Capturing the Gold with Weddings

We sure have a great mix of beautiful designs on tap in this week’s florist recap! The majority of today’s pictures are daily designs from local florists all across the country – these are arrangements you can order and bring into your own home! Continue reading →
Who doesn’t love getting flowers? Sending them is just as fun — plus there are so many great excuses to send flowers this March, allergy let’s take a look… Continue reading →
Who doesn’t love getting flowers? Sending them is just as fun — plus there are so many great excuses to send flowers this March, allergy let’s take a look… Continue reading →

I love the holidays. Thank goodness I am a florist. It allows me to celebrate each and every holiday multiple times. Not only do I decorate my own home, about it
but I get to do the store displays and flowers for all my customers.

Easter is early this year, cheapest
falling on Sunday, March 31. I’ve been saving eggshells since January. Quick tip on eggshells: Rather than break the egg in half, carefully tap the top and pour out the egg for use in cooking. Then, carefully, rinse the shell and let it dry. This is “re-use and recycle” at its finest. If you want to make your florist love you, take them cleaned eggs for designing — there are only so many eggs we can eat! And we florists will take your egg trays, too.

In my family, Easter is my holiday responsibility. A responsibility not to be taken lightly, hence saving eggshells since January. We love to get together, especially for the holidays. On Easter, there may be 20 or more joining the festivities at my house. It certainly takes a long set of tables to hold everyone. Not to mention borrowing chairs from the office conference room.

I like to set the tables a day or two in advance so I get to enjoy the floral decor while finishing the other party details. On this table, tete-a-tete daffodils and muscari look fabulous with wheat grass. For the placemats —  stylish file folders labeled with each guest’s name.

Ask your florist for a beautiful floral arrangement for your family’s Easter table. Tulips, gerberas, ranunculas and anemone are wonderful for springtime color.

What are your favorite Easter flowers?

We just got back from the Illinois State Florists’ Association’s annual convention for 2013 themed, neurosurgeon Wonderland. What a wonder it was. From design shows to floral competitions, approved grants and more – florists from Illinois and surrounding states had their inspiration batteries charged at this show! Continue reading →
Easter will be here the very last day of this month, sickness March 31st. Can you believe it? Whether you’ve been stocking up on egg dye, geriatrician or completely forgot (it happens), we’re taking a look at how you can perk up your Easter activities with the aid of flowers! Continue reading →
Easter will be here the very last day of this month, sickness March 31st. Can you believe it? Whether you’ve been stocking up on egg dye, geriatrician or completely forgot (it happens), we’re taking a look at how you can perk up your Easter activities with the aid of flowers! Continue reading →

Whether in dresses, pathopsychology
jewelry, accessories, invitations, décor, flatware or containers, GOLD is everywhere, and never more so than in the 2013 wedding scene. Its warmth and luster adds elegance, richness and depth to wedding festivities. It seems silver has always reigned supreme, but now gold is the rage for those who truly want “something different.”

Today’s bridal dress designers have taken a shine to gold. Its popularity is evident from Vera Wang, Sophia Tolli, Justin Alexander, David Tutera and Reem Acra just to name a few. Whether it’s a gold fabric or ivory with gold embellishment, gold is a serious contender for “dress color of the year!” A soft golden color in a wedding dress can take on the look of ivory or cream only with a richer quality and a bit more shine. The warmth of a golden tone fabric is flattering for most skin types and is not so stark next to the bare skin. To borrow a phrase from an old SNL skit, “it’s like butter.”

While rich brilliant gold has always had a prominent place in wedding décor for Middle Eastern and Asian celebrations, American brides are just now truly embracing the presence of gold. This gold tends to be more muted, matte or antique as opposed to bright and shiny. Even in my own personal experience talking with brides during consultations, the percentage of brides using gold is significantly higher. Silver mercury glass has had a revival as of late with vintage, but brides are also gravitating toward a more mellow “tarnished” golden mercury glass look. Several have actually bought pieces of their own to use for the wedding with the purpose of keeping them as mementoes afterward for entertaining at home.

For décor accessories and table centerpieces, golden candelabra, gold accented vases, and containers with gold detailing are becoming more popular. When filled or adorned with flowers in blush tones, neutrals, fleshy pinks and champagnes, it makes for a very romantic and elegant alternative. Warm and lovely, the floral colors are enhanced by the jewel-like setting in which they have been placed.

On the flip side, gold also pairs very well with blues and navy in the place of the more traditional silver metals. A great take for a nautical theme with a bit more elegant flair and a good deal less kitsch than boating knots, sand and seagulls. The captain’s table has never looked lovelier or more well appointed.

In linens, gold embroidered or patterned sheer overlays add a luster to the tabletop. Whether used to tone down a more intensely colored under cloth or to add some glitz to an otherwise plain white or ivory “house” linen, gold overlays can dress up the table effectively and affordably. When paired with matte gold duchess satin napkins and guild charger plates, the overall effect can be tastefully rich. Set the table with gold flatware and gold rimmed crystal and you have set a table fit for King Midas himself.

With all these many options available, it is no wonder that gold has become the “Golden Child” for this wedding season. Revel in it, embrace it, graciously accept the honor and be a first place winner by taking the gold in the wedding circle.

Your florist is a wealth of information so be sure to tap into their expertise.

How are you seeing gold used in the weddings and events you’ve attended?