The vast majority of bridal and bridesmaid bouquets we make these days are hand tied bouquets.  We make real hand-tied bouquets, not flowers in a holder dressed up to look hand tied, so when we wrap the stems, we're adding decoration and personalization, we're not hiding something.  We've shown you hundreds of pictures of the fronts and tops of our bouquets, now we're going to show you a few of the bottoms.

On a simple wrap, we sometimes add an adornment, such as a brooch, a charm, or an heirloom rosary which has been in the family for generations.  Below is an example of an initial brooch from a recent wedding.  This is more common on bouquets made from roses or mixed flowers having a very round top, where the adornment can be worked into and supported by the flowers.  This brooch was attached to a mixed bouquet of hydrangea and roses.

 

The rosary and memorial photographs below are from the bridal bouquets of two sisters, married four months apart last year.  We were honored to be part of both of their weddings.

 

Sometimes the simple wrap ends with just a soft bow and flowing tails, for a very soft look when the bridesmaids come down the aisle.

One of the most classic wraps we have is a simple ribbon wrap, finished its entire length with pearl headed pins.  This is a very clean look, and is beautiful on bouquets where you see a lot of the wrap, such as this bouquet of mini calla lilies.

One favorite is our tuxedo twist, where the ends of the ribbon are formed into a little bow-tie, and finished with a cluster of pearl headed pins.  Again, this is most common where the bow tie is part of the finishing for a more rounded bouquet.  This bouquet was all roses and stephanotis.

For an elegant look, many brides choose a ballet braid.  A simple acetate wrap, finished with pearls, is overlain with a chiffon ribbon wrap braided like a ballet dancer ties her shoes.  The chiffon overlay matches or complements the colors of the bouquet.

 

We've even done some "twists" on the braid, using a thin ribbon, or finishing with a soft bow and trailing streamers.

 

Not every wrap is ribbon, either.  We've used natural elements such as raffia, pieces of the dresses, or pieces from the mother's wedding dress.  If you're interested in some very personal touches to your bridal and bridesmaid bouquets, please ask us for ideas (or bring some of your own) when you meet with us.  The stem wraps are easy to overlook when planning, but can be so personal on your wedding day that they are unforgettable.

We've been meaning to get our 2008 floral trends post up, but the folks at Teleflora's flower blog beat us to the punch.

First up is Bloomery pal and fellow Pennsylvania florist Tim Farrell discussing monoculture weddings.  Monoculture is the use of a single flower, such as a rose or lily, throughout the entire wedding.  It's a very simple, clean and elegant look to your wedding flowers.  The real style of a monoculture wedding is using different containers and designs, since this is how you get different textures and shapes.  A variety of textures breaks up the room, and provides interesting angles to engage the eyes.

Another trend we've seen is using a single color--known as monocolor--throughout all of your wedding flowers.  One of our recent monocolor weddings was beautiful soft pink, and we made an all lavender bouquet for a wedding show last year.

Unlike a lot of trends, you can combine these two and still have a very chic look to your wedding.  Imagine a wedding of all white lilies, or deep burgundy roses.  Beautiful!  Just a little food for thought as the 2008 wedding planning season kicks into full gear.

There are so many varieties of gerbera daisies, how do you know which ones you want?  With so many weddings being planned, at least in part, via e-mail, the old variety posters aren't very useful any more.  Two brokers which specialize in gerbera daisies have updated their websites with outstanding selection guides, featuring photos and the variety name.  One broker is Cedar Way Floral, the other is Rosa Flora Limited.  Rosa Flora's site also includes a number of other flowers, including mini calla-lilies and oriental lilies.  You can't order from these brokers directly, but most florists can order from these brokers, either directly or through a local wholesaler.  Keep note of the name of the variety name, and when you meet with your florist, let them know which ones you liked.

Remember that for a variety of reasons, the color of your flowers won't match what you see on the screen exactly.

In 1961, rose breeder David Austin released the fragrant Constance Spry to the horticultural world, re-igniting the love for colorful, fragrant English Roses.  Since then, David Austin has developed and released over 200 varieties of roses, beginning his eponymous company in 1969.  While prized by gardeners and horticulturalists alike for nearly 30 years, David Austin's beautiful roses were not widelay available as cut flowers for florists.  So, in 1992, the David Austin Company began developing varieties which could be used for the cut flower market.  In 2004, Emily (now known as Cymbeline) and Patience were the first two varieties released to the floral market.  There are now 5 varieties available to florists, and 2007 marks the first year the David Austin English Roses are widelay available in the US market.  Grown and distributed by Green Valley Floral in Salinas, CA, they require special cooler growing conditions for maximum beauty.

