Flowers
A wedding without flowers would be like a wedding without,
say, a bride or groom. Something, the guests would murmur, is missing.
In Northern Michigan, despite a cooler climate and distance from exotic locales that are home to lush tropicals, couples can find whatever variety they envision for the bouquets, boutonnières, centerpieces, reception and church décor.
Many brides still prefer simple and elegant, like those plate-sized, hand-tied Gerbera daisies in a bright palette of pinks, oranges and deep reds, according to Kendra Worthington, owner of The Stem and The Hem in Walloon Lake.
“We did a wedding last summer with Gerberas and when the flowers came in I thought, oh my gosh, these are too big!” Worthington said. “But they were beautiful.”
Hand-tied bouquets of wild flowers and ivy are another favorite of Worthington, who said her business is willing to cater to designs envisioned by the bride, even if that means incorporating silk versions in the off-season.
For an upcoming August wedding, for instance,
she’s been asked to combine tulips and irises with sunflowers and other
late-summer florals.
“We’ll have to go with part silk, because I’m not sure I can get tulips in August, but it’s do-able,” Worthington said. “That one will be interesting and fun.”
Incorporating those personal requests and unique touches is a part of the job Worthington enjoys most. She likes to put ivy in some bouquets for the bride to root later in a glass of water, “so she can have a plant from her wedding bouquet.”
She recalled an instance of combing the shoreline for Lake Michigan rocks and Petoskey stones to fill the bottoms of vases. “It brings that element of Northern Michigan into the whole decorations,” Worthington said.
Because she grows several herbs at her business, she’ll often put a clipping of thyme into a bouquet for the beautiful aroma, or use it for a groom who prefers a smaller boutonnière.
As the owner of a business that does both dress alterations and florals, Worthington said it gives her the ability to work closely in coordinating all aspects of the wedding day colors.
“We get to see the bride’s dress and the bridesmaids’ dresses and can make suggestions as to what types of flowers would work best,” she said. “And the reason I do both is because I couldn’t decide what I wanted to do more.”
This season’s selections
Those who know flowers are predicting a spectacular color season for wedding arrangements in 2009. Elegala.com, the online site for Gala Weddings Magazine, offers some insight into the blooming trends:
— Color will play a big part. Stunning reception decor will move away from white and ivory and will be much bolder in colors for accents, linens, and designs. Exotic flowers are more popular than ever. The cascade-style bouquet is experiencing a resurgence.
— Bolder colors will be carried through from invitations to linens, wedding stationery and wedding cakes. Red will be everywhere, in tents, tablecloths, flowers and trimmings.
— Mix it up a bit by incorporating produce. One of the hot trends in wedding flowers is arrangements featuring fruits, herbs and even veggies as a playful and fun approach. Their naturally vibrant colors coincide with the daring color trend. Many brides are also turning to the woods for inspiration. Green grasses add dimension and structure and can elicit a warm, summery feeling.
— Table arrangements are also becoming more dynamic. Instead of conforming to identical floral arrangements on each table, some brides are using different containers, varying the heights, or grouping an assortment of low centerpieces together.
— Gone are the days of overpowering floral arrangements adorned with excess filler flowers. Today’s brides opt for a more natural and tailored look to their wedding flowers.
— Flowers on the more expensive end include calla lilies and hydrangeas; roses are mid-range, and field daisies are on the most inexpensive end of the spectrum, but make a statement when loosely tied and natural.
Up North Bride Home » Spring 2009 Wedding Guide » Flowers