Obviously, silk comes with some advantages — it’s tough and shelf stable, and the petals won’t come off at the worst possible moment. On the other hand, silk flowers don’t always look real, and they aren’t always a bargain, either.

The fact is, the silk versus real dilemma is more confusing than ever, thanks in part due to the increasing sophistication — and accompanying cost — of silk and latex flowers. To navigate this new terrain, we interviewed Paul Ajao, a professional florist and cofounder of Pure Botanics (http://wedding-flowers-guide.com/), a UK-based floral designer who specializes in weddings.

You keep hearing that silk flowers have gotten “better and better.” Yet when you go to the local craft store, they look just about as artificial as ever. Where are these super-realistic flowers, and how can a bride get her hands on them?

It’s true that artificial flowers have improved. But the quality varies widely from brand to brand. In addition to craft stores, take a look at which brands your local florists are using. After all, their reputation depends on delivering a beautiful result. Also, they might be able to order in artificial flowers for you — ones that you can’t get in the craft
stores.

One brand with a great reputation that florists use regularly is Sia, which you can find in the UK, US and Australia.

Is it true that artificial flowers photograph poorly? And does that include the high-end latex type?

When you take close-ups of artificial flowers, yes, it can be pretty obvious that the flowers aren’t real. But this depends a lot on the quality of the artificial flowers you’ve used.

Remember that any shiny surfaces may cause the camera flash to “bounce,” which looks pretty unnatural for flowers. The common off-the-shelf flowers can be pretty shiny.

One argument for silk flowers is that fresh flowers are seasonal, but some florists are suggesting that season isn’t so important these days — that almost everything can be imported all year round. Are you finding this to be true?

Well, some of the most common cut flowers, such as roses, gerberas (gerber daisies) and orchids, are available all year round. So you don’t have to worry about seasonality with these flowers.

But others, like peonies, lily of the valley and ranunculus, have a definite season. Expect to pay more if you buy out of season. And the quality may not be as good.

Just to illustrate how important season can be: a florist we know planned her whole wedding around the very brief time in spring when lily of the valley was in season, so she could use fresh!

What’s your personal feelings on silk vs. artificial flowers? As a professional florist, would you mix them in arrangements — for example, use silk for the super-pricy flowers like calla lilies or orchids?

Personally, we love working with real flowers. But it’s true that silk definitely comes with some advantages. For starters:

- They won’t wilt.

- They’re a lasting memento of your big day.

- They’re easy to transport if you’re getting married abroad.

- You can prepare them long in advance.

The last point’s important if you’re preparing flowers yourself. By their nature, you have to arrange fresh flowers the day before the wedding at the earliest — and usually the morning of. This doesn’t leave you much time to switch gears if you aren’t happy with the results. On the other hand, you can experiment with and arrange silk flowers weeks in advance. That leaves you plenty of time to relax and pamper yourself in the run up to your wedding!

And yes, you can mix artificial and real flowers with great results. A friend of ours loves ranunculus and wanted them in a mixed bouquet with roses and gerberas. Unfortunately, ranunculus was out of season for her wedding date, and would have cost a lot. So she opted to tuck artificial ranunculus into a fresh bouquet. The results, and the photos, were beautiful.

Anything else you want to add?

Contrary to popular opinion, don’t think that silk flowers are always going to be cheaper than real. Many of the quality ones are as expensive as the real thing — if not more.

Blake Kritzberg is editor of FavorIdeas. Stop by for continually-updated celebrity wedding news, remarkable beach wedding favors, exclusive hairstyling articles and gorgeous and unique wedding favors.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Blake_Kritzberg

Don’t just assume that you should get fresh flowers!

There are many good reasons for why you might choose to get silk flowers instead…

Probably the biggest benefit of silk flowers, is the cost. Usually, a silk flower
bouquet will end up being considerably cheaper than a fresh flower bouquet. It’s
much cheaper to make a silk flower, than it is for a farmer to carefully grow a fresh
flower in their garden, and then for a florist to look after it!

Another benefit of using silk flowers in your wedding bouquet, is that after you are
married, you can keep the bouquet, as a reminder of the happy day. You can also
keep fresh flower bouquets, but to do this they will need to be preserved, which can
be quite expensive.

Finally, with silk bouquets, you can actually try making the bouquet yourself!
Although it’s quite easy to make bouquets, it can be hard with real flowers, and it’s
much easier for beginners if they are using silk flowers instead.

There are a few benefits to using real flowers though…

The main benefit is the smell. Even if you spray them with perfume, a silk bouquet
will never smell as nice as a fresh flower bouquet.

Another benefit of fresh flower wedding bouquets is that there are a lot more places
to buy the flowers, and it can be easier to get more variety. This depends on where
you shop though. If you can find somewhere local to you that sells silk flowers, or
you buy them online, then silk flowers can be just as easy to get as fresh.

But wait a second…

Aren’t I forgetting the most important thing? That fresh flowers LOOK a lot better
than silk?

Well, this may have been true once, but these days, it’s quite easy to get beautiful
silk flowers, that are indistinguishable from the real thing. I’ve personally made
quite
a few silk-flower bouquets that people have tried smelling, because they thought
the flowers were real!