When fully open, English garden roses resemble a peony in appearance, with lush colorful blooms and a delightful fragrance.  Their large heads and thin stems mean it's still some time before garden roses are suitable for vased arrangements, but they are perfect for bridal bouquets and special event work, where appearance and fragrance are prized over vase life.  Two of their gorgeous roses are shown below.

"When fully open, the blooms reveal many neatly arranged petals nestling in folds within the heart of the bloom. The soft, peachy shades of Juliet combine well with other colors, creating a feeling of warmth and romance."

Green Valley also entered these roses in SAF's Outstanding Variety Competition, and we have some photos of their additional varieties below.

Miranda "Spectacular rose-pink blooms made up of many wavy petals, perfectly arranged to form beautiful, almost flat rosettes.  The outer petals have a lovely streaked green effect, which adds to the garden style."
Patience "When fully open, these roses portray a sense of grandeur from yesteryear."

You can see Green Valley Floral's selection of garden roses at http://www.greenvalleyfloral.com/gardenroses.htm.  While we do not normally stock these flowers in our shop, they are easily available for your wedding or special event work.  If you want garden roses as part of your wedding, contact us for a consultation--we'll be happy to create all of your wedding floral needs (remember, we're in the Butler/Pittsburgh PA area, so if you're not around Pittsburgh, check with your local florists instead).

For a history of David Austin Roses, check out http://www.davidaustinroses.com/american/Advanced.asp?PageId=1906.

Instead of trashing your dress in a grungy urban setting, how about splashing your dress at a beautiful beach?  Local photogs Paul and Cyndy Meyer at White Ribbon Design have been having Splash the Dress photo sessions, and have posted some of the results on their blog.  If you're looking for an alternative to the alternative of what to do with your dress, think about a kinder gentler photo shoot.

Splash the Dress - August 14th session

Splash the Dress - August 25th session

Could this photo be any more beautiful?  If this is your type of thing, you need to call Paul and Cyndy.

<update 2007-10-27>

We saw Cyndy and Paul a couple of weeks ago, and she let us in on a little secret--many of the photos you see were taken in the same dress!  They have a loaner dress you can use for you phot session so you don't ruin yours.  In between sessions, they have it cleaned, and it's nearly good as new each time.  Since most of it is under water in their shots, no one will know!

One of the biggest trends in wedding flowers is unique corsage and boutonniere designs.  We've done some really cool designs, and have some great idea books in the shop, so if you're interested in trendy corsages and boutonnieres, ask us when you come in.

One of our recent designs is a twist on the traditional boutonniere.  Instead of flowers pinned to the lapel, a pocket square boutonniere features several small flowers and is worn in the pocket of the jacket, much like a pocket square handkerchief.  The pocket squares are made on a card, which is easily slipped into the breast pocket of the suit or tuxedo.  In some cases, the pocket will still be sewn shut.  The pocket can be opened by carefully using a pen knife, or you can ask the tux shop to make sure the pockets are cut open.

 

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review featured the Trash the Dress project, and local photographer Kim Reed was highlighted:

"I think the appeal of the wedding gown is that it's so out of the ordinary, and it's such a dichotomy to see this woman in a gorgeous gown that you're used to seeing in cathedrals," says Kim Reed, of Kimberly Reed photography in the North Side. "I think it's almost a little bit of the shock factor to it."

Full story at http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/search/s_521992.html.

Pantone has released their color report for fall 2007.  In summary:

Complex and exotic describe the intriguingly unusual and inviting color palette for fall ’07. The traditional neutral shades expected for autumn have been replaced this season with rich, nuanced hues, offering more opportunity for creativity with interesting and unexpected color combinations.

The colors shown in the report are great for us, because so many flowers available during the fall match or complement the colors they have listed.  By adding in some accents with ribbons and bouquet jewels, we can bring a full palatte to your bouquet, creating a very memorable part of your big day.

Check out their full report at http://www.pantone.com/pages/pantone/Pantone.aspx?pg=20367&ca=4.

