The wedding bouquets are one of the most important wedding
Transcription
The wedding bouquets are one of the most important wedding
© 2011 www.silverlandjewelry.com The wedding bouquets are one of the most important wedding accessories. They offer a chance to add a splash of color, express your personal style, and make a sentimental statement. Besides, what would a wedding be without beautiful flowers? Get inspired by these elegant and classic wedding bouquet designs. Page 1 © 2011 www.silverlandjewelry.com Table of Contents: Chapter One: A New Look at Cascade Bouquets..............................3 Chapter Two: All White Bridal Bouquets..........................................5 Chapter Three: Beautiful Yellow Wedding Bouquets.......................7 Chapter Four: Colorful Wedding Bouquets......................................9 Chapter Five: Crystal Wedding Jewelry for Your Bouquet.............11 Chapter Six: Gloriously Fragrant Bridal Bouquets..........................13 Chapter Seven: Lily Wedding Bouquets..........................................15 Chapter Eight: Magnificent Fall Bridal Bouquets...........................17 Chapter Nine: The Perfect Bouquets for Your Wedding.................19 Chapter Ten: Winter Wedding Bouquets.........................................21 Page 2 © 2011 www.silverlandjewelry.com A New Look at Cascade Bouquets Often after enough time has passed, a wedding style that has gone out of fashion is ready to be revisited with a fresh eye. This is happening right now with cascade style wedding bouquets, which had fallen out of favor, after years of being a very popular type of bouquet. Here are some ideas on fresh new ways to design an elegant cascade style wedding bouquet. If you look at pictures from the 1970s and 1980s, you will see plenty of brides holding cascade style bouquets. In those days, the bouquets were often very stiff and contrived looking, which went well with the over-the-top bridal gowns of the 1980s. After all, when you are wearing poufy sleeves, an enormous veil with an elaborate headdress and a helmet of hair, you need a bouquet that can compete with all of that! As brides turned towards more simple wedding gowns, they also moved away from the stiff look of the traditional cascade bouquets in favor of the softer style of a handtied nosegay. Bridal gowns are certainly not returning to the excesses of the 1980s, but there is a trend towards more complicated wedding dresses. If you have been following bridal fashion, you have likely noticed the reemergence of another popular 1980s style, the one shoulder gown. Back then, the one shoulder look was more for evening gowns than bridal gowns, but today it has been restyled for modern brides. It should be no surprise, then, that brides and florists are also giving a second look to the old '80s favorite, the cascade bouquet. A modern cascade bouquet with drop crystals and hanging blossoms. Today's cascading bouquets are designed to highlight the natural beauty of the flowers. They can be a slight teardrop shape, or they can have elements that trail all the way down to the floor for the most dramatic effect. Besides flowers, cascade bouquets will also include pretty additions such as trailing greenery, ribbons, and even a crystal or two, in keeping with the trend that the bouquet should coordinate with the bridal jewelry. Whether large or small, a modern cascade bouquet should not look stiff or wired like the bouquets of old. And you should never be able to see the handle when the bride is holding her bouquet! Tip: Match the scale of the bouquet to the size of the bride. Tall brides can carry extravagant cascading flowers, while petite brides should opt for delicate teardrop bouquets. Page 3 © 2011 www.silverlandjewelry.com For the most chic and elegant bouquets, choose exotic flowers such as orchids. Available in many gorgeous colors and a large range of sizes, orchids have a graceful drape to them that is ideal for a long cascading bouquet. Other popular flowers include roses, lilies, and sweetpeas. A cascade bouquet is often at its loveliest when it is comprised of only one or two colors, or is made up primarily of a single type of flower. This allows you to include other elements, such as trailing vines or ribbons, without having a bouquet that is too busy looking. It is important that the bride's bouquet suits both her gown and her size. Petite brides should avoid large bouquets which will look oversized against their smaller frames. A tall bride, on the other hand, can get away with a dramatically cascading bouquet, if she likes. As they are often showpieces, cascade bouquets are most at home in more formal weddings. They can look magnificent against the backdrop of a