Ultimately it’s up to you to decide what type of wedding bouquet you want. All I can
suggest is that you don’t jump into it, and give silk-flowers serious consideration,
as they have many benefits. After all, the smell from a fresh-flower wedding
bouquet will only last for a few days, anyway!

Peta Fletcher has been making wedding bouquets for over 14 years. Her website at http://www.visionsofsilk.com has lots of information on how to make bouquets, including details on How you can make a candy bouquet.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peta_Fletcher

Let’s first take a quick look at the flower girl tradition. Starting with the middle ages, flower girls were assigned a special job; to walk down the wedding aisle ahead of the bride and groom and spread grain (not flowers) in order to pave the way for a new beginnings, fertility and happiness in the marriage. Today’s flowers girls usually carry rose petals, and while they aren’t believed to have special powers that will grant the new couple a harmonious relationship, they do tend to set the tone for a wedding. Think about the last wedding you attended. If the flower girls came out in formal dark colored dresses, you quickly understood that the wedding would have a formal tone. On the other hand, if they came out in wispy flower girl dresses with roses laced into their hair, you knew that you would experience a more whimsical wedding. In other words, the flower girls are generally the first part of the wedding party to walk down the isle, and because of that, they will make a strong first impression on your guests.

How will you dress your flower girls? Here are some flower girl dress ideas for the most popular wedding themes around: Cinderella Wedding Theme If you are planning a Cinderella wedding theme, then extravagance and beauty should be a part of everything. And since your flower girls will be the first to appear, they need to set the tone boldly. For this theme, you should have more than one flower girl-three or four would be ideal-and then dress them spectacularly. Choose frilly white dresses with huge skirts and satin bows. You can tie in some of your wedding colors by adding fresh pale pink, yellow or blue flowers to their hair. In addition, they should wear satin ballerina slippers. Have them carry baskets decorated to match their dresses and throw tons of soft rose petals along the isle.

Beach Wedding Theme Depending on the type of beach wedding that you want, you will have various choices with your flower girl dresses. If you want a romantic beach wedding, then put your flower girls in soft pastel tones or white, and use lots of fresh flowers-both in their hair and for them to throw. The flower girl wedding dresses can be shorter than in a formal wedding, and appropriate sandals would set the tone nicely. Instead of a basket, they could carry a pastel painted beach bucket filled to the rim with wildflowers to scatter along the isle. If you have a stronger, more colorful beach wedding planned, why not have some fun with the flower girl dresses? Putting them in typical beach dresses to match your wedding décor would immediately let the wedding guests know that your wedding will be fun and adventurous. Roaring 20’s Wedding Imagine a black and white wedding, wing tips shoes and ostrich feathers. That’s the idea behind a roaring 20 wedding theme, and as you can imagine, a precious frilly flower girl dress simply won’t fit the bill. With this type of gutsy wedding, you will have to get imaginative with them. Why not dress your flower girls in white satin flapper girl dresses, with bands around their hair and beads around the hemline? With this type of dress, you will certainly hear ooh and ahs from the crowd! Garden Party Wedding If you dream of an outdoor wedding surrounded by blooming flowers and ivy-laced arches, then your flower girl dresses should take on an entirely different style. White, off-white or pale pastel linen would be an ideal choice. In addition, a beautiful soft cotton dress with a muted flower pattern would be lovely, tied with a large solid satin bow in the back. Add lace up satin sandals and an armful of colorful tulips, and your guests won’t be likely to forget your flower girls for some time to come. As you can see, your flower girl dresses will set the mood of your entire event. Don’t just automatically dress your flower girls in the typical dress, but instead get creative.

What is the first thing you want your guest to see? Use http://www.flowergirldressesjoy.com to quickly find flower girl dresses online including some great online bargains.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Branka_Ilech

Fresh Flowers: Good news first! One of the best things about having fresh flowers for your wedding is that they photograph beautifully, they have a richness that is captured by the camera and they are breath taking beautiful. Most fresh flowers smell wonderful. The scent of fresh flowers is a very welcoming scent for all of your guests to enjoy as they walk in to either your ceremony or reception. This is only good news to the brides who do not want to keep their bouquets. If you use fresh flowers they will not last so you will not be able to keep your bouquets, unless you preserve them which can be very costly.

If you are a bride who is budget conscious and would like to stay under your budget and do not mind a few extra steps then there is another option for you! Buy your flowers in bulk. This is a way to save you a lot of money, however remember when your flowers arrive; they are only good for about 48-56 hours, if refrigerated correctly. To refrigerate properly, fresh flowers cannot be in the same refrigerator as food especially fruit and they cannot touch the sides of the refrigerator walls, so you must cover them. You can use a trash bag to cover the petals. You want to cover them with something very light so they can still breathe, but that will also provide enough coverage so that the blooms do not have direct contact with the walls. And don’t forget them in water. They have to be kept in fresh water with flower food. Although this may sound painful to deal with, it’s really not as bad as it sounds. When you order in bulk they provide flower food. All you need is enough vases or good size buckets to hold all the flowers, not to mention a clean refrigerator or two. For those of you who want to save your bouquet of fresh flowers, there is a way. Fresh flower preservation is becoming quite a hit, however it can be expensive, but from the reviews I have read, extremely worth it. Read up on it by searching on the Internet, search on Flower Preservation.

