Monday, December 14, 2009

Top 6 Guide to Winter Wedding Floral Success






Winter wedding bouquets can be very classy and elegant when cared for properly.. Many beautiful flowers and foliages are available  to create a ladies `s floral dream winter wedding .However you will follow these steps to make sure your winter wedding flowers make it to the altar in one piece!

Top 6 Winter Wedding Flower Success Guide

6. Special considerations such as protecting fresh wedding flowers from freezing are necessary for winter weddings. Use floral boxes lined with foam insulation to transport all the flowers from the church to the hall. (ask your local florist to save one for you)  Have one person in charge of distributing the flowers and collecting them for transport from place to place.

5.Choose a seasonally appropriate color scheme.  The most popular flower colors for winter weddings are red, white, burgundy, gold, silver and ice blue.

4. There are plenty of winter wedding flowers available today due to commercial greenhouses and importing from warmer climates. Amongst the most popular winter flowers suitable for wedding bouquets, there are gerberas, carnations, roses, baby`s breath, white chrysanthemums, alstromeria lilies, Casablanca lilies, calla lilies and Asiatic lilies.

3. Sparkly flowers add magic to any winter wedding bouquet. You can uses white flat chrysanthemums or daisies. They can be bought pre-sparkled from your local florist.  You can also buy floral sparkle spray at your local craft store to add festive cheer to all your wedding arrangements and any type of flower.

2. For a final touch, shimmering brooches, crystal or pearl pins and ribbons in golds and silvers are at the top of the list for winter elegance.  Add them to your wedding bouquets, corsages, boutonnieres and centerpieces.

1.Of course if you are lucky enough to be getting married in a tropical location, the natural choice for your winter wedding bouquet would be orchids combined with roses or with other tropical blooms such as birds of paradise, anthurium or ginger.

Enjoy your winter wedding and Happy Holidays!
Flower Gyrl
P.S. If you are just planning for a future winter wedding, you can find out how to make your own wedding flowers and save lots of money by coordinating your own wedding arrangements. All it takes is the will to do it and my book: Unleash Your Inner Florist: How to Make Your Own Wedding & Special Event Flowers

Sunday, September 13, 2009

To Go All White or Not to Go all White


Does a bride’s bouquet have to be all white?
The color of the bride’s bouquet traditionally is all in white with greens. However, today’s bride is free to choose whatever color she prefers or any combination of colors to match the theme colors chosen and to suit the season. She can be as original or traditional as she wishes. Many brides choose to use the same colors for their bouquets as the bridesmaid’s to make all bouquets uniform. However, the bride’s bouquet is always bigger and/or more elaborate than the other girls’ bouquets. Some brides choose to go all white for their bouquet but for the bridesmaids, they use the theme color of their wedding.

Do my bridesmaid’s bouquets and usher’s boutonnieres have to be made with the same flowers as my bride’s bouquet?
The bride’s bouquet determines the entire fl oral look of the wedding. If the bride selects an all rose bouquet, the bridesmaid’s flowers should contain roses also, although their bouquets don’t have to be made only with roses and they could be roses of a diff erent color. The boutonnieres for the groomsmen should also contain some of the same fl owers as your bride’s bouquet. Parents or other participants in the wedding ceremony other than the groomsmen can receive a diff erent variety. For example, if the bride has a 12 rose bouquet, the bridesmaids could each carry a 6 rose bouquet, the groomsmen could have a rose boutonniere and the parents and grandparents might receive a carnation boutonniere or corsage.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Latest Wedding Flower Trends

clipped from www.canada.com
Julie Chan at Thomas Hobbs Florist shows off a cascade-style bouquet.

What kind of flowers do hip young brides-to-be want in their wedding bouquets these days?

Well, roses are still hugely popular, especially classic, traditional creamy white and ivory coloured kinds.

But increasingly the demand today is for more sophisticated colour schemes featuring peonies, orchids, hydrangeas and sweet peas, according to Darlene Meyers-Jackson, of Bouquets, one of Vancouver's busiest event floral designers.

 blog it

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Gerbera Bouquets & Boutonnieres


Trendy Gerberas are the 5th most popular cut flower in the world. These cheerful flowers are in the same family as the daisy and the sunflowers Similar looking to the daisy but much larger, gerberas each have their own individual stem which is a thick tube with no foliage on it. These large lovely flowers are perfect for use in wedding bouquets and centerpieces. The mini gerberas are ideal for corsages and boutonnieres. They are available year round and come in many colors; red, orange, yellow, white, pink and purple. These bright beauties might be the perfect choice for your wedding flowers. They are easy to work with and thus lend themselves perfectly to do it yourself wedding flowers. Following are instructions on how to make Gerbera Wedding Bouquets...


What you will need to make a Gerbera Wedding Bouquet
- 3-9 regular gerberas or sunfl owers depending on your taste and budget
*(make sure your gerberas have the plastic straws on them for best presentation)
- Sheer ribbon
- Floral tape
- Wire
- 4-9 stems of tree fern depending on the amount of fl owers chosen
- 1-2 stems of baby’s breath (optional)
- Vase to fit bouquet

How to Make an all Gerbera Bouquet
Step One
First, gather all your ingredients and lay them out close by on a work table.

Step Two
Take your first gerbera and a piece of tree fern and place them so that they are pretty
even but that the tree fern goes past the flower a bit.

Step Three
Add another flower and your first piece of baby’s breath if you wish to use. Tape all pieces firmly together, about 2 to 3 inches close to the top of the flower head. Pull tightly on the tape for better adhesion but be careful not to pull too hard at the neck since it is the most sensitive part of the flower.

Step Four
Add another flower and another piece of tree fern. Tape your new additions together with the first grouping.

Step Five
Keep adding flowers and other ingredients by taping them to the rest of the bouquet. Always tape close to the top of the bouquet and secure firmly.

