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    Wedding Flowers & Bouquets

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    Reminiscent of sunshine, yellow is often considered the happiest colour. It is bright, bold and vibrant yet soft at the same time.

    PANTONE 13-0647 Illuminating, a warm yellow shade, is one of the Pantone colours of the year, which means this hue is about to be all over the runways and the wedding world.

    While many flowers come in yellow, our favourites are tulips, dahlias and, of course, sunflowers. The best way to pull off this trend is to opt for a variety of yellow shades and throw in some white flowers to break up the colour.

    Here are some bouquets to inspire you:

     

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    Carrying a bridal bouquet has been a time-honoured tradition for centuries. In Ancient Rome, brides would carry flowers as they were believed to signify new beginnings, fidelity and hope of fertility.

    During the Victorian Era, the act of giving and receiving flowers came to be known as an expression of love. As they were then linked to love and romance, they increasingly became incorportated into weddings.

    Flowers all carry their own special meaning, although many modern brides simply opt for the ones they find the most visually pleasing. While classic white lilies or romantic red roses are always in style, we have been loving explosions of colour. Vibrant shades of pinks, yellows and blues offer so much life and personality to your bridal bouquet.

    You have two options when opting for this colourful creation. Pick complementary shades of pinks, reds and oranges and calm them down with white flowers, or go big with all the primary coloured-flowers you can find.

    Here are some floral bouquets to inspire your own:

     

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    A post shared by Bella Fiore (@bellafiore_styling)

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    A wedding bouquet should reflect your personality and fit the theme, but not steal your thunder. We love the elegance of white flowers, and the simplicity it brings.

    Here are some ides if you’re thinking to go with an all-white bouquet. If white on its own is too plain for you, add some subtle pastel colours to the mix. Also feel free to experiment with accessories to add a special touch to the flowers like dried botanical pieces, wispy feathers, and jewels.

    Take a look at these riveting bouquets.

     

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    Planning your wedding day is a mammoth task, and all the little things can add up to eventually leave you feeling stressed and overwhelmed.

    Luckily, choosing the bouquet does not have to be. We say keep it simple. Yes, it’s important and yes, you need to put some thought into it. However, you can save yourself a lot of time and tears by avoiding these fatal errors.

    1. Choosing flowers from a region far away

    Credit: Pinterest

    Don’t make things harder than they need to be. Ordering flowers from Cape Town when you’re getting married in Joburg will just turn into yet another headache. Sourcing local flowers from your region will ensure your flowers are fresher, cheaper and more environmentally friendly as you cut out the transport costs.  Talk to your florist about what’s in season in your area.

    2. Choosing flowers that other people like 

    Remember, just as with everything else on your big day, it’s still your day. Everyone who is helping you plan, be it your mother, best friend or mother-in-law, will have their own opinions. It might be well-meant, but ultimately, the flowers need to make you happy. Plants are a gift of nature that add beauty and inspire joy, and this is your chance to choose what makes you happy.

    3. Having unrealistic expectations 

    When looking for inspiration online, you’ll get a tsunami of perfect bouquets, not a petal out of place. Most of them are styled to make you want to buy from a certain vendor. We suggest rather being open to embracing nature, which by its very essence is unique, like humans. No two lilies will look exactly the same, and some roses might bloom later than others. While choosing the plants you adore, allow for the fact that having it natural is more beautiful.

    Images: Unsplash

    The British Royal family are sticklers for tradition. The many Royal brides who have walked down the aisle over the decades are all connected in a number of ways. From the wedding rings made from the same nugget of welsh gold to brides incorporating orange blossom into their dress design, these royal brides are bonded together forever.

    Another thing British Royal brides have in common are their wedding bouquets. While they look different, each royal bride since 1858 has had a spring of myrtle in her bouquet. What’s even more interesting is that the sprigs all come from Queen Victoria‘s 170-year-old garden.

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    Myrtle is said to represent love, fertility and innocence. The flower has been growing at Osborne House, Queen Victoria’s holiday home in the Isle of Wight, for about 170 years and its descendants still bloom today. The plant was gifted to Queen Victoria in 1845 by Prince Albert’s grandmother. Queen Victoria planted the myrtle at her home, and her daughter carried a spring from that myrtle bush when she married in 1858.

    Since then, myrtle has appeared in the bouquets of iconic royal brides like Queen Elizabeth, Kate Middleton and Megan Markle.

    In 1923, Queen Elizabeth built on this tradition when she placed her bouquet in the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey in a gesture of remembrance for her late brother, who died at the Battle of Loos in 1915. She also did this to honour the millions of others killed and injured in World War I. She then continued to walk down the aisle sans bouquet.