Silk Flowers: Starting with our good news again, silk flowers are less to maintain. Less maintenance is an awesome benefit for the easy-going brides who do not really have to have real flowers. Also for those who just do not want the hassle, for those who are allergic to fresh flowers or for the ones who want to keep they’re bouquet without paying for the pricey preservation job. Another wonderful plus for our brides and bridesmaids who are allergic to fresh flowers, silk flowers do not have any scent at all which means no one has to deal with red eyes, hives, or any allergic reactions that could happen. Some florists do work with silk flowers, and silk are easier to work with, most of the time. Talk to your florist and get her advice on which she prefers, look at her sample pictures because those will provide wonderful examples of what she is capable of doing for you and it also helps you get a better idea of her style so we can avoid any surprises the day of the wedding.

On the down side, silk flowers do not photograph quite as nice as fresh, however they come close if you use higher end silk flowers. If you choose to go with silk flowers do yourself a favor and purchase higher end silk flowers and then put the bouquets together yourself. It is not hard at all and it will save you money in the end. This is also a fun way to get your bridesmaids and lady family members together for some “girl time”. Putting flowers together is so much more fun in good company. With a few friends to help you’ll be done with the arrangements in no time.

Darcy Wallace is a writer for WeddingsAreFun.com and has many years of experience as a wedding consultant. The Weddings Are Fun online store specializes in elegant bridal accessories. This article on Wedding Flower Tips For Brides is one of many services offered to bridal couples. Other services include wedding candles and bridal apparel, wedding favors, invitations and trusted personalized service which are available at Weddings Are Fun.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Darcy_Wallace

You can easily visit an online florist site any time-day or night-from the comfort of your home. View online flower arrangements with a close friend or family member and welcome their ideas. Keep an open mind as you view all the types of wedding flowers, and create a “mind picture” of what your wedding decor will look like with various types of flowers.

Order Flowers Online for the Wedding Ceremony

As an important part of your ceremony decor, wedding flowers can be used to define the wedding colors, freshen and brighten the auditorium, or give a spring-like look and feel for outdoor weddings. Buy flowers or plants that blend well with your other decorations and colors. Consider decorating with curtain clusters, vows arrangements, companion pieces and chair clusters. Popular types of wedding flowers include calla lilies, Gerber daisies, orchids, roses and tulips. Also choose wedding flower foliage that will blend with your flowers and colors. Ivy is an old-time favorite for weddings, but you might also consider other foliage such as steel grass, leatherleaf fern, phormium, or aspidistra leaves.

Bouquets and Boutonnieres

Ordering from an online florist also makes it easy to select your bride and bridesmaid bouquets. Flower bouquets and the men’s boutonnieres should match the wedding colors as well as the style of dresses to be worn. Small bouquets work well with full dresses while larger bouquets can add tremendous color and style if the bride and/or bridesmaids are wearing shorter, less full dresses, or even off-the shoulder or sleeveless dresses. Bouquets are prominently displayed during the wedding procession/march as well as during the entire vow-taking moment of the ceremony. Your flower girls will also need a bouquet or a basket of flowers…so be sure to add these to your shopping list.

View bouquets online or visit a flower shop nearby to get bouquet ideas. They come in various sizes and styles, from small, round shapes to large, crescent-shaped bouquets with strands of foliage hanging over your hands. If browsing a flower shop in your area, be sure to hold the bouquet as you would during the wedding, and view yourself in a mirror if possible. This will give you a better idea of how the bouquets will look and feel during the wedding.

Don’t Forget the Reception

Choose the same or similar flowers for the reception decor. Wedding flowers can be used to decorate guest tables and even enhance the cake. Flowers also make beautiful centerpieces for the wedding table or gift table. Add a few pedestal flower arrangements near the entrance and around the reception hall to complete your decor.

Keep in mind that there are no set rules on choosing wedding flowers. An online florist website enables you to browse and get ideas without being in a rush. You can use your favorite flowers or colors, or base your wedding decor on a particular theme…such as a tropical wedding or a Christmas wedding. If you don’t have a favorite type of flower, choose seasonal flowers according to when your wedding will take place.

Look for an online florist that’s an FTD member, and ask about possible flower delivery to your wedding location. Flower shops can often deliver flowers the day of or the day before the wedding, according to your needs. Shop early to ensure your flowers will be delivered on time. Most florists offer a variety of other services, such as flower delivery for sympathy gifts for funerals, birthday flowers, anniversary flowers, etc. This means the florist will likely need plenty of notice to schedule your flower delivery.

Shop at an online florist that’s located in your city just in case you need to stop by to pick up a few items before the wedding. For instance, if you live in Cincinnati, look for a Cincinnati florist website. Having the florist close by will give you peace of mind in case extra flowers are needed, or one of the bouquets or boutonnieres is missing.

