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Waterfront views, decks, great living spaces, spa bathrooms, this home has it all! |
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A Tradition of Luxury and Grandeur
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Water's Edge offers the most spectacular views of the Manhattan skylines anywhere on the East River. |
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From the moment you enter the marble and cherrywood lobby tower, you’ll know that your guests will enjoy our brand new accommodations. |
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Carrying the most innovative invitation lines available today |
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Flowering Ideas
By Jenny Stamos
You may not want to wear white for your wedding or hold your ceremony in a church or temple, but chances are you’ll incorporate flowers into your big day. From an extravagant bouquet to a simple hair accessory, flowers play a major role in almost every wedding. Here’s what to consider when choosing your blooms.
First things first. Don’t even think about visiting a florist until you’ve chosen what you and your bridesmaids will be wearing for the ceremony. Your gown’s style and the colors of your bridesmaids’ dresses will help your florist get a sense of your personal taste, and enable him or her to create bouquets and arrangements that will enhance, rather than detract from the focus of the main event – you and your groom. Collect magazine photos of images you like and show them to your floral consultant, says Jennifer McGarigle, owner of FloralArt in Venice, California. “This will help your florist translate your personal style into the vision you have for your wedding.”
Color clues. We’ve come a long way from traditional white wedding bouquets. These days, anything goes – from bright orange to deep red to dramatic purple. Monochromatic or tone-on-tone combinations are a big trend right now. (Think pale pink hydrangeas paired with deeper pink roses and bright pink asters.) “Purple is the next big thing, but be careful how you use it,” says McGarigle. “It works best when there are blending shades of purple – from lavender, to purple, to violet. Use crisp white, soft grey, or celery green as a contrasting accent.” Remember that color can come from more than just the flowers themselves. Incorporate accent colors with ribbon or beaded wire in your bouquet and with vases and tablecloths for your table arrangements.
“My favorite combination of the moment is monochromatic white with antique gold and beige or chocolate brown accents,” says McGarigle. “The gold can come from either the bouquet’s ribbon or fabric on the arrangement’s container – like a gold matte satin cloth.”
Be practical. Choose flowers carefully if you or other members of your party are prone to allergies, says Judith Sherven, Ph.D., coauthor (with her husband James Sniechowski, Ph.D.) of The Smart Couple’s Guide to the Wedding of Your Dreams. “Gardenias and some lilies, for example, are very pungent, and can cause headaches or other symptoms for you and your guests,” says Sherven.
You’ll also want to be sure that your blooms will hold up for the duration of your event, as well as be easy to transport if you’ll be reusing ceremony arrangements for the reception. And remember to share your wedding-day itinerary with your florist; it will help him or her in guiding your floral choices.
Money matters. Be upfront with your florist about your budget, and always get a proposal that itemizes and describes each area of décor. If you want to stick to your budget, prioritize. “If you have your heart set on more expensive flowers, like orchids or calla lilies, use them in simple, elegant arrangements,” says Sherven. You can also use these flowers in your hair and bouquet (where they’ll be front and center in photos and during the ceremony), and less costly blooms for site decoration.
Style and shape. The biggest trends in flowers right now are modern, but not minimal. “Meaning, that the lines of the floral arrangement are clean and streamlined,” says McGarigle. “But it’s lush in color, texture, and abundance.”
Mix vases and other containers in varying shapes and sizes for a more eclectic, interesting look. “But create unity with common shapes, whether round or square,” says McGarigle. “A centerpiece grouping, for example, could combine vases of various heights in round and cylindrical shapes.” For flower combinations, three to five bloom variations that complement one another make clean-looking arrangements with impact.
Size wise. Don’t get stuck carting a bouquet that’s heavy or awkward. It may not seem unwieldy at first, but keep in mind that you’ll be holding it for the entire ceremony and during your photo shoot. Consider both your body shape and dress style when choosing your blossoms. The three main types of bridal bouquets are:
• Round posy. These bouquets can be either hand-tied (stems are bound and tied with ribbon) or wired (stems are removed to eliminate bulk). Hand-tied bouquets are versatile and work well with all types of dresses. Wired posies make for lighter bouquets, and are a good choice for petite-sized brides.
• Cascades/Trailing. Elongated bouquets, like cascades or “showers”, resemble waterfalls. Trailing bouquets (which are full at the top, then taper to form a tail at the bottom) are good choices for fuller skirts and/or taller brides.
• Over arm. Long stemmed flowers (roses, orchids, or calla lilies) are tied with a ribbon, and held along the inner crook of your elbow. This style suits a modern, slim dress and draws attention to an ornamented bodice.
Choosing blooms for your groom. Traditionally, the groom wears two flowers in the buttonhole of his tuxedo’s left lapel – usually chosen from the bride’s bouquet. But there’s no need to stick with tradition. What really matters is that your man’s boutonniere complements your bridal bouquet, whether in terms of style, flower, or color.
Here’s what to choose to create your wedding-day mood:
• Carefree - For an outdoor wedding, choose a simple gerbera daisy.
• Minimalist - Go with a single orchid for a lush, exotic look.
• Artistic - Get creative with red hypericum berries mixed with greenery and either white or orange flowers.
• Dramatic - Show off your colorful side with combinations like blue and pink blossoms, or a background of greenery against a stand-out coral rose.
• Masculine - For a look that’s all-man and free of any frou-frou, have your florist create the groom’s boutonniere out of herbs, leaves, or wheat.
• Modern - Experiment with flowers like mini calla lilies or mini sunflowers.
To be sure the groom’s boutonniere stands out from his groomsmen’s, ask your florist to add a special touch, such as a berry or sprig of mint. Or have your groom wear an extra bloom or two more than his groomsmen.
Perfect timing. Choosing blooms that are in-season will help ensure that you’ll get the flowers you want in perfect condition because flowers that are their peak season are usually of higher quality. So, if your heart is set on a certain blossom, plan your wedding around the time of year when they’re readily available.
Location, location. Try to avoid competing with your environment, whether it’s indoors or out. Small bouquets can seem insignificant in large spaces, and extravagant blooms are too ostentatious for intimate backyard gatherings. Also take note of the floor and wall colors, as well as the type of decorations already on site.
Make it meaningful. Many flowers have meanings associated with them, and you may want to choose yours according to their significance. For example:
Rose – love, beauty
Sunflower – adoration
Gardenia – joy
Orchid – delicate beauty
Sweet pea – lasting pleasure
Peony – bashfulness
Stephanotis – marital happiness
You can also pick blossoms based on those that have meant something to you and your fiancé as a couple – pink roses for the first bouquet he gave you, or lilacs for the bush in your friend’s backyard where he proposed. The bottom line? “Surround yourself with flowers that bring you pleasure and joy,” says Sherven. They’ll set the tone for your wedding, and be a constant reminder of your blossoming love.
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Images by Imagine Studios
Image by Silverfox Photography
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