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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.
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.
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.
Selecting, arranging and
preserving your wedding
flowers is an art.
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 walkthrough
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.
A professional floral
designer does more than
simply purchase and
arrange flowers.
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.
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.
photography courtesy of:
Eyes 2 See Photography
floral:
Brady’s Floral Gallery |