Use these ideas to find beautiful wedding flowers through an online florist while saving time and money!

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web.
Learn more about Wedding Florist.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Robertson

Congratulations! You are engaged!

You are now on your wonderful yet often frustrating journey from engagement to wedding.

It is a journey that will take you through many avenues and some forks in the road where you’ll have to stop, consider and choose a path.

The road we’ll take together is the one leading to the “fork in the road” to wedding flowers selection.

Like most brides and grooms, Bar-Bat Mitzvah parents, the parents of a quinceniera or sweet 16, event organizers for a work place or for a special occasion you are probably not a flowers mavens. Yet, all of a sudden you need to consider not only what flowers to use at your wedding, special celebration or event, but also what arrangements, for which designations and whether to use fresh or silk – satin flowers. This is quite a feat.

Hopefully this article will shed some light and help you decide how to proceed.

Today, you can select to proceed to the Fresh Flower road or you may opt for the Silk Flowers road.

Before you decide, however you must weigh the benefits and drawbacks you will encounter on either road traveled.

About Fresh Flowers

Traditionally, fresh flowers dominated the wedding and celebration receptions because the scent of fresh flowers fill the air with sweetness and empower the emotions.
However, fresh flowers are extremely expensive yet fade and wilt after just a few days.

Before you decide, you may wish to consider the following
# You may host guests who are allergic to fresh flowers. They may spend your wedding sneezing and with red, itchy eyes.

# You must order fresh flowers long before the wedding date. Yet, by their nature, you cannot see them until the florist brings them to your wedding site. Once done, with no time to spare, whether you like them or not, you are stuck with the bouquets, flower arrangements, and other floral accessories as created by the florist.

# Fresh flowers do not last long. They fade and wilt. If you want them to become keepsakes, you must have them preserved. Preserving them necessitates getting them to a reliable flower preserver and this is often a costly process.

# Fresh flowers are seasonal. So, if you are willing to go with flowers that are available at the season of your wedding you may pay less than if you opt for more exotic flowers that are out of season.

# Many flowers that grow in greenhouses or imported from other parts of the world can be available to you out of season. However, they are often very expensive.

Brides and grooms like to know the meanings of the flowers they choose. So we added the ones we know. Additionally the need to know which flowers are seasonal for their wedding date.

Following is a list of seasonal flowers and some of their meanings.

AUTUMN

Calla Lily: Magnificent beauty. Associated with the sixth wedding anniversary.

Chrysanthemum: Cheerfulness, optimism, rest, truth. Is the birth flower for November.

Chrysanthemum, red: I love

Chrysanthemum, white: Truth, loyal love

Dahlia: Instability. Associated with the fourteenth wedding anniversary

Daisy: Innocence, loyal love, associated with the fifth wedding anniversary.

Freesia

gladiolus: Strength of character, splendid beauty, is the birth flower for August.

Gypsophila

Hydrangea

Iris: Wisdom, faith, hope, valor, is associated with the twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.

Lily: Purity, modesty, Chinese emblem for mother, associated with the twentieth wedding anniversary.

Micklemas

Morning Glory

Orchid: Love, beauty, refinement, Chinese symbol for many children, long life is associated with twenty-eighth wedding anniversary

Rose, cabbage: Ambassador of love

Rose, red: Love

Rose, pink Grace, beauty

Rose, yellow: Friendship

WINTER

Calla Lily: Magnificent beauty. Associated with the sixth wedding anniversary.

Carnation: Fascination, distinction, divine love, is the birth flower for January.

Carnation, pink: A woman’s love, I’ll never forget you, mother’s love

carnation, red: my heart aches for you, fascination

Carnation, white: Innocence, faithfulness, sweet and lovely, pure love, ardent love, good luck. And motherhood

Chrysanthemum: Cheerfulness, optimism, rest, truth. Is the birth flower for November.

Chrysanthemum, red: I love

Chrysanthemum, white: Truth, loyal love

Forsythia

Freesia

Gentian

Gypsophila

Holly Berries:

Iris: Wisdom, faith, hope, valor, is associated with the twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.

Lily: Purity, modesty, Chinese emblem for mother, associated with the twentieth wedding anniversary.

Orchid: Love, beauty, refinement, Chinese symbol for many children, long life is associated with twenty-eighth wedding anniversary

Peony: happy life, happy marriage, good health, prosperity. Associated with the twelfth
Rose, cabbage: Ambassador of love

Rose, red: Love

Rose, pink:Grace, beauty

Rose, yellow : Friendship

wedding anniversary: Cheerfulness, optimism, rest, truth. Is the birth flower for November

Snowdrop

Stephanotis:

Winter Jasmine

SPRING

Amaryllis: Pride

Apple Bossums: Good fortune

Azalea

Bluebell: Constancy

Broom: Humility
Calla Lily: Magnificent beauty. Associated with the sixth wedding anniversary.
Camellia
Carnation: Fascination, distinction, divine love, is the birth flower for January.

