• Monday, February 22nd, 2010
Angela White asked:
Getting married can be unbelievably expensive. With so many things to spend for like the wedding gown, catering, flowers, church, souvenirs, invitations, and so on, your savings can be depleted in no time. Even buying of wedding centerpieces can be just too costly.
It is a good thing that there are tricks you can do to save money on your wedding. One way to do that is to create your own wedding centerpieces, which is not only cheap but will also give you the opportunity to personalize the centerpieces and enable you to bond with your bridesmaids.
A floating candle centerpiece is one of the best options that you have. Not only is this exquisite and beautiful, it is also very easy to make that you would not feel any stress while engaged in this project.
To help you create wonderful floating candle centerpieces, here are the basic steps to keep in mind:
1. Choose the right candles
Since the candles are the focal point of this centerpiece, you need to choose the right kinds to display. Candles come in a wide variety of shapes, colors, and sizes and you have to choose based on your personal preference and in accordance to the theme of the wedding.
For example, if you want your wedding to exude romance, heart shaped candles is the best way to go. If you want to have a simple but elegant wedding, white round candles are ideal. Now, if the theme of your wedding is Irish, choose thick cream candles.
Aside from the appearance and style of the candle, you also have to choose good quality candles that have long burning time, no smoke film, lead-free wicks, and low soot wax.
2. Look for a bowl
The next thing that you have to look for is the bowl where you will be placing the candles. A goblet or small stemmed bowl is perfect for a single floating candle centerpiece. A wide bowl, on the other hand, is ideal for a group of small candles. You also have the option to use pedestal bowls for a three-dimensional effect of light, triangle or square bowls for a unique display, and hourglass shaped cylinders to express artistry and creativity.
3. Add special touches to your centerpiece
Decorative pieces help make the centerpiece look even more beautiful that it already is. You can embellish the centerpiece with real or silk flowers, quartz crystals, sand, marbles, colored stones, natural pebbles, seashells, or gems to add a more dramatic effect. You can even put in a few drops of food coloring to give color to the water.
4. Pick a base for the centerpiece.
Another important part of the centerpiece that many people overlook is the base. The right kind of base can finish the look of the centerpiece. You can choose from mirrors, loose flower petals, decorative plate, or a fabric.
Creating floating candle wedding centerpieces is easier than most people think. With creativity and resourcefulness, you will easily be able to make personalized floating candle centerpieces that will add classy ambience to your wedding event.
• Monday, February 01st, 2010
Nadine Visscher asked:
Do it yourself wedding flowers don’t magically fall into place and look wonderful. There are so many things to remember and balance is one of them. The elements of your wedding bouquet or arrangement (your container, flowers, foliage, and accessories) need to “fit” or work well together.
We as people have a natural pull toward balance and order. Imbalance is naturally avoided – it’s in our subconscious. We naturally avoid things that are dangerously imbalanced such as a tottering ladder or a crooked shelf. Even though an imbalanced floral bouquet or arrangement isn’t a threat to us, we have a natural tendency to balance and order. A bouquet or arrangement needs both physical and visual balance.
Physical Balance
Physical balance can also be called mechanical balance. To have this type of balance, the arrangement simply needs to be able to stand up on its own without falling over. The container you use needs to be the right size, weight and shape for the flowers you put in them. You also need to have your flowers and foliage arranged so they are evenly distributed. If you have them placed so your design is either top heavy or so that the flowers are mostly on one side, your arrangment will fall over.
Visual Balance
This is when a floral design looks balanced. If it is mechanically balanced yet looks like it’s about to topple over, your instinct is to reach out your hand to catch it from falling over. You want it to look stable. You can have 4 different types of visual balance: symmetrical, asymmetrical, radial, and open balance.
