Natural & Romantic //

During design consultations, The Petaler Co. is seeing brides embrace natural styles that stray from uniformity, and see the same shift in florals! Bridal parties opt for soft updo’s and relaxed curls, and carry loose bouquets.  Wedding colors are rarely defined by one or two hues, but instead, vast color palettes, which means a gorgeous and broad floral selection. Bridesmaids wear gowns that vary in style, color and texture, while groomsmen don different boutonnières composed of complementary stems. Here are The Petaler Co.’s favorite floral trends inspired by classic styles.

Blush Blooms //

When Rose Quartz was named Pantone’s 2016 Color of the year, along with Serenity, it confirmed that there were indeed endless possibilities for this feminine shade. Blush blooms are incredibly versatile and adaptable to color palettes fitting for every season. Blush proves to be beautiful in a soft, pastel palette when paired with creams and champagnes and equally charming when paired with warm, earth-tones and pops of Marsala for fall.

Loose, Garden Style Bouquets //

Whether the floral selection is inspired by a refined English Garden or a field of wild flowers, brides are loving loose, hand-tied bouquets with a “freshly gathered from the garden” feel.

Long, Layered Ribbons //

The perfect finishing touch to a hand-tied bouquet, luxurious, silk ribbons layered in complementary colors look elegant as the bridal party walks down the aisle.

Lush, Organic Greenery //

Brides are incorporating more greenery into bouquets, and are making statements with lush garlands, wreaths and understated greenery boutonnières.  From deep emerald greens, like bay leaf, to the softer, silver-tones of eucalyptus, sprays of greenery are a great addition to any space.  Lining a tablescape or draped along a mantle, these greens are no wallflower.

Christine Lemon Woods,  The Petaler Co. For more wedding floral inspiration follow @ThePetalerCo on Pinterest and Instagram.

 

 

Tips for floral success

You probably will purchase more flowers from your florist for your wedding than for any other occasion in your life. Therefore, choosing flowers that fit your style and petals that match your color palette means finding the right bloom guru. You need someone special to create an unforgettable day that’s kissed by nature’s finest.

Most brides-to-be are faced with questions such as how to find a florist they can trust, how to choose the most beautiful wedding flower bouquet, what colors/shapes work best with the dress, how big should the bouquet be, which flowers are available at that time of year, and much more. From dramatic and bold to romantic and understated, the vision you have for your wedding needs to be reflected in your wedding flowers, and floral designers help with just that! Besides your bridal bouquet, traditionally you’ll need — at a minimum — bouquets for your attendants, boutonnieres for your groom, groomsmen and fathers; corsages for your mothers and grandmothers; flowers to decorate the ceremony site; and centerpieces for the reception tables.

To make sure all of these blooms are beautiful and within your budget, picking the right florist is crucial. Here are some tips for floral success:

• To select a wedding florist, begin by asking for recommendations from recently married family and friends, and from wedding professionals. Your contacts at both ceremony and reception sites probably have florists they’ve worked with repeatedly and can recommend. This is helpful because it means the florist is already familiar with the site, but be sure to follow up with your own research and reference checks.

• Once you select your initial florist candidates, make an appointment to view each one’s work. First, look at any arrangements on display in their shop or special event sites to see if you like the colors and combinations, and if the blossoms on hand look healthy and fresh. Take a careful look at the florist’s portfolio of other wedding work, and be sure to study both bouquets andtable arrangements. If you like what you see, it’s time to talk about your needs.

• Think in advance about your flower budgetand let your florist know this up front. To make sure he or she understands the look you’re after, clip pictures of any floral arrangements you like from magazines, be it sparse birch branches for a winter wedding or a bunch of colorful tulips. Showing examples of the style you prefer will help work up designs — and realistic estimates.

• Classic/traditional, black tie affair, modern, theme event, beach wedding? The right florist will give your wedding the right flair, but the biggest mistake is for a bride to have her heart set on specific flowers and not be flexible. A florist can do a much better job if the bride asks for an overall look, feel, and color scheme, and then let the florist create it.

• Avoid using one color. Many brides try to match the flowers to the bridesmaid dresses, but a lavender gown with lavender flowers will make for very disappointing pictures. Flowers are a great place to choose an accent color. For example, a lime green against a lavender gown will bring out the best in both colors and make for fabulous photos.

• Choosing highly aromatic flowers for centerpieces may sound like an amazingly romantic idea, but it will drive your guests insane if they are prone to allergies. For highly aromatic arrangements, stick to your bridal bouquet and the altar arrangements.

• Some flowers just aren’t available at certain times of the year (or are very expensive) so make sure you take this into consideration when choosing which flowers to incorporate into your bouquet. Using flowers that are in season or regionally grown will cost far less than the flown-in, hothouse varieties. Keep in mind the holidays also affect prices. Around Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day, general demand for flowers increase, as do their costs.

• Make it personal and try to incorporate flowers that might have a personal meaning to either you or another family member. If you have a family heirloom such as an antique brooch, a lace hanky or something else to work into your something old, new, borrowed and blue, ask your florist to incorporate it into the bouquet.