Top ten wedding colors and trends for 2012...and 2013!

Tangerine Tango & Pink

It looks like the kind folks from the Pantone Color Institute are responsible for this one....Tangerine Tango & Pink. Pantone declares tangerine tango as a "bright and encouraging color" and as such, is a perfect combo for your spring or summer wedding. However, tangerine alone can certainly be a bit overwhelming used on its own, so it could use a little sumpin-sumpin' to calm it down a little...enter hot pink. Now I know you're saying, "hot pink?...how can that be calming?" There's something about pink that despite the shade adds a softness to whatever it touches. Can't you just picture your bridesmaid's bouquets in all roses of tangerine and pink with maybe a little yellow thrown in for fun?

                                       

Blush Pink & Pewter Gray 

Now I'll admit to being a pink fan from way back, but this pink is not the pink you would be pairing with the Tangerine Tango hotness mentioned above. This is the softest of pinks, think the faint blush of a baby's cheek. Paired with gray, which is on a high it hasn't seen in years, it's a gorgeous and elegant color combination. Throw in a little bling with some diamond mesh wrapped votives or mercury glass vases and you have a stunning look that will create an audible intake of breath when guests first lay eyes on your reception venue, I promise! Gray IS the new black!              

                       

 

Blue Willow & White

At a loss for what else to call this color and very hesitant to tag it with a handle like Royal Blue which sounds like it belongs in a nautical themed wedding, I'll call it Blue Willow like the famous china of the same name. Of course, Pantone would call it Sodalite Blue, another on their list of hot colors for 2012, but hey, what do they know, right? You'd think they were color experts or something! The great part about this shade of blue is that it's flattering to just about everyone, so your bridesmaids will love you for it! Ditto your groomsmen, since men are famous for their love of blue. Not to mention with the emphasis on vintage still in full swing, despite Huffington Post's misguided assertion that vintage is dead, you can use readily available pieces of blue & white china for centerpieces and decor. Throw in a little red if it's a military wedding or sunny yellow which looks fabulous with blue & white and you have an amazing color palette.

                       

White on White

The beauty of white for a wedding is absolutely unparalleled. When you think of white, most people think of a stark color, but white can be so much more. How about cream, ivory, buff, eggshell, vanilla, magnolia, ecru, beige...the list of beautiful whites goes on and on, including an off-white called Starfish tagged as a hot color for 2012 by Pantone. Mixing different shades of white in your wedding decor can look incredible together if you're careful about the undertones of the whites you are using. Some whites have a bluish undertone, giving them a cool look, others have a brown undertone which tends to warm them up a bit. The fun part about using white on white is you can play with texture to really make the differences in the whites stand out. An example would be using a stark white tablecloth for your reception tables with a beautiful khaki (also a form of white!) damask runner and a cluster of milk glasses vases as the centerpiece filled with peonies, roses, and dahlias all in different shades of white and cream. Even versatile burlap which comes in ivory and natural can add interesting texture to your tables and centerpieces.

                

Red & Pink  

Ok, I'll admit this is a stretch, even for a dyed-in-the wool pink lover like myself, but I have seen some truly amazing combinations of red and pink that were simply stunning. With this combo, you need to be careful about the color red and pink you choose. Hot pink and red...not so much...pale pink and red... ahh, yes, gorgeous! You really need to underplay the use of this palette to avoid it looking a little Valentine-y, but if you don't morph into overkill, it can turn out looking elegant instead of cheesy. For a classic look, pull in some silver touches like mercury glass with your centerpieces. Put your bridesmaids in blush pink short dresses with red rose or peony bouquets and have groomsmen wear pale grey suits with pink ties and hints of red handkerchiefs poking out of their breast pocket. Your friends will call you crazy until they see the effect all together at your wedding, then they'll call you innovative and daring!

               

Sweet Lilac & Margarita

I'll admit these were stripped straight from the Pantone Hot Color Chart, but can you imagine this dynamic color duo? In 2011, pewter and eggplant, gray and plum, purple and silver were done to death. This is such a fresh and light approach to the heavy handed purples we saw last year with the fun zing of a soft lime added to the mix. With the innovative things florists are now doing with shades of green in bouquets including green hydrangeas and Bells Of Ireland, your bridesmaids could wear dresses in lavender tones and look incredible. Lilac, like blue, is a color that looks great on just about everyone, whether of fair or dark complexion and can be paired with either gold or silver.

                         

R a i n b o w 

Before you start saying I've taken leave of my senses on this one, hear me out. Can you remember being stuck in a hideously ugly bridesmaid's gown of some horrendous color, but you did it because you loved your friend? Well, this is not one of those times. Although you could dress each of your bridesmaids in a different color of the rainbow of your/their choosing, why not try dressing them all in black, (groomsmen, too) with fun rainbow splashes of color in parasols, bouquets, shoes, socks, boutonnieres, and ties. Trendy and summery accents like pinwheels would be great with a rainbow-themed decor, but if you really want your wedding to stand out, why not do a complete "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" wedding complete with ruby slippers for you and a yellow brick road rose petal aisle runner? Weddings don't have to be stiff and staid affairs anymore, so a rainbow theme wedding would be great for the young and young at heart.

              

Green & Topaz 

Ahhh, the colors of fall, rich, vibrant, gorgeous....but some of them, including chocolate brown done to death in recent years. Chocolate brown and green, chocolate brown and blue, chocolate brown and pink...enough, enough! Surely, there are other fall wedding colors besides chocolate brown and ________! Enter olive green and topaz. Yellow topaz, being the birthstone for the month of November, and olive green, a warm and inviting color with a masculine feel, make a great color combination for an autumn or woodlands theme wedding. Also absolutely gorgeous with either gold or silver accents, blinged out tree branches would look great with this duo as would moss, gold mercury glass, or tree round cake stands. And imagine some topaz colored heels with sparkly rhinestone accents peeking out from under your gown or an olive green sash with topaz colored beaded accents. Awesome...that's you!

