Jenny's Illustration Board

My niece, Jennifer Nalus, is getting married in January, 2010.  I was so excited when she asked me to help her plan her wedding.  The wedding is in the Philippines and I am in California, so that is a bit of a challenge.  All my wedding vendors are in the US and I am not familiar with wedding vendors in the Philippines.  However, with my talented sister-in-law and my other nieces helping their sister, everything is working fine.  Jenny’s wedding planning is coming together.

Black and White Wedding Colors

Jenny chose black and white as her wedding colors.  She and her bridesmaids will be wearing white.  The bridesmaids will have black lining on the dresses while the MOH will wear black of the same design with white lining.  The groom will wear a black barong tagalog.  Barong tagalog is a native formal wear. The flower girl will be carrying a black and white basket filled with white petals while the ring bearer will be carrying a black and white ring pillow.

The reception will be held at the elegant Shangri-La Hotel with 200 guests.  The tables and chairs will be covered with black linen accented with white dinner plates and white napkins.  A white pillar candle embellished with white butterfly, white silk flowers and pearls will be the main centerpiece.  White rose petals and silver-wrapped chocolate kisses will be scattered around the centerpiece to give a colorful contrast to the black table top.  The pillar candles will also be surrounded by cute bride and groom votive candles.

Wedding Gown, Bouquets and Cake

Jenny chose a local designer, Olan Roque, to design her bridal gown; and did I say it looks fabulous!  The wedding gown is made with Mikado silk and chiffon with cut beads and stones hand sewn into the halter neckline.  As for the wedding bouquet, the bride will be carrying red roses, her favorite flower, dotted with stephanotis.  The bridesmaids and MOH will be carrying white calla lilies wrapped in black and white satin handle.

The white wedding cake will be decorated with cascading red roses and black ribbons.  Replica dolls of the bride and groom will be added to the base cake tier.  I was told that the cake is designed and will be made by one of Jenny’s friends.  It looks splendid!

Reception Menu

Since Jenny is marrying a chef, isn’t any wonder that the menu is so mouth-watering?  It makes me hungry just reading about it!  Here is the menu:

Salads and Appetizers

• Selection of garden greens with various dressings
• Potato Salad with croutons, bacons and spring onion
• Coleslaw

Soup

• Pumpkin or Mushroom soup

Main Courses

• Lasagna
• Chicken with homemade barbeque sauce
• Sesame breaded snapper with pickled Mayo
• Kingdao Spareribs
• Lechon

Desserts

• Assorted cakes and pastries
• Fresh fruit platters

More details  of the wedding planning  later …

Here are 5 ways (Saving Ways numbers 20 to 24) to save money on your wedding flowers – from your own bridal bouquet to your bridesmaids and flower girl’s  flowers, is to do them yourself.  There is no need to panic even if you have not done a single flower arrangement before.  Read on and find out how you, too, can make these beautiful bouquet with a little bit of practice and step-by-step instructions.

WEDDING FLOWERS

DIY Wedding Flowers

20. Make your own bouquets. You can purchase a wide variety of silk flowers at any craft store. These won’t wilt so you can take your time creating the perfect bouquets. Time your purchase during sale months, usually after Christmas or in January when craft stores want to get rid of their older stock to make room for their new ones.  If  you want to use fresh flowers, visit farmers’ markets or  grocery stores that offer floral products.  Their fresh cut flowers will cost much less than what your florist will charge. You can also save money by buying flowers wholesale.

If you are not sure you can make  pretty flower bouquet for you and your bridesmaids, here is a book I recommend: Creative Wedding Florals You Can Make by Terry Rye.

It features detailed, step-by-step instructions with photographs of how to construct each fabulous traditional floral decorations out of both silk and dried flowers in addition to fresh flowers. The book tells you exactly which tools you will need and how many flowers to buy. Even a beginner would be able to create pretty good bouquets and arrangements with these directions.

