For up-to-the-minute news on wedding flowers trends we talked to two top florists.
“Tastes are returning to a more traditional look. My clients have seen so much bling and colour and, while they like it, they no longer want it for themselves.”
Be true to your own style
Brides get lots of advice and may need to counter the pressure of other’s taste. Amy Saleh of Pink Twig says, “Every woman has her own style. I say to them: ‘Close your eyes and imagine walking down the aisle. What are you carrying? It’s not about your mom, your grandma, your friend. It’s only about you.’ ”
Current trends
There is a return of traditional themes complemented by romantic stylings.
“We’re doing a lot of vintage, older, wispy and soft arrangements and bouquets with less hard, bold colour,” says Amy. “People don’t want that perfect shape any more; they want it delicate and romantic. This doesn’t mean casual, just a little looser.”
Elaine Pitsikalis of N’Dezine agrees. “There’s less bright colour and bling compared to previous years. I’m using a lot of neutrals for the bride but introducing colour for the bridesmaids and in the table centrepieces.”
“Tastes are returning to a more traditional look. My clients have seen so much bling and colour and, while they like it, they no longer want it for themselves.”
Coordinate your colours
Even if brides are opting for neutrals it’s important that the bridemaids bouquets coordinate with their own dresses and also with the bride’s bouquet. There might be a hint of colour in the bride’s bouquet picked up with more gusto in the bridesmaids’ posies. It could also mean simply coordinating the greenery or jewels used in the design.
Elaine advises letting the details reflect your personality. Whether you want to use ribbon or trim is a matter of personal taste – everyone likes to have something different that reflects their own style.
Blooms for the season
If traditional is your theme, think orchids, roses and stephanotis (a traditional, tiny white flower). Elaine says that people are a bit tired of Calla lilies.
However, keep cost in mind. To stay within your budget, choose blooms that are in season. In June, for example, peonies are about $4 a stem. If you want them in December, they’ll come from Holland and cost $15 a stem.
Go for balance
“Everybody likes different flowers, different heights and different textures, but within those parameters there’s always a technique to make things look professionally put together,” says Elaine. This means making sure there’s a balance to your bouquets and table arrangements, which is achieved by taking full advantage of the experience of your floral designer.
by Deborah Dundas
