What ever colors, theme or style you choose for your wedding - have fun with it!
posted by Cindy
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Inspiration - Red & White Part II
What ever colors, theme or style you choose for your wedding - have fun with it!
posted by Cindy
Monday, June 22, 2009
Inspiration - Red & White
Red and white aren't just for Valentine's Day or Christmas anymore. Weddings pop with these versatile colors. Casual summer fun as as in this board or go sophisticated with red and white (see Part II tomorrow) . Have your bridesmaids wear vibrant red dresses and carry white bouquets of Gerbers, Daisies and Dahlias. To modernize the look choose bouquets and arrangements in monochromatic reds and whites with a hit of green. The red and white dishes were the inspiration for this crisp red and white board.
Theto die for shoes are Christian Louboutin; stationary by Betsy White; teacup and saucer via County Living; vintage red truck Danno 3 via flicker
post by Cindy
Monday, June 15, 2009
Summer Bouquet Idea
Periwinkle blue, orange, purple, hot pink, white and green, make me think of the warm days of summer.
I
love the bright vibrant colors in this bouquet, it's warm without being too hot. It's the prefect balance of hot colors with cool ones, like a beautiful summer day at the beach with a long cool drink.
That sounds so good, I think I've talked myself into a little drive to the beach.
What are your favorite summer colors?
post by Cindy
Saturday, June 13, 2009
The 10 Most Popular Wedding Flowers
[the] Earth laughs in flowers. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Calla Lily - as one of the most elegant and simple of all blooms, the Calla Lily has been a popular wedding flower for ages. The simple lines of callas are ideal for modern designed weddings. Its hardy texture and tropical origin also make it an ideal choice for warm summer weddings. Callas come in white, pink, yellow and purple. Depending on the season, you can find mini-callas varieties in shades of red, mauve-pink, ivory and golden-yellow.
Casablanca Lily - these flowers (along with Star Gazer Lilies) are one of my personal favorites. They are very fragrant with a sweet perfume and one of the largest blooms among all the lilies. The huge flowers are pure gleaming white, delicately flocked in a way that adds a richness and texture. Many lily experts call the Casablanca the "perfect white lily". To prevent permanent staining of petals and clothing - remove the anthers. Handle carefully, open flowers crease easily.
Hydrangea - blooms can make for fabulous floral arrangements and add texture and romance to a bridal bouquet. The mophead varieties are so large, the can fill a vase. However, hydrangea can be a bit tricky to work with. Sometimes they last for days and other times they wilt almost immediately after being added to an arrangement or a vase of fresh water. Julie and I won't use them in bridal bouquets in warmer weather as they will wilt. They come in a range of colors and hues such as creamy whites and soft pastels, there are brilliant blues, vivid pinks, and even fuchsia.
Lilacs - prized for their delicate blooms and their deliciously sweet fragrance. Generally available January through March (available other times of the year at a premium). Lilacs don't last well in floral foam and wilt quickly out of water. Available in hues of purple, lavender, mauve, pink and white. The purple-flowered varieties, which have the stronger scent, are only available in spring for a very short season of only around 6 weeks.
Gardenias - are very fragrant creamy-white to cream flowers with glossy, dark-green leaves, either single or double and up to 4 inches in diameter. Although they are a popular flower for corsages, the petals are extremely sensitive to touch which may cause bruising and browning.
Lily of the Valley - have small bell-shaped flowers that infuse the air with a mild sweet fragrance throughout the day. In the Victorian classic, The Language of Flowers, the LOTV is said to symbolize the return of happiness and sweetness. Available year-round, peak season is October - May.
Orchids - come in many varieties, are long lasting, quick to open, do not fade, and do not bruise or spot easily (avoid water on petals). Orchids such as Cymbidiums are thick and heavy, almost waxy in texture; orchids of this heavier substance will generally last longer than more delicate blooms. This is especially true if you will be using single blooms in corsages, bouquets or boutonnieres. They are sensitive to ethylene and cold temperatures.
Rose/Garden Rose - roses have probably been around since the Garden or Eden but, Garden Roses are one of the newer kids on the block as far as wedding flowers go. English/David Austin roses are hybrids of Old Garden Roses and modern hybrid teas and floribundas. Roses are a standard in weddings and come in a wide range of colors and sizes. For a more modern look use fully-opened roses, Garden roses are a bit more expensive than the standard roses, yet they gave a more romantic less formal look to them. Roses symbolize love with each color taking on a special meaning.
