Choosing Flowers For Your 2009 Wedding
When it comes to weddings, flowers are truly what make the event sparkle, and that statement has never been more true than it is now. The past decade has seen cutting-edge floral innovations and sensational new interpretations of line, style and color. Gone are the days of bashful bridal clutches springing with white daisies and baby's breath. Today's wedding flowers dare to venture far beyond prim and proper.
Something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue. We're going to see lots of new colors in weddings this year, and blue reigns in shades of aqua, sky and turquoise. Flowers in orange and apricot shades are making a comeback. Consider them if your bridesmaids will be dressed in that electric new blue. When working with analogous color schemes such as orange and apricot, plan on assembling flowers that have engaging textures, like parrot tulips, hydrangea, stock, and zinnias, for arresting eye appeal.
Two years ago, chocolate rose to the forefront as the "it" color for weddings, often paired with ivory, mint, and robin's eggshell blue. In 2009, gray is chocolate's surprising new successor. Dusty miller foliage will pull this subdued color into focus. You can incorporate it beautifully with the above-mentioned apricot shades, or with a medley of lilac shades and eggplant hues.
Every year, there is one flower, one superstar that seemingly every bride wants to give prominence, and this year, the calla lily is the belle of the ball. If you love the look of callas but don't want to blow your budget, the miniature calla is, naturally, your best option. Available in a dizzying rainbow of colors from lemon meringue to deep cabernet, these lilliputian callas are versatile and just as classy as their pricier cousin, the standard calla.
Monofloral presentations endure. "Less is more" is the prevailing attitude in 2009, and limiting wedding bouquets to one type of standout flower ties in well with keeping it easy and effortless. A simple hand-tied bouquet of those sweet miniature callas or Oriental lilies is charming and chic. By simplifying and staying with quality flowers, you can't go wrong.
On the other side of the coin, the Bohemian Garden approach is attracting attention from ladies looking for the ultimate anti-cookie cutter ceremony. Inspired by the varicolored and abundant bouquets rendered in 18th-century Flemish oil paintings, the Bohemian arrangements are full and textural, spilling over with motley color and variety. The key to making the Bohemian style work is with an open color palette. Also, look for multicolored blooms, like candy-striped parrot tulips and roses like Intuition and Hocus Pocus, which feature variegated petals. The sky is the limit with these kaleidoscopic arrangements. For an even more enchanting touch, arrange with pheasant feathers or the bright plumage of a peacock.
Our neighbors across the Atlantic are in love not only with the Bohemian style, but also with what the French call "bouquet vegetal." Incorporating fragrant herbs, fruits and even vegetables lends arrangements a bountiful look and adds value quite cheaply as the markup on produce is miniscule next to that of fresh blooms. This is a novel idea for table arrangements, and a particularly memorable way to decorate at outdoor nuptials at a farm or vineyard. Try a lush assortment of hydrangea, double peonies, and ranunculus with black grapes and mint leaves tumbling over the lip of a ceramic urn. Tres jolie!
The latest trend to hit the wedding floral scene is the "Habitat" or "Rainforest" theme. Yellow-green foliage assumes center stage. This particular style emphasizes the use of natural materials such as bark, stones, moss, vines, seed pods and grasses. Ideal for the bride looking for something out of the floral realm, the overall effect is organic, botanically inspired arrangements that speak to our heightened environmental consciousness. A foliage-only bouquet can look just as stunning as a floral one, as long as textures are kept engaging and greens are fresh. Wispy tendrils of beargrass and long looping grapevines can combine to form a cascade that's second to none.
Every year brings fresh ideas to the world of floral design, and 2009 is a fantastic year for blooming trends. Just keep in mind that your wedding flowers are a reflection of your taste and personality as the bride, and that the hippest universal trend is combining flowers and greens that accentuate you!