21. Know what’s seasonal and local. Choose flowers that are in season at the time are your wedding, and that can be locally grown. You can save a lot by avoiding exotic flowers out of season.

22. Incorporate greenery and ivy. You can fill out your bouquets with greenery and ivy. These are cheaper than using flowers only in your bouquet. This will work especially well if you are planning an “eco-friendly wedding” or to include green in your wedding colors.

23. Reuse your flowers. Consider using some of the same flowers decorating your ceremony to decorate your reception. Assign a few helpful friends to transport the flowers after the ceremony and set them up for the reception.

24. Don’t decorate the head table. Instead of decorating the head table with flowers, use the bridesmaids’ bouquets, set in vases along the table.

Next Topic: 101 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding – Part 4: Food and Drinks

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101 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding – Part1: Wedding Budget

Bouquet for your Wedding

I have been talking about bridal bouquet in several posts, but I think flowers for your wedding are such an important part of the occasion that I decided to write a new post about planning and selecting your bridal bouquet.  Before you start browsing, take a few things into consideration to make sure that you’re headed in the right direction.

1. How formal is your wedding? The formality of the event is first and foremost in selecting the right bouquet. If you are planning a very informal wedding you may want to go with a playful selection of daisies, while a formal event might call for roses or other large, elegant flowers. If you are planning a tropical wedding, consider appropriately themed flowers, such as hibiscus.
2. Where is your wedding being held? If you are planning a traditional church wedding, you can select nearly any type of bouquet. However, if you will be outdoors you need to be careful. Beaches are notoriously windy and can tear delicate flowers apart. High humidity will also cause real flowers to wilt. Silk flowers are an excellent option for outdoor weddings.
3. When is the wedding? Make sure to find out what flowers will be in season for the location and month of your wedding. Ordering flowers out of season is much more expensive. In season flowers will better compliment your wedding.

Classic Wedding Bouquet

Now that you have a general idea of the type of bouquet you are looking for, think about the type of bridal wedding bouquet arrangement you would like to carry on your wedding day.  The most popular types of bridal bouquet arrangements include:

Nosegay or round bouquet: This type of arrangement is usually small to medium in size. It is typically designed as a round cluster of flowers with minimal greenery. White or pastel flowers are more classic choices in this type of bouquet.

Cascading arrangement: Cascading bouquets can be beautiful and dramatic. They are often used in formal weddings and consist of a central arrangement that has flowers aggregating downward to give the appearance of a cascade – and hence the name.  Roses and calla lilies are traditional flowers for this type, and moderate greenery is typically used.

Hand-tied bouquets: Perfect for casual weddings, the hand-tied bouquet looks fresh and beautiful and can be designed in a number of ways.

Arm bouquets: These lovely arrangements look very elegant and can range from simple florals to more elaborate designs with added greenery.

Single flower: This modern, minimalist look provides a clear focus on the beautiful bride without sacrificing the floral tradition.

Pomander ball: This round, floral piece is held by ribbon rather than the traditional stems for a lovely look.

Teardrops, Crescents, and Fans: Similar to cascades, these arrangements contain flowers and greenery created in the desired shade. Depending on the size and shape, they may be carried by the affixed stems or as an arm bouquet.

You can use various shades of the same color, complementary colors, or even contrasting colors for a unique and dramatic look in your bridal bouquet arrangements.

Silk Flowers – A Practical Choice

Have you consider silk flowers as opposed to a more traditional, real bouquet?  Silk flowers are a great alternative.  Not only are they cheaper, but they will allow for more colors and varieties. Silk flowers won’t wilt or fade and are guaranteed to arrive in perfect condition. Plus, with silk flowers your bouquet will last a lifetime.

You can order many silk bouquets both online and in stores, but for a look that is truly one of a kind consider making your own! All you need is a selection of fake flowers, wire cutters, tape, and ribbon. Take your time exploring a variety of craft stores for the prefect selection of flowers. When you’re ready to assemble your bouquet, you will need wire cutters to snip off the exact flowers that you want. Simply tape the stems together at the bottom, cover with ribbon, and you’re ready to go!