    Since this day, many other royal brides have followed in her footsteps. The only difference is that they lay their bouquets down after the ceremony, not before. Most recently, Duchess of Sussex Meghan laid her flowers on the tomb as she left the church.

    Feature image: Instagram / The Royal Family

     

     

    Tradition says that brides carry bouquets on their wedding day to ward of vengeful spirits trying to thwart the newlywed’s happiness.

    Today, however, brides aren’t as superstitious when it comes to their bouquets, and often choose any flowers they like. Flowers have their own unique language, and convey unsaid meanings. When picking your bridal bouquet, you might want to keep these blooms out of it.

    Carnation
    Be careful when picking the colour of this flower. A white one says ‘you’re sweet and lovely’ and pink says ‘I’ll never forget you’, while two-tones carnations mean ‘I cannot be with you’. Steer clear of yellow ones entirely, as they signify disdain. Not the stuff of romance…
    Snapdragons
    Much like its name, this flower has a dark meaning. Snapdragons have three different meanings: strength, deviousness, and grace. In ancient times, people would send this flower to mistresses, and also to beg for forgiveness from a lover. With its deceptive connotation, you might want to avoid this bloom on your big day.
    Tansy
    Unless you’re trying to incite violence, you might want to stay away from this bloom. Tansies have historically symbolised formal declarations of war, and can even tell the recipient that they make the sender sick to their stomach. As such, this flower is associated with feelings of hatred and resistance.
    Buttercups

    Buttercup is a popular nickname among couples, but this flower has a meaning not that appropriate for loved ones. Buttercups are said to symbolise childishness because it is so closely associated with children, and thus gifting this flower insinuates you think the recipient is too.

    Cyclamen

    This flower is typically gifted to someone going through a process of separation or change where something in their life has ended. It is poisonous, and commonly seen at funerals. It connotes that all good things come to an end. A nice meaning, but not fitting for your big day.

     

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    The cutest little 2” cyclamen! Softest pink blush, red and a couple bicolored. • • • #petalswest #cyclamen

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    Orange Lilies

    Lillies are much-loved by many but you might want to avoid the orange variation. This flower shade is said to symbolise hatred, pride and disdain.

     

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    Happy Sunday Funday! (Beautiful flowers thanks to @emjviola!)

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    What’s a wedding without flowers? From the bridal bouquet to centrepiece arrangements, flowers have become an integral part of the big occasion.

    While roses are popular for obvious reasons, there are so many stunning flowers with meanings just as romantic. If you’re planning your bouquet, consider one of these flowers.

    Salvia

    This adorable flower has different meanings depending on its colour. A blue salvia says ‘thinking of you’ while a red one means ‘forever mine’. We think the red varietal is pretty fitting for a wedding day.

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    Edelweiss
    The Sound of Music fans might be even more inclined to incorporate this flower in their bouquet, considering its sweet meaning. The flower stands for courage and devotion, both of which are necessary for a healthy marriage.

    Gardenia

    Gardenias represent purity, joy and love, much like a wedding day. In Victorian times, people used flowers to convey messages to one another. They used gardenias to express their love and devotion without revealing their identity. Thus, gardenias came to represent a secret or untold love.

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    Myrtle
    Myrtle is a popular addition in royal bouquets. In fact, every British royal bride since 1940 has carried myrtle in her bouquet. This bloom is meant provide good luck and encourage love and fertility in a marriage.
    Honeysuckle
    Much like its sweet scent, this flower has a beautiful meaning. The bloom stands for devotion and strong bonds of love. It is meant to symbolise being united in love because of the flowers clinging nature.

    Tulips 

    Yellow tulips represent cheerful thoughts, white convey forgiveness and purple represent royalty. However, red tulips symbolise perfect love. According to Turkish legend, Prince Farhad fell in love with a maiden named Shirin. After she was killed, he was overcome with grief and killed himself by riding his horse over the edge of a cliff. Scarlet tulips are said to have sprung up from each droplet of his blood, giving the flower its meaning of ‘perfect love’.

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    Camellia

    Much loved by the Victorians, this flower is meant to say “my destiny is in your hands”. The white varietal is given to someone you like, while pink camellias represent longing for someone, and are often given to someone who is greatly missed. Red camellias symbolise love, passion and deep desire.

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    Lavender

    Besides their amazing scent, this beautiful bloom stunning  meaning. Lavender is typically a sign of devotion, and also has calming properties. It might come in handy to ease those nerves on your big day.

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    Daffodil

    Daffodils are perfect for celebrations of any kind. This cheery flower typically symbolises new beginnings, and we’d say a wedding is the start of a pretty big new way of life.

