For winter brides, here is some inspiration for beautiful bridal bouquets. Each is unique and features flowers available in the winter season.
icy white wedding bouquet via Martha Stewart
bouquet featuring wheat and lotus pods by Holly Chapple
bouquet featuring cabbage roses and magnolia pods by Holly Chapple
winter greens bridal bouquet via Green Wedding Shoes
I love when you can take something so ordinary and make it into something completely unique and clever. Here are some ideas on how to transform one ordinary object — a cupcake liner — into whimsical, decorative crafts.
gift toppers via Sunshine Everyday
cupcake liner tree by Paper Crave
Cupcake Wrapper Garland by Amy Atlas
jar covers from the kitchn
cupcake liner flower via Martha Stewart
cupcake liner lights via Rex & Regina
I’ve had the privilege of working with Petal’s Edge, a wedding floral company based in Alexandria, VA, for a number of years now and always love working with them. Recently, I interviewed owner Gerry Rogers who, along with her business partner Rebecca Henry, has great insight into wedding florals and offers here some tips and trends for brides and grooms.
photo credit: Sandi Foraci
photo credit: The Observatory
I am working with a client who is considering using baby’s breath in large clusters at her wedding to create floral impact. When done right, baby’s breath can be a beautiful floral option.
This example of baby’s breath as a bed for escort cards is fabulous. It reminds me of a wedding I did where we used wheatgrass as a bed for escort cards and then again for favors later in the night. I could also see moss and stones as very natural, organic foundations for an escort card display. So many options!
Baby's breath bed - perfect for escort cards; via Style Me Pretty
escort cards on wheatgrass; photo by Holland Photo Arts
via Holly Chapple Flowers
My current floral obsession is cabbage roses. Several of my brides are using them in their bridal bouquets this year and I feel like I am seeing them everywhere. Holly Chapple’s photo above shows Patience cabbage roses that just arrived at her shop. While I love all the colors that cabbage roses come in, I have to say that Patience is one of my favorites. Cabbage roses remind me of peonies, so if you are a peony fanatic, cabbage roses can be a really nice complement as you’ll see in some of the bouquets below.
via Martha Stewart Weddings
via Alexa Jayne Weddings
via Blooms by Martha Andrews
via Everyday Minerals
Two of my favorite floral fillers are dusty miller and lamb’s ear. They bring gorgeous, silver shimmer and rich texture to any bridal bouquet. Both are very appropriate for winter bouquets.
Dusty miller contrasts beautifully with bright yellow flowers; photo via Brides.com
winter bouquet; via Real Simple
Dusty miller boutonniere; via Brides.com
Cabbage roses and lamb's ear; Photo by Aaron Delesie via Snippet & Ink (via Sweetest Occasion)
white rose bouquet with dusty miller; via Elizabeth Anne Designs
An absolutely stunning bouquet; via Martha Stewart Weddings
dusty miller tucked in amongst bright, cheery flowers; via Martha Stewart Weddings
herbal bouquet includes lamb's ear; via Martha Stewart Weddings
flowers by Petal's Edge; photo by Holland Photo Arts
Much of the wedding planning process focuses on the fun elements of the reception: food, music, decor… In the excitement of thinking through those items, it can be easy to overlook some of the necessary logistical plans, like where should the bride and groom’s personal items (e.g. gifts, candles, guest book…) should be packed or taken to at the end of the evening? Another important thing to think through is what the bride and groom would like to do with the flowers at the end of the evening.
Reception flowers are generally a fairly significant chunk of the wedding budget and, for most brides, it seems wasteful to not do anything with them once the party is over. Brides can think through some of the following things when figuring out their flower plans:
1) What is the tradition among your guests regarding flowers? For example, in some communities women “elders” feel the right to take the flowers at the end of the night — sometimes without asking. If you suspect your guests fall into that category, plan for that.
2) Are any of your vessels rentals belonging to your florist? Make sure that guests do not walk off with those rented vases, but only the flowers. Depending on the arrangement and flowers, you might want to have plastic floral bags for guests to use when taking home the loose flowers.
3) Think of local friends or family that would enjoy the flowers. Obviously, out-of-town guests would have difficulty taking them with them.
4) Provide a list to your planner of whom you would like to receive the flowers at the end of the night. He or she can help ensure that the right people receive the flowers.
5) Consider what the flowers could be used for the day after your wedding. Should some of them be brought to an after-party? Are you having a post-wedding brunch? Are family members getting together for a party that weekend? Maybe you know of a friend who is hosting a personal party at their home the next day?
6) Some brides wish to donate flowers to nursing homes or women’s shelters. This is a fabulous idea but needs to be well-thought out and organized.
Contact the organization well in advance and ask them if they have a need for the flowers. Determine when and where the flowers can be dropped off. How many would they like? What size arrangements can they accommodate? Let them know if the flowers will be in vessels or if they need to have their own on hand.
Then consider who will take the flowers, how they will transport them, where they will store them overnight, and how they will be dropped off the following day. Ask your florist the “shelf-life” of your flowers as some last longer than others, especially depending on how they are arranged. You wouldn’t want to donate flowers that were wilted and quickly dying.