The Bridal Bouquet: Choosing the Right Accessory
Wedding Tips – Flowers for Your Wedding

Photo Credits: Online Wedding Boutique

The most common centerpiece for wedding receptions is undoubtedly an arrangement of flowers.  For a unique touch, try some of these fun and creative ideas.  Not only will you save a fortune on flower alternatives, you’ll also make your wedding stand out and give your guests something to talk about.

The Art of Glass Bowls

Glass Bowl

A simple glass bowl is a commonly overlooked feature for a centerpiece.  There are different shapes and sizes that you can use as your wedding reception centerpiece.

• Use a glass vase as an aquarium – fill with a fish or two and top with live aquatic plants.
• Use a fish bowl and fill it with sand and seashells for a beach wedding.
• Other fillers are potpourri for the wonderful scent,
• Christmas ornaments for a winter wedding,
• coffee beans and candles,  acorns or cinnamon sticks for an Autumn event.

The options are endless.

The Magic of Candlelight

Candle Centerpieces

Candles are the perfect touch for a romantic wedding.  You can use:

• big, thick pillar candles,
• a collection of tea lights, or
• an arrangement of candles in various shapes and sizes.

More candlelight ideas:

• A shallow dish of water with floating candles can create a very modern look.
• Round candles set in a shallow dish of pebbles or stones is another option.
• Luminous mini lanterns add  mystery and height to your table decor.

Place candles on top of circular mirrors to reflect the flickering candle light that will enhance the ambiance of the evening.  However, avoid heavily scented candles or any aromas that may clash.

The Taste of Creativity

Fruit Centerpiece

For a centerpiece that will be a big hit with hungry guests, choose something edible.

Edible Arrangements is a company that specializes in beautiful bouquets made from fresh cut fruit. You can get a variety of fruits, including many chocolate dipped options.

For DIY brides, you can also use a simple dish of fruit or vegetables.  Items such as squash and pumpkin are ideal for an autumn wedding.  Though they won’t be eaten, they will provide a festive centerpiece.

Citrus fruits will give off a delicious fragrance, cut up and floated in a bowl of water.

The Beauty of Shared Memories

Photo Vase

If you want a centerpiece that is completely unique to you as a couple, consider creating one out of your pictures.  You can include baby pictures, childhood memories, or a collage of the two of you together.  Use a rotating box-shaped picture frame so that all of your guests can get a good look.

When you’re selecting the centerpieces for your reception, keep an open mind and visit several craft stores, craft fairs, and even some antique shops.  You can use virtually anything to make a centerpiece.  Look for unique candleholders, picture frames, and glass containers.  With a fun-shaped glass jar or bowl, you can create almost anything by adding beads, marbles, flower petals, glitter, candy, or anything else that will fit inside! Create a centerpiece that is uniquely you and brings out the important elements in your heritage, religion, or wedding theme.

Photo Credits: Your Wedding Company, iStock Photos, Bridal ‘N Beauty

Topiary Wedding Reception Decoration

No doubt, your wedding reception centerpiece adds ambiance to your special day.  You can spent several hundred dollars for the centerpieces or save money by making them yourself.  One of the floral arrangements that can be easily made by almost anyone is the Topiary.  You can experiment with an infinite number of combination or adapt them to the seasons or theme of your wedding before choosing a final design.  Another plus to making topiary is that they can be made several months in advance and all you need is to ask someone to bring them to the reception venue.   The images above are pre-made topiaries that we have included in this post to give you inspiration in designing your own topiary or, if you’d rather buy than make them, follow these links:

Top row, 1st, 2nd and 4th topiaries: “Honolulu”, “Mini Rose” and “Romance”: Unique Topiaries
Top row, 3rd topiary: “Stargazer”: Etsy,  Second row, 1st topiary: “Rose Topiary Centerpieces”: Stump Prom Second row 2nd and 3rd  topiaries: “Rose Tree” and “Champagne”: Unique Topiaries

Container and Flowers

The first step in creating your topiary is to decide what type of look you are going for.  This will help you choose the right container for your wedding centerpiece.  For traditional topiaries, the most common container is a clay pot that is spray painted or wrapped in fabric  to match your wedding colors.  For a Victorian theme, a tea cup container could be used.  One important requirement for the container is that it is sturdy enough to support the balls or flowers without tipping over.  Once you have chosen your container, decide on the type and color of flowers for your topiary. You can choose one type of flowers and/or one color as in the “Rose Topiary Centerpieces” above.

Ball-Type Topiary

For the ball-type topiaries like most of the pictures above, you will need to buy foam balls or cones,  wooden dowels, glue or a low temperature glue gun, green moss and, of course, your chosen flowers.

• Insert a wooden dowel into the foam and then place the stick into a pot that is filled with florist clay.
• Using a low temperature glue gun you can then stick the silk flowers onto the foam until the foam is all covered with flowers or foliage
• Wrap the dowel in pretty ribbon that match your wedding colors or, for a natural look, leave the dowel in its original color and loosely wrap an Ivy garland around the dowel.
• Cover the florist clay with green moss and add smaller flowers on top of the moss for additional accent.
• Tie a ribbon around the top of your container for a finishing touch.

Real Easy Topiary for Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Brides

Here is the direction for one of the topiaries I made for a wedding reception.  For each of the topiaries, I

• Stuck the stem of a large blue silk hydrangea flower into a painted terracotta pot filled with florist clay.
• Covered the clay with moss and stuck small Queen Anne’s Lace flowers in the moss.
• Tied a pretty blue ribbon around the top of the container and I am done.

The trick is the hydrangea is already round.  With a flower head that measures 8″ in diameter and stands 27″ tall, I did not need a dowel, a styrofoam ball or glue. It is that easy!  If I can do this, you can do this to.  All you need is a little inspiration and a touch of creativity.

Matching Wedding Favors

Miniature Topiary Cardholder

Once you have chosen your topiary centerpiece, complete the ambiance by bringing Topiary Photo Holder/Place Card Holder to your wedding reception tables.

Each of these miniature topiaries can hold an engagement photo of the bride and groom or a place card with the name of the guest and the table number to guide him or her to your elegantly decorated reception table.

Have a happy wedding reception!

Choosing the Right Bridal Bouquet

Throughout time, flowers have been used to communicate feelings.  Did you know, for example, that when you receive an orange or lemon blossom, it means fidelity?  Receiving a peach blossom is a different thing altogether.  In flower symbolism, it means “I am your captive.”  Even roses have different meanings depending on their color: red= passion, white=purity, pink=happiness.

Traditionally, brides’ bouquets were simply made with white flowers.

• White roses meant purity
• White calla lilies, magnificent beauty; and
• White daisies, innocence and loyal love.

Flowers are now chosen more for their appearance rather than for their customary meanings.  After all, the wedding bouquet should express your style since it will appear with you in most, if not all your photographs. It also sets the standard for all the other flowers you will use in your wedding.

So how can you choose the right flowers for your wedding bouquet from the bewildering hundreds of choices?

First and foremost, your choice of flowers and the shape of your bridal bouquet largely depend on your personality, the formality of your wedding, and your budget for the flowers.

Wedding Gown Silhouette
If you are planning a formal wedding, for example, your wedding gown will more likely to be elaborate and richly beaded or laced.  A cascading or large bouquet is ideal since small ones recede to the background of a lavishly adorned dress.  The most common flowers used for formal weddings are white flowers.