If you're not ready to trash the dress, consider donating your gown to charity.  Donated dresses are sold at discounts, and all proceeds go to charity.  This is win-win-win all over--you've found a positive way to clean some space in your closet, someone else gets a dream dress they can afford, and a charity gets some financial support.

If you're interested, here are two causes to check out:

Brides Against Breast Cancer

Sheltering Arms' Bridal Garden

Photography project trash the dress is looking for photos of brides, in their gowns, in some not-so-weddingy locations.  Locations have included farms, beaches and car washes, with some dramatic and interesting results.  Some of the coolest ones feature a submerged bride and bridesmaid.  Definately worth a look.

This is a very interesting art project, and some very talented photographers have contributed.  Local photographer Kim Reed is part of the project, and there is a long list of photographers located all over--be sure to check out the website at http://trashthedress.com/ if you're interested in trashing your dress.

Reading through some of the comments, this preoject has generated some controversy.  Some people consider this a waste of hard earned money, especially when the dresses could be donated to a charity.

It was only a matter of time, we suppose.  Target, home of discount chic, has begun selling wedding gowns and tuxedos through their website (at this time, not available in their stores).  One of the problems we see is that you can't actually try a gown on, so you have no sense of the fit, or the color, or how the gown actually looks when you buy it.  The collection is designed by Isaac Mizrahi, and the gowns look to be basic but not unfashionable (the basic design is no doubt what helps keep the prices low).  No word on whether you can register for your gown in Club Wedd.

Industry reviews are mixed.  Some see this as a great move, allowing a budget conscious bride to look great on her wedding day.  Others think this may be a flop, since even the most budget conscious bride cares how she looks on her wedding day.  The Chicago Tribune has a good article at http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-070603target-story,0,5017603.story?coll=chi-bizfront-hed.

One of the advantages to a local salon is that you can try on a number of gowns to see what fits you best.  Often, you can buy a gown right there, and your gown can be altered by an experienced seamstress if necessary.

You can view their gowns at http://www.target.com/gp/browse.html?node=16033001; there are also links to their tuxedos and accessories.  If you've had experience or thoughts one way or the other, let us know.

Kirstie Kelly for Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings Collection Is Inspired by the Unique Spirit and Personality of Each Disney Princess

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Gown. The Slipper. The Kiss. The Prince. Under it all, every girl believes in the dream. As a tribute to fairy tale wishes and finding true love, Disney today will unveil a new collection of wedding gowns inspired by the spirit and style of each Disney Princess. Kirstie Kelly For Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings inaugural collection will be showcased on the runways this evening as part of the New York Bridal Fashion Week. Bridal gowns priced between $1,100 and $3,500 US dollars and a "Maidens" for bridesmaids collection will be available at specialty boutiques in North America, Japan and Europe beginning in June. The collection will soon expand to include "Jewels" that accessorize even the fairest of them all.

The collection combines a fashion-forward look with timeless elements inspired by the Disney Princesses themselves, including Ariel, Aurora/Sleeping Beauty, Belle, Cinderella, Jasmine and Snow White. Fabrics like organza, chantilly, chiffon, satins and tulle are accented with stunning embellishments, including lace, ribbons, crystals, pearls and gorgeous embroidered beading.

"Every look takes its inspiration from the silhouette, palette and icons of each Disney Princess story and interprets the spirit of each young woman," said Kelly. "Each of them has a unique, charming and very individual style that many brides can identify with - and now truly emulate - on their wedding day."

The Ariel dresses are sultry and alluring - ideal for the bride who feels comfortable with a more form-fitted look. Fabrics consist of gorgeous silks and chiffons, beads, leaf applique and pearls, with a mermaid-like "wave effect" at the bottom. The Aurora/Sleeping Beauty collection is lovely and romantic, with a mix of georgette, chantilly, high-shine satin, pearl and crystal embellishments, with pleated hems and beaded organza inlays. The Belle collection exudes stylish sophistication, with lace and ribbon, bands of satin, taffeta and gorgeous tulle flowers at the neckline. The Cinderella gowns radiate classic glamour and elegance, with silk tulle, duchesse satin, scattered crystals and embroidered beading. The Jasmine gowns convey a Bohemian chic look, featuring appliqued lace, embroidery and draping, with chiffon and satin mixed in with clustered beadwork. The Snow White dresses are sweet and demure, with rouched chiffon, tulle inlays with beading and pleated satins.