Step Six
Once you have added all your floral materials, it’s time to finish your bouquet. To do so, trim the bottom of your stems so that they are all even. Add a bow to one or two sides of the bouquet by wrapping the wire around the same area that you taped the flowers together. Cut off any excess wire.

Step Seven
Finally, you will want to “hide your mechanics” in florist lingo, which means, hide the tape that you used to secure your bouquet together. You can simply glue a piece of ribbon all around the area of the florist tape. For this purpose, it is best to use a ribbon that you cannot see through. You can continue down the stem with your ribbon, just make sure you leave at least 3 inches (7.5cm) at the bottom uncovered to allow you to place it in water to stay fresh.

Step 8
Place your bouquet in water after misting it with water or with an anti-transpirant and store in a vase or bucket in the refrigerator or in a cool area until it is time to hold at the special occasion. Remember to bring a towel to wipe the stems of the bouquet in order to avoid unnecessary drippage.

For more instructions on how to make all types of bouquets and celebration flowers get my book Unleash Your Inner Florist: How to Make Wedding & Special Event Flowers


Sunday, August 23, 2009

How to Save Money on Wedding Flowers

I found these great tips on how to save money on wedding flowers on E-How


Step 1
Use flowers that are in season. They're readily available and cost less than flowers that are out of season. And all flowers cost more during the month of February because of Valentine's Day.

Step 2
Get married on a holiday when the church will already be decorated. Christmas and Easter decorations already set up in a church can make a beautiful backdrop for your wedding.

Step 3
Shrink your bridal party and your guest list. Fewer people mean fewer bouquets and decorations.

Step 4
Coordinate with another bride who is getting married around the same time as you. The two of you might be able to split the cost of flowers.

Step 5
Look outdoors for decorations. An outdoor wedding can save you tons of money on flowers, because you can find a setting that is naturally beautiful.

Step 6
Supplement large arrangements with less expensive flowers. Usually, these arrangements are far away, so your guests won't be able to tell anyway.

Step 7
Create your own arrangements. You can use silk flowers or even flowers from your own garden. And you save a lot of money in the process.

Step 8
Fill spaces with greenery instead of flowers. Large potted plants can be rented for significantly less than flowers. Ivy and other greenery is also beautiful as an accent.

Step 9
Think about fruit and other alternative arrangements. A vase full of fruit is just as eye catching, and it's quite a bit cheaper.

For more wedding flower savings ideas go to:
http://www.ehow.com/how_2104967_save-money-wedding-flowers.html

Monday, August 17, 2009

Summer Wedding Update


Another busy summer for weddings! I thought I`d share with you pictures from a recent wedding I did the flowers for in my hometown of Timmins Ontario. The bride Valérie Allaire was nice enough to give me permission to post these.

These are all bouquets that would be perfect as DIY Wedding Flowers since they are simple to make yet lovely and elegant. The bridal bouquets were composed of white and hot pink roses with tikki and variegated pittosporum foliage. They were assembled by starting at the center, taping 3 flowers and 1 foliage together with floral tape, then adding another 3-4 flowers/foliage and taping to the first bunch, working evenly around the center of the bouquet until you have used up all materials and the bouquet looks nice & round. The bride`s bouquet had 12 roses + 1 stem of cymbidium orchid and the bridesmaids had 8 roses + foliage. While many brides tend to want no foliage in their bouquets, greenery really adds texture, depth and makes every bouquet look bigger so you don`t have to use as many flowers and therefore can save money as well.


Her centerpieces stand out because of the brightness of the colors and the beargrass at the bottom of the containers make them really unique. So easy to do too! Just gather 4-6 pieces of either Beargrass or Florida grass, wind them around and place around dish so that they are all evenly distributed throughout holder. Then, place your next largest foliage, in this case I used variegated pittosporum. When you use one foliage in the bouquets, you are best to continue using the same type of foliage in your centerpieces and for your corsages. Same goes for your flowers. Since the bridal bouquets contained roses, I made sure to use roses in the centerpieces as well. Although the centerpieces contained a wider variety of flowers: stargazer lilies, white button mums, Japanese asters, white flat mums; they also contained roses in the same color as the bridal bouquets to have a sense of unity throughout the wedding flowers.


Her cake was stunning topped with freshflowers. In my opinion, no ceramic, plastic or
metal topper can compare with the beauty of fresh flowers; especially when they are well coordinated with the rest of the wedding flowers. This topper was created in an Igloo Holder which is a fresh foam holder designed for this purpose. The bottom of it is flat and the foam is in a half circle to fit perfectly on top of a cake. They come in two sizes but for a typical wedding cake, the small one is used. The flowers on the cake topper are the same varieties as in the centerpieces. I usually start by creating the shape of the holder with medium sized flowers and foliage. I insert stems at the center for the height, and then on each side of the holder to create the boundaries of the holder. After that, it`s all about filling in to complete a perfect half circle shape. Since beargrass was used in the centerpieces, I added them last for added elegance and style. You can try to pick them right into the foam but I find it much easier to attach one or two pieces of the grass to a floral pick, then stick that into the foam. For the extras on the side of the cake, I simply inserted a flower and a piece of foliage into a floral water pick and then covered it up with ribbon by gluing it on.

For more instructions on making your own wedding flowers, my book Unleash Your Inner Florist is a wealth of information. Learn more here: http://www.howtoweddingflowers.com/landing.html?id=SophiaCastonguay




Thursday, August 6, 2009

How to Choose Fantastic Wedding Flowers

Here is an excellent article i found at Brides.com


Tips For Choosing Fantastic Wedding Flowers


They had an interview with a famous florist to get his opinion on choosing wedding flowers.
Celebrity florist Mark Held on famous weddings and getting more bloom for your buck
Wedding Flowers:  Tips for Choosing Fantastic Wedding Flowers







What wedding trends are big right now?

We are seeing some of the wedding designs being affected by the economy right now. We're seeing a return to classic elegance and a little bit less of the over-the-top, flamboyant designs that we saw two and three years ago. There is a concentration on beautiful flowers rather than elaborate props.

