Those don't look real...

I've heard many a bridal client say when looking at flower samples... "those don't even look real."  I have had a hard time deciding if that is a good thing or a bad thing.  In fact, there are some rose varieties an rose colors that are so unusual that many think the flower may be artificial.  But, in the case of the picture here, this is not the case.  Both roses featured in this massing of roses are very real and fresh indeed.  The two varieties here are Terracotta (the brown rose) and Circus (the yellow and orange).  I luckily happened on these two bunches of roses at a local market.  They are making a perfect though unusual centerpiece.  More suited to Autumn, they are the perfect roses for an Autumn theme wedding or party.  But, they were just to perfect to pass up, even in the heat of the summer we are experiencing on Hilton Head the past couple of weeks.

If you are getting married in October or November, (popular for weddings in the deep south when the weather is slightly cooler), consider these two roses for a very appropriate color/floral palette.  These two color fields would go very well with green bride's maids dresses, bronze, or a dark blue for that matter.  Adding ivory roses or a beige rose such as "Sahara" would do well to make a bridal bouquet that would fit the time of year perfectly.

A Bouquet With Special Meaning

Often I have had the privilege to create a bridal bouquet for a family members wedding.  The bouquet above was for my sister-in-law and brother's wedding in 2002.  The wedding was in late October in northern Virginia.  So, the Autumn leaves were in their glory of oranges, reds and yellows.  The bride's dress was a darker toned ivory.  I chose flowers of the bride's favorite color field of Autumn oranges and her favorite varieties... roses, freesia, ranunculus, and Calla lilies.

But, what made it special?  I clipped the collaring foliage from my mother's yard in Georgia and transported them in my luggage on the air plane.  (I wrapped them in moist paper towels sealed in a plastic bag.)  Since the groom's home was the Georgia coast, I chose palmetto fronds and gardenia leaves.  The groom's (my brother) boutonniere consisted of a single, extremely fragrant Gardenia.  Since the wedding took place so far to the north, I decided to make things more special and meaningful by bringing a personal touch of home into these arrangements.

I would encourage any bride to add special touches to their personal flowers for their special day. Anything from a tiny framed picture or a Rosary can add a great deal of nostalgia to the floral accents.

Floral Profussion... and groupings of three centerpieces

When putting together a look for your centerpieces, don't thing that there has to be only one arrangement per table.  Consider a grouping of smaller vases.  For example, three smaller sized vases of varying shapes combined with votive candles can add a contemporary flair to each table's decor, without looking too "modern" in style.  A profusion of flowers and colors can achieve a stunning impact on a not so stunning budget.  Remember that all flower arrangements don't necessarily have to contain foliage.  A grouping of a single type flower clustered tightly together in a smaller vase can achieve the same impact of a taller sprawling arrangement filled with foliage and fillers such as Caspia or the more recognizable baby's breath.

Again, groupings of these vases are an interesting way to show off your personal style.  Choose your favorite color scheme, and have a few types of flowers in that color to fill each vase.  For example, if your favorite color is pink, consider this... three vases on the table... one to contain hot pink roses, one to contain a single blush pink hydrangea, and the third can hold  Lisianthus in a medium pink tone. Or, really make it interesting and have that third vase carry a color outside the pink field, say tulips in purple, green, or ivory white.  Remember to have the votive candles as part of the centerpiece.  Even though your reception may start in late afternoon or early evening, the candles can be lit as soon as the sun begins to set.