Designing Wedding Pieces

Designing Wedding Pieces
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WEDDING is often the biggest day in
the lives of a man and a woman.
Couples want the occasion to be perfect.
Since flowers play a role in creating a
memorable event, many couples consult
with florists and hire their floral services.
Objective:
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Describe the floral needs for
weddings.
Key Terms:
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aisle runner
altar arrangements
arm bouquet
candelabra designs
cascade bouquet
chuppah
colonial bouquet
crescent bouquet
floral foam holder
hand-tied bouquet
kneeling bench flowers
pew decorations
toss bouquet
unity candle
arrangement
Wedding
Flowers
Nearly every wedding has at
least some flowers. Many weddings are planned with lavish floral pieces. Usually, wedding parties seek professional help with
flowers. The planning process
with a knowledgeable florist is the
first step in helping the bride and
groom make floral decisions
about their wedding.
FIGURE 1. Flowers add to the beauty of a wedding.
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WEDDING CONSULTATION
The wedding consultation is conducted after the bride and groom have set a date for the
wedding. The florist should provide a conference area that is big enough for three or four people; the bride will usually bring the groom, a friend, or her mother. The florist should provide
a portfolio or a book of wedding flower ideas. During the meeting, the florist should collect
information on date, time, colors, and style of the wedding. Different customs or ceremonial
requirements should be identified.
The florist should note all the wedding floral needs on a wedding order form. The bride
decides what floral pieces will be needed. The order form should note who is paying for each
arrangement and how the payments will be made. A down payment is often requested and paid
during this consultation.
A wedding usually involves many different types of floral pieces. Floral needs for the wedding ceremony often include many of the following pieces.
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Bouquet for the bride
Bouquet for the maid or matron of honor
Bouquets for the bridesmaids
Bouquet for the flower girl
Boutonniere for the groom
Boutonniere for the best man
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Boutonnieres for the groomsmen
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Boutonnieres for the ushers
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Boutonniere for the ring bearer
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Flowers for the parents and grandparents
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Flowers for other people involved in the ceremony (e.g., clergy, musicians, soloist, attendants
at guest registry, personal attendant, special
friends or relatives)
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Presentation bouquets for the parents
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Altar arrangements—flowers placed on the
altar
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Unity candle arrangement—a floral design
created for a unity candle that will be placed on
or near the altar
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Pew decorations—arrangements of flowers
and/or bows placed on the pews
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Kneeling bench flowers—flowers for a
bench on which the bride and groom kneel
FIGURE 2. Altar flower arrangement.
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Candelabra designs—formal arrangements created to hang on free-standing candelabras
Aisle runner—the white runner placed down the middle of the aisle before the wedding
party enters the wedding site
Chuppah—a canopy for Jewish weddings
Guest book arrangement
The wedding reception typically follows the wedding service. Additional floral needs for the
wedding reception must be addressed.
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Centerpieces for the head
table
Centerpieces for the serving
tables
Centerpieces for the guest
tables
Cake table decorations
Flowers for the wedding
cake
Toss bouquet—a small
bouquet used by the bride in
the bouquet toss
FIGURE 3. A toss bouquet.
ORDERING FLOWERS
Ordering flowers from the wholesaler is the next step for the florist. Sometimes, to meet
special requests, this needs to be done several weeks in advance. When working with the bride
in consultation, remember that to make efficient and economical flower choices, the size of the
wholesale bundles must be considered.
The florist might make a list of the flowers that he or she will be using in each design and
might even make a sketch of the design. Then, the flower totals are tabulated, with flowers
added for any possible unseen needs.
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
Many important steps are involved in designing a wedding.
Wedding Style
The wedding style is determined by the type of wedding to take place. A wedding in the
back yard with the reception in the parents’ house is different from a wedding in a cathedral
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with the reception at a country club. Thus, determining whether the wedding will be informal
or formal is the first step in deciding the style. Sometimes, themes are used in a wedding.
Examples are a storybook wedding and a winter wonderland theme.
Bouquets
Once the overall style is selected, the bouquets are designed. The bridal bouquet should
reflect the style of the gown and the wedding. Bridal bouquet choices are colonial, cascade,
variations of the cascade, arm bouquet, hand-tied bouquet, and special bouquet designs. Flowers the bride chooses will help in determining the best style of bouquet design.
A bouquet may be designed in a floral foam holder or be wired and taped. A floral foam
holder consists of a plastic cage with a handle and with floral foam on the inside. The foam
and the cage hold the flowers in place, and the foam provides moisture for the flowers. Construction of a bouquet using this mechanic is far faster than construction of one using wiring
and taping. The disadvantage is that if the bouquet is overhandled, it may start to lose flowers.
A sticky product can be used to add extra holding power. Toss bouquets should never be constructed using this mechanic.
Wiring and taping bouquets takes a great deal of time. However, bouquets made in this way
are very sturdy and durable.
A bouquet may either be stored in a flat position or be placed in a bouquet holder. When
delivering bouquets to the wedding site, they should be placed in bags and sprayed with a fine
mist of water. Avoid getting water on the ribbons.