"When brides shop for wedding gowns and see Kirstie Kelly's Disney Princess-inspired collection, they will stop in their tracks," said Jim Calhoun, executive VP, global apparel, Disney Consumer Products. "Every bride wants to be a Princess on their wedding day, and they want the magical feeling that goes along with it. This collection captures that magic extremely well."

For consumer information on the Kirstie Kelly For Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings collection, consumers may visit www.disneybridal.com.

(source: http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/070415/20070415005036.html?.v=1)

When Paul Meyer visitied us for a recent magazine cover, he showed us one of the projects he and Cyndy have been working on.  Their new offering is White Ribbon Design Album Design.  Paul brought a beautiful photo guestbook they produce, just back from the printer.  The couple had an engagement sitting with Paul, and they worked with Paul and Cyndy to choose some great photos.  The couple will use this as their guestbook at their wedding reception, and the guests will be treated to gorgeous photos of the couple on the pages they sign.

Their albums are more expensive than the discount ones you'll see online, but it's their quality and attention to detail that make the difference.  The books are actually printed in Japan on a special press, using durable inks and archival quality papers.  Their artistic skill will help you turn your photo guestbook or wedding album into a true keepsake, suitable for display on your coffee table, and something you'll treasure.

Out: Bridezilla
In: hybrid-driving, free-range poultry eating, organic wine drinking

The watchword of wedding trends for 2007 is green -- as in the color and the environmental movement, says Maria McBride, wedding style director of Brides magazine and author of several wedding-planning books.

"Couples are choosing to celebrate as they live, with conscientious decisions that help protect and sustain the earth," McBride says. "Organic fibers set tables, recycled wine bottles are used as vases, green plants or grasses for decor, soy candles for lighting and seasonal, local foods are served for meals with organic wines and spirits for cocktails, and, finally, the couples depart via hybrid limo services."

Couples' quests for environmentally friendly weddings are in step with some broader consumer trends. For instance, The National Association of Home Builders and McGraw-Hill Construction told the Nashua (N.H.) Telegraph that it predicts "a rise in green building to 10 percent of homes by 2010 from 2 percent today."  Full story at http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070309/BUSINESS/203090321/-1/community.

Even brides who don't make an environmental statement at their weddings are choosing green hues for the big event, says McBride, calling green "the hot color for every season."

(Thanks to Society of American Florists)

Chocolate fountains burst onto the wedding scene a few years ago, and proved to be incredibly popular.  Today, they're almost standard issue at many reception halls.  At the recent Winter Bridal Extravaganza, we were intorduced to what may be the next trend at weddings--margarita machines.

Frozen margaritas offer a number of options at a wedding reception.  You could have one mix for the kids, and one mix for the parents.  Or two different flavors for the adults.  Or even offer something other than iced tea and soda at a totally dry reception.  If you're working on a tight budget, frozen margaritas are a great way to stretch your bar dollars while still allowing your guests to "have a good time".  Plus, since frozen margaritas have a lower alcohol content than straight shots, you wouldn't have to worry too much about guests overdoing it too easily.

We don't expect to see these at more formal receptions, but plenty of couples are having more casual or even themed receptions, and frozen margaritas would fit right in to those events.

The machine below (the one we saw at the Winter Bridal Extravaganza) is from General Rental Center in Cranberry Township.  You can call them at 724-776-6990 for availability and more details.

<update>

The Disney Princess bridal gowns can now be seen at http://www.disneybridal.com/.  Participating salons will be added soon.

<orignal>

Today's Wall Street Journal reports that Disney has hired designer Kirstie Kelly to design a line of wedding gowns inspired by the Disney Princesses:

As Ms. Kelly sees it, Cinderella is "classic glamour" -- the dresses in her line come in high-shine satin with ball-gown skirts and make generous use of silver embroidery and crystals. Snow White has a slightly more conservative look dubbed "sweet elegance." Ariel and Jasmine models are considerably racier. Ariel, who played the title role in "The Little Mermaid," has a "sultry allure" and is "comfortable showing her body." Jasmine, from "Aladdin," is "bohemian chic," and her various dresses are big on sheath and lace. In all, Disney will offer 34 princess designs for its first season.

...

But don't expect the gaudy princess costumes that kids run around in. Ms. Kelly says her designs are more about capturing the "mood" of the princess than creating an exact replica of each of the cartoon characters' outfits.

