No matter what season you are getting married in, brain storm about what fruit and vegetables are in season. Maybe your floral designer can incorporate those materials into your designs?

In September, I love working with grapes, since they are in season. You can buy flats from Costco at a great price (plus they are a consistent quality/shape/size when they come from the same source). Think "tablescape" of black grapes, cherry red roses and lime green orchids - super fantastic combination.

If the seasonal material is a good price, then you can fill the bottoms of vases with it, en masse, and accent the upper portions with fresh flowers.

At a Wedding I attended in Edmonton one year, the couple had an intimate Ceremony of immediate family only, before opening up the Wedding Reception to extended family and friends. Because family was so important to this couple, they included, as part of the Wedding Ceremony, a special moment where all the family members were asked to hold their rings briefly and say a prayer or bless the rings with a wish.

As the rings were passed along, it became clear that having the family members bless the rings was symbolic of a Marriage begun on the foundation of family.

"Wedding Reception Flowers" Part 3 of 9 - Re-Purposing the Wedding Ceremony Flowers

The "Wedding Reception Flowers Series" is posted every Friday in June & July

A smart and economical decision is to re-purpose your Wedding Ceremony flowers, at the Wedding Reception. Floral designers with experience in Wedding Flowers, will have suggestions and ideas on how to best transition the floral designs. This may mean that certain designs are better than others for your Ceremony flowers.

For instance, a flat-backed pew end may be used for centerpieces at the reception. Large and tall floral arrangements (typically on pedestals, flanking the "Altar area") are best suited in focal areas at the reception, or on either side of the head table. If you are using fabric or ribbon or garlands to accent the aisle, these may be used on the edge of the head table, or as an accent at the back of the guest book table.

If you are relying on a using the flowers from your Wedding Ceremony at your Wedding Reception, make sure to go over any extra costs for take down and set up that the floral designer may require.

Check Back next friday for Part 4 of "Wedding Reception Flowers" - List of Flowers Needed for the Wedding Reception

A close second to my favourite flower, the peony, are lilac and mock orange.

These are early summer blooms, perfect for June Weddings, and they both emit a nice scent.

Mock orange (available only in white) is a great pick for big, full arrangements for your Wedding Ceremony, or focal points at the Wedding Reception. You can leave the green leaves on - perfect for a more informal, outdoor or garden Wedding. Mock orange needs LOTS of water, and make sure your floral designer has worked with it before so they know the correct way to condition the stems. The scent is slightly subdued and gentle during the day, but comes alive at night.

The lilac is a woody based shrub that comes in a variety of colours - white, cream, pale yellow, pinks and purples. The lilac you see here is an heirloom variety and is a "double" - a super special treat that grows in my garden! Lilac has a stronger scent and is best showcased with no leaves, and no other flowers in the design. Just an exciting bloom to use on its own. Lilac makes a real impact for bouquets and adds a nice, even texture to your decor.

Want to add sparkle to your Wedding without wearing the tiara?

Love the way the sun hits the water and there is an instant sparkle that twinkles in your eyes?

Want ambience at your Wedding Reception that lasts well into the night and suggests magic, romance and glam?

Here are my top ten suggestions for adding that sparkle and wow to your flowers and decor;

1. Candles - various sizes and shapes,
2. Sequins - use bands or strands to wrap around your napkins on the guest tables,
3. Rhinestones - accent small areas of your invitations, menu cards or place cards,
4. Mirrors - place on tables with candles or small vases of flowers on top,
5. Glass - best used in the floral vases or containers - trim the edges with sequins, rhinestones or beads,
6. Beads - en masse in the bottom of the vases to hide the floral stems,
7. Crystals - wire onto longer bits and have your floral designer add them into the bouquets,
8. Silver - think mint julep cups,
9. Gold - jewelry, thin angel hair or baubles - get creative! and..
10. Lights - hidden LEDs amongst the individual blooms, white lights strung or piled together.

This is the final entry in two months of this series.
Part 9 of 9 in "The Wedding Ceremony Flowers Series" - Chuupahs and Mandaps

If you are having a canopy incorporated into your Ceremony, it is worth thinking the flowers through carefully. If the canopy is a main focal point, in terms of colour, fabric & texture, then you are best to keep the flowers as accents only. Think enhance and not overpower. If the canopy is a basic single colour fabric, then there is more room to add your flowers as focal point.

Two types of "canopy"- like Wedding Ceremony settings are the Chuppah and Mandap. Here are an example of each.

This Bride & Groom were lucky enough to have a close family friend quilt a Chuppah for their Ceremony. It turned into a beautiful wall hanging that was a meaningful addition to their Newlywed home decor. The photo doesn't show it, but the middle of the Chuppah had beads and crystals that hung down from the middle section for that extra touch.

I worked closely with the couple to help design a nice show of flowers that would compliment and accent the Chuppah, without taking away form the true meaning of the Ceremony. We wound all-green garlands around the uprights, placed a few orange gerberas on the tops of the pots and sprinkled blue delphinium blooms on the ground.

This last example shows a Mandap that was rich in colour, fabric and had a big impact. Clearly it was the focal point of the Ceremony. We added just two floral tie-backs onto the front two uprights. The florals helped to establish a nice draping effect that "framed" the Ceremony.

Check back next Friday for the beginning of my new series, "Wedding Reception Flowers".
Every Friday in June & July.

This is part 8 of 9 in the "Ceremony Series" - every Friday in April & May

IMHO, candles are the single most reliable source for creating ambience, romance and magic.

While too many candles, can be considered overload, here are some ideas on how to incorporate them into your Wedding Ceremony.

1. In some Church Ceremonies, you can light a unity candle to symbolize the coming together of two families.

2. Have your guests light a candle, one at a time and set them in a big trough of sand that can be positioned in a focal point during the entire day - like at the entrance to the Ceremony (perhaps later moved to the Wedding Reception).

3. Have only candelabras at the Wedding Ceremony. There are fabulous floor stands (usually in metal) that work well.

4. Place lit candles outside your Ceremony venue. They can act as a welcome to your guests upon arrival, as well as a nice touch when the Ceremony is finished.

5. As part of the processional, have your Bridesmaids or Moms walk down the aisle with a lit candle and place them in a candle holder at the front (or Altar) area of the Ceremony. Make sure the candles are non-drip, and that the flame is not too high!

Check back next Friday for the last post in the "Ceremony Series" - Chuppahs & Mandaps
The Ceremony Series is every Friday in April & May.