Symmetrical - This is created when you have exactly the same flowers and foliage on both sides of an imaginary line. Bouquets with symmetrical balance are formal and are often seen at graduations, funerals, and weddings. You need to be careful that this type of design doesn’t look stiff or forced. You can avoid this by using near-symmetry where you use very similar (but not exactly the same) flowers and foliage on both sides of your imaginary line. Asymmetrical - You achieve this by placing more weight on one side of your imaginary line than the other. You don’t place too much weight on one side so it looks imbalanced. You need to have something on each side of your “line” to balance out the other side. This is harder to create than symmetrical balance, but it’s more pleasing to look at and remains interesting much longer than perfect symmetry. You can have some large, light colored flowers on one side and off-set them with either darker or bright small flowers on the other side. Darker flowers look “heavy” so they have enough weight to balance a greater number of larger, light colored flowers. Radial - You create radial symmetry by having your flowers and foliage radiating out from a central point just like the spokes of a wheel, the rays of the sun, the petals of a daisy, the lines of a hand-held fan or the pattern of a shell. The central point can be in different positions. The spokes of a wheel and the petals of a daisy radiate out from the center whereas the lines of a hand-held fan radiate from the center of the bottom and the pattern of a shell radiates from one side. Radial balance is most often in bridal bouquets. Open - Open balance isn’t symmetrical or asymmetrical. It is open, relaxed and unstructured. You will find this in contemporary design where there are no formal rules, yet the overall design looks balanced.
If you are a beginner, symmetrical, asymmetrical and radial balance are easier to achieve because you have some “rules” to follow. Open balance comes with practice and experience. Your do it yourself wedding flowers need to be balanced. Choose which type of balance is most appealing to you and work with it.
• Tuesday, January 26th, 2010
Anthony Lee asked:
In the United States, the average costs of weddings range from $20,000 to $40,000. Because of this statistic, some brides are finding ways to spend their money wisely – and this is accomplished by being creative.
They discover cheap wedding ideas which pretty much help them save more money. For example, here are ways on how brides can save when it comes to wedding flowers.
1. Give the florist a color scheme and the general style you like to follow. Indicate which flowers are also banned on your special day. However, being flexible allows you to use whatever is cheapest and is in season. There are times when peonies also cost a fortune even if these had always been the cheapest flowers for weddings.
2. By holding your wedding in the Christmas season or around Easter, you would save tons from wedding floral arrangements because chances are, the church is already decorated.
3. Flowers prices are high in February and especially around Valentine’s Day so if you want to save on your floral expenses, don’t set the wedding date on that month.
4. Remember that large arrangements set on the altar can only be seen when positioned far away. If you want one in your wedding, use the inexpensive flowers like carnations or you can fill up the flower vases with snowball mums.
5. Choosing the right venue to hold the wedding also allows you to cut back on expenses. A lush garden or beautiful park saves you costs on floral arrangements and decorations.
6. Chances are there are also some brides looking for ways on how to save. Therefore, talk to the venues and check whether there are other brides scheduled to get married on the same day. Ask if you both can coordinate the floral arrangements and split the total costs. In doing so, you get to save money.
Just be creative and efficient in coming up with the plans for your wedding. Being concise also saves you the trouble and the money in buying things you wouldn’t be needing in the end.
• Friday, January 15th, 2010
suven asked:
how to choose wedding flowers
Choosing wedding flowers is such an important part of the wedding. There are some things to be aware of when you are ready to decide on your wedding flowers.
Since your flowers are an essential part of the wedding you should begin by preparing a budget. When you have a budget in place you will have a very good idea what the flowers are going to cost. If you don’t have a budget you could easily end up spending far more money than you had planned.
If you haven’t already decided on a florist you may want to ask the advice of family and friends. Pay close attention to the recommendations of those who have recently been married. The newly married will be able to offer you good advice. You can also talk to the people who are in charge of the ceremony and reception sites. These folks often have great ideas for the best florists.
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You may want to make a few visits to the florists that you are considering. When you are actually in the business you will see how the customers are treated and if the shop is clean and organized. Take a good look at the flower bouquets and arrangements and notice the design and freshness of the flowers.
Figure out how many arrangements, bouquets, boutonnieres and corsages that you will need. Take this information with you any time you talk to a florist about the wedding flowers.
Before you decide on your wedding flowers, talk to more than one florist. You might want to bring pictures of bouquets and arrangements that you like. Also bring pictures of your dress and the bridesmaid’s dresses. All these things will be instrumental in assuring the most beautiful wedding flowers possible.
Make sure you have samples of the colors you plan to use in the wedding. This will be very helpful in choosing the colors of the flowers.
You might want to ask the florist for some photos of wedding flowers they have designed. Many florists keep a book of wedding flower photos exactly for this purpose.
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Talk to your florist about using flowers that match the style of your wedding. If you are having a casual wedding you may want to use different flowers than if you are planning a traditional wedding.