Stephanotis - small white lightly fragrant flowers; tubular, star-shaped, waxy blooms, They're sold stemless (off the vine) and packaged in air-tight boxes or bags. Handle with care to avoid bruising. Available year-round; symbolizing happiness in marriage, desire to travel, and good luck.
Tulips - affordable and abundantly available through the spring. I'm particularly fond of the more expensive French tulips' with their long stems and graceful bloom shape. Tulips come in a vast array of colors (except of true blue) so it's easy to find a color to match any wedding scheme. Tulips also come in several different forms, there's the classic style, the ruffled peony-flower, fluffy parrot, and the stately lily flowered tulips. Peak season is January - April; colors: red, pink, white, yellow, orange, purple, and bi-colors. Tulips symbolize perfect love.
posted by Cindy
Calla Lily - as one of the most elegant and simple of all blooms, the Calla Lily has been a popular wedding flower for ages. The simple lines of callas are ideal for modern designed weddings. Its hardy texture and tropical origin also make it an ideal choice for warm summer weddings. Callas come in white, pink, yellow and purple. Depending on the season, you can find mini-callas varieties in shades of red, mauve-pink, ivory and golden-yellow.
Casablanca Lily - these flowers (along with Star Gazer Lilies) are one of my personal favorites. They are very fragrant with a sweet perfume and one of the largest blooms among all the lilies. The huge flowers are pure gleaming white, delicately flocked in a way that adds a richness and texture. Many lily experts call the Casablanca the "perfect white lily". To prevent permanent staining of petals and clothing - remove the anthers. Handle carefully, open flowers crease easily.
Hydrangea - blooms can make for fabulous floral arrangements and add texture and romance to a bridal bouquet. The mophead varieties are so large, the can fill a vase. However, hydrangea can be a bit tricky to work with. Sometimes they last for days and other times they wilt almost immediately after being added to an arrangement or a vase of fresh water. Julie and I won't use them in bridal bouquets in warmer weather as they will wilt. They come in a range of colors and hues such as creamy whites and soft pastels, there are brilliant blues, vivid pinks, and even fuchsia.
Lilacs - prized for their delicate blooms and their deliciously sweet fragrance. Generally available January through March (available other times of the year at a premium). Lilacs don't last well in floral foam and wilt quickly out of water. Available in hues of purple, lavender, mauve, pink and white. The purple-flowered varieties, which have the stronger scent, are only available in spring for a very short season of only around 6 weeks.
Gardenias - are very fragrant creamy-white to cream flowers with glossy, dark-green leaves, either single or double and up to 4 inches in diameter. Although they are a popular flower for corsages, the petals are extremely sensitive to touch which may cause bruising and browning.
Lily of the Valley - have small bell-shaped flowers that infuse the air with a mild sweet fragrance throughout the day. In the Victorian classic, The Language of Flowers, the LOTV is said to symbolize the return of happiness and sweetness. Available year-round, peak season is October - May.
Orchids - come in many varieties, are long lasting, quick to open, do not fade, and do not bruise or spot easily (avoid water on petals). Orchids such as Cymbidiums are thick and heavy, almost waxy in texture; orchids of this heavier substance will generally last longer than more delicate blooms. This is especially true if you will be using single blooms in corsages, bouquets or boutonnieres. They are sensitive to ethylene and cold temperatures.
Rose/Garden Rose - roses have probably been around since the Garden or Eden but, Garden Roses are one of the newer kids on the block as far as wedding flowers go. English/David Austin roses are hybrids of Old Garden Roses and modern hybrid teas and floribundas. Roses are a standard in weddings and come in a wide range of colors and sizes. For a more modern look use fully-opened roses, Garden roses are a bit more expensive than the standard roses, yet they gave a more romantic less formal look to them. Roses symbolize love with each color taking on a special meaning.
Stephanotis - small white lightly fragrant flowers; tubular, star-shaped, waxy blooms, They're sold stemless (off the vine) and packaged in air-tight boxes or bags. Handle with care to avoid bruising. Available year-round; symbolizing happiness in marriage, desire to travel, and good luck.
Tulips - affordable and abundantly available through the spring. I'm particularly fond of the more expensive French tulips' with their long stems and graceful bloom shape. Tulips come in a vast array of colors (except of true blue) so it's easy to find a color to match any wedding scheme. Tulips also come in several different forms, there's the classic style, the ruffled peony-flower, fluffy parrot, and the stately lily flowered tulips. Peak season is January - April; colors: red, pink, white, yellow, orange, purple, and bi-colors. Tulips symbolize perfect love.
posted by Cindy
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Peonies Are Here!
