top 5 favorite bouquets: Andrea from Peppertree

What most people think of when they think of the change in seasons, is weather. This impacts not only the clothes you wear (especially if you live in the Midwest or Northeast) but also what flowers are available on a month to month basis. In my “Top 5” I’ll review my favorite bouquets for every season as well as my all time favorite, for any season.

WINTER
Many people think winter is a very difficult season for flowers, but that isn't entirely true. Many flowers are available and most beautiful in the winter. Here are some of them: Anemone, Daffodil, Heather, Ranunculus, Sweet Pea, Tulip, & Viburnum.

{Megelaine Photography}

This bridal included white anemonies, white freesia and white lisianthus accented with loops of beargrass. The bride also wanted me to include a special pin for her grandmother.

SPRING
Spring, as summed, is the season of plenty. Everything seems to be in bloom and its no mystery why it's the favored time of the year for weddings. Some of the flowers available in the spring are: Anemone, Daffodil, Hyacinth, Iris, Larkspur, Lilac, Lilly of the Valley, Narcissis, Peony, Ranunculus, & Tulips.

{Kevin Swan Photography}

This bridal includes of my favorite flowers for Spring, the peony. There is just something special about a peony and I can hardly resist including it in my May and June weddings. As well as the peony, roses in champagne and off white also compliment the simple but timeless color scheme.

SUMMER
Summer brings about bright colors and hearty varieties. One thing to be sensitive about in this season, please ask your florist what varieties will be least susceptible to the hot weather, especially if you are having an outdoor wedding. Some flowers I would suggest for this season include: Bachelor's Buttons, Cosmos, Dahlia, Daisies, Delphinium, Gladiolus, Hydrangea (although they can be difficult in direct sunlight), Larkspur, Ranunculus, Scabiosa, Stock, Sunflower, Tuberose, & Zinnia.

All of the colors of Summer, these bridemaids bouquets include purple lisianthus, green roses, orange mini calla lillies, orange and red dahlias and green cymbidium orchids. I love being able to work with bright colors in the summer.

FALL

Although Fall is one of the more difficult season to find a variety of flowers locally, it’s my favorite. I love the rich colors that seem to be everywhere. Although I like stepping out of the box with color and shape, I can’t help myself to not use browns, oranges and reds in a fall bouquet. Fall flowers include: Amaranthus, Chrysanthemums, Cockscomb, Cosmos, Dahlias, Delphinium, Hydrangeas, Scabiosa, & Zinnia.

Gerbera Daisies, scabiosa, hypericum berry and dahlias created the bulk of this bouquet with a few chocolate cosmos thrown in for drama. The tone on tone color scheme never gets old.

ALL YEAR

You might be surprised and the amount of wedding flowers that are available all year round. Here is a list: Alstomeria, Aster, Bouvardia, Calla Lily, Carnations, Chrysanthemum, Delphinium, Freesia, Gardenia, Gerbera Daisy, Gladiolus, Gloriosa Lily, Iris, Larkspur, Lily, Lisianthus, Orchid, Rose, Stephanotis, Stock, & Veronica.

I know it’s no fun, but my favorite flower is still a rose. There are applications I don’t like them in, particularly corsages, but they just make a beautiful bouquet. There is something so utterly classic about an all rose bouquet, nothing beats it. The best part is that you can have one any day of the year.

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Peppertree Floral
Downtown Bloomington on the corner of 6^th and College.
www.peppertreefloral.com

something blue...flowers & cakes

{Photo from The Knot}

Happy Wednesday everyone!

Today we're featuring some fun blue items...cakes and flowers. Almost every bride has both of these things, have you considered bringing blue into these aspects? We started prepping for today by focusing on the flowers, the bouquet the bride carries down the aisle could have blue in it or a blue ribbon. But the color can be carried in additional ways (such as cakes).

I'm seeing blue in lots of weddings right now..from navy (for fall and spring weddings!) to tiffany blue. There are so many possibilities.

{Love to Know and Katie Elfers bouquets}




I often see hydrangeas in the blue family, great for spring!

Happy Planning!

Bouquets: After the Wedding?

You carry your bouquet down the aisle, perhaps display it at the reception…but then what do you with it? It’s beautiful, and you’ve considered its every detail for several months—colors, size, style, and more. Maybe you want to keep it and the precious memories that go along with it.

You could consider preserving your bouquet to keep forever. Be sure to hand off your bouquet to someone reliable after the reception, make sure they put it in water overnight and then take it early the following week to the florist for the best results. Check with your florist for recommendations of how or who can preserve your bouquet. You could also get crafty and use the dried petals in a shadow box or similar display with other mementoes from your wedding.

Not so sure about doing the traditional “tossing” of the bouquet (often times a smaller arrangement of similar flowers to your bridal bouquet) to your single-friends all gathered together in a mass as “Single Ladies” plays over the dance floor? I see fewer and fewer brides who want to do this, so what can you do if you don’t want to blindly toss a bouquet?

I love the idea of giving a smaller bouquet, or even your own if you don’t want to keep it, to a special guest. You could say a few words at the reception and give the bouquet to any number of people such as a woman who has meant so much to you, the woman who has been married the longest, or even someone who has been going through a difficult time or recently loss someone close to them. Or you could also give it to a new mother or newly engaged friend. It could also be a special moment to present it to your mother, in thanks, in love, and in excitement of all the future holds. The possibilities are endless. Who would you honor?

I think this is an graceful gesture to honor someone who has meant a lot to you and may fit in with your vision of your reception and friends gathered together better than “all the single ladies…”