You also might want to consider using wedding flowers that are specific to your region and to the season in which you are getting married. This will not only keep the cost down but you will not have to worry about the flowers being available.
Choose your wedding flowers carefully and they will be a wonderful part of your wedding.
• Wednesday, January 13th, 2010
Melissa Ingram asked:
Flowers are an important part of making your wedding ceremony and reception beautiful. Hopefully this guide will make your choices in wedding flowers a little bit easier.
The Shop
When planning your wedding, you should take time and care in selecting a wedding florist.
Choose several florists in the general vicinity of your ceremony and reception site. If the wedding florist is on the other side of town, they may charge more for delivery. Look in the yellow pages, on wedding websites and ask your friends and families for referrals before narrowing down your list to three or four options.
Set up appointments to meet with each of the florists. Before the appointment time, you should decide the following about your wedding:
* Wedding colors (color of bridesmaids dresses, table linens and other decor)
* Number of attendants
* Total budget for flowers, including delivery charges
When you meet with each florist give them an idea of what you are looking for, but also be open to suggestions. After all, they are the professionals!
Bring tear outs from magazines to give the florists an idea of what you types and colors of flowers you are consider. Ask each florist to come up a quote that will meet all your needs. It may also be helpful to ask for a high-end quote if you want to trade out your standard flowers for more exotics, dye flowers to a specific color, or want anything else special.
Once you’ve visited three or four shops and gathered the quotes, ask for a list of references from each. Call previous brides to make sure there were no problems with customer service, delivery, or quality of the flowers.
The Flowers
A basic package of wedding flowers should include:
* Bridal bouquet
* Bridemaids’ bouquets
* Corsages for mothers, grandmothers and other important women
* Boutonnieres for the groom, groomsmen, fathers, grandfathers and other important men
* Centerpieces for the reception
You may also need a smaller bouquet for the “toss,” flowers for the flower girl, and other floral decorations.
Though you can find most flowers all year, it’s best to choose seasonal blooms because they are more readily available, more durable and less expensive. Here is a general guideline of wedding flowers by season.
Spring
* Apple blossoms
* Cherry blossoms
* Daffodils
* Hyacinth
* Iris
* Lilies
* Lilacs
* Pansies
* Peonies
* Tulips
Summer
* Cala lilies
* Dahlia
* Daisies
* Geraniums
* Hydrangeas
* Iris
* Larkspur
* Queen Anne’s lace
* Roses
* Sunflowers
* Zinnias
Fall
* Asters
* Chrysanthemums
* Gerbera daisies
* Marigolds
* Roses
* Sunflowers
Winter
* Camelias
* Forget-me-nots
* Jasmine
* Orchids
* Poinsettias
Now that you are armed with all the information, you can make an informed decision and choose the florist and the flowers that are right for you!
Find many more wedding articles like this provided by Truly Wedding Favors by visiting our directory, Articles By Yours Truly.
• Monday, January 11th, 2010
Laura Jane Smith asked:
To get started with picking the flowers get ideas from magazines, friends and family. Start looking at the colours you and your partner would like to include and make a collage of images that reflect the type of flowers you would like.
There are many different types of flowers, just a quick search showed me – Aster Flower, Carnations, Chrysanthemums, Daffodils, Dahlia, Daisy, Gerbera’s, Gladioli, Iris, Lilies, Orchids, Roses, Snapdragons, Sunflowers and Tulips to mention just a few! This means it’s vital you get a florist who knows there Carnations from their chrysanthemums and you get one fast as they do get booked up.
If you are opting for a summer wedding you have many choices of flowers, including lots of pink and cream flowers. There are the usual suspects of roses and gerbera but these are available all year round. What you want to do is get something that picks up the moment. A traditional summer season flower is peonies, as well as Nerines, stocks and phlox which come in a variety of colours, and some can often be candy striped. For an elegant and custom look try having your bouquet hand tied and simply having the stems left loose or covered with ribbon or voile.
What about flowers for the wedding reception? Think about how you would like your tables at the wedding reception to appear. Be practical, there is no point having a huge floral display on the wedding tables if your wedding guests cannot see each other over it. Your wedding florist will help you out with this; they will have a vast amount of experience in dealing with this sort of detail.
A number of florists will actively display the venues in which they have worked at before. This is because when they work a venue they get a feel for it and are able to customise your designs to make it fit the style of the room which means your glorious wedding flowers will look great.