silk ballgown worn with elaborate crystal bridal jewelry. The bouquet will not overwhelm the bride's ensemble, yet it will be able to hold its own in a way that a smaller bouquet would not in a grand setting. The entire bridal ensemble will work in harmony. The most dramatic cascade bouquets are created from extravagant orchids. Smaller waterfall and teardrop bouquets are lovely variations on large cascade bridal bouquets. Page 4 Cascade bouquets have come a long way from their origins. If you are looking for an interesting and stylish bouquet for your wedding, you would do well to give cascading bouquets a chance. You just mind find that their elegant draping and beautiful styling are just what you have been looking for in wedding flowers. © 2011 www.silverlandjewelry.com All White Bridal Bouquets There is nothing lovelier than an all white wedding. The centerpiece of such a timeless style of wedding decorations is the flowers. All white bridal bouquets have been cherished by brides for generations. Almost any flower that you could ever want is available in white, which means that you will have a world of choices when designing your bouquet. A white bouquet can be designed to showcase a singular type of favorite flower, or it can be a rich study in contrasting textures and shapes. In addition, your florist can create an all white bridal bouquet that is perfect for any season. Spring brides will have wonderful choices for their white bouquets. If your style is simple and clean, then a big fat bunch of white tulips makes the perfect bouquet for you to carry. Finish it off with an extra wide satin ribbon bow on the stems. You can use a white bow, or add a splash of color by choosing a ribbon in a different color, or even a stripe. The papery petals of ranunculus create elegant bridal bouquets. Delicate lily-of-the-valley and ruffly sweet peas are charming old-fashioned blossoms for all-white bridal bouquets. If you like an old fashioned bouquet, consider white flowers like lily of the valley or sweet peas. These will make delicate bouquets with lots of great texture. Another wonderful texture is the papery look of tightly wrapped ranunculus. These smallish white flowers combine beautifully with other round blossoms, such as roses and peonies. Lily of the valley is the most classic May bridal flower. Page 5 © 2011 www.silverlandjewelry.com Speaking of peonies, nothing could be more feminine and lovely than a big round bouquet featuring these classic beauties. A peach or pale pink grosgrain ribbon would be the ideal accent around the stems. If you like the look of big, open flowers, also consider roses, which are readily available to brides at any time of the year. To fill out your bouquet while keeping costs under control, ask the florist to intersperse some stems of lisianthus, which will blend in nicely, but are more affordable than roses. Summer brides can choose from any of the year round flowers for their bouquets, or opt for seasonal blooms such as hydrangea. The elegance of these big flowers with lots of petals makes them gorgeous for any type of wedding, from formal to casual. It all depends on how you choose to arrange them. For a more formal Lush white peonies with accents of bouquet, choose a dripping cascade of white flowers heavenly smelling freesia. that combines the hydrangea with roses and greens. If you are having a relaxed afternoon wedding, a simple bundle of white hydrangea tied with a pretty ribbon will be beautiful. Seasonal accents such as gold pinecones and berries add a wintery touch to a white bridal bouquet. There are many other wonderful white flowers from which to choose. In the autumn, consider mixing white roses with other natural elements, such as leaves and berries. White is also very, very popular for winter weddings. For a winter wonderland theme, take inspiration from your crystal bridal jewelry to trim out your white bouquet: have the florist wire dazzling crystals between the blooms. The crystal accents in your bouquet will be a lovely echo of your spectacular bridal jewelry. Choose large, showy flowers, such as white lilies to create a grand and dramatic bouquet. With so many choices, you can create a unique and beautiful bouquet for your wedding without adding any color. The all white bridal bouquet is a classic choice, and it is a wonderful way to enhance the beauty of your wedding gown, without using any color that could be distracting. After all, you want your bouquet to be a special part of your bridal ensemble, but the center of attention should always be the bride herself. Page 6 © 2011 www.silverlandjewelry.com Beautiful Yellow Wedding Bouquets Yellow is the most cheerful of all the colors, which makes it a natural addition