Proudly Prancing Peacock Weddings

The peacock is one of nature’s most magnificent creatures. Decked in hues of metallic golds, blues, plums, and beiges with  hints of vibrant yellows and deep greens, the birds mesmerize all who witness the dramatic display of fully exposed and spread  tails. Even the head of the peacock is adorned in its own shimmering veil.

                                                  

It’s no wonder the bird nature adorned so ornately is becoming a hit with brides wanting to drench their special day in the iridescent splendor of the peacock’s natural beauty.

Weddings themed in peacock finery have a multitude of choices for color schemes. The rich feathers lend themselves to every decoration and can even be incorporated into the bridal gown. From flowers to the vows, there is nothing the peacock cannot make shine just a little brighter.

 

Flower arrangements for weddings using this theme can include the feathers of peacocks within their arrangement. Boutonnières lend themselves to simple, yet elegant, designs with the feather acting as a backdrop for a small bud or dramatic leaf. Corsages incorporate the peacock  feather in much the same way, but the flowers mixed with them can be a little bolder and more numerous than the boutonnieres. Bridal bouquets look spectacular when peacock feathers adorn them. The varying placements and lengths of the feathers used can enhance the design and cause a pleasant response from the guests.

Invitations using the bold, bright colors of the peacock or the inclusion of a feather, whether drawn artistically or real, lend a sense of excitement to the traditional cards. The invitations can be coordinated with menus, thank you cards, and more with little difficulty.

Bridal gowns made with a peacock theme shimmer and shine with sparkling beauty with the brides every move. The alluring gem tones definitely draw the eyes of the guests and wedding party to the bride on her special day.

Cakes and refreshments are not lacking when designed with the peacock theme, either. Creations using the peacock are absolutely breathtaking and display the pride the couple has in their union in a unique and personal way.

While a peacock wedding theme may not be on the list as the first choice of the bride and groom, it is a popular and beautiful option for contemporary weddings. There will definitely not be a lack of attention given to the happy couple when surrounded by the beauty of the peacock in all its splendor.

Silk Flowers vs. Fresh Flowers

We have come into a new era of Do-It-Yourself-ers, bulk-buyers, and budget brides. Everyone wants the best deal and we're all willing to go the extra mile or think outside the box to get it. One thing that seems to be on a lot of brides' minds these days is silk flowers. But it seems most people don't know much about them. And the reasons for considering silk flowers are quite varied.  Just some of the reasons are, allergies, wanting a permanent keepsake, cost, wanting difficult to find/unnatural colors, etc.

Some of these reasons are quite valid, but many are simply misguided. So, let's examine these motives one at a time.

Allergies:

This is a perfectly valid reason for wanting silk flowers. One thing you don't want at your wedding is a puffy-faced, runny-nosed Maid of Honor, or even worse, Bride. In this case, silk flowers may be a good option. But consider first that many flowers do not produce a lot of pollen and may not aggravate  your allergies. Simply avoiding some of the well-known culprits, like lilies, and opting for more "hypoallergenic" flowers, like the many types of orchids, could be an easier solution.

Preservation:

If you are looking for more than photos to hold on to, a silk bouquet could be a good option for you. Preserving fresh arrangements can be costly and, depending on the method, may or may not leave your bouquet looking the way it did on your wedding day. The issue here is whether to design just the bride's bouquet in silk, or all the bouquets to keep a unified look. 

Cost:

It's a common misconception that silk flowers are less expensive than fresh. For realistic silk flowers, you may end up paying more than you would for the same flowers in fresh. There are a lot of costs involved in manufacturing high-quality silk flowers and it shows up on the price tags. So if you're looking for the most cost-effective route, go with fresh.

Color:

A good florist will suggest colors and types of fresh flowers that will coordinate with your color scheme and create a beautiful bouquet with depth and texture. Even if it doesn't have the exact shade of the napkins in it, the colors will work together well and create a harmonious palette.

But, some brides are dead-set on that mauve, teal or periwinkle flower that may or may not exist in nature.  If you're ultra-picky, and you simply need that specific shade, you may have to go with silk flowers. Nature creates flowers in all shapes and sizes and colors, but they may not always match your Pantone# perfectly. For simple arrangements such as hair flowers or corsages, silk flowers can work fine.

Some other questions we get about silk flowers are:

Can I combine silk and fresh flowers in the same bouquet?
-The answer is usually "Yes, but..." It may not result in a balanced design and sticking with one or the other most often looks best.

I bought silk flowers elsewhere, can you arrange them for me?
-Maybe. But it's difficult to determine how many stems will be required for the arrangement you want and you could end up spending more than you would have just purchasing fresh flowers, or allowing the florist to purchase the silk flowers for you.

If you're thinking of silk, talk to a professional florist about the pros and cons for your situation. Most of the time, fresh flowers win out. But for special cases, silk flowers could be a good option if you are careful in selecting the right florist and the right supplier. And keep in mind, prices on silk flowers are extremely varied and good quality stems may cost quite a bit more than fresh flowers. So expect to pay more for a nice-looking silk bouquet.