              

Champagne & Black

Champagne, just the name brings to mind elegance, doesn't it? And the color itself...not gold, not silver, not beige or pink, but a shimmery mixture of all of these is just amazingly beautiful. Set off by flickering votive's and paired with dramatic black, it will lend an air of wealth and richness to your wedding even if you and your groom are on the champagne taste/beer budget program! Imagine black satin tablecloths with champagne colored pin-tuck runners and a white on white palette of flowers or ostrich feathers springing from tall Eiffel tower vases...simply breathtaking!

             

Peach & Silver

Amazingly, peach has staged somewhat of a comeback. If you're a young bride, you probably don't remember the peach and sea-foam green of the 80's. Seems everyone and their mother had a bathroom in those colors. Kind of brings back some ugly flashbacks for those who lived it....ugh. Sea-foam is actually staging it's own little mini-comeback, as seen in some recent trunk shows of wedding gowns in unusual colors, as well as mint green. I can buy sea-foam and peach separately, but together again? Absolutely not! In this case, reunited doesn't feel so good, but how about the lovely and very subtle combination of peach and silver? Peach and cream roses perched in silver mint julep cups, bridesmaids in peach gowns with silver sashes and groomsmen in gray tuxes with peach ties...an excellent, cool color combination for spring, summer, even winter.

                          

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.

What you should bring to a consultation

For a newly engaged bride-to-be, it can be confusing and even a bit overwhelming to prepare for all the meetings and decisions you have to make before your wedding day. We get a lot of questions from brides about what they should bring to a consultation and how to prepare for selecting their flowers.

So here are a few tips for preparing for a floral consultation:

1. Try to have these numbers on hand:
# of guests
# of tables (# of centerpieces)
# of attendants (bridesmaids/groomsmen/speakers, etc) who will need flowers

2. Your florist will ask you questions about your venue, including where the ceremony and reception will be held, whether it's indoors or outdoors, any unique features of the venue, etc. So try to have as much info as possible. Most of them will already be familiar with more popular venues, but any information helps.

3. Try to have some colors or flowers picked out that you like. This will give the florist some direction when selecting the designs. Just a general idea is fine because the consultant will help you narrow down the details.

4. Bring any photos or magazine clippings that you like, even if they are all different. This will give the florist a better idea of the styles you like and will allow them to pull ideas from those images that inspire you.

5. Bring back-up! One or two extra people can help make decisions and offer support during the consultation. Make it someone you trust and who knows what you like. Don't bring more than two people or you'll have a hard time accomplishing anything.

6. Don't be afraid to ask questions. We know our stuff, but we're not mind-readers! Voice any concerns you  might have and get answers right away so you can focus on the fun stuff.

7. Visit more than one florist. It can't hurt to get a quote from several different shops. Then just pick the one that suits you best. Or you can bring new ideas back to the florist you really like to perfect your designs.

Each florist and each wedding is different so we can't predict exactly what will go down at your consultation, but being prepared will help things go more smoothly and ensure that you have a productive meeting.

Top 5 Coolest Accent Flowers

When you think of flowers at a wedding, you may imagine beautiful white roses, elegant calla lilies, and tropical orchids. And while those flowers do have a place in many arrangements, there are other things you may not have thought of which could add that cool, unique touch you're looking for in your bridal bouquet.

So, here is a list of the top 5 coolest accent flowers you may not have considered for your wedding, courtesy of The Flower Cart.

#5 : Brunia

Green Brunia and Silver Dutch Brunia are two varieties of this accent. They appear as a cluster of spheres, Silver being a larger size. Brunia can add a new shape and texture to an otherwise plain bouquet and looks great paired with ivory and white flowers. And its silvery hue makes it a great choice for winter weddings.

Price: $$-$$$

# 4: Alstromeria

This is a flower that is often overlooked when brides select their favorite bouquet flowers. Alstromeria, also called the Peruvian Lily, is a gorgeous, hardy and affordable flower that comes in a huge variety of colors.

Price: $$ 

# 3: Craspedia

Craspedia is a yellow spherical flower that creates a great texture in any spring, summer, or fall color scheme. Its fun and funky look is growing in popularity and expected to be a favorite for 2011.

Price: $$$ 

#2: Fiddlehead Fern

 
This spiral-y fern tip is a unique and natural accent which can instantly transform your wedding flowers into a chic, modern design. A cool look for a black and white color scheme.

Price: $$$

#1: Celosia 

"That Brain thing" as you may know it. Celosia is a velvet-like flower most readily available in late spring and summer. It comes in a range of colors from pale green to dark burgundy. It is coveted for  its interesting texture.

Price: $$$$

So hopefully this gave you some inspiration or at least made you feel a little smarter. If not, and you just happened to already be familiar with these flowers, then you passed our test.

Congratulations. You're awesome.

Gearing Up for Engagement Season

It seems that a lot of people tend to get engaged around the holidays. Go figure. So that's why why are planning to attend some wedding shows in the early months of the new year.

Right now, we are trying to find inspiration for displays and arrangements to showcase at these events.
It's really great for us to be able to show off our creativity and maybe show some brides-to-be something they've never seen before. 

So as we finish up the work for the final 2011 weddings, we try to take time to stop and look at what really gets us pumped up, what gets our creative juices flowing.

Stuff like this:

CLASSY!


and THIS:

RAINBOWS!