7) Know that even if you do not have a plan to give the flowers away or re-use them, they will not go to waste. Catering staff often appreciate being able to take an arrangement home and it is another way to thank them for their hard work. Not once have I seen flowers go in the trash so trust that they will be enjoyed and not wasted.
Caren and Ed are two of the loveliest people I’ve had the privilege to get to know through Rex & Regina Events. One need only to have seen the joy, respect, and love their friends exhibited toward them at their wedding celebration to get a small glimpse of how special they are. Caren’s girlfriends went so far as to sing a special musical number in Caren’s honor and Ed’s siblings and parents each gave a very special toast/roast to celebrate him and his new wife.
Caren & Ed’s wedding was not only fun and joyous, but reflective of their personalities and passions, as well. They are the proud parents of two adorable cats, Bago and Goon, who, while not present at the wedding, were amply honored. They are also passionate about cars and their Alfa Romeo Spider provided a sporty backdrop for some of their photos.
The wedding was captured beautifully by Anne & Bill Holland of Holland Photo Arts and came to life courtesy of some amazing vendors, named below.
Congratulations, Caren & Ed!
Caren & Ed
aisle runner flanked by hurricane candles nestled in wheatgrass
vine-wrapped chuppah with white floral accents
the ceremony under the chuppah
wheatgrass and tulip floral centerpiece as guests entered
escort cards were later nestled in the wheatgrass arrangement
special roasted coffee beans with Bago & Goon's photos were set in the wheatgrass at the end of the evening for guests to take home
the centerpieces reflected the wedding's light green and cream color palette
children's meals were marked in a whimsical way on the escort card
the cupcake tower was topped with a custom small cake for the bride & groom to cut
a kiss during the cutting of the cake
a stunning bridal bouquet
the mothers carried small, hand-tied posies
a surprise musical number performed by the bride's friends
enjoying the toasts and roasts
The beautiful bride
descending the marble staircase at Hotel Monaco
The Alfa Romeo
A sweet ride
Bago and Goon send their best wishes
Photography: Holland Photo Arts
Floral: Petal’s Edge
Baker: Fluffy Thoughts Cakes
Music: Ray, with Chris Laich Music Services
Venue: Hotel Monaco, Washington, DC
Makeup & Hair: Victoria Stiles
When coordinating wedding rehearsals, I often like to bring practice bouquets for the bridesmaids to use. Having bouquets helps them to practice holding the flowers at the correct height; coordinate the hand-off of the bride’s bouquet; and walk with a groomsman or collect their dress as they go up stairs while holding the bouquet.
Just in case, I often bring a practice bouquet for the bride in case she is not using the traditional ribbon bouquet compiled from her bridal showers.
The bouquets can be a thoughtful gesture for the bride to bring to the rehearsal as one more way to show her bridesmaids how thankful she is to have them as a part of her wedding.
Recently, I was inspired to create practice bouquets made from herbs in my garden.
ornamental sage bouquet
lavender practice bouquet
The bouquets are simple, but practice bouquets do not need to be elaborate. Creating an herb bouquet for your bridesmaids can be cost-effective, too. Snip some herbs from your garden or a family member’s garden and voila! They also smell wonderful. Just remember not to cut them too far in advance of the wedding rehearsal as many herbs wilt quickly and do keep them in water until they are ready to be used.
Other ideas for practice bouquets include small bouquets of inexpensive flowers (think the ones you see for 3 bunches for $9 at your local grocery store) or tootsie pops tied together with a ribbon.
Practice makes perfect!
This is the last in a series of three posts on creating tablescapes for Easter entertaining. Part One illustrated a casual table — something you could pull together with little time on a small budget — and Part Two was a more modern take on an Easter table.
Today’s inspiration is for a formal Easter tablescape, anchored by rich gold and pink accents. A rose-colored silk dupioni horizontal runner adds color to the table and unites the place settings opposite one another. Gold napkins are placed under the plate to allow the charger, china, and menu card to be more of a focal point. Gold flatware helps keep the look consistent and individual salt and pepper shakers add even more formality.
An elegant gold and pink Easter tablescape
The floral centerpiece features a moss “nest,” held together with a new floral resource — a weblike material available at florist shops — that shapes and accentuates the “nest.” Tall branches and flowers give the arrangement height making it perfect to use a centerpiece initially, but it should then be moved to a sideboard during dinner to allow guests to more easily see and talk with one another.
menu card adorned with a vintage brooch
To add a little more “bling” to the already opulent setting, we attached a vintage brooch to the menu card and tied it off with double-sided satin ribbon. The menu card also serves as a placecard.
Etched glassware (photo courtesy of Morgan Wilson)
Beautiful etched glassware completes the setting. The delicate pattern in the three glasses matches well with the delicate china and other formal elements.
I hope these tablescapes have inspired you over the last three days as you prepare for your Easter entertaining. Wishing you and yours a very happy holiday!
Floral arrangement by Karin’s Florist
Rentals courtesy of DC Rental
The Rex & Regina Blog shares both trendy and traditional ways to extend gracious hospitality through weddings, other social occasions, and at-home entertaining. Learn more about Rex & Regina.