The florist being reliable is a big issue on your special day the last thing you need to be worried about is whether the florist is going to turn up. You should look out for testimonials from previous clients all good florists should have them.
You should find out how many other weddings the florist will do on the same day. It is a question of wanting your florist more concerned with yours than someone else’s wedding when they are creating your flowers, after you plan them so well you don’t want them getting lost on the day, ideally they should only book in a few per day but do check if you are having complicated designs, however a wedding Florist with experience should be able to cater to this for you.
Other key information that you should think about is once you’ve created the flowers, how are you going to transport them to the venue/venues?
Top idea: if you are the bride, perhaps ask someone else to do this, such as the mother of the bride to avoid you getting stressed on your big day.
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• Sunday, January 10th, 2010
Bryan Burbank asked:
Choosing flowers for your wedding can be a big responsibility because the flowers that you have at your wedding can make a big difference in the overall color scheme on your special day. There are many factors that you must consider when choosing flowers for your wedding and this first is price. You need to decide what budget you are going to allow for your flowers and bouquets. There are so many options when you start to search for flowers and you want to start by talking to your florist and get some price quotes.
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Once you know what you are able to spend for flowers then you will have a better idea what type of flowers you can use. The color of the flower will also be important because the center pieces and other flower arrangements will set the tone for the wedding. Also it is important to make sure that the flower arrangements are size appropriate so if you have flowers on your table that are too big then people will not be able to talk with each other. Also you want to make sure that the bouquets are also size correct for the people who will be holding them.
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You may also want to talk to some family and friends to get a recommendation for a flower person. There are also wholesale flower places that can help you will having great flowers for your wedding but at the same time saving some money.
Remember that when you are choosing flowers for your wedding there are factors that you need to consider and price may be one of the most important.
• Friday, January 08th, 2010
Bob Hamilton asked:
Like a wedding cake, the cost of flowers for a wedding can be one of the biggest expenses faced. Fortunately, it is possible to get wedding flowers on a budget.
One of the first considerations the bridal couple must decide is just exactly what sort of expense is realistic for the bridal bouquet and the boutonniere. Depending on the style and the composition of the bouquet, they could run as high as several hundred dollars. A good portion of this expense is the choice of flowers that may not necessarily be in season, especially on a local or regional basis. If it is possible to get the specific flowers you desire, chances are they will have to be specially ordered, and will, of course, be far more expensive than usual.
Another source of budget wedding flowers is to check local farmers markets or wholesalers to see what might be available or leftover when florists failed to pick them up. Because these places dislike keeping flowers around for any length of time, it is possible to pick up some good bargains a day or so prior to the wedding. With careful storage, the flowers can last sufficiently to be useful for the wedding reception. This option is especially useful if you know someone who has talent in flower arranging and could put together the floral arrangements used at the reception and/or the actual bridal bouquet.
Another option to consider is to plan the ceremony and reception at an outdoor location which naturally has flowers as a part of the surroundings. There are several parks and other venues like a local botanical garden that will fit the bill in this instance. An additional benefit to this arrangement is that there are some of these locations which do not charge for their use. This way, the only flowers you would actually need to buy would be those in the bridal bouquet and possibly some boutonnières for the groom and his groomsmen. Bags of rose petals can be found for a relatively inexpensive cost at many florists for the flower girl to sprinkle along the path the bride will take to the altar. Be sure to inquire ahead of time about the park’s regulations regarding needing to pickup the flower petals since you might find yourself responsible for making sure they are cleaned up before you leave the site.
Rather than buying real flowers, you might want to consider substituting well-made silk flowers instead. As a rule, they tend to be less expensive, and it is possible to preserve the wedding bouquet in a glassed-in container or cabinet on display indefinitely. Additional wedding flowers can be purchased and added to make simple bouquets or centerpieces to decorate the tables in the reception hall.
Lastly, if you’re having a wedding at an unusual time of the year, like in the winter, you might want to consider decorating with something like boughs of evergreen or holly instead of traditional wedding flowers. Even potted poinsettia plants can be used effectively to provide decoration. If you’re considering a themed wedding, you may not even have to worry about flowers at all. A little research for this event can prove to be a money saver in the long run.
To your beautiful wedding!