Carnation, pink: A woman’s love, I’ll never forget you, mother’s love

carnation, red: my heart aches for you, fascination

Carnation, white: Innocence, faithfulness, sweet and lovely, pure love, ardent love, good luck. And motherhood
Cherry Blossom

Chrysanthemum: Cheerfulness, optimism, rest, truth. Is the birth flower for November.

Chrysanthemum, red: I love

Chrysanthemum, white: Truth, loyal love

Clematis

Cocus: Cheerfulness

Dffodil: new beginnings, yet, associated with the tenth wedding anniversary is the birth flower for March.

Dffodil, bunch: Joy, happiness.

Daisy: Innocence, loyal love, associated with the fifth wedding anniversary.

Forsythia

Freesia

Heather: wishes will come true.

Honeysuckle: Bonds of love

Iris: Wisdom, faith, hope, valor, is associated with the twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.
Jasmine: Grace

Lilac

Lily: Purity, modesty, Chinese emblem for mother, associated with the twentieth wedding anniversary.

Mimosa

Orchid: Love, beauty, refinement, Chinese symbol for many children, long life is associated with twenty-eighth wedding anniversary

Polyanthus

Primrose: I can’t live without you

Rhododendron

Rose, cabbage: Ambassador of love

Rose, red: Love

Rose, pink Grace, beauty

Rose, yellow: Friendship

Stephanotis

Tulip, red : My perfect lover, Reclamation of love

Waxflower

SUMMER

Aster: Variety, elegance, daintiness.

Azalea

Calla Lily: Magnificent beauty. Associated with the sixth wedding anniversary.

Carnation: Fascination, distinction, divine love, is the birth flower for January.

Carnation, pink: A woman’s love, I’ll never forget you, mother’s love

carnation, red: my heart aches for you, fascination

Carnation, white: Innocence, faithfulness, sweet and lovely, pure love, ardent love, good luck. And motherhood

Chrysanthemum: Cheerfulness, optimism, rest, truth. Is the birth flower for November.

Chrysanthemum, red: I love

Chrysanthemum, white: Truth, loyal love

Cornflower: Delicate

Daisy: Innocence, loyal love, associated with the fifth wedding anniversary.

Delphinium

Freesia

Fuschia

Gardenia : Ecstasy

Gladiolus: Strength of character, splendid beauty, is the birth flower for August.

Heather : Admiration, wishes will come true.

hollyhock: Ambition, fruitfulness, is associated with the thirteenth wedding anniversary.

Iris: Wisdom, faith, hope, valor, is associated with the twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.
Jasmine: Grace

Larkspur

Lilac

Lily: Purity, modesty, Chinese emblem for mother, associated with the twentieth wedding anniversary.

Lupin

Marigold

Orchid: Love, beauty, refinement, Chinese symbol for many children, long life is associated with twenty-eighth wedding anniversary

Peony: happy life, happy marriage, good health, prosperity. Associated with the twelfth wedding anniversary: Cheerfulness, optimism, rest, truth. Is the birth flower for November

Rhododendron

Rose, cabbage: Ambassador of love

Rose, red: Love

Rose, pink Grace, beauty

Rose, yellow: Friendship

Stock

Sweatpea

Sweet William

ABOUT SILK FLOWERS – SATIN FLOWERS

Today Silk and satin flowers are becoming more and more popular. With craftsmanship and high quality materials such as silk and satin, and the many applications creative brides and grooms find for them, many couples prefer the artificial flowers for their weddings. Let’s find out why.
# If you order your silk flowers from a professional, they will most probably look realistic. Some look so realistic in fact that unless you touch them you can not tell the difference. However, even if you spray them to emit the scent of the flower, the scent will evaporate after a while.
# When you choose silk flowers, you are not depended on the season and can get the flowers you want, in the colors you want, no matter how exotic and pay much less than fresh flowers.
# Silk or satin flowers will not fade, and will not wilt. Therefore, they become a lifetime keepsake without the trouble and expense of having them preserved. Your bouquet will always look the same as it did the day you walked down the aisle. If they get dusty, you can clean the dust off to restore their color and beauty.
# Silk flowers are not allergenic and will cause no one to go through your wedding sneezing and with red, itchy eyes.
# You can have peace of mind and be worry free when you order silk flowers because you can not only order them long before the wedding You are not stuck with the bouquets, flower arrangements, and other floral accessories as created by the designer. You can examine them and you can have corrections and changes made in plenty of time and go to your wedding knowing that your flowers are just as you want them.

Some brides feel that silk flowers are “not the real” thing and even when they look too real to be distinguished, when you touch them they just don’t “feel” like real flowers. Other brides prefer silk flowers. The choice is yours. With some information at hand, choose the road you wish to travel and whether it is Real Flowers or Silk Flowers, have a pleasant trip, beautiful wedding and a happy, blessed life together.