What's a common mistake you see brides make?

One mistake that brides make is to not have a budget in mind when they first meet with their florist. You should give your florist an idea of what you want to spend on flowers so that you aren't wasting your time or his or her time. I do get people that come in, and they want the world. Then I'll do the estimate and they'll be like, "Oh, no, we only want New Hampshire."

How can brides get a luxe wedding look for less?

You have to be realistic about your decor, just like everything else in life. What I usually recommend is to concentrate on the areas that show the most and are the most important. For example, you want to concentrate on the focal area of the ceremony. You may want to pull back a little bit on the aisle. It's the ceremony space that guests are seeing and is often the backdrop for so many of your pictures.

You've worked with everyone from Fergie and Josh Duhamel to Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi. What is it like designing weddings for celebrities?

I think it's a little different because most celebrities know that the wedding is going to be photographed and will usually be seen by millions of people. They want to put their best foot forward and present themselves beyond just having a romantic ceremony. So if it's someone like Gwen Stefani, she has such a specific sense of style that we have to reflect that in what we do. For Fergie's wedding that we just did in January, I think the design reflected not only what she wanted, but also the way she and Josh live their lives.

Is it important for a bride to have a vision in place before she meets with her florist or wedding planner?

I think it depends on the bride. I have brides that come in who have a pretty good idea of what they want and what they don't want. I had one bride who had been planning her wedding since she had been five years old! There are other brides that may come in and say, "I don't know what I want." So we start that process and it's interestingpeople do know what they want. They know what they like and they know what they don't like.

Has there been a celebrity wedding that you especially enjoyed designing?

Ellen and Portia's wedding was very interesting because it was a true original. Portia had very specific ideas about what she wanted color wise. I think we did something very original in the design by using very faded pink tones with amnesia roses and faded pink garden roses. It was also something special to be part of that particular wedding because it really made a statement. I think it was the first really major celebrity gay wedding that was out there.

Find the perfect flowers for your wedding with Bride.com`s Flower Finder.

— article by Kathryn Papanek from Brides.com

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Tattooed Brides



Times are a changing....
In years gone by, brides used to cover up their tatoos for their wedding day in order to look all prim and proper. Nowadays, many brides are purposely tatooing their upper bodies in order to personalize their look on their wedding day. Proudly they walk down the aisle with their decorated arms and shoulders to celebrate their love, their way. And who can blame them... I`m a big tattoo fan, especially when they reflect the bride`s personality and style.
Floral print armband or sleeve tattoos are especially suited for wedding showcasing.

Another popular wedding tattoo trend is wedding band tattoos. In an age where the divorce rate is at 50% of weddings, matching ring finger tattoos can be an excellent way for loving couples to showcase their eternal love. Another advantage to wedding ring tattoos for couples who work at careers where rings can be dangerous or forbidden is that the love union will be demonstrated throughout the work day. The simple statement of a celtic wedding band or wedding date in regular or roman numerals on the finger is a wonderful ode to a couple;`s love and wedding day.

Monday, July 20, 2009

Add Bling To Your Wedding Flowers


Bouquet jewelry is the latest trend! Adding sparkle to wedding bouquets, wristlets, boutonnieres and hair pieces, is now an affordable luxury due to many new lines of products available through your local florist or online. Floral jewels vary in size, shape and price. For a touch of glamour, add a few crystals, pearls or glitzy butterflies or dragonflies placed here and there throughout the bouquet.


For a traditional look that will add sparkle to any bridal blooms., add a crystal monogram using you and your husband’s initials. You could also add the initials of a lost loved one on your bouquet for that sentimental touch of glitz. This is a simple way to include their memory on your wedding day. Some companies sell jewels in all types of shapes such as hearts, flowers, diamonds, butterflies, animals, etc.. These can link your theme to your bouquet and add fun in a classy way.
To add jewelry to your bouquet is super easy. Simply insert the pick or pin into the center of each or select flowers. If the jewel is large or medium, you would be best to insert the pick between flowers at the center or central area of your bouquet. Another idea for jewel shapes is to attach them to the stem or to the ribbon wrapped around the stems such as in the picture with the heart crystals. Simply glue them on with a touch of hot glue. Do not use too much as to make spider strands of glue...just a dab will do.

Bridal bouquet jewelry is often used only in the bride`s bouquet but can also be used to add extra glamour to the bridesmaid's flowers, centerpieces, hairpieces, and even the wedding cake. Wristlet corsages can now be composed on bracelets highlighted with ``rhinestones`` in all colors for extra bling to all who will be wearing them. Add between $20-$30 per bracelet at the florist and $10-$15 if creating it yourself at home. Pins to tie the boutonnieres to men`s suits also come in all colors and shapes of ``crystals``and ``diamonds``. Add $8-$15 for these jewel accents to your boutonnieres if you are getting them at the florist or $2-$6 if making yourself at home. Bouquet jewelry is a relatively inexpensive way to create a unique and personalized touch to your special day. They can also be used long after your wedding in other floral arrangements and special occasion centerpieces! Consult your local florist or search for bouquet jewelry online to find these precious accents to make your wedding that much more special.
Find wedding bouquet tools and accents on our ebay store at: http://www.weddingsflowerpower.com

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Throw a Pitch In Party, Have Fun, Get Help!


You want to make your own flowers but don`t think you can handle the job by yourself? Wouldn`t it be nice to have the help of your best friends and closest family members?

Throw a Pitch in Party and get the help you wished for!!

The moral support as well as the helping hands can make the difference between a frazzled bride and a glowing bride. The memories of the Pitch In Party you threw will live on for years and the stunning flowers you created will inspire pride in all who helped out.


