In the first days of April, we see these beautiful flowers everywhere. Not growing in neighbouring gardens, but being sold by the bunch by volunteers in local malls to raise money for cancer research.

I’ve probably walked by these stands many times over the years, not really giving any thought to buy one when I could make a donation, but this year I changed my mind.

Maybe it’s because I lost someone to cancer not too long ago and that person loved flowers. So it seemed fitting to buy a flower so cheery that to walk by it makes you want to smile.

Gathered in a bunch these daffodils mean joy and happiness. A lovely choice for a flower if you happen to be getting married in the month of April and are partial to the beautiful shade of marigold of deep yellow.

Tied all on its own or mixed with flowers of the same shade, they are a wonderful and lovely seasonal choice for a spring wedding.

Simple Hand-tied Posy Of Marigold Daffodils

These days it is common to expected the unexpected with what a bride and groom may choose for their wedding flowers. 

However, as distinct and as large a variation that can be seen in weddings these days, there are some things that never change. 

One of these things is and will always be the choice of pink as a part of a mixed colour scheme with other flowers, or used all on its own in varying shades.

It is the ultimate colour to express romance and all things pretty.

Most traditionally and still classically beautiful is the use of pink in varying shades of soft and pastel shades.

Hand-tied bouquet of soft pink and ivory roses

But now in addition to the creamy subtles tints of pink, deep rich shades of pink found in cherry and fushcia convey a bold characteristic is a part of the “new” colours to be seen in weddings.

It can also be mixed with other colours of similar strength to convey a rich a lavish sensibility not seen earlier with the softer shades of pink.

Wedding Bouquet Of Red, Fuschia and Light Pink Roses

One of the many things I LOVE about weddings today is the opportunity that I have to combine flowers and colours in ways that would have not be even considered just a few short years ago.

Recently, I had the wonderful pleasure of creating Stephanie and Rocco’s wedding flowers.  Their desire was to have reflected in the visuals a tribute their Asian and Italian backgrounds while expressing their modern sensibilities.

Liberty Grand was the elegant backdrop for this deep ruby red colour scheme brought to life with burgundy carnations and tulips combined with roses and gerberas in deep reds clustered together and accenting with ruby crystals for a modern yet striking effect.

As a fellow carnation lover (a confession I made a little while back), it was a thrilling opportunity to show carnations designed in high style and to make obvious that carnations are no longer the flower of old fashioned arrangements.

Crystal Accented Branched Ceremony Arrangements at Liberty Grand

Modern Wedding Centerpiece of Burgundy Carnations, Roses and Gerberas

As a wedding florist I have always considered myself to be the one whose primary role it is to bring together the visual part of the wedding so anything that falls into this framework (such as linens and décor) I have always considered within my domain.

While there is no better or classic way to bring the “life” and “fresh” element to a wedding, the look of a wedding is more than just the petals and the stems.

While some ideas are trends that pass within a single season, there are those that come and permanently change the way the visual element of the wedding is presented.

These elements in the linens and décor.

Once reserved for only the most exclusive of weddings that we might see featured in a celebrity magazine that details hundreds yards of cashmir that were flown in to cover a tent and tables covered with finest of silk taffetas in the most divine of colours, today this look and feel is available to any couple planning a wedding.

For most in the past, “upgrading” meant perhaps changing up the linens from the standard polyester in white or ivory to a brocade or damask in a similar neutral tone and switching out the existing chairs for chivaris.

Now regardless of budget, linens to the floor and at least a basic chair cover to finish the look seems to be the norm. What is becoming increasingly more common is the decision to use linens and décor as a way to completely change the look and feel of a wedding.

They can used to enhance a set colour scheme and bring to the table the colours that perhaps nature does not provide many if any flowers for such as chocolate brown or robin’s egg blue.  

From full tablecloths and napkins, to satin chair wraps and tone on tone embroidered organza overlays, these additional elements that are available in a myriad of colours and textures are simple but wonderful ways to add that added dimension to a wedding day.

One thing weddings are definitely not anymore is predictable.

And this was most wonderfully the case with Meagan and Michael’s wedding that took place this past weekend at the Steam Whistle Brewery in Downtown Toronto.

For their lovely Valentine’s Day wedding, they decided to dispense with the traditional notions of great formality and red roses.

Instead, they opted to be wed in a theme of white tropical flowers with a clean and modern twist to complement their choice of a lounge theme.

White callas and dendrobiums were water immersed in modern glass cylinders complete with floating candles and matches votives.

In the ceremony the bride and groom were flanked by tall glass vases in a similar themed encircled with candles.

Modern Candle-lit Ceremony Arrangements

Once  vows were said and done, the guests were treated to a room full of candlelight to complete the chosen furnishings of white leather lounge chairs, steel rimmed coffee tables and a blue back lit bar.