That means using more subtle colors than the startling pinks, yellows and blues of the mini-princess world. The Cinderella designs, for instance, come in refined ivory and champagne, rather than the bright blue of the original attire. That also means including only delicate features from the characters' costumes. One of the five Ariel designs has a subtle mermaid styling to the skirt, for instance. Another has waves of shell-like beading cascading down to the hem.

The gowns are scheduled to go on sale at bridal boutiques in June.

View some of the sketches and their inspiration at http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB117210199901415450.html (free), or read the full article at http://online.wsj.com/article/SB117211110257315650.html (subscription required).

If you are interested in Disney-themed wedding invitations to coordinate, check out our selection from Carlson Craft (30% discount if you order through our website at http://bloomery.cceasy.com/).

For many years, the groom's boutonniere was a plain afterthought to the bride's bouquet.  Recent wedding trends show that the groom's flowers are becoming more elaborate and dressy.  One way which boutonnieres are becoming more elaborate is by making them in a filigree boutonniere holder.  We've featured filigree boutonniere holders in a previous post, and for the Butler Days Inn Winter 2007 Bridal Extravaganza, we decided to bling ourselves out a bit.

The boutonniere below features green hypericum berries, a purple Florigene Moonshadow mini-carnation and loops of beargrass accented with a swatch of lavender ribbon.  The boutonniere holder is attached to the coat magnetically.  Approximate price is $25-$35.

For years, the wedding books from the John Henry company have been favorites for brides seeking ideas.  This year, John Henry has a brand new Wedding Flower Style book, filled with some of the trendiest ideas and designs.  John Henry's prom guide made a big splash at last year's prom season (you can see the designs on our site at http://www.bloomery.com/promgallery.htm), and their new wedding book continues the trend.

We're the first shop in our area to have this book, and we'll bring it to the Butler Days Inn 2007 Winter Bridal Extravaganza.  If you want to look at chic bridal bouquets and upcoming wedding trends, be sure to attend the show and flip through our idea books, as well as our portfolio.

One of the most exciting flowers to hit the market in recent years are the purple carnations from Florigene.  Available in regular and mini sizes, and several shades of purple and lavender, they are very popular for large event displays, as well as bridal bouquets and every day work.  Two examples from SAF 2006 are below; you can see more examples at http://www.florigene.com/products/safdesign06_1.php.

Florigene is sending The Bloomery hundreds of their purple carnations to use for the Winter Bridal Expo 2007 at the Butler Days Inn.  If you're in the area, be sure to visit us at the bridal show and see what we've created.  If not, stay tuned here, and we'll post some pictures.

We love baked goods, and are happy to report another bakery coming soon.  We recently received the following e-mail:

Dear Bloomery,

I am the owner of Dozen Cupcakes, a cupcake cafe opening in Squirrel Hill this December. We currently available for catering weddings and bridal showers. Made popular by Sex and the City and Oprah, cupcake trees are the latest trend in wedding cake options. A unique and elegant alternative to the traditional cake, more and more brides are choosing cupcakes because of ther practicality and uniqueness. Cupcakes can be easily customized to suite the wedding parties tastes.

I hope you will consider recommending us to your clients. And please take a second to view our website at www.dozencupcakes.com

Sincerely,
James Gray
Dozen cupcakes Owner

We checked out their website, and they have some delicious looking cupcakes.  We hope to cross paths with them sometime in the future.  Yum!  If you're interested in a trendy cupcake wedding cake, Dozen Cupcakes seems like a place to check out.

One sure thing with weddings is that brides want to make theirs unique and special.  We've found a new rose variety that is both.  Eufloria Flowers' Marrakesh is a newer variety which features a high petal count and a large head which opens into a large, full bloom.  It's the color that's so different--it was described on the entry card as "brilliant copper with accents of pink and lavendar", and by their sales manager as "caramel mocha with a pink cast".  We've tried to keep the color as true as possible in the photos below, but it's still slightly off from what the flower looks like naturally.

What makes this a great rose for a princess wedding?  The Queen of Holland carried a bouquet of these roses in the Queen's Day parade earlier this year.  That's about as royal as you can get.

(click on the photos for a larger view)

Technically, this is probably a groom/groomsman trend, but we're filing it under Bridal Trends all the same.