The Following exerpt is from this book:
In the case of weddings, anniversaries and family reunions, pitch in parties are great to reunite your most important allies such as your bridal party, mothers, cousins, aunts or other special friends. Even though you will be together on the special day, that day is usually fast paced and filled with excitement. Quality time spent with family and friends before the event or the wedding while assembling the flowers will be remembered as some of your most precious memories. In the case of fundraiser organizers, you can lay the foundation for a great team and create a united spirit for the cause. Volunteers can get to know each other better and many will truly enjoy working with fresh flowers. You can accomplish a lot with the help of helpful volunteers, and/or with your inner circle of family and friends. You can also save lots of money and have fun while you are creating beautiful flowers. When groups of people come together for a common goal, there are bound to be some who love making crafts. Enlisting their help will make them feel special and they will glow with pride along with you when the compliments start flowing at the event.
Items that are perfect candidates for Pitch-in Parties
1) Favors
2) Invitations
2) Centerpieces
3) Bouquets
4) Body Flowers such as boutonnieres and corsages
5) Wrapped Flowers
6) Hand-Tied Bouquets
7) Vase Bouquets
Special Touches for your Party
1) Put out delicious snacks and drinks to keep everyone happy.
2) Play inspiring tunes on the stereo, so that your friends feel like they’re at a party, not just part of an assembly line.
3) Take lots of pictures to be able to include later in a scrapbook.
For more information on how to get organized for a pitch in party, see chapter 9 in

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Save on Wedding Flower Arrangements


I found this great website with all kinds of information and tips on saving money on your wedding. This is where this article comes from. http://www.cheap-wedding-solutions.com/


Successful cheap wedding flower arrangements are all about keeping it simple. You don't have to be the world's best florist to achieve this. Having willing volunteers to complete your flower arrangements always helps as flower arrangements normally get left until the big day and you will have a lot to do. For the first flower arrangement you will need small glass vases, these could be square or you could even use glass jars or finds from your local goodwill store. The idea is to fill all of the space with flowers, great flowers to do this with are Hydrangeas as they are big flowers and you won't need as many or you could use roses. Keep all of the flowers the same color, or shades of the same color and you won't need to worry about having to artfully arrange them. You can use this simple arrangement in a bigger display by using lots of different sizes and shaped vases. Group the vases together for a stunning display.
You can also use a shallow and wide bowl to display flower heads floating in the water, Gerbera work well for this and so do big flower heads of roses, daisies - any flower that is fairly flat so that they stay floating as you want them to.
You could also use the shallow bowls to have rose petals and floating candles, a very simple and inexpensive display and one that is used a lot. Some tables may need height in the display, you can achieve this by buying glass candlesticks and having them sit in the water. The key is to keep it simple. Potted plants also work well as cheap wedding flower arrangements and the added beauty of this is that you can have them ready for your wedding, days before. Group plants together in individual white pots or use the color theme of your wedding, keeping it simple works best. Have the same plant in 3 or 4 pots as your centerpiece. Plants that withstand some serious neglect will mean less stress for you! Herbs such as rosemary, lavender, marjoram and mint would look simple and stylish plus they bring a beautiful scent to the table. Miniature roses, violets, daisies again work well. You can then use your centrepieces as gifts for your guests – they could end up being your favors, saving you even more money. Tie a label to each plant, you could personalize them with your guest’s name and a thank you from you bot

Thursday, July 9, 2009

How to Make a Boutonniere



1) Difference between boutonnieres & corsages:
The essential difference between a boutonniere & a corsage is the bow. Boutonnieres are for men and do not have a bow. Corsages are for women and usually have a bow and are fancier.

2) What you need:
What you will need to make your boutonnieres are: florist tape, florist wire, floral shears, 1 rose or other flower per boutonniere (smaller flowers often look better as boutonnieres and would be most welcomed by the men in your life- small roses are called sweetheart roses), leather leaf or other type of foliage, baby’s breath if desired, plastic baggie, pin

3) When to make your boutonnieres:
These should be the last flowers you create as close to your wedding time as possible since they have no water source. Ideally, you would make them the night before the wedding. If not possible, you can make them during the day on the day before the wedding. Obviously if you choose silk flowers, you can make them as much in advance as you wish.

4) Before Starting:
Before starting gather all your flowers & tools and find a well illuminated and comfortable working area.



10 Steps to Making a Boutonniere

Step One
Lay out all your ingredients on a large table. Take out enough ingredients for 1 to 3 boutonnieres at a time.

Step Two
Prepare your roses in the following manner… Cut your stems to approximately 4”. Wire each rose by piercing the flower head through its base with a half piece of wire approx.10” long. (The ideal wire size is a 22 gauge) See illustration that follows.

Wiring helps ensure sturdiness of boutonniere. If using another type of flower, wiring is not essential. This may seem scary at first, but it is the best way to make your rose boutonnieres secure. Once you have pierced the rose, bend both ends of the wire down along the stem. Tape the entire length of the wire & stem together as one. (To use floral tape, remember that what makes the tape sticky is the stretching of the tape & the heat from your fingers so don’t be afraid to keep the tape very close to your fingers and pull hard) Set roses aside with the other ingredients for your body flowers. If using other type of flower, this step does not apply to you.

Step Three
Assemble the background of your boutonniere. Take 2 pieces of foliage & layer them each slightly off center so that each piece overlaps each other & you can see each piece clearly.

Step Four
Add a little piece of your baby’s breath over the top of your duo of greens. It should be centered so as to cover & overlap the foliage. Keep holding this all together in your left hand (if you are right handed)


Step Five
Add the rose or other flower. Place the rose so that the tip of the foliage extends above the rose for about 1.5 inches.

Step Six
At this point, you now need to secure your main flower to the foliage & baby’s breath together with tape. Make sure to tape tightly from the top of the stem right to the bottom, pull hard to ensure that it is very solidly taped together.

Step Seven
To finish your boutonniere, add another piece of foliage &/or baby’s breath to fill in the bare spot at the front of the main flower. Tape to the rest of the boutonniere.

Step Eight
Add a pin to the back of the stem that will be used to attach the boutonniere to the groom’s or groomsmen’s suit. A pearl headed pin in white or black is best.

