Wedding Flowers were brought into weddings to represent new life, never-ending love, purity and fertility. The groom wears a flower that appears in the bridal bouquet, to signify his declaration of love. Bouquets traditionally consisted of flowers and herbs. Some bouquets also contained dill, since it was believed that dill promoted desire. After the ceremony, the dill would be eaten for that purpose.
An Irish bride insists on having lavender in her bouquet, as it signifies good luck and happiness. Tossing the bouquet comes from an English tradition where women would attempt to tear pieces of the bride’s dress and flowers to possibly obtain some of her good fortune. To escape from the women, the bride would toss her bouquet into the crowd and run away. It is believed today that the woman that catches the bouquet will be the next to marry.
Though some trends have blossomed and others have wilted, one thing remains true: flowers are a great way to make a highly personal statement. Here are some factors that can be considered to choose a particular type of flower:
Color is the first factor to be considered. A wedding bouquet must match the wedding gown of the bride and the other decorations. Apart from flowers, many types of ribbons, beads and baubles can be used for this purpose.
Another way to personalize a bouquet is to choose flowers that match the personality of the bride or is expressive of her background. For instance, a bride may choose to show off her Norwegian heritage by including purple heather -- Norway's signature flower. Or she might pair the groom’s and her birth-month blooms.
Bouquets can also be fashioned by keeping in mind the family tradition. The bride may carry the blooms her mother had carried for her wedding, or can wrap her bloom with her grandmother’s scarf to give it a vintage feeling.
Flowers can also be chosen for sentimental value. For example, a bride can carry flowers which the groom had given to her on their first date, or can make a bouquet of his favorite flowers. This will make the bouquet more special and personalized. The wedding flowers can also be in tune with the surrounding environment. These are a few tips to make wedding bouquets more personal and unique, but the ultimate choice, as always, remains with the bride!
A new bride typically only has a few wedding showers before the actual wedding ceremony, and it should be fun for everyone involved. Bridal shower themes are a great idea, and many people have started finding some really fun theme ideas to make the shower more memorable, and helpful to the bride. The bridal shower is typically thrown by the maid of honor or some other family member. The location is any place that works with your theme. If you are planning a bridal shower, and are anything like me, totally lacking in imagination, then you've come to the right place. I've done some research and talked to friends and listed my favorite ideas for a themed bridal shower below.
The Entertainment Theme:
Have all the guests bring gifts pertaining to entertaining the couple in times to come. This includes buying CDs, DVDs, games, puzzles, video games, and anything else you can come up with, get creative. This could also include televisions or DVD players or other game machines. For food bring boxes of candy, microwave popcorn, hot dogs, or even nachos such as you would get at a movie theater. Make the bridal shower invitations look like an over-sized movie ticket. A great idea for a couple that is just starting out.
Around the Clock Theme:
In this scenario, each guest or pair of guests is assigned a certain time of day, such as lunch time, bath time, or an actual time of day, like 8 am. Each guest should bring gifts that will be used during the time they are assigned. For example, with a morning time assigned, coffee mugs or specialty coffees would be a great gift. An afternoon time like around lunch time could be his and her lunch boxes complete with matching thermos. Finger foods are a great snack to be served, and a great bridal shower invitation for this theme would be clocks with each guest's time on it.
Gift Certificate Theme:
With all of those mounting bills from the wedding, most couples would love to have a gift certificate themed bridal shower. In this theme, each guest is asked to bring the bride a gift certificate of their choice. This can include gift certificates to grocery stores, restaurants, spa treatments, clothing stores, movie theaters, and furniture stores. The possibilities are endless, and they are sure to enjoy it! Snack ideas are limitless, as are your bridal shower invitations.
Garden/Tea Party Theme:
This works great with a spring wedding. If you have a friend with a nice garden or yard with beautiful scenery, ask to borrow the space for an afternoon. Gift ideas are limitless, and finger foods desserts and sandwiches make a great snack to serve.