to a happy occasion like a wedding. Whether it is light and sunny or warm and rich, yellow will make any wedding prettier. These are some ideas for beautiful yellow wedding bouquets. Certainly yellow is a perfect choice for a spring wedding bouquet. It has the cheery feel of an early spring day when nature is just starting to come to life again after the darkness of winter. Nothing says, "welcome spring" quite like yellow flowers! Emphasize the spirit of spring by choosing flowers that are associated with the season. You simply cannot beat a full round bouquet of happy yellow tulips. It is a great classic wedding flower, perfect for the type of bride wearing an organza gown with pearl bridal jewelry. This type of bouquet can be dressed up with a wide satin ribbon, or made more casual with a cute yellow and white gingham ribbon. Create a cheerful bouquet with a mix of vibrant yellow blossoms, such as this arrangement of dahlias, irises, mini calla lilies, freesia, and spray roses. Another classic yellow spring flower is the daffodil. This wonderful sign of spring would make a lovely addition to a wedding bouquet, either in the regular size or the adorable little mini daffodils. They work beautifully in combination with other yellow flowers like peonies and freesia to create a feminine and lovely bouquet that any bride would love to carry. A sophisticated yellow rose and orchid bouquet. Page 7 Yellow bouquets can also take on a more sophisticated vibe. A chic bouquet of yellow orchids or calla lilies would be an excellent choice for a second time bride. It is perfect for the more mature bride who likes a light color palette for her wedding, but would prefer to avoid white. A round nosegay is always pretty, but an elegant arm bouquet with dripping tendrils of greenery would be especially sophisticated and stylish. © 2011 www.silverlandjewelry.com Certainly most of the favorite wedding flowers are available in yellow. Texan brides can include the "yellow rose of Texas" into their bridal bouquets as a sign of their state pride. Classic hybrid roses (which traditionally symbolize friendship) come in a nice cheery yellow, as do romantic old-fashioned garden roses. A pale yellow garden rose combines marvelously with such romantic blossoms as sweet peas and freesia. A very traditional bride will love the combination of yellow roses and tiny white stephanotis, complete with the pearl centers that look so pretty with classic bridal jewelry. Yellow wedding bouquets are also fantastic for more rustic ceremonies. The rich yellow and brown of mini sunflowers is fantastic for a fall bride. You can A fresh yellow and green bouquet with create a bouquet entirely from sunflowers or mix in garden roses, zinnias, and freesia. other seasonal accents such as mums and stalks of wheat. Tie is all up with a wide strip of torn dupioni in a russet color. The effect is rustic elegance. There are countless other choices for yellow wedding bouquets. You can use marigold yellow dahlias, bold caltleya orchids, casual gerbera daisies or sweet traditional white and yellow daisies. Yellow flowers make a cheerful and sunny statement on their own, but they also combine well with soft cream, light green, and even pale blue or lavender. There are so many beautiful flowers available for yellow bouquets that you may find it hard to narrow it down to your favorites! Sunflowers are delightful for fall bouquets. Unique billy balls are fun and modern. Page 8 © 2011 www.silverlandjewelry.com Colorful Wedding Bouquets Who says that wedding flowers have to be all white? Colorful flowers can be a great way to inject personality and style into your wedding. These are some ideas for colorful wedding bouquets for all different types of wedding ceremonies. Terra cotta roses, hypericum berries, and mango calla lilies in an elegant autumn bridal bouquet. Colorful flowers are always fun for a summer wedding. Make your garden wedding romantic with pink and green bouquets for all the ladies in the wedding. Lush pink peonies and vivid green hydrangeas are a winning combination. Pink and green striped grosgrain ribbon bouquet wraps will up the preppy factor, or splurge on gorgeous watercolor painted ribbons with all of the flower colors for a bit of luxury. It is really easy to come up with fantastic informal wedding bouquets in bright colors. Gerbera daisies in fuchsia, orange, and yellow are festive and cheerful on a hot summer day. Mixed wildflowers in shades of purple, yellow, pink, and orange will look like you gathered them yourself on the morning of the wedding. Spring brides can enjoy bouquets combining yellow mini daffodils, purple hyacinth, and white roses. Page 9 Even a fairly formal wedding can benefit from a