Candle-lit Centerpieces Fill The Steam Whistle Brewery

I was at the market picking up flowers for my Valentine’s wedding this weekend when I came across a flower that took my breath away and I gave into a temptation that I usually do a pretty good job of resisting and I bought it.

You would think that as often as I see flowers in every colour, shape and variety that there isn’t much that would really catch my attention, but when I saw this absolutely stunning stem of orange cymbidium orchids, I knew that I didn’t have a chance.

It was the colour that caught got me first. A rare of shade of an orange accented with a light cocoa colour that is only available for a few months during the winter and it had more blooms than I could count, I just had to have it.

Right now I have it placed on my hallway table and everytime I walk by it I can’t help but stop for a moment to enjoy.

It’s truly capitivating and has a light exotic sweet scent that only a flower of this nature could have.

 Just wanted to share.

Stem of Captivating Orange Cocoa Cymbidium Orchids

Most of my time in the early months of a year is spent meeting with couples who are planning their nuptials for either later in the year or early next.

When I started thinking about ideas for this post, I thought about the questions that are most frequently asked of me and one of the most commonly asked questions is one of seasonality.

While not knowing one’s flowers might just be an occasional inconvenience when you’re wanting to place an order for a bouquet to be delivered, it’s a puzzling impairment when a bride-to-be is trying to figure out what kind of flowers she likes and then has no idea whether she can get what she has just clipped from the magazine.

Every wedding season brings with favourite blooms and one of them is the peony.

Loved for the large luscious blooms that come in varying shades of white, cream, pink, hot pink and reds. It is a favourite among those getting married.

However, its season of availability is very limited. While typically classified as a late spring, early summer flower, it’s dependent on the weather as it is grown outdoors and once the rains come, the season is done.

For those who are heart set of this flowers, imported options are available and the costs with imported rise as well.

Hand-tied Bouquet of Creamy Pink Peonies Accented With White French lilac

This year seems to be the year of the large wedding parties!

It is not uncommon to see 6 or 7 attendants and naturally with more bridesmaids comes more bridesmaids’ bouquets. It is one of possibly a few gifts that will be presented to the friends who will witness and support the bride on her day.

Unlike days past, when the bridemaid’s bouquet simply looked like an exact replica of the bridal bouquet but smaller,  the modern bridesmaid’s bouquet can have many inspirations:

1. The bridal bouquet – Instead of looking just like it, it can be slightly varied in colour (lighter or darker) to the bride’s flowers.

2. The bridesmaid’s dress – the choice of flowers and colours can be reflective of the style and shade of the dress.

3. The wedding theme – The monogram theme still continues to be popular and one way customize the bridesmaid’s bouquet is to attach a letter pendant to each one so that she would feel like that bouquet was just for her!

Elegant Bridesmaids' Bouquets Personalized With Glittery Initial Accents

Being a wedding florist and decorator for as long as I have, I have always found it interesting to observe the trends that come and go with weddings.

The end of a year always seems to be full of predictions of what the styles and trends of the following year will be.

While I have never been one for trying to gaze into a crystal ball, what I have seen from my own clients who are getting married next year is that one trend that will remain popular from 2008 is the choice of chocolate brown as a main colour.

While the wedding flowers that come naturally in brown are far and few between, here are a few ways that this beautiful folour can be brought to the forefront:

• beautiful ribbon in satin or chiffon
• natural stones and branching
• changing tablecloths and adding chair covers

What I find exciting about this chocolate brown the large range of colours that it complements. From robins egg blue and romantic baby pink to bold choices such as kimono red and gorgeous aubergines, it is a choice of colours that exudes a modern elegance.

Of course, perhaps one of the most elegant choices of colour combinations would be to pair chocolate brown with elegant and soft ivory undertones.

Elegant Chocolate Brown Themed Wedding Centerpieces And Linens

In my last post,  I wrote that one way to celebrate a wedding during the fall or winter season was with rich warm colours.

Another classic way to celebrate a winter wedding with flowers is to consider all the elements visible in nature now and take the whiteness of snow and the pine trees wrapped with twinkle lights as inspiration for a wedding flower palette.

From hydrangeas and roses, to orchids and lilies, there is a plethora of flowers that come in beautiful shades of cream and white and incorporating winter greens such as cedar or pine, creates a texture that is elegant and classic look for a seasonal arrangement.

This combination can be used everywhere from boutonnieres for the groom and his groomsmen with small sprigs of cedar to accent a single white bloom to coordinate with the bouquet of the bride and that of her bridesmaids to large arrangements for ceremony and head tables and the matching centerpieces.

Beautiful arrangement of white hydrangea and roses and winter greens