Oh, be still my beating heart! I so love these frilly, fluffy, voluptuous flowers. They are without a doubt one of my favorites. Are they yours?Their full romantic blossoms,intoxicating fragrance and limited season (May-June) also makes them a popular choice for many brides - and rightfully so.
If it isn't Peony season but, you still want the full and romantic look - try David Austin or Cabbage roses. While they're not Peonies, they are a great substitute.
Posted by Cindy
Monday, June 8, 2009
When Do I Give Up My Bouquet?
One of the helpful tips Julie and I like to give to our brides is when to give up their bouquets during the wedding ceremony.And since many brides give up their bouquets to soon (probably out of nervousness), I thought I share this tip with our readers.
While the order of ceremonies does vary, what is consistent is the exchange of vows and rings. So we advise our brides to keep their bouquets until they turn to face each other to exchange vows (often holding hands for this). The exchange of rings then follows. You can either give your bouquet to your maid of honor to hold, or place it in a vase on a small table (today's bouquets can be heavy - so for her to mange hers and your may be to much). If you use a table, make sure the vase is weighted down with stones or glass marbles, something to keep it upright with the weight of the bouquet.
Remember, pick up your bouquet or have your maid of honor hand it back to you before you exit down the aisle as Mr. & Mrs. for those beautiful photo ops!
Friday, June 5, 2009
Faves
Although most couples have picked many of their wedding vendors by the time they come to Julie and I for their wedding flowers, we occasional get asked for vendor referrals.
So from time to time I'll post some of our favorite vendors in a post titled "Faves". We are so blessed to work with some wonderfully gifted and nice people!
So from time to time I'll post some of our favorite vendors in a post titled "Faves". We are so blessed to work with some wonderfully gifted and nice people!
This post is all about an amazing photographer - Susan Yee of en pointe photography. Susan's background is in graphic art which may explain her eye for composition (or maybe she was just born with it!) . Susan switched career paths and then moved from San Francisco to San Diego about 5 years ago. She choose photography as her new business and art form. She is also the sweetest person, low keyed - (she won't stress you out on your wedding day) and mega talented photographer you want to meet. Here are just a few of her photos from her blog. You need to go to her website to see the rest of this wedding and loads of her other wedding & engagement work.
If you have any vendors that you'd like to share with us - send an email with their info and why you think they're so special - we'd love to hear from you.
Posted by Cindy
Posted by Cindy
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Flower Pricing Category Part II
OK, now let's take the categorized flowers from yesterday's post to the next level as we look at the overall visual size of the bloom.
A rose will classically take up anywhere from 1" to 3" in diameter in a bouquet. This is the same amount of space that a carnation will take up but, the carnation will cost about 1/3 of what the rose cost (garden roses are even more) as noted in the yesterday's 3 different price point categories. On the other hand a hydrangea will take up 7 - 12 or more inches (yes some are 12"+ in diameter!) depending on the grower and the variety of the flower. So where it might take 25+ roses to make a small hand tied bouquet, you could have a bouquet of 1 hydrangea with a few roses that would make a beautiful mid-range bouquet for 1/3 to 1/2 the price. In this situation the hydrangea is actually a better value per inch than the roses are.
In yesterday's post you'll notice that a few of the larger flower heads were marked with a * to let you take a second look at them. Below is a picture to show an illustration of what I'm talking about. Notice the size of the hydrangeas, they are some of the smaller hydrangea heads. You can see the size difference between the roses and hydrangeas in this picture.
The flowers from yesterday's post marked with a ** are to draw your attention to the accent flowers. While they may seem like they are in the more affordable "premium" class on a per inch basis they are very expensive.
There has been a trend away from floral fillers over the years - which is not all bad (I personally can't stand baby's breath!). Today's bouquets have a cleaner modern look. However, while you may want a large bouquet of all roses or French tulips, your budget may say otherwise. If you consider a mixed floral bouquet not only will you get a better dollar value, you'll also get a more interesting bouquet!
As you can see flower choice is about more than just color and style, it also about the price point of your flowers. This is also a good example of why you want to work with a florist/floral designer that is knowledgeable and one you can trust.
He or she should be willing to work with you to determine the best value for the look you are trying to achieve.
