Before you give us a call, you’ll want to gather some information, and then the corsage or boutonniere designs itself!

Wrist or Pin-on Corsage?

Most people prefer wrist corsages, but you’ll sometimes find your grandmother prefers a pin-on corsage because that is what she is used to. Wrist corsages are nice because they go with any kind of dress or material. If the dress is strapless or has spaghetti straps, a wrist corsage is perfect because you don’t have to worry about where to pin the corsage. If the dress is made out of a fabric that isn’t sturdy enough to support the weight of a pin-on corsage, then a wrist corsage is perfect.

We have several different wristlet options to accommodate different sized wrists. Just let us know if your wrist is particular petite. You can even come in to try on the wristlets.

Color Palate

Are you trying to match a dress or a suit? Is this for a wedding so you want to coordinate with the wedding flowers? Are there school colors you want to include? For the most part, each element of the corsage or boutonniere can be the color of your choosing from the flowers, to the smaller supporting flowers, to the greenery, and finally the ribbon.

What kind of flower?

Roses are the most popular. For a corsage, we use several spray roses instead of the larger full-size rose in order to accommodate a woman’s smaller wrist size. Roses come in a variety of colors including the standard white, red, and light pink. But they also come in yellow, peach, lavender, burgundy, and orange. If you’re interested in one of the specialty colors, just call us about a week in advance so we are able to order the flowers for you.

If you want something a little more unusual, there are many other flowers that make beautiful corsages and boutonnieres. Orchids lend an exotic look and come in unusual colors such as the larger cymbidium orchid…

…or the smaller dendrobium orchid. Ranunculus offers a delicate look with gradations of color that are unpredictable and whimsical.

Calla lilies bring a classic sophisticated look and come in white, yellow, mango, pink/light purple, and a dark eggplant purple.

Additions

A traditional corsage and boutonniere is comprised of roses, baby’s breath, bakers fern, and a ribbon. We love requests for original designs. Some fun small flower additions are wax flower, solidago, astilbe, and statice.

Greenery comes in lots of different tones and textures including eucalyptus, myrtle, ruscus, variegated pittosporum, or even hypericum berries.

Ribbon

Most people include ribbon, but you don’t have to. Ribbon has so many characteristics including width, sheer or solid, matte or sparkly, or you can even choose two different ribbons.

You can certainly place your order over the phone. But if you’d like something more unique, you might consider visiting the shop. We have a huge selection of ribbon if you want to match fabric or just see the different colors and textures that are available. You’d be surprised at how many shades of blue there are! We can also pull various elements together like flowers, greenery, and ribbon so you get a feel for what the finished product will look like.

Whatever your needs are for corsages and boutonnieres, we’re here to help!

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Hitting Home

A long-time childhood friend of my sons is supposed to get married in September. I received a message from his bride letting us know that they are trying to figure out whether, how, or when to move forward with their wedding. I could hear the crushing disappointment as well as the angst of trying to make the perfect decision in her voice.

While I have watched customers wrestle with these hard decisions, hearing this young lady’s voice put a lump in my throat. Not only are we providing the flowers for her wedding, we’re also attending the wedding, and my sons are in the wedding party. This one really hits home because the decisions she’s facing are ones she’s trying to make on behalf of families that she loves, including my own.

So this letter is to her and to all the 2020 Brides out there.

Dear 2020 Bride,

Breathe… you are loved and cherished and appreciated.

Whatever you decide will be just perfect! This is your day, and the start of your new life together as a married couple. It’s the beginning of your family. What is right for some families might not be right for your family, and vice versa, and that’s OK!

While this pandemic affects everyone, the way it affects everyone is different. Some need to be totally isolated, others are comfortable venturing out with masks and social distancing. You won’t be able to accommodate everyone’s needs, but everyone will understand. Take that pressure off and just focus on what brings both of you the most peace and joy. Whatever brings you peace and joy will also bless everyone else that you love.

Love is what brought you to this moment. Love is what will get you through this moment–love for each other, love for family and friends, love from family and friends. As you look back on this day from some vantage point in the future, memories of being a 2020 Bride will be truly special ones.

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Most of my friends and I were getting married in the late 80’s and early 90’s. We were still pretty focused on traditional weddings, not a unique wedding. Dad gave away the bride, most of us had adorable kids as flower girls and ring bearers, and we all made sure our bridesmaids wore hideous dresses. In fact, Trevor was the ring bearer in one of my best friend’s wedding, along with the daughter of another good friend. All these years later, it seems almost prophetic that he owns a flower shop that specializes in helping to create special and unique weddings for happy couples!

As I was watching the Royal Wedding last month, the image of Meghan Markle walking down the aisle–poised, smiling, graceful, at ease with herself…and solo–was surprising and incredibly inspiring. In that moment, she defined herself, her marriage, and her future role. She showed so many little girls that you can have the fairy tale wedding, be the princess, without giving up any of your own strength and identity. Wow! Who knew weddings could say so much? I realized that is exactly why weddings are so very special now.

Dogs in Weddings

I wondered what unique wedding ideas couples are coming up with to express themselves and their life.  One of my friends got married recently at the beach, which is not so unique anymore. They included their rescue dog, Addy, which sounded like a very unique wedding idea to me! After a quick Google search, I realized that more and more couples include their dogs. Dogs serve as ring bearers and flower girls, or just sit quietly next to the bride and groom during the ceremony. Even if the dog isn’t part of the ceremony, a lot of couples include their dog in their wedding day photos–another valued family member! Do you need a flower collar or leash for your dog? We can certainly help you!