bit of color in the wedding bouquets. As long as the flowers which you select are sufficiently elegant, adding color will in no way detract from the formality of your ceremony. Roses are an excellent option, as they are both traditional and available in a beautiful array of colors. For an autumn wedding, bouquets with roses in fall shades of terra cotta, sunflower yellow, and rich red will strike the perfect mood. Extras like red hypericum berries and velvet ribbons will enhance the effect. © 2011 www.silverlandjewelry.com Exotic bouquets can also be colorful. The hottest trend going is to enhance your flowers with fanciful peacock feathers. Pull out some of the shades in the feathers for your flowers. Deep purple with dashes of gold and green flowers will look stunning with the peacock feathers. Tie it all up with a big gold bow. For the bridesmaids, echo the effect with a smaller number of feathers. You can take it one step further and choose bridesmaid jewelry gifts in some of the feather colors. A bridesmaid dress in a neutral but glamorous hue like gold would be the perfect backdrop for gifts of bridesmaid jewelry in an assortment of peacock colors. Glamorous additions like peacock feathers or crystals add sophistication to colorful wedding bouquets. Brides who love the style of sophisticated flowers in deep colors can get the right level of drama and elegance with deep purple and red flowers in combination. After all, colorful flowers do not have to be bright. These rich colors are especially gorgeous for late winter weddings. Roses and orchids are among the best types of flowers for dark bouquets. If you want to make the bouquets even more elegant, the addition of jet black teardrop crystals will be spectacular. Or introduce some shimmer in the form of glittery berries and curvy branches. Really allow yourself to have fun and express yourself with colorful wedding bouquets. They can be another festive part in a brightly decorated wedding ceremony, or a fabulous pop of color in an otherwise white decorating scheme. Either way, colorful bouquets will make your ceremony feel unique and upbeat. Page 10 © 2011 www.silverlandjewelry.com Crystal Wedding Jewelry for Your Bouquet The bride's bouquet is one of the most special parts of the wedding. There are many ways to make it memorable and unique, such as the choice of flowers, the way that they are arranged, and any embellishments that you choose as a finishing touch. One of the most fabulous ways to dress up your bouquet is with eye catching crystal wedding jewelry. Wedding jewelry has become a very popular accent for much, much more than just the bride herself. Customized crystal wedding jewelry is one of the most spectacular toppers that a bride can choose for her cake, whether it is in the form of a bejeweled crown, or rhinestone leaves and flowers. Likewise, the bouquet is a place that can be decorated in some very special ways to make it completely breathtaking. A dazzling crystal brooch on the bouquet wrap is a fabulous coordinate to crystal bridal jewelry. When you are thinking about adding crystals to your wedding bouquet, the first thing to consider is what type of effect you would like to create. You can make it subtle or grand, depending on your wedding style. Do you want your bouquet to have a delicate shimmer or an all out explosion of sparkle? Is your wedding modern or vintage Hollywood inspired? These are the types of questions to ask yourself. Page 11 © 2011 www.silverlandjewelry.com Delicate crystals add a hint of sparkle to an elegant calla lily bouquet. Once you have decided on the effect that you would like, the next step is to sit down with your florist and design the bouquet. One simple way to add a touch of glamor to your flowers is to choose a bouquet that has the stems wrapped in a wide satin ribbon. The ribbon is the perfect place to pin a piece of crystal wedding jewelry, such as a sparkling brooch. This can be a great use of a family piece, or if you do not have anything from your relatives, you can pick up a crystal or rhinestone brooch online or in a vintage shop. Some brides want to have some sparkle mixed in with the flowers themselves, and there are some fantastic options available. If you like the effect of twinkling crystals evenly interspersed throughout your bouquet, then wire individual diamond or round Swarovski crystals to tuck in with the blooms. Another beautiful idea is to put crystals into the centers of some individual flowers. You are surely looking at a high labor cost from your florist for this, but a very crafty bride could even consider adding this accent to her bouquet herself (or better yet, have a friend do it on the morning of the wedding). For a more opulent