Add some sparkle to your bouquet to catch the light throughout your Wedding day. This bouquet has pearl center stephanotis and pre-wired silver accents. The silver and pearl accents are fairly neutral with the range of white flowers in the bouquet.

This fabulous head table centerpiece was designed with the Bride's chosen colour scheme of oranges, reds and lime greens. It had real "WOW" power when you walked in the room. The candles were placed in hollowed-out artichokes.

This design, sometimes referred to as a "tablescape" is a different that results in your head table really standing out and being more than just an accent. If you like this idea, tell your floral designer to create something incredibly beautiful with leftover petals and blooms - give them some creative leeway and you'll most likely be pleasantly surprised at what you see when you arrive.

Here we are at the end of the four-part Fridays in March series.

This month we have talked about Corsages, Boutonnieres, Ringbearers and Flower Girls. After you've taken care of all the significant Men & Women & Children in your Wedding Ceremony, don't forget about your family pet!

Some Brides dress their dogs up in tuxedoes, ribbons or bows and some even carry a basket with the rings!
These dogs paraded down the aisle with some lovely green garlands designed so they attached to their collars.

photos by DavidoffPhotography.com

Check back next Friday for a two-month Series on "Wedding Ceremony Flowers" - Church Ceremonies.
The Wedding Ceremony Flowers Series is every Friday in April & May.

To toss or not to toss? That is the question!

Tossing a bouquet at the end of your Wedding Reception is not for everyone. Some Brides think it's just too traditional and some Brides I have known have even said "it's cheesy". It becomes even more questionable when you realize that you only have a limited number of single ladies attending that will be eligible for the catch.

Here's a suggestion that seems to work well....

Ask all of your married couples to stand up at some point in the Wedding Reception. The MC then asks those married less than 5 years to sit back down. Then s/he asks any of those married less than 10 years to sit down...and on it goes until you see only one couple standing. That wife receives the bouquet.

photo: Miles Robison

With the recent increase in same-sex marriage ceremonies, flowers can be tricky to design. The traditional "Bride with bouquet" seems a bit of a moot point, but here's something I came up with a few summers ago for these two ladies.

I designed simple, white dendrobien orchid leis. The couple wore them during their vows and as part of the Ceremony, they placed similar lies over their parents' shoulders as a symbolic gesture of thanks. This idea would also work with two men.

Having children in your wedding party can be a marvelous addition to the feel of your wedding day. Children add spontaneity, fun and sometimes a bit of sass to what can be a nervous and excitable moment as you approach your walk down the aisle.

Consider the age of the children in the wedding party. Smaller tots may do better with a Junior Bridesmaid helping them down the aisle, whereas school-age children can usually perform on their own. If you are thinking of a pomander ball for your flower girl(s), a good age is 4 yrs. and older. Younger children tend to over handle the pomander balls and the flowers may become compromised as a result.

photo by Todd Duncan

Other ideas for flower girls include head halos, or rings of blooms and greens that they wear on their heads - add thin ribbon tendrils down the back for that extra cute factor. Mini bouquets and baskets with flowers are also fun accents. Teddy bears with ribbons and flowers are great for the slightly shy children (think security blanket).

remaining photos by: Jonetsu Photography

Ringbearers can have a boutonniere to match the Groomsmen or the Groom, and if the little boy is younger than about 8 years old, ask your floral designer to use a safety pin.

This last photo shows a unique idea where the young attendant wore a smaller version of the Groom and Groomsmen's tropical flower lei.

Check back next Friday for (Part 4 of 4) March series;
"Corsages, Flower Girls, Ringbearers & Boutonnieres"

Hooray! It's the first day of spring.

For us Vancouverites we welcome the season anew. This winter was not as rainy, much more snowy and bbbbrrrrrrrr, cold.

Here's a short video of the new growth that awaits. Enjoy your day.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Always a favourite at BloomRoom's studio, Great Big Sea's "Kiss My Irish Ass" is a fab hyper song to get you-a-going.

Best wishes for an abundance of four leaf clovers, fine spirited leprechauns and your own pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Welcome to the second installment of the Fridays in March series.

Boutonnieres are formerly known as "buttonholes" for men to wear in their lapels to mark special occasions such as Weddings. Boutonnieres are a way to give the Groom and Groomsmen an accent of finesse and colour that goes with your decor or theme. Most times the boutonierres should somewhat match the Bridal bouquets - either in colour or flower type. Try to give the Groom that extra something - after all, it is his special day too!

Here's an example of an all-green boutonniere with rosemary and a small accent of coiled copper wire.

This one shows a double orchid with turquoise blue ribbon that matched the Bridesmaids' gowns.

Here's a few with calla lilies (remaining photos by bloomroom.ca)

Don't forget that you need the following Men on your Boutonniere list; Groom, Groomsmen, Dads, GrandDads, Uncles, Brothers, MCs, Officiants, Ushers, Readers, Soloists, and anyone else that is participating in a big way on your Wedding Day.

Boutonnieres should be able to hold up well out of water - after all, they'll need to look great the entire day - especially through the photos, Wedding Ceremony and most of the Wedding Reception. There is always what I refer to as the "hugging factor" - something out of the control of even the best floral designers. If you think the boutonnieres may suffer at the hands of your friends' and family's hugging and embracing during the congratulatory portion of your Wedding, then consider having a your floral designer provide a few extras.

For more pictures of some of my boutonnieres go to this page of my web site.

