Wedding Invitation News, Etiquette & Planning Blog » flowers

Hot Trend: Balsa Wood Flowers

Katie — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:37:54 +0000

Looking for a way to make your bouquet unique, eco-friendly and easy to preserve? Balsa wood flowers might be the perfect solution. These delicate bouquets are handmade using ecologically sustainable timber that never wilts, dies or fades. They look absolutely stunning, and can be kept as a keepsake for years to come!

If you’re interested in balsa wood flowers for your ceremony, contact local florists to find out if there are any specialists in your area. You can also check with artists like Krislyn to order online!

Rant or Rave: Silk Wedding Flowers

Katie — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:38:42 +0000

It’s almost impossible to host a wedding without feeling a strain on your budget, and it’s particularly hard to order fresh wedding flowers without feeling the pinch. For example, a lovely bouquet of roses, orchids and gardenias runs upwards of $120!

As a result, some brides choose to order silk flowers instead of changing their flower choice or downgrading the size of their bouquet. Not only will they often save money with this option, they can also keep the bouquet long after the ceremony is over. Many silk or velvet bouquets even look quite realistic.

But, then again, they aren’t fresh flowers and they certainly aren’t traditional. What do you think? Do silk wedding flowers make you want to rant or rave?

Sunflower-Themed Weddings

Katie — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:41:54 +0000

Now that fall has arrived in full force, I love browsing through the images of sweet fall weddings that are filtering out onto the web. One of the prettiest (and most surprising) things I’ve found so far this year is the abundance of sunflowers at fall weddings. I had thought that sunflowers became passe around the time Blossom went off the air, but lo and behold, they are back and looking better than ever.

These weddings are shining examples of how even a big, bold accent like the sunflower can become soft and romantic with a little imagination.

Stylish and Modern Corsages and Boutonnieres

Lea — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 22:33:53 +0000

When I got married I thought I could skip on corsages and boutonnieres for “VIP” guests because they felt bulky and outdated. However, I quickly learned that many people took offense to that idea as they are honored by what a special token like that signifies. So, if you’re planning to get boutonnieres for some of your guests, don’t fret! There are many updated and stylish alternatives available.

Check out some of these ideas below:

Recessionista Bride: Submerged Centerpieces

Lea — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:35:25 +0000

If you’re looking for an elegant, but more affordable, centerpiece for your big day, then we suggest that you consider submerged centerpieces. Submerged centerpieces showcase your flowers in beautiful glassware where the flower is pushed into the vase and is submerged underwater. They can be used with any flowers, and often cost less because you are using less stems than you would in a traditional centerpieces.

DIY Divas: Elegant Wedding Bouquet

Lea — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 23:34:32 +0000

I personally think that doing your wedding flowers on your own can potentially be disastrous as the art of flower arranging is a skill that not all people have. However, if you are looking to cut costs on your flowers, then I would suggest paying for a florist to do your centerpieces and attempting to do your bouquets on your own (after a couple trials before the big day).

Here’s a great example of a DIY bouquet:

Ez from Creature Comforts created this bouquet by wrapping a simple set of daffodils purchased from Trader Joe’s together with a rubber band and covering that rubber band with a ribbon. To add a extra special touch, she added an decorative earring.

I love how simple this seems and how elegant it looks!

Hanging Out

Katie — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:30:57 +0000

Hanging wedding decor adds a touch of sweet romance to any ceremony. From classic chandeliers to hanging flowers, paper or even candy can transform your venue into your own little world where charm, style and true love reign supreme.

Here’s a little inspiration from Green Wedding Shoes, It’s a Jaime Thin g, Odds & Ends and Oh My Deer (as seen on Once Wed!). Which style will you choose?

Flower Petals

Paper Cranes

Rock Candy

Floating Votives

Real Wedding: Grace and Onwing

Katie — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:00:11 +0000

One of our stylish staffers recently attended this stunning wedding between Grace and Onwing at the Four Seasons Resort in Wailea, Maui on April 17, 2009. The intimate celebration included 40 guests who traveled to Hawaii for the event. Photographers Bill Stockwell and Scott Drexler of Photos on Maui took these beautiful photos.

We love the bursts of vibrant red and the luxurious elegance found in every detail! They even used our wedding menus to complete their sophisticated look.

DIY Divas: Ribbon Pomanders

Tara — Fri, 01 May 2009 19:01:04 +0000

The girls over at the very chic Vintage Glam Weddings Blog recently sponsored a contest for the best DIY idea. The prize? A Wedding Paper Divas gift certificate, of course! We loved the winning idea so much we had to feature it here on Diva Dialogue as well. Props to Katie O., the creator of this idea and the winner of the contest!

Ribbon Pomanders:

What you’ll need:

* 8 rolls of assorted ribbon (between 12-15 feet)
* One bouquet of fake smaller flowers with removable heads (preferably)
* 6 in. diameter Styrofoam ball
* Pins
* Toothpicks
* Floral tape (optional)

Instructions:

Step 1: Cut all ribbon into about 4 inch strips (you will have MANY strips—not sure on a count)
Step 2: Form each strip of ribbon into the shape of a circle—overlapping the ends.
Step 3: Put the pin through the two overlapping ends (see picture)
Step 4: Stick these pins throughout the Styrofoam ball. For a tighter look (like my finished project) stick the ribbon closer together.
Step 5: Once the ball is as “full” as you like, remove the heads on the flowers.
Step 6: Put each flower on a toothpick. I used floral tape to secure the flower head on the toothpick
Step 7: Stick the toothpicks throughout the ribbon ball

So many uses for these beautiful pomanders–your flower girl can carry one hanging from a ribbon down the aisle, pew decor, centerpieces…the options are endless!

What’s your style? – Belle Fleur

Lea — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 21:23:19 +0000

In our last post in the What’s Your Style? series, we look at the belle fleur. The garden bride embraces the beauty of nature in a charming and refined way. Her wedding invitations reflect the magnificence of the natural world, incorporating emerald green leaves and bright blooms with fresh, modern design.

Marriage Garden Wedding Invitation

From L to R: Orchid Green Wedding Cake; Green Wedding Bouquet; Garden Place Holders; Green Wedding Reception; Apple Martinis

To past posts in this series, view:

To download a complete version of our 2009 style guide, click here.