Roses, peonies, ranunculus, freesia. There are so many flowers to consider for your wedding that something so exciting can be so overwhelming. Add to this the fact that two guys, with no floral experience, are the grooms will take the definition of overwhelmed to a new level. Here’s how Alan and Adrian found their perfect wedding flowers.
Wedding Floral: Our Process
Q: You are two guys planning a wedding. Honestly, how important were flowers to you?
A: Adrian and I wanted flowers but we wanted a masculine fee so we took a conservative approach to floral design.
Choosing a Vendor
Q: You’ve said in previous meetings that most of your vendors were included in your Aldea package. Did your florist provide the options you needed? Were you able to adjust your package based on your desire for a more masculine approach?
A: Aldea had only 1 floral vendor to choose from when we first started looking at florists. That florist didn’t want to customize the floral package (we obviously don’t need a bridal bouquet or toss bouquet) and we felt the communication was delayed. We struggled with how to move forward until Andy Castano joined the Aldea vendor list. What a blessing.
Q: How was Andy different than the vendor you had previously considered?
A: His style is primarily boho-chic but he was very open to our ideas. Andy also had no concerns about tweaking the venue’s pre-set package to better fit our needs. He added boutonnieres and the other touches that we needed without flinching. Even better, he stayed within our budget by suggesting alternative options!
Choosing Your Flowers
Q: Alan, we love that you and Adrian like to think outside the box when it comes to your wedding. Did this remain true for floral? Will you share with us what florals you chose?
A: Seeing that we are far from traditional we wanted to stay away from using a lot of roses. We just didn’t want that stereotypical wedding. Andy’s suggestions were amazing; he suggested that we use two different flowers – one to represent me and one to represent Adrian. The men in my bridal party (including myself) will be wearing cymbidium orchids and Adrian’s side will be wearing peach freesias. We asked Andy why he suggested those choices and his response was that the flowers were like our personalities – cymbidiums are loud and dramatic while freesias are more refined and sophisticated!
The Groomsmaid Bouquets
Q: What about the girls? What will they be carrying?
A: My groomsmaids will carry bouquets featuring cymbidium orchids, stock, Asiatic lilies, blush gerbera daisies and alstromeria. Adrian’s girls will have peach freesias, stock, Asiatic lilies, blush gerbera daisies, and alstroemeria. As a special treat, Andy wanted to get a photo of all our girls’ dresses because he wants to tailor each bouquet according to the style of each of their dresses Personal touches like this really made us feel that Andy wanted to make our wedding special.
The Reception
Q: Knowing that you wanted a more masculine approach to your wedding, did you choose floral for your centerpieces?
A: We’ve chosen a minimalistic look for the cocktail hour and reception. We added a few small peach flower arrangements to the lobby to help maintain the color scheme. Our centerpieces are black candelabras with rose petals sprinkled around the base. And, we’ve decided to repurpose the groomsmaid bouquets to dress up the head table.
Flexibility is Key
Q: You have gotten engaged, found a venue, selected save-the-dates, invitations and attire for both of you and your parties, and chosen a photographer, videographer, caterer, baker, hair and makeup artist, florist and planned a honeymoon. What was the most challenging step in the planning process?
A: By far, picking flowers! Adrian and I aren’t familiar with flower types and I’m colorblind so I had to learn what the shades of peach looked like. Andy was able to simply things for us to easily understand. I’m glad we remained open minded because the end result is far different than we initially imagined but will be incredible!
A rose by any other name would smell as sweet, at least according to William Shakespeare. Wedding flowers play an integral part in any wedding as they the focal point for decorations and tradition. Your choices in color, style and floral type actually sets the tone and mood for your day. Have you ever wondered how floral came to be part of the wedding tradition?
Why does the bride carry a bouquet of flowers?
The tradition of carrying a bridal bouquet can be traced back for centuries. In Ancient Rome, brides carried or wore flower garlands, as they believed that flowers signified new beginnings, fidelity and hope for fertility. Ancient Greece weddings featured ivy to represent enduring love.
Why does the bride toss the bouquet?
Tossing the bouquet is a tradition that stems from England. Women used to try to rip pieces of the bride’s dress and flowers in order to obtain some of her good luck. To escape from the crowd the bride would toss her bouquet and run away. In later times, brides tossed the bouquet to their bridesmaids and, it was said that the maid who caught the bouquet was the next to be married.
What is the meaning of certain types of wedding flowers?