Check back next Friday for (Part 3 of 4) March series;
"Corsages, Flower Girls, Ringbearers & Boutonnieres"

FYI - The "VEIL" Bridal Show for this weekend has been postponed to a later date.

Due to unforeseeable circumstances, we have decided to produce the show at a later date.

Apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.

photos by bloomroom.ca

I figure since spring is just a few weeks away, I'd get this post in just under the wire. I've had these photos sitting on my desk top for awhile now, and oops! just plain forgot about them. I have used both of these winter flower favourites in Wedding bouquets.

The first is Witch Hazel - it comes in this lovely orange, and two nice shades of yellow (not shown). Its flowers bloom before the leaves (similar to fruit trees), so the show of blooms is always a big focal point in my garden. The witch hazel is a woody branch which means if conditioned properly, they last a long time in water.

The second fabulous winter flower is the hellebore. Hellebores (sometimes referred to as the Christmas Rose), come in a range of whites/off-whites to pinks and purples and paler yellows. Mixing the open blooms with the buds makes for a nice texture in your floral designs.

Link: http://www.internationalwomensday.com/about.asp

Today is International Women's Day.

Since most of you who read along are women, I thought it a good idea to share the wonderful celebration and recognition of women around the world. If you go to their web site, on the right side bar, there are events listed by country - check out what's going on in your neighbourhood.

Here's a quick synopsis;

"Annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate achievements. A global web of rich and diverse local activity connects women from all around the world ranging from political rallies, business conferences, government activities and networking events through to local women's craft markets, theatric performances, fashion parades and more."

More Info Here...

Welcome to Part 1 of 4 of the March Series.

photo: Todd Duncan Photography

Let's talk Moms and flowers. Here's 5 quick tips;

1. If you are considering a pin-on corsage, limit them to 1 or 2 blooms so they are not too heavy - you don't want the corsage to hang or droop, especially if the fabric is lightweight. There are great magnets now that most floral designers know about - this prevents the floral pins from making holes in the fabric.

2. Wrist corsages should be worn only if there is no cuff. A three-quarter sleeve works best, or a shawl or wrap. If there is a cuff, chances are that the wrist corsage will be compromised.

3. It is becoming increasingly popular for Moms to carry mini bouquets or single stems of a specific bloom. If you are having a traditional Wedding Ceremony where the Moms are part of the processional, it is always a good idea to have them with some flower. This helps the guests recognize that the Ceremony is about to begin, (since the Moms are usually the last to be seated before the Bridal Party), AND if there are any guests that have not met one or both Mothers, it is a discreet way to tell them who's who.

4. Other fun things to do for Moms include fresh flower bracelets (stephanotis works great!), and a few of my Brides have had me design their bouquet in two parts that are then untied and given to the Moms during the speeches at the Reception, as part of the thank-yous to the parents.

5. Whatever you decide upon for the Moms, consider keeping the flower colour neutral in off-whites, ivories, pastels or blush pink. This is a sure way to make sure their corsages or flowers won't clash with their dress colours.

Don't forget that your Corsage list should include for Moms, Step Moms, GrandMothers, Aunts, Sisters, Officiants, Godparents, soloists, MCs, readers and any other significant female attendees at your wedding.

Check back next Friday for (Part 2 of 4) March series;
"Corsages, Flower Girls, Ringbearers & Boutonierres"

Next weekend, on Saturday, March 14th and Sunday, March 15th, BloomRoom is participating in "VEIL", a unique Bridal Show that is free for Brides. A small group of vendors get together for an informal visit with Brides. Come meet some of the best in the industry - we are here to answer your questions without all the usual Bridal Show hub bub.

March 14th, "VEIL" is at the studio of BloomRoom in North Vancouver, and
on March 15th, you can find us in Steveston at Gudrun Fromagerie. Each day has different vendors, so you are welcome to visit either day at the different locations.

I have included two invites below for the different days & locations.

Although the show is free, you must register by e-mail to
weddings@marlissproductions.com

For any of you planning an outdoor Ceremony or Reception (or photographs outdoors), here's my humble advice...

Three stories come to mind.

1. The first is from a Bride a few years back who, at her last meeting with me (to finalize all the details), was clearly in a frenzied state. I didn't want to get too personal, but I had to ask her what was wrong. She replied that she couldn't sleep because all she thinks about is what will happen if it rains at her outdoor Ceremony ? I asked if that was the biggest worry she had - she said yes. We talked some more and we both agreed that she shouldn't work herself into a panic over things she can't control.

Her wedding day was cloudy during the Ceremony, poured rain during the inside courtyard cocktail hour, then the most beautiful sunshine came out for gorgeous outdoor photos. (FYI - she had an army of umbrellas at the ready, just in case).

2. The picture above shows a wedding that was 11th hour stress for the Groom. The Bride made is perfectly clear that the Groom had final say on the Ceremony in or out if it rained....he decided last minute to have the Ceremony outside. The Bride was thankful since she really wanted to be married outside. The night before, they suspected rain for the wedding Ceremony, so they did a phone chain to get the word out and ask all the guests to bring umbrellas - it worked well.

3. The last scenario involved an outdoor beach Ceremony. I asked the Bride if she had a plan "B", in case it rained. Her reply was simple and very poignant - "no, I don't have a plan B, and I really couldn't care if it rains....I love him so much I'll marry him anywhere, any weather !"

Whatever your take on it, if it rains then either have an alternate space indoors, or umbrellas or a great (I don't care) attitude.