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Wedding Flowers: Bouquet shapes and how to choose the right one

You have chosen the perfect wedding dress, jewelry to match, the hairstyle to sport and shoes to glide down the aisle. You’re almost the perfect bride, except for one small detail that will add the finishing touches – your wedding bouquet!

Bridal bouquets are not just a bunch of flowers that are put together at random. When chosen well, your bouquet will complete your bridal look perfectly. How do you get it right?

Let us look at the different shapes in which wedding bouquets are available, and find the choice that is the right size and shape for your figure.

Circular bouquets: Nosegays and Posies

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The round bouquet is a popular traditional choice. It can be created from the same flowers or an assortment of blooms that are neatly arranged in a circular fashion. Nosegays and posies are extensions of the classic round bouquet, but are smaller in size. In nosegays the flowers are arranged tightly, the cluster is small and the stems are all cut to the same length. Posies are small bouquets that are usually tied with a ribbon.

This shape is generally versatile, and all three go extremely well with classic ball gowns or A-line dresses. Posies particularly suit petite brides. You can choose the size of the round bouquet, or the arrangement of the flowers to complement your figure, so it helps to balance out your look.

Hand tied bouquet

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You can understand from the name itself that these bouquets have a casual look and feel. The chosen bunch of flowers are gathered together and simply tied with a ribbon. Unlike the other prim and perfect bouquet designs, hand-tied bouquets are loosely tied to create a messy look, with the stems and foliage showing. It is an apt choice for an outdoor wedding, and you can adjust the size and choice of flowers to match your size.

Cascade bouquet

By Photo by and (c)2007 Jina Lee (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC BY-SA 2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5-2.0-1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Credits: Jina Lee CC-BY-SA-3.0
This is a rich bouquet with flowers that flow downwards to resemble a mini-waterfall. The style was a hit in the 1980’s and is one of the most creative arrangements. An assortment of flowers are necessary to create the luscious cascade, and it is often mixed with lavish specks of green. It is also known as the teardrop bouquet, when the thickness of the arrangement thins towards the ends of the bouquet.

The flowers chosen for the bouquet will determine whether it is traditional or modern. The contemporary choice includes orchids and lilies, while the traditional choice has roses. Since the bouquet falls downwards, it has a slimming effect which works well for plus-size brides. The dramatic design also matches mermaid or ball gown skirts.

Presentation bouquets

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This style is similar to the ones we see at pageants. Long stemmed flowers are tied together and the bouquet is held across the body to rest in the crook of the arm. It has a formal touch and suits all body shapes.

Composite bouquets

This is a bouquet that takes time and effort to create. An individual big flower is crafted out of hundreds of small petals from individual flowers, which are glued or tied together. It is more expensive than the other bouquets, but is a unique and stunning design worth its price.

Now that you know the technical differences between the various bouquets available, you should be able to choose the one that is right for you. Visit Best for Bride for more wedding advice and tips.

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How to have a Rustic Wedding

One of the most popular wedding themes, especially in the fall is rustic weddings. Even though they were traditionally designed for fall weather, many people are now choosing them for spring and summer weddings because of their beauty. If this is a wedding style that you enjoy, there are many things that you can do to make sure that your wedding is beautiful.

Centerpieces

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When you are choosing centerpieces for your rustic wedding, be sure to choose options that will work well in a rustic wedding. Many brides choose to go with options like galvanized vases, watering cans and buckets. You may also thing about placing jars of homemade preserves, honey and jam in the center of tables as well.

Another great idea to choose for your centerpieces of a rustic wedding are bowls of pumpkins, dried corn, cattails, and gourds. These are a simple way to add a rustic look to your wedding and will be easy to find during the fall. You may even find that carving your pumpkins with hearts and your initials is a good idea too. This makes for a romantic and beautiful reception.

Decorations

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Some of the best rustic wedding decorations are candles and this is one of the most popular items to use when decorating for a rustic wedding. When you are choosing an outdoor location for your wedding, it is a good idea to choose a flameless version so that you will not need to worry with issues caused from the wind.

Lanterns are also a great addition to wedding décor. Many brides choose to incorporate distressed lanterns into their wedding design in order to add more of a rustic look to their design. Certain types of flowers are also great to add to the wedding décor. For example, some of the best options for rustic flowers are orange poppies, gardenias, dahlias, wildflowers and roses.

Birdhouses, and birch signs are also a great addition to your rustic wedding. You can use any types of colors for these options, but you will probably find that fall colors like yellow, deep red, and orange. These are all fantastic options that you can choose and are beautiful at any time of the year.

Conclusion

A rustic wedding is a fantastic option for a number of reasons. Not only are they beautiful, but they are versatile as well. You can easily change the design to fit your own style and personality and the design will be something that you and your guests will remember and enjoy even after you wedding has ended. If you are looking for a way to add some rustic touches to your wedding, be sure to check out the options listed above. They will all help you to create the wedding of your dreams.