Nily Glaser, the CEO of A-wedding Day at: http://www.a-weddingday.com She writes important articles, and has presented workshops for wedding professionals all over the USA.
To read more of her articles CLICK HERE Her web site is very popular for its discount wedding gifts, bridal accessories, print your own invitations, favors and the very unique items offered including the exclusive line of wedding Accessories By Nily.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nily_Glaser

1. Choose Flowers in Season

This is a critical money-saver. It is also important to keep in mind that flowers look and smell best when they are fresh and in season. This is especially true for roses. But if you have your heart set on a particular flower that holds sentimental value for you, it would be wise to plan your ceremony around the time period it will be in seasonal bloom.
Although flowers in season will give you a beautifully scented bouquet, use caution with the flowers you choose to include in any centerpieces at your reception. The fragrances that come from flowers as gardenia, jasmine or freesia can be overwhelming and may not be the best choice for dining tables. Overpowering flowers might also stir up any allergies that your guests may have.

2. Do it yourself

When considering the daunting task of preparing and designing the wedding floral arrangements on your own, take the time to fully consider all of the responsibilities that will come with such a task. Questions that you might want to ask yourself are:

• Am I motivated enough?

• Will I have enough time to arrange bouquets/centerpieces before the ceremony?

• How much money will I save vs. how much work is involved?

Many women find that, in the interest of saving money, they end up learning a costly lesson. It is important to remember the many challenges involved with coordinating what may be the most important event of your life. You may be able to find a relative or member of the bridal party who would be willing to help you assemble your floral arrangements and bouquets. Think of the fun you would have spending your last days as a bachelorette with your best friends!

If you find yourself industrious enough to go it alone, there are many quick courses in floral design that are available through local community colleges and arts-and-crafts stores such as Michaels.

The internet is a fantastic resource to take advantage of, as well! Web sites such as save-on-crafts.com offer free instructional lessons that will tell you not only which flowers work best in a bouquet, but provide valuable steps designed to help you put your arrangements together successfully. You might also want to check for wedding ceremonies that will be held on the same day as yours. Chances are good that you could share the expense of the ceremony flowers with another couple looking to do the same!

Keep in mind, however, that even if opting for the “budget bridal bouquet”, remember that it is a very key aspect of the wedding and should be an expression of the bride’s personality. Try to keep a sense of balance between the wedding gown, the bridesmaid’s gowns, the ceremony flowers and decorations and the bouquet.

From that point, the other flowers, such as the bridesmaid’s flowers, the flowers at the reception can follow the theme and take on the elements of the bride’s bouquet. Current colors for 2006 are chocolate with pale pink, baby blue or mint green. Colors generally follow the trends of interior designing.

Consult with a florist. This could cost up to $100 in consultation fees, but their wealth of knowledge is sure to add a professional polish to the finished product. If you take into account the fact that florists can generally charge 3 times the price that a wholesaler would and charge additional labor costs for designing and assembling the flowers, you would still be saving money.

Buy your flowers from a wholesaler. Wholesalers sell their flowers much more cheaply than a florist does. If you decide to deal with a floral wholesaler, it is important to know that they use a grading system. When choosing your flowers, make sure that you choose Grade 1 flowers. You can locate many floral wholesalers online. OnlineWholesaleFlowers.com actually offers “Wedding in a Box” packages of varying sizes that come with all the flowers necessary to create the look that you want. Budget-Bride.com has a similar package, which even includes items such as the cake knife and ring pillow!

If you are getting married in the spring/summer time, visit the farmer’s market and talk with the flowers vendors. Find out if they grow the flowers that you are looking for and don’t be shy to ask if they have ever done weddings. Always be sure to ask them what they do with the flowers that they don’t sell. You might be able to grab large amounts of them for a steal!

Tip: Try using masses of one flower to showcase the flower’s individual beauty.

3. Use a school

Most high schools and colleges have horticulture classes that specialize in caring for and arranging flowers and plants. For a small fee, you could hire these aspiring florists who would be thrilled to work on your arrangements. The teachers of such a course will act as your safety net and, as an added bonus to you, will have extensive experience and oversee your project.

4. Have a Garden Wedding

Consider having the ceremony and/or the reception in a beautiful garden! Do you know someone that has a beautiful backyard and would be honored to host a wedding there? There will be no need for arrangements if you are already surrounded by lush greenery and blossoming flowers. Be prepared, though! Depending on the regional climate (or the time of year you hold your wedding), you may want to make use of either awnings, patios or sophisticated white open-air tents in case Mother Nature decides to become a wedding guest!

5. Cut down on attendants

By choosing fewer attendants, you will not have to provide as many bouquets and boutonnieres. Since small ceremonies are currently in vogue, it will be a natural progression to balance out the ceremony with a more intimate wedding party. Many couples favor a secluded setting with soft, glowing candles or lights to provide a devastatingly romantic theme. These more intimate, family oriented gatherings are also advantageous because they help the bride and groom to stay within their budget.

It is also very elegant to have your bridesmaid carry a single flower tied with a piece of satin ribbon. Choose a flower that matches one of those in the bride’s bouquet, or that signifies a special meaning to you.

6. Avoid having your wedding on or near a holiday

Flowers are generally in high demand around Valentines Day, Mother’s day, proms, graduations and other special holidays. Because of this, prices rise dramatically and certain flowers are often impossible to find. As if this isn’t enough bad news, florists tend to be extremely busy during holidays while they desperately try to keep up with their increased business. Will they be left with enough time to put the desired attention into your flowers?