Tradition isn’t the only element that dictates a bride’s choice of wedding flowers. Fashion trends also come into play. Convention has taken a backseat to individuality. Bridesmaids’ bouquets do not necessarily match the bridal bouquet, the boutonnieres and centerpieces. While most florists and planners stress the continuity of at least one main flower throughout all floral elements, many brides are breaking free from tradition.
If you have wondered about the traditional meaning of flowers that are common in weddings or if you want to instill certain ‘meanings’ in your bouquets, read below:
Long considered a symbol of beauty and love, the rose figures into many myths and fairy tales. Romantic writers and poets have used the flower as a metaphor for emotion, beauty, passion, and true love throughout the ages. The rose is an all-star player in the world of weddings, available in solid and bicolor varieties, including striped and tipped varieties as well. Not every variety, however, is scented. Three main types are likely candidates for your wedding flowers: hybrid tea roses (the classic, uniformly-shaped commercial roses generally seen at your local florist), spray roses (a rose with five to ten small heads on each stem and a “natural, garden-grown” look), and garden roses (expensive, old-fashioned varieties with bushy, open heads and delectable scents).
Tulip
?: pinterest
Representing “consuming love” and “happy years,” the tulip can be a meaningful wedding choice. Tulips are available in a wide range of colors, including white and cream; pastels like pink, yellow, and peach; and vibrant hues like magenta, red, and purple. Available during much of the year, the most common tulips are very affordable, though rare varieties can be expensive. This versatile flower can enhance both elegant wedding settings and more casual venues, and work well in almost any permutation — from bouquets to boutonnieres to table arrangements. Three main varieties are commonly used: Dutch tulips (typically seen at neighborhood florist shops and in gardens), French tulips (expensive and elegant, with extra-long stems and large tapered blooms), and parrot tulips (noted for their ruffled, striped petals in intense colors).
This elegant, trumpet-shaped blossom originated in Africa and symbolizes “magnificent beauty” in the language of flowers. The calla lily’s distinctive form is best seen in Art Nouveau and Art Deco works and twentieth-century photography. Two types are commonly available: a large-headed variety with a long, smooth stem suitable for tall arrangements or presentation-style bouquets, and a miniature version ideal for nosegays and boutonnieres. Creamy ivory is the most popular color, but calla lilies also come in yellow, orange, mauve-pink, and dark purple.
Hydrangea
With its big bushy head and intense shades of pink, blue, burgundy, and purple, it’s no wonder that the hydrangea represented “vanity” in the Victorian language of flowers. One of the most popular varieties changes in color as it grows from bubble-gum pink to sky blue, depending on the acid level of the soil. A stem or two of this moderately priced, scentless shrub flower helps fill out arrangements and bouquets, and a few sprigs make a charming boutonniere. You’ll find the hydrangea in white and shades of green, pink, burgundy, and blue.
The peony has a large, full head, strong perfume, and bright color. Despite this outward showiness, the flower acquired the Victorian meaning “bashfulness.” The peony is available in two main types, the herbaceous and the tree peony; however, the latter’s flowers do not last as long when cut. A bouquet made solely of peonies can be gorgeous and the flower is also beautiful in centerpieces and arrangements. Grown in single- and double-flower styles, this expensive bloom is seasonally available in AZ from late November through June.
Ranunculus
Looking for a cost-effective alternative to roses or peonies? Try the lush, multi-petaled ranunculus, with its mild-scented with several blossoms on a stem and fernlike foliage. Carrying ranunculus is telling your partner, in the Victorian language of flowers, “I am dazzled by your charms.” A natural in a bridal bouquet or bridesmaid nosegays, this light flower also makes a fantastic boutonniere and is available in many colors.
Stephanotis
?: Calloway Gable
The Victorian meaning for this flower is “marital happiness,” making the dainty white Stephanotis an obvious choice for weddings. The star-shape, waxy florets grow on a flowering vine; each is individually wired or placed onto a special holder before it can be arranged. A bouquet of stephanotis blossoms is one of the most traditional a bride can carry. Mildly scented and moderately priced (labor may be a bit pricey), this floral option is available year-round.
Gardenia
Surrounded by dark green, waxy leaves, the exquisite gardenia exudes a sultry, heavy scent. A single gardenia makes a wonderful scented corsage or hair accessory. Be gentle as the delicate, creamy ivory petals of this expensive flower can bruise easily and the scent of many can be overpowering to some people.
A rose by any other name would smell as sweet, at least according to William Shakespeare. Wedding flowers play an integral part in any wedding as they the focal point for decorations and tradition. Your choices in color, style and floral type actually sets the tone and mood for your day. Have you ever wondered how floral came to be part of the wedding tradition?