Best for Bride is the place to shop for all of your wedding needs. They will be able to help you plan the perfect rustic wedding and will have all of the décor items that you needs as well.

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When’s the Best time to Use Certain Wedding Colors?

Choosing a wedding color theme is one of the most important portions of the wedding planning process. Not only is it the item that ties everything together, but it is one of the most beautiful parts of a wedding. One of the first questions that a bride will be asked is, “What colors are you using?” This is because this is such an important part of the wedding.

However, did you know that all those colors actually have special times that they work the best? If you have not yet chosen your wedding colors, it may be helpful to learn more about the popular wedding colors and when the best time to use them is.

Gold

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Gold is a color that screams tradition, elegance, and warmth. It is often used by couples who are looking to create an upscale wedding. Since it is rich and intense, it also helps to give off an old-world feel as well. It is definitely a color that works well in the winter or fall because of its rich hue.

Plum

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Those who choose plum for their wedding colors are invoking a color that brings a certain level of mystery and glamour to the wedding. It is also a great option for those having a winter or fall wedding and is often associated with royalty and history.

Coral

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This is a more modern selection and is used when brides are looking to create a Caribbean feel to their wedding. It works great in beach weddings and is a very vibrant choice. It pairs nicely with the color of water so it works well with weddings that are taking place on the beach.

Lavender

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Lavender is a color that shows the meaning of the words ladylike, dainty, and soft. It is the perfect selection for a summer or spring wedding and blends nicely with a number of colors. It is also a great color to choose for a garden wedding as well.

Champagne and Ivory

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These two colors pair nicely together and give off a rich, conservative, and elegant feel. They are often used for vintage weddings and are great compliments to rich colors like red, plum, and gold as well. There is an elegance that is found with these colors that is both charming and calming and they are both very popular additions to weddings.

Orange

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Although orange is typically used for fall weddings it is also a color that can be used at other times of the year as well. It is often associated with the harvest and can be paired nicely with brown and copper. However, if you are looking to add it to a summer wedding, you can easily pair it with yellow or aqua as well.

Conclusion

While many brides may choose to stick with tradition, it is sometimes fun to go against the grain and choose a color that doesn’t typically match the season. There are ways that you can find the best color for your wedding and Best for Bride is there to help you make the best color decisions.

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Creative Wedding Ceremony Decorations

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Wedding decorations for the ceremony seem stuck in a holding pattern. While reception decorations have become wildly creative and fun, the ceremony decorations tend to be cliche. Most wedding ceremonies are decorated with typical flower arrangements and the occasional pair of candelabras. Sound familiar? Decorations for the ceremony may be held at boring level to prevent the audience from paying more attention to the decorations than the officiant performing the ceremony. Wedding ceremony decorations can be innovative and exciting without being distracting.

Instead of focusing on standard flower arrangements, consider alternatives such as ribbons, paper, balloons, lace, and organic materials like twigs or shells. One couple decorated their outdoor ceremony venue with paper flowers and pinwheels. Several couples have used ribbons as the primary decoration rather than using flowers. Instead of flowers with some small touches of ribbon, they opted for ribbons with a few floral accents.

Fabric with bold prints can be used as the focus of the decorations. When these alternatives are used with small floral accents, the whole look becomes more interesting and memorable than when the focus is on standard flower arrangements.

A trendy option is the have hanging decorations such as strips of ribbon hanging down from the ceiling or a frame. Lace wrapped around picture frames or embroidery rings are unique hanging decorations. Just make sure that the hanging decorations are hung safely in areas where guests would not accidentally bump into them. The decorations should not block anyone’s view of the ceremony.

Another fantastic wedding decoration trend is the use of paper. Some couples have used honeycomb garland to decorate the altar or create a canopy. The garland can be shades of white for an airy, cloud-like appearance. Paper flowers have become wildly popular for pew decorations. Flowers can be made from tissue paper or crepe paper.

Though many couples use creative lighting for the reception, few have been imaginative when it comes to lighting for the ceremony. Cascading lights or lanterns hung at varying heights adds dramatic lighting without upstaging the elements of the ceremony. Whether the wedding is held indoors or outdoors, the use of creative lighting can add romantic flair that is subtle and lovely. Another creative lighting option is to use a patterned light or gobo as a backdrop.

When using any decorations that create sound such as wind chimes, make sure the sound will not interfere with the ceremony. The friends and family attending the wedding should not have to strain to hear the couple and officiant.

More and more couples are using signs above where the officiant and couple stand. When using signs that change such as being turned by the wedding party to reveal other words or symbols on the back, the changing of the signs is timed as to occur during a pause in the ceremony rather than competing with the officiant’s words.

The couple can create some surprising looks with these and other creative alternatives to flower arrangements. The decorations should not compete with the actual event. They should enhance and improve the experience. Let your personality shine through and create a truly memorable wedding. For more tips on how to make a wedding uniquely personal, visit the Best for Bride blog.