Step Nine
Spray boutonniere with a tiny bit of water with a water mister. (often used to mist plants)

Step Ten
Package your boutonniere in a clear baggy.
Baggie types with fold tops work fine. You can then group them in flat top boxes for delivery or transportation. Helpful tip: Label who it’s going on the bag to help with organization of who gets which boutonniere. Keep the flowers cool until time to wear, either in a fridge, or in a cooler. (NEVER put in freezer!) To transport in cooler, place ice or ice packs at the bottom of the cooler. Place medium thick towel over ice. Place body flowers on top.

Learn more about how to choose & make your Wedding Flowers by following this link:
www.howtoweddingflowers.com/unleashinnerflorist/

Monday, July 6, 2009

How Much $$ Can I Save by Making my Own Wedding Flowers?


Making your own wedding flowers can be a very rewarding experience. For anyone who really loves flowers and likes to dabble in crafts or gardening, making your own wedding flowers can be a great success story and memory, especially if you share the experience with a loved friend or family member.


Let`s look at the advantages of making your own flowers.

1) First of all, you will be getting exactly what you like since you will be choosing your own flowers, ribbons and accents. For many bride to bes, your tastes and preferences are unique and specific. By choosing your own flowers, accessories and ribbons, you will feel confident that your personality is reflected in your bouquets.


2) Second, you will be putting your love & positive energy in your bouquets. The flowers will live on in photos for years to come and will bring you good luck and blessings for a wonderful marriage. Try to visualize your happy marriage while making your flowers, and sending positive energy through your flowers to the people you are making them for. Your mom will feel your love when she proudly displays the corsage you made especially for her.


3) If you share the experience of fabricating your own wedding flowers with your bridesmaids, friends and/or family, you will be creating memories for years to come. Get everyone to bring happy mementos or photos of when they got married and have fun chatting it up with your girlfriends while working on your fabulous wedding flowers.


4)Finally, and most importantly for many brides to be that are trying to cut costs, you will save lots of money by fabricating your own flowers. It`s seriously not that hard, especially if you have some craftiness in you or can find friends or family with that crafty touch and love of flowers. Let`s examine the different types of wedding flowers and how much money you can save by making each item yourself. Please keep in mind that these are rough estimates for this purpose.

Floral Item Florist Price Your Price Savings
Boutonniere 8.00 2.5 5.50
Corsage 15 6 9
Bride`s Bouquet 80 38 42
Bridesmaid Bouquet 40 18 22
Floral Cake Topper 50 20 30
Floral Centerpiece 50 25 25
Floral Hairpiece 42 14 28
TOTALS¸ $285.00 $123.5 $161.5

You definitely will save by making your own wedding flowers. You can save between 50-80%. Definitely worth the effort! Anyone can make their own wedding bouquet . It`s not that hard! All you need is 1)organization 2)a love of flowers 3) craftiness or help of someone crafty 4) willingness to do it.

If you can picture yourself making your bouquets, you can do it, especially with proper instructions and professional guidance through books, videos and online resources.


Check out : Unleash Your Inner Florist: How to Make Your own Wedding Flowers for all the instructions you will need to make your own wedding flowers. http://www.authorhouse.com/bookstore/ItemDetail.aspx?bookid=51871

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Wedding Flowers: Customs & Traditions

This article comes from The Knot.com
Photo: Marla Aufmuth

Looking for ways to get symbolic with your wedding flowers? Put on your thinking cap and check out these flower facts.

The blossoms you select for your wedding day are rooted in rich cultural and historical traditions. From ancient Rome and ancient Greece to the Middle East, we've gathered the best flower-related customs we could find. Read on for a bundle of floral trivia.

In Thailand, the mothers of the bride and groom walk to the altar to drape puang malai -- flower garlands -- around the couple's shoulders to wish them good fortune in their life together.
Swedish and Danish grooms sew small pockets of strong-smelling herbs like garlic, chives, and rosemary into their clothes for good luck.
The Indian groom's brother sprinkles flower petals over the couple at the end of the ceremony to protect them from evil.
Ancient Greek brides often carried ivy at their weddings as a symbol of their never-ending love for their sweeties.
Ancient Roman brides carried bunches of herbs to symbolize fidelity and fertility -- and to scare off evil spirits.
The Victorians, who were fascinated by the meanings of different blooms, popularized the wedding rose, which represents true love.
Also in Victorian ages, the bride originally tossed her bouquet to a friend as she left the festivities to keep that friend safe (by warding off evil spirits, of course) and to offer her luck; this came to mean that the single woman who caught the bouquet would marry next.
In a Greek Orthodox wedding, crowns of orange blossoms were traditionally made for the bride and groom -- they even matched the delicate embroidery on the bride's dress. The blossoms symbolize virginity and purity because they are white and fragile, and they emit a sweet, delicate scent.
In Tudor England, brides carried marigolds dipped in rosewater and ate them afterward, since they were thought to be aphrodisiacs!
According to Italian tradition, the front grill of the Italian getaway car is decorated with flowers, paving the road to a happy marriage.
In the Middle East, the bitter herb artemisia is incorporated into bridal bouquets to ensure that marriages will survive bitterness as well as sweetness.
According to Indian tradition, both the bride and the groom sport a floral headpiece.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

How to Decorate a Yacht for a Wedding

Nothing says luxury and romance better than the ocean, a sunset and a beautiful yacht. Decorating a yacht, especially if it is going to be moving during the wedding ceremony, is a lot different than decorating a church or building.

This article is by April Sanders from Ehow.com

Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions
Things You'll Need:
Flowers, real or fake Clear packing or shipping tape Streamers and ribbons Large sheet of card stock Candles and votive holders


Step 1
Think about where the ceremony will be held. You'll need to create space for the bride party, master of ceremonies and guests. Traditionally, weddings are held at the bow, or front, of the yacht, so create space in the bow if you can. Set up a small, raised stage to serve as the altar, and place a spray of flowers on either side. If you are having a night wedding, consider lining the altar area and walkway with votive candles. Keep the flower arrangements and candles low, as waterways are usually quite windy.


