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Weddings and flowers seem to be meant for each other. Like a well-matched couple, flowers and weddings bring out the best in each other. What would a wedding be without a floral counterpart to communicate to the world that this truly is a once-in-a-lifetime event?
Mother Nature herself makes it difficult to make decisions when it comes to wedding flowers. Because there are so many lovely flowers and fabulous scents to choose from, selecting the blooms for such an important celebration can overwhelm even the most decisive bride. Relax. This is one case when too much of a good thing is fantastic. Floral designers who specialize in weddings in the Southwest are ideal partners to assist in the wonderful decision- making ahead of you.
Narrowing Your Choices Whether you choose the stylish sophistication of calla lilies or lighthearted bouquets of wildflowers, or the heady scent of garden roses and gardenias, the flowers you choose will make a statement, enhancing the romance of your joyous day.
Lorraine Cooper of Brady’s Floral Gallery suggests that the best time to begin consulting with floral designers is after making several key decisions about the wedding celebration. Once the wedding date, location and color scheme have been chosen, it’s time to discuss the flowers. It’s also helpful to have some idea of the color scheme and to clip photographs of arrangements that appeal to you in preparation for your floral consultations, according to Suzanne Taussig of Flora Europa. She recommends that brides come to their floral consultation with “a vision of what they want their guests to see.” Don’t worry about knowing the names of all the flowers—that’s the florist’s job.
Other thoughts to ponder: Do you have a color scheme that you would like to incorporate into the floral design? Bridal bouquets don’t have to be all white.Many brides favor the visual impact of bright blooms against a white or ivory dress. On the other hand, Taussig is seeing a resurgence in all-white bouquets this year. The reason? “It’s one way of becoming very angelic.”
This isn’t to say that color is taking a back seat. Phoenix bridal parties are making the most of the colorful arrangements as well. Some brides carry a color scheme throughout the arrangements, but execute the look using many different types of flowers. For example, attendants’ bouquets might be comprised of varying combinations of pink hydrangea, pink roses and pink freesia.
Also consider what time of day your wedding will take place. Heat could be a definite factor in how well the blooms hold up. Will air conditioning help keep your flowers fresh during the ceremony and reception or will your festivities take place outdoors? Consider the growing season. Some flowers are more readily available at certain times of the year. Freshness is key!
However, barring natural disasters, virtually any flower can be purchased from somewhere in the world at any time of year. Generally, selecting flowers “in season” may allow you to get more for your flower budget.
Speaking of budget, establish one early in the process. Interviewing two or three key floral designers will give you a good idea of how much you can expect to spend on your ceremony and reception flowers. It is not at all unusual for the floral budget for a simple wedding (including bridal party flowers and ten reception tables) to exceed $3,000. While every celebration is unique, you can expect to pay between $5,000 and $10,000 for floral design when you add the decoration of the wedding and reception sites.
This price tag may cause some brides to consider having a friend or family member take on the floral design duties. Before making such a decision, remember two words: preparation and service.
Selecting, arranging and preserving your wedding flowers is an art. Whether you choose hand-tied bouquets of a single flower type, or more varied arrangements, there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes in giving your celebration its “flower power.”
Taussig explains that flowers go through an extensive hydration process in preparation for their starring role in Arizona weddings. This hydration process, which is absolutely critical in the arid Southwest, helps maintain the dewy freshness of your blooms from the moment your flowers are placed, through the photographs and onto the reception. Simply placing a bouquet of roses in a holder or vase will not ensure that they survive the day’s festivities.
As for service, a professional floral designer does more than simply purchase and arrange flowers. A pre-wedding walk-through at your wedding and reception sites will ensure that the designs will be made in the proper scale and that nothing is overlooked. An experienced designer will be able to suggest details that will enhance the overall look of your event while maintaining the budget that you have established. “You need to be absolutely confident,” cautions Cooper, “that your florist will make your vision a reality.”
Your design team is responsible for transporting and placing all flowers in their appropriate locations, pinning corsages and boutonnieres on each person of honor, and troubleshooting any dilemmas that may arise prior to the wedding. In addition, a professional will bring along a toolkit to repair or replace any blooms that become broken, discolored or damaged along the way.
Those concerned about maintaining their budget may consider using a “signature flower” in strategic ways throughout the design, while filling in with more readily available blooms in other places. It’s always a good idea to be creative and flexible.
For example, a bride who loves peonies might incorporate them into the bouquets, while using popular candlescaping as table decoration at the reception. “Candlescaping is an easy way to add softness and romance to a room,” observes Taussig.
Another way to mind the budget is to avoid scheduling your wedding near Valentine’s Day, Christmas, Easter or Mother’s Day, when farms traditionally raise their prices to take advantage of the high demand for flowers.
The Bride ’s Bouquet The bridal bouquet is among the most important considerations when choosing blooms for your special day. As Cooper recommends, consider the bouquet as part of the bride’s wedding attire. Much like the jewelry she wears, the bouquet should complement her gown.
Depending on the style of the bouquet and the blooms selected, floral designers typically spend several hours alone preparing a bridal bouquet, and with good reason: the bouquet will be the most-photographed and most fondly remembered of all the wedding flowers.
Trends in bouquets run the gamut from ethereal all-white creations to combinations of color that really “pop” against a traditional white wedding gown. As with so many wedding details, personal preference will generally be a bride’s guide. In recent months, Cooper has seen brides stepping away from tightly arranged bouquets, with a trend toward more loosely gathered and hand-tied arrangements.
Rooms of Blooms Consider ceremony flowers to decorate the altar, church pews or rows of chairs. Will the aisle runner be adorned with flower petals? Floral decorations on arbors, gazebos and other structures present where the bride and groom will exchange their vows will add an air of romance as well. Cast-concrete pillars, ornate urns, rustic metal stands, shepherd’s hooks and trellises can be rented or purchased to add to the drama of your floral design. If budget is an issue, you might consider ceremony arrangements that can be relocated to the reception site, allowing the flowers to do double-duty.
The location and degree of formality of your wedding will help define your choices for decorating your reception site. Centerpieces for tables at the reception, the cake table, and blooms to decorate the reception site should all be a part of your floral checklist. Among other floral considerations: table arrangements, wreaths, loose petals, stairway decorations, candelabra, buffet table and bar decorations.
Thanks a Bunch Choosing the right floral designer has a lot to do with experience, personality and style (yours and theirs). Some florists lean toward classic lines and traditional arrangements, while others have a more avant garde style. Referrals from family and friends, recommendations from your wedding vendor team and personal interviews are the tried-and-true methods for finding a florist who will make your dreams come true. |