and glamorous look, you will want to make the crystals a stronger design element. A fabulous effect can be created by having very large teardrop shaped Swarovski crystals grace the edge of the bouquet. They will swing and catch the light like magic as the bride walks down the aisle. For an even more eye-popping bouquet, choose crystals with an AB finish, which will throw a beautiful prismatic light. An all crystal bouquet wrap is truly fabulous. Whatever special crystal details you choose for your bouquet, keep in mind that you can add a similar special touch to the rest of your wedding flowers. Whether your wedding theme is a winter wonderland, or modern elegance, the effect of crystal wedding jewelry in your bouquets and centerpieces will be absolutely stunning. Page 12 © 2011 www.silverlandjewelry.com Gloriously Fragrant Bridal Bouquets Your bridal bouquet is one of the most special finishing details of your wedding ensemble. Not only should it have the colors and style that appeal to you, but it should also smell heavenly. From bold to delicate, these are some ideas for gloriously fragrant flowers to include in your bridal bouquet. One of the flowers that is best known for its scent is the gardenia. With these heady blossoms in your bouquet, there would be no need for perfume. As they do tend to wilt rather quickly, keep a bouquet with gardenias in water until the last possible second before walking down the aisle. Another idea is to construct a bouquet with hardier flowers, while using bowls of floating gardenias to infuse your ceremony with their delightful aroma. Many of the most popular varieties of hybrid roses have had their scent bred out of them. However, if you turn to garden roses, you can find some Gardenias add a heavenly scent to a classic rose bridal wonderfully fragrant flowers. For a bouquet. spring wedding, you could not find a more beautiful bouquet than one created from fragrant roses and luscious peonies. To add a bit of elegance to this garden inspired bouquet, the florist can wrap the handle with a string of pearls to coordinate with your pearl bridal jewelry. Top picks for fragrant wedding bouquets include gardenias, garden roses, chocolate cosmos, and herbs. Page 13 © 2011 www.silverlandjewelry.com For a summer wedding, the incredible scent of chocolate cosmos would be divine. These rich brown flowers smell amazing, and have a beautifully sophisticated color that can be used to create a very elegant bouquet. A very chic look would be to combine them with green flowers like orchids or hydrangea for a stylish brown and lime color palette. An extra dash of elegance can be added by including sprigs of coppery brown pearl sprays wired in between the blooms like jewelry for your bridal bouquet. There are many other additions you can use to add fragrance to your bouquet. Scented leaves, like those from hostas or geraniums are an unexpected element that will nicely frame out the flowers. Green leaves Velvety chocolate cosmos add fragrance look very pretty when used as a cuff around an alland sophistication to a bouquet. white grouping of blossoms. The green and white combination will smell lovely and look fresh and modern. When you are looking for ways to give your bouquet a pleasing scent, don't forget about herbs. There are many varieties that have been used in wedding flowers for generations. One of the most popular is lavender, which is loved for its relaxing aroma and its beautiful soft bluepurple color. Lavender is especially beloved in Scandinavia, where it is often combined with seasonal wildflowers for a pretty and unpretentious bouquet. Lovely lavender adds a relaxing scent to a bouquet. Another relaxing aroma is chamomile, which works well in combination with many flowers. The earthy scent of sage is great for fall bouquets. If you like something a little sharper, what about the uplifting fragrance of mint? Use it in combination with lemon scented leaves, such as those from the lemon verbena plant or certain geraniums, for a bouquet that will be invigorating and uplifting. Perfect if you had a late night at the rehearsal dinner! There are so many beautifully scented flowers, leaves, and herbs that you can use in your bouquet that it would be a shame to overlook them. The fragrance you select for your bouquet can be like a form of aromatherapy for your wedding day. Whatever your favorite type of scent, using it in your bouquet is a lovely way to make it more special. Page 14 © 2011 www.silverlandjewelry.com Lily Wedding Bouquets Lilies are one of the traditional favorite flowers for weddings. They come in a large range of varieties and colors, with one that would be perfect for almost any style of celebration. These are some ideas for