Styles of bouquets include the following.
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Colonial bouquet—The colonial bouquet is a round bouquet based on the English
nosegay design of the Victorian and Georgian periods.
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Cascade bouquet—The cascade bouquet has a full, rounded, central area with an
eye-catching trailing line of flowers and foliage. It is designed the same way as the colonial, with the addition of the trailing flowers and foliage as the beginning placement.
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Crescent bouquet—The crescent bouquet is a variation of the cascade bouquet
designed in a “C” shape.
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Arm bouquet—The arm bouquet consists of a grouping of flowers tied together and
cradled in the left arm. Presentation bouquets are constructed in this manner.
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Hand-tied bouquet—The hand-tied bouquet is a natural-looking gathering of flowers
and foliage with the stems tied together. Hand-tied bouquets can be adorned with ribbon,
cording, or tulle.
Other designs are usually attached to something, such as a parasol, a fan, or a muff.
Flowers for the Hair
Flowers for the hair can be incorporated into a veil, a wreath or garland headband, or a small
comb. These flowers are often repeated from the bouquets. Bobby pins are used to attach
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flowers and keep them in place. Baby’s breath may be worked into the hair and held in place by
hair spray.
Altar Arrangements
Symmetrical altar arrangements are placed on both sides of the altar. They are sometimes
created in canisters that fit into gold vases. These canisters need to be obtained before the wedding. Sometimes the wedding
couple requests that altar arrangements be made in containers that
can be taken to the reception after
the wedding.
Candelabra pieces may be substituted for altar flowers or be
used in combination with altar
flowers.
A unity candle piece is usually
composed of two taper candles
with a large unity candle in the
center, symbolizing two lives
becoming one.
Pew Decorations
FIGURE 4. Unity candle arrangement.
Pew decorations are bows,
flowers, or floral designs attached
to the ends of pews. Reserved
seating is often marked with
larger pew decorations than the
other pews. The bride should
determine how many pews are to
be decorated. Pew bows are most
commonly created from #9 or
#40 ribbon. Tulle may be added
for a softer appearance. Florists
generally use anything from chenille wires to rubber bands to
attach the pew decorations. Also, a
floral foam holder with a clip that
attaches to the pew is available.
The general shape of a pew decoration is an oval or round
one-sided arrangement with
cascading foliage.
FIGURE 5. This church has been decorated as the site for a wedding.
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Reception Flowers
Flowers at the reception
should have much the same style
as flowers at the wedding site.
Many of the flowers will be taken
from the wedding to the reception and used to decorate the
reception hall. Therefore, in creating centerpieces for the head
table, the serving table, and the
general seating tables, a florist
should carry over the style from
the wedding ceremony. Other
FIGURE 6. Wedding bouquet and cake.
items that might be created for
the reception include an entryway
arch, floral garlands, potted plants, and arrangements for the wedding cake. Wedding cake
flowers are often designed like corsages or in small floral foam containers. The florist and the
bakery should communicate and coordinate on what is specifically needed.
FLORAL SERVICES
A variety of services may be provided by the florist. General service includes delivering the
flowers to the wedding site and to the reception site. If the florist is to provide more than basic
services, an additional amount may be charged. Creating a wedding service kit that can be
taken from one site to the next is helpful for a florist. Additional services might include:
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Distributing the flowers
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Pinning on corsages and boutonnieres
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Lighting candles as needed
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Positioning the aisle runner
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Giving instructions on holding the bouquets properly
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Transporting the ceremony flowers to the reception
Summary:
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The wedding consultation is conducted to collect information on the date, time,
colors, and style of the wedding.
The wedding style is determined by the type of wedding. The bridal bouquet
should reflect the style of the gown and the wedding. Bridal bouquet choices are
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colonial, cascade, variations of the cascade, arm bouquet, hand-tied bouquet, and
special bouquet designs.
Flowers for the hair can be incorporated into a veil, a headband, or a small comb.
Symmetrical altar arrangements or candelabra pieces are placed on both sides of the
altar.
A unity candle piece is usually composed of two taper candles with a large unity
candle in the center.
Pew decorations are bows, flowers, or floral designs attached to the ends of pews.
Flowers at the reception should have much the same style as flowers at the wedding
site.
General service by a florist includes delivering the flowers to the wedding site and
to the reception site. Additional services should require additional charges.
Checking Your Knowledge:
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1. What takes place during a wedding consultation?
2. What floral pieces are commonly used for weddings?
3. What are the styles of bouquets?
4. What considerations are made with flowers for the hair, alter arrangements,
pew decorations, and reception flowers?
5. What wedding services do florists provide?
Expanding Your Knowledge:
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Conduct a mock wedding in your classroom. Students in the class can role-play the
different parties, such as bride, groom, and wedding attendants. Conduct a consultation and prepare the wedding pieces.
Web Links:
:
Wedding Flowers
http://www.floristsregister.com/wedding_flowers.php
Weddings
http://www.aboutflowers.com/holidays_b1.html
Wedding Craft Projects
http://www.save-on-crafts.com/weddingcrafts2.html
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