Theme Wedding Design

Check out this gorgeous Eiffel Tower design from the creative forces at The Lily Pond!  It was created for a French-themed event and would be perfect for a wedding placecard table.  A scaled down version could also be used as a centerpiece.  One side had those French things we love:  champagne, fromage, and croissant, the other had Herbes de Provence.  All surrounded by hydrangea, roses and grapes!  Tres magnifique!

Queen Elizabeth II's Granddaughter Marries

Now there's a bouquet!  Scottish blue thistle, white mini-calla lilies and dusty miller.

EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) — Queen Elizabeth II's granddaughter Zara Phillips married England rugby star Mike Tindall on Saturday — but Britain's second royal wedding of the year was largely a low-key affair, with only a hint of the glamor and excitement of Prince William's showstopping nuptials.

Phillips, 30, who is 13th in line to the throne but does not use a royal title, and Tindall, 32, were greeted by hundreds of flag-waving well-wishers and the sound of traditional bagpipes as they left their wedding service at Edinburgh's Canongate Kirk following a private ceremony.

The often publicity shy bride wore a traditional ivory silk gown and a full-length flowing veil, but posed only briefly for onlookers — and gave her husband a fleeting, modest kiss — as they left the 17th century church for a reception at the queen's Scottish residence, the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

The Language of Flowers

The royal wedding was a perfect example of using The Language of Flowers, a floral code made popular by Queen Victoria, to bring special meaning to the occasion.

All of the flowers were chosen by Catherine Middleton with reference to what the various flowers symbolized.  So the signature lily of the valley means "trustworthy", myrtle "hope and love", hyacinth "play", sweet William "gallantry", lilac for "youthful innocence", hornbeams "resilience", and field maples "humility and reserve".

I think all brides' bouquets and grooms' boutonnieres should have some symbolic meaning to the couple.  Some examples of how this has been used for wedding flowers at The Lily Pond:

• Sprigs of rosemary in a bride's bouquet were used to symbolize remembrance, fidelity, devotion and good luck.
• Star of Bethlehem to represent Christ's presence in the season of Christmas and in the religious wedding ceremony itself.
• One bride's bouquet had a tiny ladybug in remembrance of the bride's departed mother, who loved ladybugs.
• Blue thistle to symbolize Scotland, as well as Bells of Ireland to celebrate Irish heritage
• The Lily Pond also usually tries to extend whatever the bride has in her bouquet to her father's boutonniere and mother's nosegay to symbolize their special bond.

It is a long list of beautiful things you can do to create meaning in your wedding flowers!

Making Your Wedding Special

It stands to reason that even if you're not marrying a future King of England, every bride should have a very special and memorable wedding day.  All of the vendors, friends and family you select to share the day with you should feel the same way.  On this day of all days, perfect service and attention to detail is absolutely required from your limousine driver to your bridesmaids to your reception venue.  And it goes without saying that your florist should play an integral role as well. 

Flowers and decor should accurately reflect your personal style, not necessarily your florist's!  To ensure the best service from your floral designer, make sure you meet and communicate with him or her often throughout the planning of your wedding.  You should always know every detail of the design of your decor.  Ask your florist for a detailed list of what flowers are being used, colors, etc.  Really competent designers will insist on showing you a sample of your bouquet and table decor prior to your wedding day so that everything is exactly as you discussed. 

Seasonal Flowers

Virtually every bride magazine suggests using locally grown or seasonal flowers for your wedding to keep costs down.  Indeed, it can be an effective way to stay within budget.  However, here are a few things to keep in mind if selecting the flowers for your wedding based on seasonality or where they are grown. 

Surprisingly, there are very few truly seasonal flowers.  Nearly all flowers are available year round, with tulips and peonies being notable exceptions.  Even then, both of those flowers are available for a price, although usually not as high quality as they are in season.  So if you have to have a particular flower that is out of season, it's a good idea limit it to a few in your bouquet and maybe in the groom's boutonniere.

Another seasonal element is flowers which are grown for specific holidays.  Red roses between Christmas and Valentine's Day cost about three times what they cost at any other time of the year.  Mother's Day also sees a spike in wholesale costs.

Locally grown flowers are an excellent way to keep your event "green".  Brides should be aware, though, that the selection isn't as varied as flowers sourced from other parts of the United States, Europe or South America.  It can also be difficult for your florist to "guarantee" the color of a particular flower.  So if you want something like locally grown hydrangea for your centerpieces, it's best to keep your color palette flexible so that you're not disappointed with the final result.

Don't Wait to Select Your Florist

The florist is often among the last of the vendors brides visit when planning their weddings.  Considering the impact that decor has on your wedding ceremony and reception venues, it should be the next stop after selecting your venues!  Truly experienced wedding florists can provide valuable information not just on what flowers will look great with your gown, but other important things like cultural floral traditions, church flower "rules" and creating ambiance for your wedding day.  Wedding florists also have great insights on day-of planning and timing because they are an integral part of it!