Bling for the groom or groomsman!  One of the latest trends for boutonnieres is the Flower Filigreee cone, an ornate holder which can hold a single rose head or small boutonniere.  Rather than needing a pin, a very strong pair of magnets easily attaches the boutonniere to the lapel, and holds them secure.  Right now, there are two styles (shown below).  This is a great detail to add to an elegant wedding, or one where you want the groom's flowers to stand out a little more.

Word of caution--very strong magnets are involved.  Don't put these on someone with a pacemaker or similar medical device.

<update 2007-07-30>

We don't have these online yet because we usually sell them as part of the flower package.  If you'd like to order these, please call us at 800-729-1711.  Thanks!

We've shown you some work with the black Schwarzwalder mini calla lily at http://www.bloomeryweddings.com/blog/BlackSchwarzwalderMiniCallaLillyBouquet.aspx.  On our regular florist blog, we've highlighted some additional varieties of black mini calla lilies.  There are no true black mini calla lilies; the three varieties we're displaying are actually a dark purple (Schwarzwalder), dark burgundy (Blackstar) and deep brown (Hot Chocolate).  Check them out at http://floristblogs.com/blogs/bloomery/archive/2006/09/28/Black-Mini-Calla-Lilies.aspx.

More and more we’ve seen projection screens set up at receptions to show movies or slideshows of the happy couple, set to music.  In some cases, these wedding montages are professionally produced, but in most cases the couple makes them.

If you’re thinking of such a thing, there are a couple of free tools you can use to make these movies.  On Windows XP, there is the Windows Movie Maker, which has a video tutorial on YouTube at http://youtube.com/watch?v=hTLGGnSpf_k.

A new onlline tool called OneTrueMedia was recently reviewed in the Wall St. Journal (http://ptech.wsj.com/archive/solution-20060830.html).  The online video editing tool is free, and should work on both Windows and Macs.  OneTrueMedia will also convert your old photos, slides and VHS tapes to digital format for you.

Macintoshes have iDVD, which you can use to create your wedding movies.  Other parts of the iLife suite may also be useful for your needs as well.

There was an article in the Wall Stree Journal on 8/24/2006 about couples using iPods instead of DJs for their wedding music.  We find this to be an interesting trend.  It’s true that iTunes has a great selection of music, and iPods will import music from CDs you’ve purchased.  An iPod can even overlap songs for a cleaner transition.

Despite this level of sophistication, iPods aren’t a comparable replacement for a wedding DJ.  For starters, there is the light show many DJs bring.  Then there are the props and games DJs use to keep your guests involved in your reception, if you want them to.  DJs announce your grand entrance, the champagne toast, the first dance and the parents’ dance.  If you use an iPod, you’re planning your music in advance, and hoping you’ve created the proper mood.  A DJ can read the crowd at your reception, and adjust the music to keep your guests involved.  A DJ can take requests, which your iPod cannot (unless you have a gargantuan music budget, you probably won’t even come close to the music selection a DJ carries).

In every wedding, there are decisions which need to be made to balance budget and desires.  While it may be tempting to do away with a DJ based solely on cost, the bulk of your wedding’s budget will be spent on your reception, and a DJ is an important part of creating and keeping the mood of your reception.

Florists: Your Fridays might be getting a little busier. Friday night weddings – once only chosen as a way to get great deals on food, a cake and flowers – are becoming a first choice for many brides- and grooms-to-be, according to The New York Times.

“It sets the tone that your wedding is about the party,” Carley Roney, editor in chief of The Knot, a magazine and wedding resource Web site, told The Times. “You could have even more cost savings on a Sunday afternoon, but that doesn’t say ‘We’re cool.’”

Because Saturday night has traditionally been the most popular (and expensive) time to hold a wedding, according to The Times, venues often offer great deals – say, $2,000 to $3,000 off – if brides book the spot on a day it’s less likely to fill. But those special rates are starting to diminish as more people opt for the Friday-night cocktail event.

Source: SAF Dateline, July 14, 2006

(we’d link to the original, but you need a password to access the site)

Pantone has released its Premier Vision report for Winter 2006/2007 at http://www.pantone.com/products/products.asp?idArticle=801&idArea=14.  Quoting from their website:

While the last few seasons have been a lavish display of color the news for Winter 2006/07 is that color is now taking on a different appearance. The color palettes seen at Premier Vision focused on the importance of using color in a more tempered manner. From a design standpoint fabric becomes a key focus for next season. While clothing shapes return in simplicity, the colors and materials used will help define the newness and interest.

