WHETHER wedding day "I do's" are said in the warmth of summery spring sunshine or the blustery coolness of autumn and winter, it's possible to keep even the grandest of events in full bloom.
Flowers pack a lot of visual punch in table centerpieces, aisle decorations, bridal bouquets and groomsmen's boutonnieres — all while sending a clear-cut message about the guests of honor.
"In general, flowers determine if the overall look of the wedding is elegant, formal, casual or daring," said Christina Caldwell, owner of Christina Loves ... The Bloom Room in Redlands. "Should guests feel relaxed and laid-back or prim and proper? The arrangements represent the tastes and personalities of the couple who chose them."
Floral do's and don't's
Take the guesswork out of the flora selection process with locally grown tips from experienced florists:
DO keep an open mind with regard to the finished product by accepting that certain things are out of your control.
"Just because we can import a specific type of flower for you doesn't necessarily mean it will work well in any season," cautioned Julie Maxson, owner of Claremont Florist. "Tulips and gardenias will never look as perfect in the middle of July as they do in a magazine photo."
DON'T forget to consult in advance with every flower-bearing member of the wedding party, not to mention close friends and relatives, to avoid a nose-tingling disaster.
"Find out if anyone is allergic to any particular flower or greenery before placing your final order," warned Ana Cendejas, design manager at Suzann's Flowers in Ontario.
DO paint the most vivid picture possible for your florist in order to achieve desired results with the least amount of effort.
"What's your ultimate dream wedding? What are your favorite flowers, and what does your budget look like?" Caldwell asked.
"The florist can offer helpful suggestions and work with you to accomplish what you want."
DON'T carelessly overlook the tiniest details as they promise to add that certain indefinable something to the event as a whole.
Maryanne Blassingham, sales manager at Suzann's, proposes options that are both pretty and practical: "For the flower girl, a basket full of petals or a pomander and a lightweight floral head wreath. Corsages for mothers and grandmothers worn on the wrist to eliminate pinholes in delicate fabrics."
Cooler season choices
Although balmy spring tends to offer a wider array of convenient, cost-effective flowers, there's still a surprising abundance of fragrant possibilities for fall and winter nuptials.
Fall: roses, gerbera daisies, sunflowers, hydrangeas, Asiatic lilies, buttercups, sweet peas, marigolds, mums and oncidium orchids in warm autumn hues of red, yellow, orange and brown complemented by rosemary, seeded eucalyptus, curly willow and hypericum berry stems.
Winter: amaryllis, anthurium, gladiolus, violets, calla lilies, tulips, freesia, magnolias and poinsettias in deep reds and wintry shades of white, blush, lavendar and faded green offset by feathers, holly berries, pine cones, champagne grapes, viburnum shrubs and holiday evergreens.
Breathtaking bouquets
IF ANY floral arrangements in a wedding deserve an extra-special touch, it's the bridal bouquet — a blooming expression of the bride's personality. Here are a few fresh-picked ideas for creating a personalized version of the ultimate wedding day accessory.
SHAPES AND SIZES: Bouquets are available in round, crescent, oval, pageant, cascade and organic styles.
According to Maryanne Blassingham of Suzann's Flowers in Ontario, they "should complement the dress and still be proportional to body size. A slim sheath works best with a small, streamlined bouquet, but a dress with a lot of detail calls for simple, unfussy blooms."
SHADES: Coordinate picks with surrounding décor and attire, but bear in mind that most flowers are not available in an infinite spectrum of colors. "It all boils down to color choice," said Claremont Florist's Julie Maxson. "There are countless shades of pink and lavender blossoms, which complement each other beautifully, while varieties of red are much less common in flowers than in fabrics and accessories."
SPECIES: Currently popular are groupings of a single type of flower, for which Christina Caldwell of The Bloom Room in Redlands suggests "night-blooming jasmine, clusters of a few dozen roses, long-stemmed calla lilies, small sunflowers, dahlias, gerberas and mums that are hand-tied and enhanced with minimal greenery such as herbs or lavender for added texture and lusciousness."