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• Wednesday, January 06th, 2010
Lise Rina asked:
You may look at all the colorful spring and summer wedding arrangements with longing and admire the way fall flowers compliment each other, but winter wedding flowers can be the most beautiful and inspiring of all.
A floral designer will most likely inform you that a defining element of winter arrangements is the use of one color. For instance, it is common to see large bouquets of red roses placed all together.
Thanks to modern conveniences and technology, it is possible to have just about any flowers you want available in the winter months. However, it may not always fit your budget, as they are often much more expensive out of season. But there are so many beautiful winter floral possibilities that are inspiring. Once you have discovered their possibilities, you will probably be delighted and excited to use them.
The Holidays: Christmas is one of the most exciting times of year, and it can make a wedding fun and beautiful. There are many Christmas flowers that fit perfectly in wedding decor and can also cut down on your cost. A few choices include Poinsettias, Amaryllis, Holly, Fir sprigs, and other stemmed red berries.
A holiday wedding can be transformed using Christmas flowers and decorations. Many choose to use large numbers of fir trees intertwined with glittering white lights. This creates a stunning background for any ceremony. Of you may choose to make your holiday wedding a more elegant affair featuring lots of red roses.
The holidays can inspire you to add a lot more detail to your floral decorations. This is the season for glittering stems and picks, big shiny bows, and shimmering candlelight. Little touches like these can add so much to any winter wedding.
Winter Colors: The color white has recently become the height of elegance as a choice in wedding flowers. You can add more of a holiday touch to a white theme by using silver or gold accents. A winter wonderland can be created simply by using a silvery white and icy blue combination. White poinsettias look very appropriate in this setting. The Amaryllis also is available in white and this looks very stunning in large bouquets.
You may choose to use an unexpected twist on the traditional bouquet for your winter wedding. Popular choices include bridesmaids carrying lanterns, pomanders, or wreaths down the aisle. These are perfect and a refreshing change from the traditional for a winter wedding.
Symbols of Winter: Think of the elements such as snow and ice. Think of bare trees and stems. A snowflake theme would be very appropriate and fun for a winter wedding. You could also choose a sparkling crystal and ice theme. Add some wooden stems or pinecones to give it a more lifelike wintry feel. Pine sprigs would be a nice touch if you want some greenery, as this is the only real green thing seen in cold climates during the winter months.
Whatever winter wedding theme you choose, it will only be perfect as you see it. There are vast combinations of floral designs that would be beautiful and appropriate, but the only thing that really matters is that you are happy. The wedding you create should be the wedding of your dreams and create a memory that will satisfy you for a lifetime, no matter what anyone else may think.
• Tuesday, January 05th, 2010
Nadine Visscher asked:
Most people have a set amount of money that they can spend on flowers for a wedding. Usually the cost of wedding flowers is about 10% of the entire wedding budget. Of course this number is flexible – you might want to splurge in one area (e.g. your invitations) and tighten the reins in another (e.g. your flowers). Here are 7 different ways you can lower your flower costs:
1. Use less expensive flowers rather than exotic ones. Chrysanthemums, carnations, alstroemerias, and baby’s breath are beautiful flowers and can make a stunning display. These flowers cost a lot less than roses and lilies yet can do the same job.
2. Use exotic blooms very sparingly such as only in your bouquet or your fiance’s boutonniere.
3. Use flowers that are in season. They will be less expensive and you have a greater chance of them being fresh.
4. Avoid getting married around times where flower prices are higher – Mother’s Day, Valentines’s Day, Christmas, and Easter.
5. Use less expensive look-alikes. For example, roses tend to be costly, so to cut costs, you can use lisianthus.
6. Use smaller bouquets and arrangements. Instead of having 40 roses in your bouquet, cut it down to 25 roses. If you have your heart set on a certain size, you can then add ivy, berries, herbs, or other affordable flowers to fill up your bouquet. Your bridesmaids can carry single stems down the aisle. That can be both dramatic and elegant. Sometimes less is more.
7. Use your ceremony flowers at your reception. Arrange for someone to transport any arrangements that you may have to your reception. Use your bridesmaid flowers to decorate the cake table and yours to dress up the head table.
These are just a few ideas for how to trim your wedding flower costs. Keep them in mind when planning and you will save yourself a significant amount of money. It is possible to have very beautiful wedding flowers without breaking the bank.