For fall 2005 fashion in Europe was anything but uninformed or conventional. From a color standpoint there was a definite softening of the palettes and there was much more emphasis paid to solids, monochromes or simple multi-color application.

(we think "fall 2005" is a typo)

Styling your wedding after these reports is not for the faint of heart.  But the bride looking to be ahead of the curve in style and fashion might find this information more contemporary than the big bridal magazines.  We've seen the time lag from Pantone report and early trendsetters to mass market at about 2 years.  With that in mind, you can expect the color schemes and fabrics to be on the everyday racks for winter 2008.

Today's USA Today has an article about bridal fashion, but not the usual dresses.  Instead, more designers are including pantsuits in their collections, and more brides are wearing pants on their wedding day:

Telegraphing a vibe that's either sophisticated or sexy, casual or chic, trouser suits have turned up on the bridal runways of Richard Tyler, Saison Blanche and Pronovias. And non-bridal designers are offering suits that could translate into altar attire, such as the icy silk pantsuit unveiled two weeks ago at Rochas' Paris fashion show.

Read the full article at http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/2006-03-13-wedding-pants_x.htm.

The 2006 issue of The Knot Weddings: Pittsburgh has hit the stands, and if you pick up a copy, check out the Trend Alert on page 21.  That’s a real bouquet we made for a bridal show.  The bouqurt features lavender double-tulips, green viburnum and Vendella roses.  You can see the original photo at http://www.bloomeryweddings.com/portfolio_detail.asp?product_id=BW321.

Speaking of real bouquets in The Knot, our ad on page 82 is a real bouquet, and that’s the real bride holding it.  There were three dozen cream roses in that bouquet, and the bouquet was stunning.  It was nearly 100 degrees on the day of this wedding, in the non-air conditioned Harbison Chapel at Grove City College.  The poor bride was practically melting, and was trying to keep cool for a few minutes between wedding photos.  We took a quick photo of the bouquet for the portfolio in our store, and our graphic designer turned that moment into our ad.

Why all the emphasis on real in this post (and in previous ones)?  As you plan your wedding, you’ll get a lot of information from every direction, and it may be hard to filter out the useful from the otherwise.  Our experience and creativity can help you make the best floral choices for your wedding day, pleasing both your eye for beauty and your budget.

We remember when chocolate fountains first hit the wedding scene a few years ago—what a stir they created!  Luscious chocolate cascading down several pools, filling the halls with their fragrance.  People couldn’t get enough of them—us included!  It wasn’t very long before it seemed like everyone and their brother had fountains to rent, in several sizes, and offering several chocolates (you can dye the white to match your wedding), caramel, even nacho cheese (not just for weddings anymore—think Super Bowl party).  Tiny fountains for your home were all over the place this past Christmas season.

From talking with our fountain friends, chocolate fountains are still a hot item at weddings.  We did see a lot of fountains this past year, and probably will again this year.  The first year or two, with only a few fountains and high demand, it was all our friends could do to keep up, and they were telling a lot of brides they were booked.  The rental business has calmed down a little, in part because so many people offer the rental service (including many reception sites).  Most reception sites aren’t shy about mentioning they have a fountain, but ask if you’re interested in one and don’t see any information.  They can probably point you to people you can trust if their is booked, of it they don’t have one.

Some rental halls do not allow chocolate fountains at all.  Early on, some rental outfits would dump the leftover chocolate down the hall’s sinks.  The chocolate cooled and hardened on its way to the sewer, clogging the lines and causing thousands of dollars in plumbing bills.  Most people have that figured out now, and dispose of the leftover chocolate in buckets or bags and take it with them.  You definatelty need to ask the hall if you can have a fountain at all.

If you’re including a chocolate fountain in your plans, remember to have your hall designate a table for it—its location will factor in to your overall seating arrangement.  Much like your wedding cake, the table should be out of a major traffic area (e.g., keep it away from the dance floor), but should also be very accessible since it will attract a crowd.