Step 2
Decorate the outside of the yacht. Hang ribbons, streamers and flowers on the sides of the yacht. Attach them with clear shipping tape, as it will probably not remove any paint but will be sturdy enough to hold the decorations even in the wind.


Step 3
Decorate the back of the yacht with a sign saying, "Just Married!" Create the sign with sturdy card stock and attach ribbons to the edges of it. Regular paper will probably wilt or be destroyed by the wind and moisture, so get the thickest type of card stock you can find--or even use cardboard.


Step 4
Use flowers lavishly. Yachts are usually elegant in design. Don't ruin an elegant wedding with garish balloons or cheap decorations. Place flowers in the bathrooms and in every other room the wedding guests might frequent.


Step 5
Consider the outside environment. Decorate the ramp or dock leading to the yacht with ribbons, candles and flowers. Consider throwing rose petals into the water if the environment allows for it, or make it a part of the ceremony.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

How to Make Your Own Ring Pillow


The ring pillow from a wedding can become a treasured keepsake of a very special day and a family heirloom as well. Use high-quality materials for the pillow and be creative. Experiment with different patterns, materials and textures before you decide on a final design.

· Choose two pieces of fabric that each measure between 8 and 10 inches square. Use white or off-white satin, silk or brocade. If possible, use the same fabric and lace that is used for the wedding dress.

· Choose lace and ribbon to decorate the pillow if
desired. The amounts required will depend on how the
materials are used. About 2 to 3 yards each of ribbon
and lace will be adequate
· Use two or three pieces of polyester batting as stuffing
for the pillow. Each piece should be equal to the
dimensions of the fabric squares in step 1.
· Use a fabric cutting board, ruler and fabric marking pen
to mark and measure out two equal squares of fabric.
Make all markings on the wrong side of the fabric. Test
the pen on a scrap of the pillow fabric to make sure
that the marks will fade.
· Do any embroidery or needlework before continuing to
the next step. Add any other decoration to the face of
the fabric as well. Embellishments such as small
ribbons, charms and delicate lace can be tacked or
sewn on to the fabric by hand.
· Add a lace ruffle to the pillow by pinning the straight
edge of the ruffle to the right side of the fabric square
that will form the pillow top. Pin so that the edges line
up evenly and the right sides (if there is a right side to
the ruffle) are together.
· Pin the ruffle very loosely onto the fabric or gather the
ruffle slightly as you pin in order to create a fuller
ruffle.
· Pin the fabric pieces with the right sides together.
Edges should match up evenly. Pins should be placed
about 1/2 inch apart and should be at right angles to
the fabric edges. Make sure that the pinned edge of the
ruffle is caught securely between the two fabric layers.
· Use a sewing machine to stitch three sides of the
pillow, 1/2 inch from the fabric edges. Turn the pillow
right side out and stuff the batting layers inside. If you
would like a fuller pillow, insert additional batting.
· Fold the edges of the unsewn seam into the pillow 1/2
inch, and stitch closed by hand. Use a slipstitch done
by hand or carefully topstitch the edges with your
machine.
· Add a 10- or 12-inch length of 1/4-inch satin or silk
ribbon to the top of the pillow. Stitch the ribbon by
hand to the pillow at the ribbon's center point. Add a
silk or satin bow made from the same ribbon to cover
the stitching. Use the two ribbon strands to loosely tie
the wedding rings to the pillows

This article comes from the e-book: Budget Weddings
Buy my book: Unleash Your Inner Florist: How to Make Wedding & Special Event Flowers and get Budget Weddings for free. Order here:
http://www.howtoweddingflowers.com/howto..buyunleashinnerflorist.html

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Underwater Wedding For Scuba Diving Couples


I found this dream like wedding ceremony for water loving, scuba diving couples. Very different, unforgettable and unique! A Buddhist ceremony in China but perfect for any water loving couple.
The article comes from:http://www.infohub.com/vacation_packages/16685.html


`As a coastal tourist destination located in the most southern point of Hainan Island, Sanya has been embraced by everything: pleasant climate, fresh air, tender sunshine, crystal blue ocean, soft beach, fascinating ethnic folks, yummy sea foods and you name it.


Instead of flamboyant traditional suits, the new couples will be dressed in colorful diving suits. Assisted by the coach, the bride and groom will be riding the wave and diving into the wedding hall under water, with the stones as witness, the fish as guests, and the turtles as choir. What a lovely feeling! Another special is a fibered and water-proof marriage certificate which can be your lifelong testimony.


Tour Itinerary:Day 1: Arrive in Sanya. Arrive in Sanya and transfer to your hotel. Have a night tour around the city.


Day 2: Underwater Wedding Ceremony at Sanya. After the breakfast, the couple, together with their relatives, will take the flower-decorated cars to the famous Oriental Hawaii-Yalongwan Diving Club where the staff there will send flowers to the couple. With the wedding march, the new couple, under the guidance of coaches (also as the witness), will then dive into the underwater hall (stay there for 30 minutes).


The couple hand in hand will dive through the underwater flower gate. They will sweap rings and kiss each other. The coach hosts the ceremony and issues the marriage certificate. As soon as the ceremony is done, the couple holds a bottle with love testimony in it and put it into the ocean. The bottle filled with love and wishes will drift all over the world.


During the whole trip a professional photographer will take pictures recording the memorable moments. Also a variety of entertainment activities will be organized after the ceremony is over. At noon, head back to Sanyawan where a collection of outdoor pictures will be taken.


Day 3: Western Island. Park on Lvhuitou Mountain top. After breakfast the bride and groom dressed in special suits take a one-day tour experiencing local life. Go to the island of Love Western Island where you can enjoy all kinds of activities. You may watch the mysterious underwater world in a touring ship or you can take pictures in the island. When the night falls, you can climb over to the beautiful Lihuitou mountain where you can hang the love lock over the love trees, listen to romantic love stories, enjoy the gorgeous scenery or have a soul-to-soul talk.