beautiful lily wedding bouquets for the bride and bridesmaids. White lilies are especially elegant for weddings, and they are also symbolic of the Virgin Mary, making them a wonderful choice for a Catholic bride. Lilies are large, so it does not take many to make a very impressive bouquet. Play up the purity of a white lily bouquet by tying it with a simple wide white satin ribbon with a bow and streamers that hang down just past the ends of the stems. This would be a stunning bouquet for any time of the year. Lilies also come in some spectacular colors. Hot pink Stargazer lilies are breathtaking and work wonderfully for either a traditional wedding or a tropical theme event. Be warned that they have a very strong fragrance, so be sure that you find the distinctive aroma of Stargazer lilies pleasing before ordering them for your bridal bouquet. Play up the dramatic side of these showy lilies by adding crystals to the bouquets to complement your crystal wedding jewelry. For even more drama, consider a long cascade bouquet instead of a round nosegay form. Add sparkling crystal strings that hang like streamers for the ultimate in wedding jewelry for your bouquet. The results will be spectacular! White lilies symbolize purity. Showy Stargazer lilies are nothing short of spectacular! Page 15 © 2011 www.silverlandjewelry.com Bright orange tiger lilies are another fabulous option for wedding bouquets. They are a hot color for summer ceremonies, especially when combined with flowers in other vivid hues such as fuchsia. To use orange lilies in the fall, add deep burgundy and brown blossoms, along with a scattering of red hypericum berries. Tie a loosely gathered bouquet with a natural shape with a brown velvet ribbon for the perfect finishing touch. Calla lilies are also extremely popular for wedding flowers. The larger sized ones look magnificent when gathered into arm bouquets with the stems left long. The sleek flowers and long stems create a very stylish bouquet, which is especially attractive for tall brides. The arm bouquet has a bit of a beauty queen flair, but is a chic alternative to a round nosegay. Calla lilies in arm bouquet form work wonderfully with sleek vintage inspired gowns that have the air of Old Hollywood glamor. You will look like you just stepped out of a 1930s film! Mini calla lilies are a very versatile bouquet option. They can be used on their own or in combination with other flowers to create rounded bouquets. One of the most appealing things about mini calla lilies is their color range. In addition to classic wedding colors like pink and yellow, the mini callas come in unique and dramatic shades like rust, apricot, burgundy, hot chocolate, and even a dark purplish-black color. They make spectacular bouquets for any season, and of course the very dark colors are ideal for an evening wedding. Without a doubt, lilies deserve their status as one of the premier wedding flowers. They are always elegant, ever stylish, and have a flamboyant flair that makes them perfect for the bride who wants her bouquets to have that extra spark. You simply cannot go wrong choosing one of the gorgeous styles of lily for your wedding. Whether your style is flamboyant or minimalist, there is a style of lily to suit your taste. Page 16 © 2011 www.silverlandjewelry.com Magnificent Fall Bridal Bouquets Autumn has a very special palette all its own. The bold and rich colors of the season make a gorgeous accent for a wedding, especially in the floral arrangements. These are some of the most magnificent fall bridal bouquets. As summer fades into fall, the colors get deeper and richer. You also find the bright and rich pops of color that are characteristic of the blazing fall foliage. Mix it all together with a few luxurious accents, and you have the ingredients for a stunning bouquet for the bride to carry down the aisle. Roses are a favorite wedding flower at any time of the year, and fall is no exception. One of the great things about roses is that they are available in a fantastic array of colors. Some of the prettiest shades for fall are terra cotta, bronze, deep gold, and burgundy. For a formal wedding, a classic round arrangement of deep burgundy roses would be lovely. Make it even more special by wiring in dark red Swarovski crystals to complement the crystal bridal jewelry worn by the bride. Another beautiful bridal bouquet accent is to take a simple strand of beads in a round crystal and pearl combination, and wrap it around the bouquet like a piece of jewelry for your flowers. Seasonal accents like fall leaves, dried seed pods, and hypericum berries add a magical feeling to autumn wedding bouquets. Page 17 © 2011 www.silverlandjewelry.com For a more eclectic bouquet, there