You can take great advantage of this if planning your wedding around the Christmas holidays. It is a safe bet that most venues, either indoor or out, will be festively decorated before you arrive!

7. Use alternate centerpieces

It is not necessary to adorn every table with a high-priced floral centerpiece. Candles are beautiful and provide an amazing ambience! Try submerging an orchid (or flower of choice) in a glass container filled with water and float a candle on top. Also attractive is placing river rocks at the bottom of a glass container, adding water and floating a flower on top. Try using orchids, roses, peonies, camellias or gerberas.

A dramatic and stunning effect can be created with an inexpensive, rectangular mirror (much like the ones designed to hang on a bedroom door). Place the mirror reflective-side-up and let it run the length of the table, placing tealight candles at even intervals down the center. Sprinkle colored glitter or flower petals across the surface. The result is not only attractive, but sets the tone for your reception.

Tip: Search the internet and magazines for great ideas on alternative centerpieces.

8. Rent outdoor plants or small trees for an indoor garden effect

Decorate with greenery. Many nurseries will let you rent plants for your wedding and it is much cheaper than buying them. This will allow you to fill the room with greenery and make flowers more or less unnecessary. Use trees to fill up large spaces, and ivy garland to gracefully drape across the tops of doorways.

9. Let Your Flowers Do Double Duty

If your ceremony and reception are in two separate places (or even two separate rooms), let the floral arrangements that decorate the ceremony do double duty by using them to also decorate the reception! Find out if your florist is able to transport and setup the flowers at your reception after the ceremony is finished. There is usually sufficient time between the two, and you can save an incredible amount of time and money by “recycling” your beautiful, fresh flowers!

10. Forget the corsages

Corsages are not as trendy with modern weddings as they once were. 21st century Moms are trendy and don’t always want a flower pinned on them. Ask first.

You have waited your entire life to reach this day, and it should be as beautiful as you always imagined it would be. A ceremony without the soft, delicate beauty and fragrance of flowers would be like having a cake without icing. Although paying the traditional retail price for wedding flowers can cost you a bundle in materials and fees, utilizing these great cost saving tips will keep the floral arrangements from becoming one of the most expensive items on your budget checklist.

Jacquie Cattanach is a new bride and founder of Buy-N-Send-Flowers-Online.com which offers advise, opinions and helpful hints on buying and sending flowers from tropical flowers to funeral flowers worldwide through online florists.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jacquie_Cattanach

When you are thinking of silk flowers on your wedding day, do not think of the ratty flowers at the dollar stores with the misshapen petals or the thread coming undone. Think about high quality silk flowers that truly mimic the look of fresh flowers. These silk flowers have been put together with the care and the study of the real flower to make them look as realistic as possible. Silk wedding flowers give you the beauty of flowers on your wedding day without the fuss.

Where to Find Quality Silk Flowers

The DIYers already know that one of the best places to find beautiful silk flowers is at your local craft or hobby story. Because there are those who dabble in flower arranging, these stores offer a variety of flowers. Some stores even offer classes on arranging flowers or have someone who can make custom arrangements for you. Also, if you are like me, you want to feel and touch the flowers to actually see the quality of what you are getting. You can study them to see how well they can go with your look.

Your local florist is another place where you can get beautiful silk wedding flowers. Many people may want arrangements done for a number of events or their personal space where they don’t want the flowers to die in a few days. Because the florist has the best connections and the expertise on flower arrangements, they are a great resource in finding fabulous silk flowers for your wedding day.

Last but not least is the internet. The internet has many sites that not only offer silks, but packages with them arranged as well. You can get the flowers you want arranged at quite a reasonable price. Silk wedding flowers can even be found on eBay. However, always make sure you find a reputable company that has a reputation of providing quality service. Many sites do show pictures of their arrangements and offer testimonials. If this does not assure you, buy a test bouquet to see if the quality is what you are looking for.

The Advantages of Silk Wedding Flowers

1. They can be done in advance. Although real flowers are very beautiful and breathtaking, they must be done right before the wedding in order to not wilt. If you are a bride on a budget and taking this task on yourself, you may find yourself overwhelmed and stressed during a time that should be fun and relaxing. With silk arrangements, you can arrange them ahead of time which can reduce the stress of the last few days leading up to your wedding. On the day of your wedding, they will still be even more beautiful than the day you bought them.

2. Submerged, they look real. One of the big trends in weddings now is the submerged flower. What is so good about this trend is that you can submerge a silk flower in water and no one will be able to tell if it is real or not. If the flower is submerged in water, all people will see is a beautiful arrangement. No one will actually put their hand in the water to see if the flower is real. Also, being that you need less flowers when doing submerged or floating centerpieces, this saves on money.

3. Allergies are not aggravated. You, your hubby to be, or any of your guests may have certain allergies when it comes to flowers. To avoid the inevitable sneezing, runny noses, or red eyes, silk wedding flowers are a great way to have that floral beauty and happy guests. This is also a plus if you are having an outdoor wedding and are afraid of attracting insects.