Day 4: Tianyahaijiao (the end of the earth). After breakfast pay a visit to a crystal exhibition hall. You can buy one piece as a gift for your friends. Then go to the temple where you can experience the Buddhism culture and pray for the best of your love. Take a cable ride to Nanshan Temple where you can overlook the ocean. At Bell Temple, you can hit the bell for your parents' love, for a happy family, for the world peace. In the afternoon visit Tianyahaijiao, the most famous scenic spot in Sanya and a must-go place for lovers.


Day 5: Departure.
Notes:Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:- Entrance fees as mentioned in the itinerary;- Meals as listed in the itinerary: B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner;- Personal Guide and Driver + Private car/ van for Private Transfer and sightseeing;- Hotels (twin share bases) as listed in the itinerary;- Domestic flights (economy class) or trains as listed in the itinerary;- Domestic airport taxes;- Service Charge and Government Taxes;- Luggage Transfers between airports and hotels.Price Excludes:- Entry or Exit China International transportation;- Visa Fees;- Excess Baggage Charges;- Personal Expenses;- Single Room Supplement;- Gratuities, Tips to guides or drivers.
http://www.infohub.com/vacation_packages/16685.html

Monday, June 15, 2009

What do I Put on My Registry or Sign In Table?



Most weddings and special events have a guest registry or sign in table at the entrance .

Here are the items that are traditionally on the Guest Registry Table.

On the guest registry table, you will need to plan for a


1) Nice tablecloth and table skirting.


2) Guest book and pen or picture mat to sign.


3) Easels with couple pictures as an ode to the couple, or other pictures or mementos or theme
objects featuring the celebrated person (people).


4) A really nice touch is to have a bouquet of flowers on this table. In the case of a wedding, the perfect solution is to use your throwaway bouquet to decorate this table. Simply have a vase
ready to display it in or, even better, have a bouquet holder. You can probably rent this at the
same place you rent your arch and cardholder. If not for a wedding, you will want to make a
separate bouquet of flowers that you can then give away as a gift to a helper or as a prize draw.


5) A nice sprinkling of rose petals or confetti is a crowning touch to this table. Depending on what you chose for embellishments on your guest tables, you’ll want to repeat it on the guest
registry table.


6) Front of the Table Accents: A garland of ivy or silk fl owers pinned to the front of the table is a nice touch, as is mini lights under the table or lights wound in tulle and hung on the front of table with bows to hide the attachment points. Whatever you used on the head table or the cake table, you can repeat it here.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

World Record Winning Wedding Bouquets

The most expensive wedding bouquet as recorded in the Guinness Book of Records belongs to Vietnam. “Thien hoa bach ngoc” which translates to: thousands of flowers, hundreds of gemstones. As its name implies, this bouquet is bejewelled to the till. Picture a flower bouquet containing 90 two carat red ruby gemstones, 9 one carat diamonds, and 1 star-shaped ruby of 21.6 carats. As for flowers, the bouquet consisted of white roses, white lilies, white phaelopnosis orchids, and moonflowers. The bouquet also had other elements of nature incorporated into the bouquet. It hosted several kinds of stones, paints, feathers and a 100 year old root.

The idea behind this pricey bouquet was to represent 100 happy years for the couple- 100 gemstones, 100 year old root and probably 100 flowers. The price of this beauty: $125,000 USD. Last summer the bouquet was on display in Hanoi at the Ruby Plaza, one of Vietnam’s largest trade centers.

The longest wedding bouquet recorded so far was held by Suresh Joachim who in an effort to raise funds and to become famous attempted to break several world records in the Toronto, Ontario area. For his wedding on September 6, 2003 to Christa Rasanayagam, he had his bride carry a 60.09m (197ft) long bouquet. The wedding also featured a record 79 bridesmaids and 47 groomsmen.

Learn how to have a beautiful traditional wedding bouquet the inexpensive way at http://www.howtoweddingflowers.com/

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Wedding Flower Trends for 2009

This article and photo comes from the blog of Flowerella.com
wedding flower resources for the modern bride


The busiest part of the year for weddings is coming up - summer. Every year, there are certain trends that florists see, and you may want to embrace these trends for your summer 2009 wedding.

Here are the most popular wedding flowers trends:

Bright, Bold Colors: Pastels and white flowers are classic, but we’re seeing and more brides choose bold colors like purples and oranges for their summer 2009 weddings. Jewel tones are hot right now.

Tall Centerpieces: Instead of a typical centerpiece for your reception, think height. Brides in summer 2009 are choosing tall, slender vases with bursts of flowers at the top.

Simple Bouquets: This year, we’re seeing a revival for the hand-tied arrangement. There are even brides opting to carry a single rose. Simplicity is key - and it saves you money.

Arrangements with Fruit: Adding fruit and produce to your centerpieces can be extremely fashionable. Using tropical, citrus fruits, like lemons and oranges, will also help you add that punch of color.

Organic Flowers: Organic floral arrangements grew in popularity last year, and we’re still seeing that trend hold true for summer 2009 weddings.

When in doubt, go for something classic, like red roses or white lilies. Also, remember that fashion doesn’t matter as much as your happiness. You should choose flowers that make you smile, even if they aren’t considered to be the most trendy in 2009.

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Which Wedding Flowers Match With What

Your wedding color theme is a major factor in the overall look of your wedding. Your color scheme if well selected will bring unity and beauty to the flowers and decorations at your ceremony and reception. As you plan your event, consider the colors that will be found in your flowers, linens and accessories. Many people select their wedding or special event colors based on their favourite shade or favourite flower. However, if your favourite color does not match with your hall, you might want to reconsider. If the all the chairs at the hall are burgundy for example, please do not choose fire engine red! Your chosen colors should also reflect your personality, especially in the case of wedding flowers.
Here are some general guidelines as to which flowers come in which colors and what the color scheme matches well with.