are some wonderful additions to consider. Mix in sprays of real oak leaves amongst the flowers. Another idea is to add seed pods, Chinese lantern pods, and curly grapevine for texture. Hypericum berries also look wonderful amongst the roses in a fall bouquet. All of these items combine beautifully with roses in rich shades of terra cotta and bronze. One of the most iconic flowers of fall is the mum. For a rustic fall wedding, giant rust and white mums are stunning and seasonal. They look wonderful with potted mums as the centerpieces. Celebrate the autumnal glory of mums by mixing in fall leaves, and wrap up your bouquet with a simple band of raffia. Speaking of bouquet wraps, they can be a wonderful way to add a seasonal accent. For autumn weddings, some of the prettiest wraps are wide satin ribbons, velvet ribbons, and jacquard patterned bows. You can also think about trimming out your bridal bouquet with a border of leaves like a ruff or collar. For a formal wedding, gold painted leaves would be just fabulous. A simple yet elegant bouquet of mums. Another great use of leaves in a fall bouquet is embossed velvet leaves. They are available at craft stores and they add a rich accent to deep fall flowers like dark purple dahlias. For the most exotic look, stick with velvet leaves in a color almost as dark as the hues of the blossoms; they do not need to be done in natural shades of leaf green. Finally, keep in mind that there are all sorts of other flower choices for fall weddings. Pretty lisianthus are a lovely option and come in quite a few shades. Or choose bold flowers like mini sunflowers for a perfect touch of the season in your bouquet. Many of the most wonderful fall bridal bouquets feature these rich tones that capture the essence of autumn perfectly. Burgundy dahlias make a charming bouquet for a fall bride. Page 18 © 2011 www.silverlandjewelry.com The Perfect Bouquets for Your Wedding When you are choosing the bouquets for your wedding, there are a variety of things to factor in. You not only want your bouquets to be beautiful, but they should suit both you and the style of wedding that you are having. Here are some tips on how to choose the perfect bouquets. It is lovely to design colorful bridesmaid bouquets in a similar style to the bride's bouquet. The first bouquet that should be designed is the bride's. After all, you are the center of attention! Once you have figured out exactly what you would like for your bouquet, you can begin to design the bouquets for your bridesmaids. The only exception would be if you know that you will want your bridesmaids to carry bouquets that are an exact replica of your own, only on a smaller scale. If you choose very costly blooms for yourself, keep in mind that you will be facing a large expense once you multiply the cost per stem times four or five bridesmaids. Some of the things that you will want to think about are size, style, color, and season. The size of the bride's bouquet should complement the size of the bride herself. More petite brides are generally advised to carry more dainty bouquets such as posies or nosegays. Taller women can get away with a more abundant bouquet, either in the form of a larger nosegay or as a more dramatic cascade or arm bouquet. A small posy bouquet suits a petite bride very well. Page 19 © 2011 www.silverlandjewelry.com The shape of the bouquet that you choose should echo the style of your wedding gown. For instance, if you plan to wear a 1950s inspired strapless gown with a full skirt, the round shape of a nosegay is the perfect complement. On the other hand, if your gown is a slinky silk sheath, a slim and sophisticated bunch of calla lilies would be a much better match. Be careful that you do not cover up any of the special details on your gown with a bouquet that is overly large or has a lot of trailing greens. The prettiest bouquets will be appropriate to the season. Don't waste your time or money trying to locate flowers that are not in season at the time of your wedding. As my florist told me, I might be able to find your favorite flower out of season, but you may not like how it looks when it gets here. You are better off choosing an alternative that you can be confident will arrive looking fresh and beautiful for your wedding day. A nice touch is to include seasonal accents in your wedding bouquets, such as wired acorns for an autumn wedding or holly mixed with red roses if your wedding is at Christmas. After you have chosen the perfect bridal bouquet, it is time to think about the bridesmaids. Their bouquets should be similar to yours in shape and formality, but they need not match exactly. Choosing bridesmaid bouquets of a casual flower like daisies would not be