Brides select flowers for visual impact

Every bride wants her guests to remember the most important day of her life. With hundreds of choices for personalized wedding treatments, brides are reinventing using flowers in some of the most spectacular ways. Mixing flowers and citrus fruits for amazing centerpieces, adding color to the traditional white bridal bouquet, or even offering fresh flowers to wedding guests have become a new trend. Consider making your wedding day visually unforgettable with spectacular flowers from some of the most respected Bermuda island florists. For years to come, your guests will share their memories of your wedding day, as they describe the flowers on the tables and in your bouquets.

In recent years, brides have developed their own style, moving past the traditional white bouquets into colorful fragrant and romantic arrangements. Julie Mayor, owner of Just Roses on South Shore Road says, “Trends for bridal bouquets include vibrant colors of reds, deep yellows, and pinks. We use roses, peonies, tulips, lilac, and hydrangea.” Her arrangements are made with imported flowers from Holland, and have a reputation for quality. “Flowers are very important,

because they showcase the bride, her personality and the wedding style,” says Mayor. Her shop believes that “flowers whisper what words cannot say, and set the tone for the special day.”

Michelle Geary of Designer Flowers says, “A spark of color or the impact of a flower really brings together the whole wedding.” Their shop, the largest on the island, uses a staff of International Florists from Europe that meet on a monthly basis for inspiration for their arrangements. “Coral is our most popular color,” says Geary. Designer Flowers has built their reputation on a “personalized, modern and chic approach.” With imported flowers, and staff from different areas of the globe, designers work to create blooms for centerpieces, ceremony decorations, and boquets for the wedding party. Their shop has two customer locations – Southampton and Hamilton.

In St. George’s Parish, Winifred Jones, owner of East End Florist cares about her customers. She communicates with her brides off-island by email or phone, sending photographs of bridal arrangements for consideration and selection. “We use patience when preparing our arrangements, and employ a staff of International designers,” says Jones. “We prepare stunning arrangements for our brides.” East End Florist is located in the historic town of St. George.

Soon after selecting the wedding gown, brides focus on the floral theme, deciding if it will be sentimental, symbolic or sumptuous. Blooms used in wedding flowers having meaning, and for the traditional bride, provide an extra layer of good luck and fortune. According to The Language of Flowers, some of the more popular wedding choices provide a special ambience for your guests if the symbolic meanings are included in printed ceremony programs or reception menus. Calla Lilies signify magnificent beauty; orchids symbolize love

complement the theme, style of wedding gown, and even bride’s body shape. Bouquets vary from hand- tied or nosegay to cascade or a round loosely arranged grouping of flowers. “Hand-tied bouquets, using ribbon, dried grass, raffia, and our most popular orchids and lilies make spectacular floral accessories for the bride,” says Araujo. Her shop also uses Calla and Casablanca lilies, hydrangea, roses, and even Gerber daisies. Inspiration for her arrangements “comes from within.” For more than forty-five years, Araujo has helped brides create their special bouquets.

After the reception, consider providing your guests with lovely antique paper cones filled with rose petals to shower you as you leave the party. Handmade paper or even small wicker baskets brimming with flower petals provide another floral statement to make your wedding memorable. Small bouquets tied with lovely ribbon could be placed near a doorway as wedding favors for the couple’s guests.

Flower choices for today’s brides are endless. After selecting a theme, remember that flowers can provide the memories of a lifetime. Fragrance, beauty, abundance and texture add visual memories to an event that cannot be replaced with any other wedding decoration. Flowers add romance, grace and often a fragrant scent that sparks the feelings of love.

~ AMY MILLS