Choosing flowers for your wedding bouquet, attendant's bouquets, table settings, etc., can be both costly and confusing. What's popular? What works? Which flowers hold up best? And, what flowers will give you the most bang for your buck if your budget is tight? According to Crista Tharp, owner and executive director of Tharp Events, the current trend is all about saving money. "The economy drives a lot of trends," admits Tharp, who sees many couples saving cash by skipping the traditional boutonnieres for the men in the wedding party. The other reason for forgoing men's flowers, she notes, is most grooms and groomsmen don't really want to wear them. Instead, men are opting for color-coordinated pocket squares to complete—and compliment their suits. And many savvy tuxedo shops are including them in the rentals. Some brides are doing without fresh flowers altogether and are carrying small bouquets fashioned from silk flowers, which can be purchased at craft stores such as Michaels. "Trends like this start with the budget," concedes Tharp, "but also appeal to people because it's creative and they like it."
What about color? And how many flowers is too many, or too little? "Colors right now are very vibrant and the monochromatic look is basically out," says Tharp. "However, I have seen a lot of brides carrying a colored bouquet while their bridesmaids carried white flowers or just one flower such as a large calla lily or gerber daisy. Roses are popular in large amounts in actual bouquets, but not single roses." Roses are also great for those on a budget. "Roses are always available in any season, any place in the country. They're an easy-going flower and hold up well in all kinds of weather. Some people may think they're boring," says Tharp, "but there's a reason why they're popular; they are time-tested and true." Of course, she notes, you can spice up those roses with different grasses and other flowers and even fake gemstones such as diamonds and crystals. "There are so many different ways the florist can make a rose look different and exotic," she reiterates.
Calla lilies are a bit more expensive, but they're also BIG, so as fillers, they're great. Another popular, inexpensive flower is the daisy for an unstructured, hand-picked, wildflower look (though not gerber daisies as they are more expensive and don't hold up well). "We have more and more clients that want wildflowers," says Tharp, who cautions brides against making their own bouquets. There are really good ways to save money on your wedding, but doing your own flowers or music or having Uncle Bob photograph your nuptials, is not a good idea. You need to hire a professional, even if you carry wildflowers. A wildflower bouquet may look very simple, but it takes more than wrapping a ribbon around them to make them look good." Tharp advises brides avoid tulips—which tend to open too early and wilt quickly—and hydrangeas and gardenias, which turn brown very fast. "The more exotic the flower, the more issues you're going to have with it," concludes Tharp. "So it's best to stick with traditional flowers."
Going Green and Getting Personal
NYC Floral Designer, Adal Ortiz, of Florisity http://www.florisity.com/, has twenty-three years of experience as a master floral designer, stylist, event coordinator and décor consultant. Adal, who was born and raised in Puerto Rico (a place that still inspires his creations today), says the most popular trends in bridal flowers right now incorporate a lot of green. "This is the year of green in the arrangements and bouquets," says Adal, who uses elements such as spiral bay trees, topiary trees, hanging or planted ferns, fox tail ferns, sword ferns, ivy plant or vines, lady palms and bamboo, etc. "Brides' and bridesmaids’ arrangements dare to hang in bouquets that have more movement with longer accents," he states.
Jackie Just of Just Bloomed in Minneapolis, MN (http://www.Just-Bloomed.com), has also noticed a trend toward looser bouquets. "No longer are we seeing a dense mass of blooms, but more of a loose, hand-picked look," she says. For those brides that still want a big bouquet, Just says she softens them up with a bit more whimsical greenery than in the past. Just also believes personalization of wedding bouquets is popular this season. Recently, she created a bouquet for a bride whose mother had passed away. "We incorporated fabric from her mother's original bridal gown at the top of the handle, as well as her grandmother's broach. We used more than 300 dahlias from her aunt's farm, as well. We also chose a different flower for each bridesmaid," she concludes. "Creating a different bouquet for each bridesmaid is a way to add an eclectic twist to a traditional wedding and it’s a way for the couple to say ‘I chose this bloom just for you’."
Comments