a good pairing with an elegant bride's bouquet of orchids, but you could mix calla lilies with orchids. Sleek calla lilies complement the streamlined style of this bridal gown. Often a bride will carry a white bouquet, but she prefers something more colorful for her attendants. A simple way to handle this is to choose bridesmaid bouquets that are in the same flower as the bride's, but in the color or their bridesmaid dresses (or another color in your wedding palette). Just as brides are having crystals added to their bouquets for sparkle, you can pull a detail from the bridesmaid jewelry to bring into their bouquets. For example, if your bridesmaids are wearing bridesmaid jewelry created from deep red crystals, a really chic idea would be for them to carry green bouquets accented with wired red crystals. Tip: If you are planning to use crystals in your bouquet, sprinkle a few into the bridesmaid bouquets as well. The wedding bouquets are one of the most important accessories. They will have a big impact on the look of your processional, and you will see them in photographs for years to come. Take the time to choose the bouquets that will add the most beauty to your wedding day. Page 20 © 2011 www.silverlandjewelry.com Winter Wedding Bouquets If you are planning a winter wedding, it will be here before you know it! Now is the time to make the final decisions about your details, especially the wedding flowers. These are some gorgeous ideas for winter wedding bouquets. One of the most beloved winter wedding themes is the Winter Wonderland, which embraces the icy sparkle of the coldest months of the year. This is a fantastic theme around which to design a bridal bouquet. Think all white flowers with plenty of sparkle and shine. Choose your favorite white flowers, such as roses, lilies, or tulips, and have your florist add some special details, such as crystal beads wired into the floral arrangement. You can even have strands of crystal jewelry necklaces draped over the flowers in the bridal bouquet. These bouquets are ideal with crystal bridal jewelry, as they will sparkle back and forth between bouquet and jewelry. If you want to add warmth and texture to your winter bouquet, use velvet. An unexpected detail can be to intersperse embossed Seasonal accents like pinecones velvet leaves in among the fresh flowers. This looks wonderful are a gorgeous addition to with deeper colored flowers, especially if you select velvet leaves winter wedding bouquets. in a deep dusty purple color. For an unabashedly feminine winter wedding bouquet, carry ruffly white sweet peas tied with a pink velvet ribbon around the stems. Perhaps you would like to give your bridal bouquet a touch of Christmas spirit. This can be easily done with the addition of holiday accents like holly berries and evergreen boughs. Combine them with velvety red roses and perhaps some amaryllis, for a merry bridal bouquet. If you prefer to avoid the red and green theme, but still wish to add a festive touch to your flowers, this can be done by wiring small gold or silver ball ornaments in among the blossoms in your color of choice. Velvet leaves and sparkling crystals add a festive style to a winter wedding bouquet. Page 21 © 2011 www.silverlandjewelry.com Winter weddings can be very glamorous, and they give you the chance to play with some fun materials that would seem out of place for a summer ceremony. White feathers can be used to create a dramatic ruff around a bridal bouquet. Silver painted leaves add a glamorous accent when mixed in with fresh flowers. Or go all out with a fur accent (real or faux, your choice), such as a fur wrapped handle for the bouquet. When you are planning the bridesmaid bouquets, base them around the bridal bouquet. It is common to design bouquets for the attendants that are similar, but scaled down. This can mean the same flowers and accents, only in a smaller size, substituting a similar but less costly flower, or adding just a scattering of special details instead of applying them with an eye for drama as one might for the bride's bouquet. Your winter wedding bouquets can be virtually anything you like, as long as they do not appear to be too summery. White feathers add a snowy feeling to a winter The season is such a special one, bouquet. though, that it can be a lot of fun to add in some details that really celebrate the spirit of winter. With the perfect bouquet in hand, you will be ready to march down the aisle in grand style. A fabulous red bouquet with feathers and crystals is the perfect accessory for a glamorous winter brides. Page 22 © 2011 www.silverlandjewelry.com Elegant and Classic Wedding Bouquets By Bridget Mora Published by Silverland Jewelry & Gifts © 2011 Page 23