Selecting the Perfect Wedding Favor

I am amazed at how often I am asked about this topic. Most brides are lost when trying to select the perfect favor to give guests. Why? Well, I believe that it has to do with the current changes in the industry. Weddings are becoming less “stick to the formal etiquette” and more personal. Brides and Grooms are older, more established and more fiscally responsible for their own events.

Favors were originally designed to share in the joyous occasion and pass along good luck to guests. They have since evolved to thanking guests for sharing in their event and to provide a memento of the day. So, how do you choose the perfect one? Well, first of all, let’s go over the types of favors generally given to guests and the pro’s/con’s of each.

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Wedding favors
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wedding favors are small gifts given as a gesture of appreciation or gratitude to guests from the bride and groom during a wedding ceremony or a wedding reception.

The tradition of distributing wedding favors is a very old one. It is believed that the first wedding favor, common amongst European aristocrats, was known as a bonbonniere. A bonbonniere is a small trinket box made of crystal, porcelain, and/or precious stones. The contents of these precious boxes were generally sugar cubes or delicate confections, which symbolize wealth and royalty. (In this era, sugar was an expensive commodity and was treasured only among the wealthy. It was believed that sugar contained medical benefits).[citation needed] As the price of sugar decreased throughout centuries, the tradition of providing gifts to guests reached the general populace and was embraced by couples of modest means.

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Wedding favors have a heritage dating back to the early Roman dynasty. It’s a fun tradition shared by many cultures and in American society, it has become an integral part of traditional wedding etiquette. So, just what is a wedding favor? It’s a thoughtful memento presented to wedding guests from the wedding couple, in appreciation for sharing their special wedding day. Traditionally almonds, chocolates, cookies, as well as a host of sweets, have been given throughout the years. But, today’s couples are opting for a more personalized, creative direction with their favors. Today, favors range from small picture frames, custom labels on wine bottles, custom flower seed packets, candy bars sporting a personalized wrapper, small cake slice shaped boxes, to snow globes. The list is endless since favors can be just about anything that the bride and groom dream a special memento for their guests.

Make it unique and thoughtful
Select favors that uniquely reflect your personal sense of style and will create a lasting impression with your guests. Gifts that your guests can actually use are always appreciated. Some couples provide cultural favors that reflect their heritage while others choose gifts that will bring a smile and highlight their sense of fun.

What’s HOT this Season?

One item that’s big this year and has that sense of fun is; those inexpensive cardboard boxes with a wire handle that contain your take-out or extra food from restaurants. The range of sizes and colors makes them ideal for containing a wide variety of treasures. Many boxes get decorated with fun Japanese symbols, bows, ribbon, chopsticks, tropical drink umbrellas, and photos. Not only do they make for a cute package, they make ideal cake boxes for guests that wish to take their cake with them. Consider filling the boxes with rich chocolates in fun shapes such as pennies, footballs, globes and more, or take the traditional route and fill with chocolate almonds. The take-out boxes allow couples a wide range of personalization options. Think of themes that reflect your personality or hobbies and add graphics on the outside of the boxes that accentuate the contents. I’ve also seen the Chinese take-out boxes used as wedding invitations and announcements complete with Chinese cookies that reveal a personalized message of good fortune.

So, if you decide to thank your guests with favors, there are many shapes and styles and in a range of prices sure to fit your plans. Thanking your guests is up to you and how you envision adding your own personal stamp. Who says “you can’t take it with you”?

by Lisa Hughes

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Winter Weddings…what a thought! Its just turning to fall and the wind is howling and the rain is battering. Not weather you would even consider weddingyish, huh?
Don’t think of the howling winds though. Instead imagine snow covered mountain peaks rising majestically from fir tree covered foothills. Close your eyes and take a deep breathe in the crisp, pine scented air. That is what a winter wedding is all about!

Imagine the ski lodge in the distance with its welcoming real woodburning fire, the winter sun sparkling off the crisp white snow and the sky as blue as can be. You are assured a day of fairytale proportions.

When it comes to your color scheme think red and green. Not Santa suit and holly leaves, but rich burgundy or plum and a forest green that the pine trees would be proud of. Think fur hats and mufflers with black boots and long coats. Think traditional and old fashioned.
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