Decorate with fresh
Montreal flowers in the color of the wedding, and the bridal shower invitations look great with
flower pressed paper which can be found in any craft store and printed on your computer.
Recipe Theme:
Also great for the bride and groom starting a new home together. Have each guest bring their favorite dinner recipe, favorite dessert recipe, and a miscellaneous recipe, along with the ingredients for each (dry goods only) as a gift. This will give them lots of dinner ideas, as well as being able to stock their pantry a bit before the wedding. Food for the bridal shower can be anything you like, and bridal shower invitations on blank recipe cards are a great idea! Be sure to include several blank recipe cards with each invitation as well.
The ideas for a bridal shower theme are endless. Use your imagination and the sky is the limit.
Planning a Christmas wedding can be a great way to combine your special day with the magic of the holidays. For brides planning their wedding around the holidays, here are a few suggestions to have you walking in your own winter wonderland.
Montreal Flowers:If you’re getting married in the winter around Christmas time, why not embrace the season? “There’s something magical about the winter season – bring those elements in. Lots of red, especially the darkest crimson blooms such as black magic roses, create bold, stunning arrangements. A traditional
red rose is a safe way to play it and then pick other elements to jazz it up a bit. Add to those roses some additional details: chocolate cosmos, hypericum berries, pepper berries, and winter berries.
For a good pop of color, submerging cranberries in the vases of water. If red is not in your wedding pallet, another option awaits. There is nothing more beautiful than a traditional white wedding. Not only does the cold air prevent white petals from browning around the edges, but your blooms will also reflect winter’s snowy ambiance. Pair white roses with green berries, combine dramatic amaryllis with white gazer lilies, or couple green and white cymbidium orchids.
With all of the romance your blooms will exude, make sure you’re not the only ones enjoying kissing throughout the evening. Hang mistletoe in entryways or any other place guests might want to share a smooch. This romantic seasonal green also works well as an accent to all floral arrangements, including corsages and boutonnier
Catering:
To keep your guests warm on the inside with the cold winter chill outside, add a hot chocolate and wassail cider bar to your reception beverage station. Spicing up your hot drinks with cinnamon sticks for stirring and cinnamon & nutmeg for toppings. Keep that chocolate coming. Give that favorite chocolate fountain a twist of flavor – peppermint flavor. Cinnamon bears reign as the popular dipping item for chocolate fountains this winter, and not only for peppermint-flavored fountains. Milk and dark chocolate please the pallet as well with this spicy snack.
In addition to the chocolate fountains, serve hot bread pudding and pumpkin pie as desserts for your reception. Or select pumpkin spice and cream cheese filling for your wedding cake to stay true to the season. However simple or lavish you’re planning your big day, utilize the winter season to your advantage. Give your guests those extra details that will have them remembering your wedding whenever winter season rolls in.
Decorative details:Use Christmas ornaments in place of traditional guest cards. Simply attach a small card and ribbon with their name imprinted on the ornament. Or hand paint each name on the individual ornaments. Your guests will remember your wedding for years to come each time they place their ornament on their Christmas tree.
Dip candy canes in white or dark chocolate and wrap them in plastic bags tied with a simple red or white ribbon. Give away these treats as your favor at the end of your wedding reception. Display gifts in a sleigh or under an evergreen decorated with pictures of the couple. Instead of a star or angel as the tree topper, use a bride and groom in its place. Before you walk down the aisle, have your flower girl toss imitation snow or miniature snowflakes in place of flower petals.
Replace the wedding march with a slow-paced, instrumental holiday tune. Fill your reception with sweet winter aromas. Boil apple cider with floating oranges and cinnamon sticks in various hidden corners of the room. Or light deeply scented evergreen candles to bring the outdoors in.
There's no denying the romance of the winter season: gently falling snow, softly glimmering lights and sweetly scented evergreens.