4. Life-lasting keepsake. The fabulous thing about using silk flowers for your wedding is that you can have a keepsake. You can bring a centerpiece home as well as your bouquet and save on floral preservation costs. They can become a decoration for your home and a reminder of the start of your married life.

5. Great as favors. Many of your guests may fall in love with the wedding centerpieces that you have on the tables. A great favor would be to send the centerpieces home with those flower-loving guests. Your guests get great arrangements to beautify their space as well as a reminder of your wedding day.

6. Sturdy flowers. Because real flowers are more delicate, cold or heat can cause them to wilt quickly. If you are having an outdoor ceremony, the flowers may not be able to stand the heat. What if you forget to put them in water to keep them looking fresh? Well, with silks, this is not a problem. They don’t need water and can stand any weather conditions.

7. Less expensive. Now this is always argued because quality silk flowers can cost as much as live ones. This is true; however, if you need a particular flower in December that can only be found in France, the cost can rise. You can use silk flowers instead and have incredible savings. Also, when submerging flowers, because you generally use less, you can use silks instead of the real ones which can run cheaper. You can also save money with silks by checking out sales on the internet and in stores.

How to Spice Up Your Silk Wedding Flowers

If you are using silk flowers for your wedding day, there are many ways that you can spice them up to make them even more unique which gives a personal touch to your day.

Scent. We love the smell of real flowers, so how can we replicate a fragrant smell with silks. Spraying the perfume of your choice on the flowers is a great way. This way, the flowers have a wonderful smell that can add spice to your reception. Although, you want to make sure the smell is something that will not aggravate guests. I would suggest a real clean, light scent.

Jewels. Instead of having a plain bouquet of flowers, add jewels to liven it up. You can get crystals glued to the petals of the flowers. This adds more pizzazz and personality to an already beautiful arrangement. Plus, you don’t have to worry about damaging the flowers because they are sturdy enough to be handled.

Feathers. Feathers can add flavor to any floral arrangement. Adding feathers to a silk bridal bouquet gives an extra flair that makes it stand out. Beautiful peacock feathers in a silk centerpiece arrangement helps add a certain level of exquisiteness.

How to Care for Silks

Although one of the advantages of silk flowers is that they need little tending and care, here are a few tips to make sure your silk flowers for your wedding day are in perfect condition.

• To clean silk flowers you can wash them or clean them by hand, but this is not the most recommended way because it can become a bit messy and time consuming.

• A great way to keep silks looking their best is to use an ozone safe aerosol spray. This can keep them looking clean and fresh.

• If any of the greenery is wrinkled, you can steam iron the leaves. Just make sure the temperature is on the lowest steam setting. Test a corner before steaming out the wrinkles.

• Many stores that carry silk flowers also carry silk flower cleaners that can keep silk flowers looking great.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cassandra_Mallett

The advantages of Silk Wedding Flowers

Hay Fever.. If you or any of your guests have an allergy to pollen or hay fever – silk wedding flowers will be ideal.

Transport Perfectly.. If you are getting married abroad then Silk Wedding flowers are easily transported. They will arrive in perfect condition without any fuss.

No Seasons.. You can choose your favourite flower varieties what ever the season – Silk wedding Flowers varieties are always in season!

Long Lasting.. When fresh wedding flowers have faded away your silk wedding flowers can be a long lasting memory of your wedding.

Robust.. Silk Wedding flowers don’t wilt or break easily and the pollen won’t stain your clothes.

Light Weight.. Compared to fresh flowers silk wedding flowers are lighter to carry.

Preparation.. Your Silk Wedding flowers can be made up weeks or even months before your wedding allowing you to make any adjustments that you like.

Re-Useable.. After the wedding your Silk wedding flowers can be re-used in decorations for your home.

The dis-advantages of Silk Wedding Flowers

Perfect Reproductions?.. There is a perception that silk wedding flowers will look fake and tacky – whilst there have been vast improvements in the appearance of Silk flowers – some flowers such as Calla Lilies are difficult to fake. Having said that there are some flowers varieties that are incredibly realistic and quite beautiful but you will need to shop around for them – good quality Silk wedding flowers aren’t the cheap option and can be expensive.

Fragrance.. Silk flowers don’t smell as beautifully as fresh flowers.

Choice.. The vast choice of colour, variety, shape and scent of real flowers cannot be faked – real flowers can create a completely unique mood for your day.

Selections.. If you are choosing Silk Wedding flowers also consider mixing and matching fresh and silk – maybe a fresh flower bouquet with Silk table arrangements.

If you are still in doubt as to whether to choose Silk flowers for your wedding – chat through ideas with your florist and visit them to see the quality of the Silk wedding flowers for yourself.

About the Author Cath Jones is a freelance writer, web designer and owner of the My Wedding Flower Ideas and My Wedding Cake Ideas Online Magazine Websites. My Wedding Ideas magazines are specially for brides looking for unique ideas, inspiration and pictures for their special day, see Wedding Pictures and ideas. Get advice on your wedding from planning to the latest hot trends in wedding bouquets and flower designs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cath_Jones