Wedding Flowers in Maryland
Field Guide to Wedding Flowers in Maryland
By Jessica Lynne Gardner
Flowers are the perfect accessory. They are colorful, fragrant and come in many shapes and sizes, letting you to incorporate them into any theme. Romantic roses, soft lilies, exotic orchids- each have a unique voice that communicates a hidden and beautiful message about your wedding.
Choosing the textures, colors and shape is a true art form and even though you may be tempted to forego hiring someone and rely on your own artistic taste, wedding florists are more adept at arranging all the elements of style to make beautiful and harmonious centerpieces, bouquets and decorations.
Types of Bouquets:
Bridal:
Nosegay:
One of the most traditional bridal bouquets, the nose gay
was used in the 14th century and named for the sweet scent it gave
which covered undesirable odors. The flower stems usually do not
show and the blossoms are positioned closely to form the shape of a ball.
Cascade:
As the name suggests, the flowers flow down over the stems in a graceful fashion. This type is best for formal gowns. The usual flowers for this arrangement include roses, lilies and stephanotis mixed with baby’sbreath and a small touch of greenery.
Hand-tied:
Looking as if they were freshly picked, this style keeps the
stems for a more natural appearance and is often tied together with a
ribbon. Hand-tied flowers are perfect for historical, outdoor and garden
weddings.
Wrist Bouquet:
Similar to a corsage, this style allows free movement of the
hands while still holding a bouquet. This is also a nice option for bridesmaids.
Fan:
This style has a unique and vintage effect using a beautiful
Victorian or Asian fan and decorating it with flowers. If the fan is
ornate it only needs a bud or two but with a plain white fan there
are many possibilities.
Contemporary/artistic:
Unlike the other arrangements, this type
has no defined shape. Imagination is the only limit for this modern
bouquet which popularly uses bright colors and a-symmetrical
patterns.
Bridesmaids/Flower girls:
Basket Bouquet:
A simple basket filled with flowers. A semi-flat basket works best so the blossoms are visible through the sides.
Pomander:
An interesting piece in which the bouquet is shaped in a ball or cone attached to a ribbon which is held in the bridesmaid or flower girl’s hand.
Ballerina:
Taking pink or white tulle fabric and wrapping it around hand-tied flowers offers a whimsical and youthful appearance, perfect for a fairy-tale or ballerina theme.
Groom/Best Man:
Boutonniere:
Usually a single flower worn over the heart.
Flowers for Him: Choosing A Boutonniere
Boutonnieres add a touch of elegance to the occasion as well as dress up an otherwise plain tuxedo. The type of flowers you pick depends on how formal or informal the wedding is as well as the theme that is used.
More casual events may call for a single blossom whereas larger budget weddings utilize multiple blooms and maybe even a touch of greenery. So who in the wedding party should get one? Again, this is dependant on the size and type of wedding but in general, the men in the party, the best man, ring bearer, and grooms family members receive one. But before you empty your pockets over them, consider using a single carnation for the members of the party and splurge only on the groom’s flower. Popular choices are rosebuds and freesia but any flower can be used.
Finding a Florist
Florists, just like other vendors, are artisans who skillfully craft a product (in this case flowers) which they then sell. Today, florists have their work cut out for them. With the rise of independent and expressive brides in the last thirty years there has been many new and creative bouquet styles and colors to come into existence. Florists handle the decorations, arrangements, cake toppings, hair wreaths, and occasionally, table settings. The sky is the limit with the types of flowers your ceremony or reception can display and as long as you pick an experienced florist, you can’t go wrong. There are many flower shops both on the internet and in local cities so the hunt for one that has good prices, fresh flowers and beautiful designs may seem challenging but here is a list of tips that can help you with your search:
- Book a florist six months before the wedding at the latest- especially if it is going to be a summer wedding
- Ask the caterers. Caterers work with many other vendors during weddings so ask your caterer if they have a florist to recommend.
- Ask friends and family who they picked for their wedding
- Shop around and search for places that have been in business for at least ten years and ask to see photos of their past wedding work Ask them some specific wedding questions and see if they are comfortable answering you.
- Make sure that the budget is one of the first things you discuss with a potential florist so everyone knows what to expect
- Ensure they take note of your height so the bouquet can be sized for your unique figure which will compliment your dress, hair, etc.
- Are they attempting to figure out your style and what you want? Is there a difference in the photos of their past work or does it all appear to be the same general style?
- Bring swatches or pictures of your dress fabric, bridesmaid’s fabric, grooms tux, location, etc so they can match it for you
It’s All About Style-Hot Flower Trends and Tips
- Use larger or more elaborate bouquets with longer gowns and small or single blossom with knee length and simple dresses.
- Let each bridesmaid carry their own type of bouquet with different flower types or colors to create visual interest without taking too much attention.
- Use a singe bud of the same flowers used in the bouquet as the Boutonniere for a sweet matching look
- Place the same type of flowers from the arrangements in the bride’s hair for a romantic feel
- Have a healthy bouquet! Many brides are using berries, veggies, and twigs for a magical, summery arrangement.
- Pastels are a thing of the past. Popular color choices are bright orange, deep wine or burgundy or vibrant yellow.
- Champagne anyone? An all-white color scheme is a classy choice without being dull, gardenias and white roses work beautifully here.
- Wait until the other wedding plans such as the location, dress and color scheme are chosen before thinking about the flowers so you can match the flowers to the wedding instead of the other way around
- Purchase flowers that are in season
- For a magical look, tell your florist to add hints of glitter over the flowers
Keeping your flowers fresh
If you are storing the flowers yourself, here are few guidelines that will keep them looking good longer:
- Trim extra leaves toward the bottom of the stems. If your flowers still have leaves that do not need to be there, clip them off. The leaves take the nutrients from the blossoms causing them to wilt faster.
- If the water that they are in turns cloudy, dump the stale water and replace with fresh solution mixed water ( the flower food should be provide by the florist).
- Keep away from heat or cold. Flowers should not be in direct contact with sunlight, fans, vents, refrigerator, or kitchen appliances.
Spotlight Vendor: Flowers by Michael
Flowers by Michael has been a Baltimore staple for over 45 years providing quality service for Baltimore/Washington area events including the National Aquarium, Maryland Science Center, the Evergreen house, and Reagan Building along with many other locations. Their floral arrangements, bouquets, and ceremony decorations are truly one of a kind as each is designed by an experienced hand adding a unique touch. By personally evaluating the interests of each client they develop a truly individualized display that brings the couple’s vision to life in a vivid color. Using the highest quality exotic tropical blooms, Dutch flowers and others from around the world adds texture, beauty and interest to every one of their arrangements.
Company: Flowers by Michael
Address: 6407 Belair Road,
Baltimore, Maryland 21206
Phone:
410-426-2000
Contact: Cris Wilkins