Blue Flowers: Flowers available: Delphinium, iris, bachelor`s button, dyed blue roses, dyed daisies, dyed dendrobium orchids , hydrangeas, hyacinths, Best Bets: Delphinium, hydrangeas Matches Well With: white, ivory, yellow, purple, fuschia, black, silver

Brown Flowers: Flowers Available: Leonida roses, hypericum berries Matches well with: pink is the number one choice, fall theme with preserved fall leaves, berries and fruit. Also matches with celadon green, pale blue, ivory, white, gold red, copper, peach, burnt orange, yellow


Purple/Lilac Flowers Flowers Available: lilac roses, daisies, freesia, lavender mums, statice, larkspur, hydrangea, aster, dendrobium orchid, cattleya orchid, lilac, Matches well with: all shades of purple and lilac, pinks, whites and daisies, tulip, lisianthus, mini carnations, carnations

Pink Flowers Flowers: Available: roses, tulips, freesia, heather, ranunculus, lisianthus, mini carnations, carnations, rice flower, daisies, alstromeria, peony, stock, tulips, gerberas Matches well with: all shades of pink, purples, lilacs, brown, whites, ivory, blue, light green

For more flower color ideas, go to

Thursday, June 4, 2009

What`s Hot in 2009

I found this interesting article on the Knot Wedding Website.
Check out their forecast for New Wedding Trends in 2009

Trend 1: Rustic homespun details
Outdoor weddings -- on a farm, in a vineyard, or even in the backyard -- are huge right now, and we'll continue to see a lot of them in 2009. It's really no wonder: An outdoor setting makes for a fun, laid-back vibe and the decor options are limitless. So what kinds of details are in store? Vintage vases filled with fresh-from-the-garden flowers, mismatched china in bright colors, and homemade wooden signs to direct guests. Even catering is in on the action with in-season ingredients paired with local wine.
See photos from at-home real weddings
Get 100s of wedding reception ideas

Trend 2: Jewel tones
Say good-bye to pale pastels and bright poppies. Rich gem colors like navy, plum, and amber are going to be hot. And instead of chocolate brown, look to a soft creme brulee hue, bronzes, coppers, and black. Yes, that's right -- black is back too. >
See hot wedding color combos
Search reception details by color

Trend 3: Patterns that pop
Gingham, checkered, polka-dotted, paisley, toile, damask -- you name it, colorful patterns are in and in a big way. Add patterned overlays to your tables to instantly perk up the room, find an off-the-rack patterned dress for your bridesmaids, and have your invitations and envelopes lined with colorful designs. The best part about this trend is that it lets you throw around a lot of different hues and still keep a cohesive look and feel.
Get more decor ideas from our wedding style blog!

Trend 4: Ball gowns are back
From a full A-line gown to a very over-the-top design, this silhouette will make a huge resurgence down ceremony aisles this year. And you don't have to have a ballroom wedding to pull it off either -- the key is in the fabric. Find one with layers of airy tulle or even cotton for an outdoor spring or summer wedding; get a silk satin ball gown for a more formal wedding; or go for ultra-soft suede for a wintertime wedding.
See hundreds of ball gowns
Search 1,000+ wedding dresses

Trend 5: Two-tiered wedding cakes
While cupcakes and dessert bars have been popular for the past few years, wedding cakes are making a comeback -- but not in tall towers anymore. Now it's all about having just two tiers. Order several small cakes and put them on each table as a centerpiece, or set up a table of tiny wedding cakes mixed with desserts, cookies, pies, and more. And vintage cake toppers are in too. Find one online at a site like Etsy.com, commission one from a local artist, or borrow your parents' or grandparents' to make your cake extra-memorable.
Search 1,500+ wedding cakes
See 60+ wedding dessert display photos

Trend 6: New centerpiece vessels
The classic floral vase has given way to mix-and-matched clusters of vintage pitchers, vases, jars, and galvanized buckets. Other ideas: apothecary jars with colorful rocks, sand, or even candy; uniquely shaped glass vases featuring fresh fruits like raspberries and blueberries; and mason jars loaded with fresh flowers like daisies and dahlias. To throw extra color or texture into the mix, line your flower-filled vases with patterned paper or even fabric. For a wintertime fete, get knit and sweater-like coverings to line your vases and complement a cozy decor.
Get 800+ centerpiece ideas
See our guide to wedding flowers

Trend 7: Chandeliers and creative lighting
Lighting designers are turning out impressive designs, projecting chandeliers, large trees, flowers, and even city skylines right onto the walls. When it comes to your space, hang chandeliers in different sizes, add colorful lamps and shades to the tables, line the room with strands of twinkling lights, and don't skimp on the candles.
Get lighting ideas from real weddings

Trend 8: The updated photo booth
Renting a photo booth has been growing in popularity over the past few years. The updated version? Entire photo sets with fabric backdrops and props. Set up a photo area at the reception that's big enough for a group shot. Drape the background with fabric and add couches, chairs, and plenty of props (think easy-to-throw-on hats and scarves). You may be able to have your photographer or an assistant man the station, or ask a trusty friend to be on hand with a digital camera.
See wedding photography and videography basics

Trend 9: US honeymoons
This year, newlyweds will prove that you don't have to travel halfway around the world to find an amazing honeymoon spot. Many will be looking to book a honeymoon right here in the US. And there's no shortage of domestic honeymoon-worthy options -- from a romantic winery in Sonoma County, California, to a hot hotel in Miami, Florida, to a cozy lodge with a stunning view in Juneau, Alaska.
See our top US honeymoon picks
>> See More 2009 Trends!

Photo: Amanda Kraft Photography
Special thanks to: Tanya Rae of Patrick Melville Salon; Kara Cecere/Laura Bianco of My Bellissima; Matthew Christopher; Mara Urshel of Kleinfeld's