If your wedding is semi formal or a destination wedding where you will be wearing a sheath silhouette that has sleek and clean lines, a stunning bouquet will be a perfect accessory. Choose bouquets in bold hues:  canary yellow, cobalt blue, deep raspberry, tangerine.  Full ball gown skirts, on the other hand, call for the classic round bouquet (sometimes called “colonial bouquet”) of roses or lilies in soft shades.

Your Wedding Colors
If you have chosen your wedding color scheme, deciding what flowers to use in your bridal bouquet will be an easier decision.  The flowers you choose should go well with your color scheme.  Choose flowers with subtle colors to match and bold colors to contrast.  Flowers in different shades of your motif complement your scheme while using bright dramatic blooms (purple, bright pink, lime green) make the bouquets stand out. Add touches of blue, green, lavender where you see fit to add texture.

Your Favorite Flower

You can also start with your favorite flower and take it from there.  Ask the florist to help you make a bouquet with your flower as the focal point.

Flowers in Seasons
Of course, the seasons may work for or against you.  Summer brings the hydrangeas and chrysanthemums.  Spring produces tulips, daffodils, and cherry blossoms.  Several flowers like the rose, calla lilies, and carnations are available all year round.  Remember that if they are not in season, you may have to pay a higher price to get them.

There you have it.  Your flowers in your bridal bouquet should complement the season, your gown, your color scheme, your attendants’ attire, and the style and formality of your wedding. If you have a favorite flower, build your bouquet around it and include it in all your arrangements.

How to Choose your Wedding Florist

Tip Number 1 – Do your research

Do not hire a florist who is inexperienced in wedding flower arrangements and, preferably, hire one who knows the venue.  Not only so the driver won’t get lost and be late for the ceremony and/or reception, but also a florist who knows the venue will know how big the place is and what type of floral arrangements fit the place and, of course, your wedding theme.

Choose at least three florists at the beginning of your research.  Ask for referrals from your friends, relatives and the florist’s former clients.  Don’t forget to call them and have them rate the florists between 1 – 10 on their service, the final flower arrangements, and the prize; where 1 is poor and 10 is excellent.  This will make the referrals measurable and it would be easier for your to determine which florist you would go with.

Also ask who will be delivering and setting up your event. This is important, remember my friend’s almost “story book” perfect wedding ceremony. Need I say more?. 

Tip Number 2 – Ask for Samples

Once you have selected your florist, ask him or her for a sample of a centerpiece.  If you are ordering 10 or more center pieces for your reception, the samples should be free. If you did not like the sample, ask for another one and it should still be free.  However, be prepared to pay for the third sample and beyond.

Take a picture of the sample that you like. Some florists will not allow you to take the pictures, especially if flower arrangement is unique.  Mostly for fear that you might take it to another cheaper florist or to one of your friends to copy.  This is understandable, so do not push for the pictures.  You can, however, ask for a written description of what is in the center piece or any other wedding flower arrangements that you ordered.  Finally, ask the florists if they cannot get the flowers and other materials for the agreed upon flower arrangements, what will they substitute.  Insist that you get 2 to 3 days notice in advance for your approval.

Tip Number 3 – Bring your samples

In your wedding gown fitting session, ask a friend to take your picture and bring the picture to your florist. This way your florist can create a bridal bouquet that will be proportional to your height and gown. While in the subject of bringing samples, supply your florist with fabric sample of your bridesmaids’ dresses so their bouquet will match their dresses, too.

If you have pictures of bouquet or flower arrangements that you like, bring them to your florist and ask how much it will cost to make the flower arrangements exactly like the picture. If the florist hesitates to make the same arrangement, be weary, It might be beyond his or her level.

Price should not be the only factor that will lead you to decide which florist to choose. Remember that the highest priced florist is not necessarily the best. Choose one that you will be comfortable working with and read those small prints in your flower contract before signing on the dotted line.

Here’s wishing you for a fun and memorable ”storybook” perfect wedding…

Flower arrangements courtesy of: My Wedding Flower Ideas and Flowers Only