Posint by Cindy
A rose will classically take up anywhere from 1" to 3" in diameter in a bouquet. This is the same amount of space that a carnation will take up but, the carnation will cost about 1/3 of what the rose cost (garden roses are even more) as noted in the yesterday's 3 different price point categories. On the other hand a hydrangea will take up 7 - 12 or more inches (yes some are 12"+ in diameter!) depending on the grower and the variety of the flower. So where it might take 25+ roses to make a small hand tied bouquet, you could have a bouquet of 1 hydrangea with a few roses that would make a beautiful mid-range bouquet for 1/3 to 1/2 the price. In this situation the hydrangea is actually a better value per inch than the roses are.
In yesterday's post you'll notice that a few of the larger flower heads were marked with a * to let you take a second look at them. Below is a picture to show an illustration of what I'm talking about. Notice the size of the hydrangeas, they are some of the smaller hydrangea heads. You can see the size difference between the roses and hydrangeas in this picture.
The flowers from yesterday's post marked with a ** are to draw your attention to the accent flowers. While they may seem like they are in the more affordable "premium" class on a per inch basis they are very expensive.There has been a trend away from floral fillers over the years - which is not all bad (I personally can't stand baby's breath!). Today's bouquets have a cleaner modern look. However, while you may want a large bouquet of all roses or French tulips, your budget may say otherwise. If you consider a mixed floral bouquet not only will you get a better dollar value, you'll also get a more interesting bouquet!
As you can see flower choice is about more than just color and style, it also about the price point of your flowers. This is also a good example of why you want to work with a florist/floral designer that is knowledgeable and one you can trust.
He or she should be willing to work with you to determine the best value for the look you are trying to achieve.
Posint by Cindy
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Flower Pricing Categories
As you begin to plan your wedding, the question of how much do wedding flowers cost is sure to come up as you begin thinking about a budget. Understanding how to prepare for this expense can help you prepare and manage you wedding floral budget.
The cost of you wedding flowers will be in part based on the types of flowers used. It is important to understand there are two primary factors that drive price; labor and materials (flowers, etc). Because beautiful flowers are a part of
our everyday world, we tend to forget that they are a product. One that takes time, care and labor.
We have divided the more popular wedding flowers into 3 separate categories: High Premium, Premium, and Value. Remember prices will vary due to the quality, season, your location and availability.
High Premium - $10+/stem
Gardenias, Delphinium hybrid, Hydrangea*, French Tulips, Calls Lilly, Dahlias*, Cymbidium Orchids, Peony*, Lily of the Valley **, Casablanca Lily*, Magnolias
Premium - $4-$10/stem
Rose, Asiatic Lily, Glorsia Lily, Sun Flowers, Freesia**, Marguerite Daisies, Stephanotis**, Bells of Ireland, Larkspur, Spider Mums, Tulip, Phlox, Dendrobium Orchids, Solidago, Bouvardia**, Thistle, Stock, Star of Bethlehem, Gerbera Daisy, Lilac, Snap Dragon, Gladiolus, Lisianthius
Value - $3/stem
Baby's Breath, Carnations (mini and full size), Wax Flower, Chrysanthemum, Alstromeria, Sweet William, Queen Anne's Lace, Asters, Lavender
*Large size flower head, better value per inch
**Flowers may seem like they are in the affordable "premium" class, but on a per inch basis they become more expensive
Posting by Cindy
The cost of you wedding flowers will be in part based on the types of flowers used. It is important to understand there are two primary factors that drive price; labor and materials (flowers, etc). Because beautiful flowers are a part of
our everyday world, we tend to forget that they are a product. One that takes time, care and labor.We have divided the more popular wedding flowers into 3 separate categories: High Premium, Premium, and Value. Remember prices will vary due to the quality, season, your location and availability.
High Premium - $10+/stem
Gardenias, Delphinium hybrid, Hydrangea*, French Tulips, Calls Lilly, Dahlias*, Cymbidium Orchids, Peony*, Lily of the Valley **, Casablanca Lily*, Magnolias
Premium - $4-$10/stem
Rose, Asiatic Lily, Glorsia Lily, Sun Flowers, Freesia**, Marguerite Daisies, Stephanotis**, Bells of Ireland, Larkspur, Spider Mums, Tulip, Phlox, Dendrobium Orchids, Solidago, Bouvardia**, Thistle, Stock, Star of Bethlehem, Gerbera Daisy, Lilac, Snap Dragon, Gladiolus, Lisianthius
Value - $3/stem
Baby's Breath, Carnations (mini and full size), Wax Flower, Chrysanthemum, Alstromeria, Sweet William, Queen Anne's Lace, Asters, Lavender
*Large size flower head, better value per inch
**Flowers may seem like they are in the affordable "premium" class, but on a per inch basis they become more expensive
Posting by Cindy
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