Cats in Weddings

For every dog lover out there, there is also a cat lover. Yes, cats are part of weddings and wedding photos as well! I once had a cat trained to a harness and leash. She walked on a leash like my dogs. I guess it’s not such a far-fetched idea!

Walking the Bride Down the Aisle

I remember seeing a story a couple of years ago about the father of the bride stopping mid-walk to grab the bride’s stepfather so that both men could walk their daughter down the aisle. Just as families evolve so are the rules for who walks the bride down the aisle. Like Meghan Markle, some brides walk down the aisle by themselves. According to Loverly, for those brides whose fathers have passed away or who just don’t like the idea of being “given away,” there are lots of unique wedding alternatives! Mothers, brothers, and best friends are all walking brides down the aisle. Ceremonies are clearly becoming a representation of the people that are important in a couple’s life.

Mixed-Gender Wedding Parties

Years ago, one of my best friends from college got married married, and he wanted me in his wedding. At the time, a woman serving as a groomsman wasn’t a thing so his Bride asked me to be one of her bridesmaids. That was such a special gesture on her part! Today, the traditional gender roles are being thrown out so women are on the groom’s side and men are on the bride’s side. The concept of sitting on the bride’s side or the groom’s side is also being thrown out. Guests sit wherever they would like–supporting the couple.

Alternative Ceremonies

We just recently met with a couple who are having a handfasting at a beautiful wooden pergola in Algonkian Park. A handfasting “is an old Pagan custom, dating back to the time of the ancient Celts. Today, Wiccans and Pagans have embraced handfasting as a part of their wedding ceremony. The hands of the couple are clasped and fastened together with a cord or cords. The wrapping of the cord forms an infinity symbol. The handfasting knot that is tied is a symbolic representation of oneness between the couple. In a show of unity, they become bound to each other.” The beautiful rustic pergola is a perfect backdrop for this ceremony.

Realizing the Vision

We’re doing a wedding this fall for a couple who are taking rustic to a whole new level. The groom likes to hunt so the whole wedding revolves around a hunting theme. They are including pine cone boutonnieres, bouquets made with all sorts of fun textures and muted natural colors, centerpieces that sit on split logs, and the mother of the bride is even hanging fake pelts in the restrooms! We are excited to help them make their vision a reality!

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Courtesy of The Manor Restuarant

I was talking to a friend last night, and she said, “You must be pretty busy right now! This is your busy season, right?” I realized, she was talking about June weddings. While we do quite a few spring weddings, more and more our busy wedding season is the fall, which got me to pondering, “Why?”

For so many great reasons!

Beautiful Weather

It’s not too hot, and it’s not too cold if you have a fall wedding. As we’ve seen this year, spring often brings a healthy dose of rain as Mother Nature prepares the earth for the growing season. This can put a kink in your dream of an outdoor wedding or beautiful outdoor photos. Summer, at least in our area, often involves 90 degree weather with high humidity. No bride wants to worry about perspiration on her special day, not to mention most cut flowers don’t like the heat either! Fall brings balmy temperatures and not as much rain. There is also a peaceful, reflective, quality about Fall after the frenzy and activity of spring and summer. Who wouldn’t want to spend a beautiful fall day enjoying a local winery? Even the beach in the fall is one of my favorite places to be!

Courtesy of The Knot

Interesting Flower Choices

While spring and summer weddings bring to mind soft pastels or bright colors, a fall wedding has gorgeous jewel tones and end-of-season flowers such as thistle and celosia that add interesting textures. The warmer tones of fall also allow some fun pairings with natural materials for accents such as wood or vines and warm metallics. Hues can take on misty or iced looks for an added element of whimsy. Rich wine colors are perfect as we transition from glasses summer rosé to Côte du Rhône. The warmth of candlelight always seems to be the perfect partner to these rich fall jewel tones!

Better Time to Honeymoon

Let’s face it, after paying for the wedding, there is often not a lot of money left over for the honeymoon. Spring and summer are some of the most expensive times to travel with higher air fare and hotel prices. It’s also the busiest time to travel with popular destinations being flooded with tourists. Fall is considered the shoulder season–the period between the high and low seasons of a given destination. According to Insider, fall is a great time to travel: “Both flights and hotels are often discounted during the fall because fewer people are traveling during that time (kids are back in school, and many take their vacation days during the summer or holidays). So in addition to saving money, if you honeymoon after a fall wedding, you’re also likely going to avoid crowds and long lines in typically tourist-filled cities if you travel in the fall.”

Courtesy of Jenny Losee Wedding Photography

Textured Textiles

Early fall brings a crispness to the air, and late fall can be downright chilly, but this is perfect weather for adding fun elements to your wedding ensemble! Wedding dresses can include long, lacy or faux fur sleeves. Soft cashmere can add beauty and elegance to your wedding dress. According to The Knot, two-piece separates and layers are trending, and the cooler temperatures of a fall wedding make these trends more comfortable and natural. The Groom and groomsmen, in their tux or suit coats, will definitely appreciate the cooler temperatures, and I’ve seen some beautiful photos of the Bride with her bridesmaids all wrapped in luxurious faux fur stoles for their photos–unique and eye-catching!

Any day you get married is the perfect day, but as more couples are breaking with tradition and thinking outside of the box, a fall wedding is definitely worth considering!

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