Tatum Brown of Bellingham is the manager Belle Flora and has worked in flowers for ten years.
Q. What's the current trend in bridal bouquets?
A. Bridal bouquets are trending toward more naturally gathered, hand-tied arranging. Not as formal and cascading as seen in the past. Monochromatic colors and texture are something that we see more requests for.
Q. What's the current trend for men's boutonnieres?
A. Boutonnieres are tending to be more small and simple. Sometimes no flowers, just greenery and buds. Again, texture.
Q. What are some options for decorating the marriage venue?
A. Options for decorating the ceremony venue include flowers down the aisle, on the chairs or sometimes just on every other chair. Aisle runners are available in many different colors and can make a big impact in decor. Decorating the altar area with fresh flower arrangements and curly willow arches or bouquets looks nice in natural environments or larger indoor venues.
Q. What kinds of table arrangements are popular for receptions?
A. Centerpieces for the reception vary widely in design and cost. Some couples on a budget choose to simply float flowers. A single cymbidium orchid bloom can add a touch of elegance for little money. Renting the vases for the centerpieces can also help cut down on cost and save you from having to figure out what to do with 20 vases after the wedding. You can also buy containers and other decor items that were previously used in another wedding. It's a great way to save money and recycle. Using fruits, berries, twigs and pods is also a great way to bring in bright colors and texture to arrangements.
Q. What are some of the unique requests you get for bridal flowers?
A. Some of the more unique requests I've had don't necessarily include flowers, but rather requests to incorporate something sentimental into the bouquet. Maybe a brooch of the bride's grandmother or a piece of fabric from their mother's dress. Something unique and sentimental can add a beautiful, original touch to personalize a bouquet.
Q. How far in advance should a couple work with a florist for bouquets and decorations?
A. When planning a wedding, it's advisable to meet with your florist as far as six months in advance. Working together, we can devise a plan to get the best flowers for your budget and color scheme.
My personal recommendation for a couple is to hire a wedding planner or at the very least get the assistance of a professional the day of the wedding to take care of all the last-minute details that can come up.
Let someone else fuss over the details so you can enjoy one of the biggest days of your life.
Belle Flora is at 1201 N. State St. For more information call 360-734-8454 or go online to bellinghamflowershop.com.
Reach ZOE FRALEY at zoe.fraley@bellinghamherald.com or call 756-2803. Visit her School Days blog at blogs.bellinghamherald.com/schools or get updates on Twitter at twitter.com/BhamSchools.