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    Lilac
    The meaning of this flower shifts depending on colour, so be careful! White lilacs symbolise purity and innocence, while violet lilacs symbolise spirituality. Blue stands for happiness and tranquility, magenta for love and passion, and a purple lilac symbolises a first love.

    Feature image: Unsplash

    As the months drag on, we dream of the day weddings will be allowed again. Until then, what better opportunity than to plan?

    Bouquets are a matter of personal choice, budget and seasonal availability. We say less is more. Take a look at these elegant minimalist bouquets. Simple, yet stunning.

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    Image: Pixabay

    Choosing your bridal bouquet may seem like one of the simplest things to do for your wedding but it may not be. Flower types, matching with your dress, and arrangements are all things you have to consider.

    Another thing you should keep in mind is the shape you’d prefer. If you’re not sure what shapes are available, then this may be of some help to you.

    Here are some shape options for your bridal bouquet:

    – Composite Bouquet 

    Constructed using hundreds of single petals all wired together, this bouquet is made to look like one extra large flower. This can end up being quite and expensive option, but it adds a unique touch of elegance that you don’t often see.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B8MKrlpDJQM/

    – Cascade bouquet

    Also known as a shower bouquet, this one is quite traditional and very stylish. The flowers are arranged in such a way that they seem as though they’re flowing over the bride’s hands. Often, these bouquets are quite large, and so may be a little inconvenient to lug around on your wedding day. They are, however, great for photos.

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    – Fan bouquet 

    Adding a vintage-feel, this bouquet is simply a plastic fan intertwined with flowers and leaves. This one will stand out from the rest, as it is a very uncommon choice.

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    – Basket Bouquet

    If you’re having a garden wedding, this one is perfect for you. Flowers are arranged in a basket of whatever shape you prefer. Not only does it add a touch of rustic-vibes, it also generally ensures that your bridal flowers don’t wild and thus last longer.

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    – Presentation Bouquet 

    This one is perfect for the glamorous bride. Otherwise known as the sheath bouquet, this one is striking because of the long stemmed flowers used to create it. A bride carries a presentation bouquet in a specific way – cradled in her arms like a beauty queen who just received her prize.

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    – Pomander bouquet 

    While this one is quite uncommon for brides, it could add a touch of originality to your outfit. The pomander is a ball of flowers carried by a loop of ribbon.

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    – Biedermeier Bouquet 

    Named after a European style of interior design, the biedermeier bouquet is all about symmetry and drama. Flowers are organised in tight, concentric circles of contrasting coloured blooms.

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    – Nosegay Bouquet 

    One of the more structured shapes of bouquets, this one is smaller and easy to carry. Flowers are cut to the same length, tightly packed together, and wrapped in ribbon or lace.

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    – Hand-tied bouquets 

    Also known as a posy, this bouquet is exactly as it’s name suggests – a bunch of flowers, grouped together in an unstructured manner, and tied.

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    Image: Unsplash 

    While it seems like a minor detail, the bridal bouquet is no small task. Flowers seem more simple than they truly are, and picking the perfect set of blooms becomes complicated.

    You have to ensure that it matches and suits your wedding gown, it should fit the atomosphere in general, and all of this needs to be done on a budget. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, worry not. You’re not alone!

    Here are some tips to help you pick your bridal bouquet:

    – Dress first

    Since your flowers need to match your dress, having a picture of the dress before you begin your flower shopping will ensure the best possible results. The dress will affect what size, shape and type of bouquet a florist will suggest. Picking your dress first makes this a much easier task. Additionally, you wouldn’t want to be stuck choosing your dress based on the flowers you chose!

    – Think about size and shape 

    If your dress is small, a big bouquet with large blossoms will drown out your dress and may even make it look disproportionate. Ensure that you’re opting for the correct size and shape! If you aren’t certain about what the right dimensions are, don’t be afraid to ask your florist, they are happy to assist.

    – Research 

    Add some images to your Pinterest board, find out the names of the flowers you like the most, and read up on which flowers are in season. If you approach a florist with all of this information, they’ll have a much better idea of what you want and what options are on the table.  They can make suggestions based on the information you have provided.

    – Consider your wedding itself 

    You want to ensure that the bouquet fits the occasion. It may look a bit confusing if your wedding is very formal and black-tie, but you’ve opted for a more boho-style bouquet.

    – Budget

    Before you go anywhere or talk to any florists, set your budget. A budget helps you narrow down the list of options, and also ensures you don’t get attached to something you actually can’t have.

    – Comfort

    This one is important and many often forget to take it into consideration. You’ll be carrying the bouquet all day long. Don’t choose flowers that may be awkward to carry.

    Image: Unsplash