Some tips, if you’re planning on renting a fountain:

• Ask who provides the food to be dipped—sometimes you’re responsible
• Ask what your options are, and if you can substitute
• Ask who provides the skewers, plates and napkins (you’ll need both—plates for the dipped foods, and napkins for the dribbles)
• Ask about what types of chocolate are available (milk, dark, white) and what dips the best in each
• Ask who is responsible for setup and cleanup—some lower cost packages are “self service”.  Trust us—we’ve seen this process many times, and pay the extra to have someone else do it for you.  A big white dress and five pounds of melted chocolate are not a good combination.

A lot of the chocolate in these fountains is thinned with vegetable oil (especially peanut oil), but higher grades of chocolate are usually thinned with cocoa butter.  If you have guests with peanut sensitivities, be aware of this (unfortunately, you may not know until a guest has a reaction).  Ask around as to what is added to the chocolate—you may need to base your decision on whom to rent from by the chocolate additives.

If you’re looking for chocolate fountains in your area, one resource you can try is Chocolate Fountain Network (http://www.chocolatefountainnetwork.com/), which is a national listing of chocolate fountain vendors.  If you’re in the North Pittsburgh/Cranberry/Butler area, check out our friends at Chocolate Fountain Enterprises (http://www.chocolatefountainenterprises.com/).  CFE usually uses a higher grade of chocolate that is thinned with cocoa butter, not peanut oil.  Double bonus—this service is run by Arnella’s Bridal Salon (http://www.arnellas.com/), so you can shop for dresses at the same time.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ran an article earlier this week about brides taking their groom's name after they married (http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05311/601902.stm).  For a number of years, the percentage of brides changing their name declined, but recently, the trend has reversed.

According to the study conducted in 2004 by Harvard University researchers, the fraction of white, college graduates in Massachusetts who kept their maiden names decreased from 21 percent to 13 percent from 1990 to 2000.

And in a poll last spring from the wedding planning Web site TheKnot.com, 81 percent of those surveyed said they would take their husband's name -- up from 71 percent in 2000.

Granted, The Knot's study is not very scientific, and Harvard's seems pretty limited in scope, but the numbers are probably within acceptable error of one another.  In our case, The Bloomery's owner changed her name after several years of marriage, and only so the last names on their passports matched when travelling internationally.  We're located in her hometown, and many people in the area know her or her family (so many people that her groom, who moved here from another state, used to joke about changing his name instead).

We don't have any advice--it's a personal decision in every case, and each bride has different considerations.  The modern groom should be understanding of his bride's choice, whichever way she chooses, and respect her reasons for doing so.  Which is a great segue into another topic.

Clergy have long felt that it's not the wedding per se that matters, but the marriage.  However, marriage educators have recently begun to feel that the process of planning a wedding is not only good practice for a marriage, but can actually predict the success of the marriage.  Planning a wedding, as you no doubt know, is an invitation to conflict.  The basic indicator for a successful marriage is how the couple interacts with each other, and with each other's family; in short, how those inevitable conflicts are resolved:

Successful couples are those who know how to discuss their differences in ways that actually strengthen their relationship and improve intimacy.  Successful couples don't let their disagreements contaminate the rest of the relationship. (http://www.smartmarriages.com/divorcepredictor.html)

To quote Bill and Ted, "Be excellent to each other, and party on, dudes!"  For more information along these lines, you can visit Smart Marriages at http://www.smartmarriages.com/.

Time has an article on the rise of "groomzillas" at http://www.time.com/time/archive/preview/0,10987,1109319,00.html.  In a few weddings, we've seen the grooms take a more active role, but the spa trend hasn't really worked its way into our area yet.

When the Socirty of American Florists has an Outstanding Varieties competition, they're not kidding when they say "outstanding".  Dozens of growers brought hundreds of gerbera daisies, roses, alstromeria, lilies, and more to Lake Las Vegas last week, and we were impressed.  As promised, we'll be posting photos of some of our favorites.

Our first favorite was a brilliant orange rose named "Valentine" (we're not sure why they named it such).  This variety, from Koch California Ltd, won a Red Ribbon for standard roses, and features a vibrant orange petal with dark green foliage.  Orange by itself is not a popular color for weddings, but as part of a fall wedding, this rose would be outstanding.  The high petal count gives this rose a large head with a very classic profile from the top and side.

Author and Floral Expert Rebecca Cole Discusses the Year's I-Do's Hand-tied bouquets showcase the natural stems and are often wrapped in ribbon. Brides need not worry about matc