According to floral designer and author Sharon McGukin in Georgia, sunflowers are a big hit in their area for fall. Just think how that changes the whole look of the celebration. She says that in designing the flower arrangements and bouquets, she uses texture and vibrant color. Pods, pine cones, and twigs add a visual richness to a bouquet with their variety of textures as does the celosia flower with its velvety feel.
Flowers that she recommends for providing color are mums and the traditional roses and lilies in colors that match the local season’s palette. McGukin says to choose colors so that you have a unified look.
To save money on the floral part of your event, she has these suggestions. Cut down the number of bridesmaids and you will need fewer bouquets, as well as all the other related expenses. Reusing bouquets and baskets as decorations on the tables at the reception, and using local flowers instead of imported ones, will also save you money.
Some of the trends she sees now are based on the bride’s desire to save money yet still have the wedding of her dreams. Choosing a location close to home is considerate for your guests, saving them money and time in not having to fly to a distant city. Even “destination weddings,” based on a location that adds charm and romance, can be set close to home—find a historic or scenic spot, an old inn, or a beautiful garden. Also people are returning to the Sunday afternoon ceremony, which was popular in the past. This saves money because facilities are usually cheaper on Sunday than on Saturday.
In addition, more people are planning October weddings. This time of year is getting very popular, as McGukin states. The advantages are less demand for facilities, good weather, and this time of year often fits people’s schedules better.
Sharon Reinking, the floral designer at Armstrong Flowers Inc. in Fort Wayne, Indiana, says that in the Midwest there is interest at both ends of the design spectrum. Some brides want European-type tight, hand-tied bouquets while others want a natural, botanical, open look.
The colors she is seeing also range widely, from black and chocolate brown to sages, into medium and azure blues, to teals and finally lime green! Flowers to go with these black dresses are vibrant or bright—raspberry, orange, and lime. With others, the brides are choosing rusts, corals, and many green flowers. This season, Reinking is using green Fuji mums and dendrobium orchids, green cymbidiums with a rust throat, and hacara spray orchids. There are also Gerber daisies, ranunculus, calla lilies, mini calla lilies in rust, raspberry, plum, and old gold, as well as Asiatic lilies, and hydrangeas in all colors.
She is weaving bear grass and lily grass into bouquets and adding seeded eucalyptus, and there is a renewed interest in foliage, which gives a collar-effect at the base of the bouquets. In other decorations, she is often getting requests for the very traditional cascades. Many of the weddings now are being held outdoor in her area, too.
In Southern California, Bev Ireland of Jasmine Creek Florists says that for fall weddings the colors for fabric and flowers are intense, vibrant colors—fuchsia, turquoise, deep plum and purple, and chocolate as well as intense yellow, lime green, and tangerine. Both Ireland and Reinking talk about how a touch of lime green makes the color scheme pop!
Ireland uses mums, mango-colored mini callas, green hydrangeas, and orchids, and adds contrast with dried wheat, rye, peppers, oak leaves, and fresh hypernium berries. Southern Californians are going back to using produce in decorations, she says, such as vases filled with lemons, and centerpieces with small red crabapples or bright green Granny Smith apples and purple eggplant in regular and miniature sizes.
Since weather is not usually a problem, many weddings are held outside, providing a good opportunity to use garlands and decorated arches. There is interest in eco-friendly, green celebrations and a growing trend in using succulents in the arrangements.
For more information contact:
Sharon McGukin PFCI, AIFD, AAF, Designer's Touch, Carrollton, GA, 770-832-1897
Sharon Reinking, AAF, AIFD, PFCI & CFD, Armstrong Flowers Inc., Fort Wayne, IN, 260-489-3534
Bev Ireland, Jasmine Creek Florist, El Cajon, CA, 619-588-2377
