We received some nice press in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review recently.  We were interviewd for an article titled "Blogs offer new avenue for businesses":

Brides-to-be love to read anything pertaining to weddings. That's why the owners of a Butler floral shop reach out to them through a blog, or Web log, that invites their comments.

Richard and Kathy Dudley of The Bloomery post messages and pictures with wedding ideas: Mini bouquets can be made with a deep purple calla lily that looks almost black, for example.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_445885.html

Well, one thing has changed.  In response to the article, we have had new customers check out our blog and website.  They found our prom gallery, and came in to order their prom flowers.  Progress!

You can find our blog at www.floristblogs.com and our regular site at www.bloomery.com.

What's one of the major mistakes couples make when planning their wedding reception?  Forgetting their guests at their wedding reception.  Sure, nearly everyone remembers the guest list, the seating chart, the champagne toast, etc., but we're talking about something more fundamental.  Planners at the reception halls call it "bride worship", and it's the overriding notion that "this day is all about me".  That's very true, your guests are coming to celebrate your new union.  But they are your guests, and it's your responsibility to plan for their comfort.  Sometimes it means not choosing your favorite dish as the main course, but something more guests are likely to enjoy.  If you're having having your reception in a location that doesn't have many (such as outdoors or a private home), will there be enough bathrooms, changing stations, or places to relax?  Do any of your dishes contain allergans, such as peanuts, that might send a guest to the hospital?

Couples who haven't planned a dinner party are more likely to overlook some of this.  We're not talking about a "come over, hang out, and we'll order some pizza" party, but one where you plan and prepare the meals and entertainment.  If you haven't planned a party like this, it might make a good dry-run for your reception to do so.  Perhaps have both sets of parents over at one house, and the both of you pland and prepare the meals.

In the end, it is your day--a celebration of you--but it is also your responsbility to ensure the comfort of those who celebrate with you.  Congratulations, and have fun!

Today’s Wall Street Journal has a special Journal Report on Love & Money.  The cover story is “Nine questions partners should ask each other before getting married”.  If you can still get a copy of the Journal, and you’re getting married this year, definitely check this article out.  If you have a subscription to the online version, you can find the full article at http://online.wsj.com/article/SB114288450388303200.html?mod=OHP2MP.  Some of the questions (and reasons to ask them) include:

2. How do you use debt?

Once you know how much debt your partner-to-be has, take the next step and find out what type of debt. There's a big difference between $30,000 in school loans and $30,000 of credit-card debt.

So ask each other: Do you amass debt in the present, figuring you'll earn more money later in life and can pay it off then? Do you abhor debt and refuse to own a credit card? Either approach could cause marital strife if your partner isn't on the same page.

4. Do we need a prenup?

This is, potentially, the most explosive question. The very utterance of "prenuptial agreement" can send one partner into paroxysms of fury, since a prenup often implies mistrust or a lack of faith in the relationship's survival.

Of course, there could be a situation where one partner legitimately wants to shelter certain assets for a special-needs sibling, or maybe kids from a previous marriage. In many cases, a spouse who expects to give up a career would do well to have a prenup; in case of a divorce, it could help him or her recoup the retirement nest egg that would have accumulated in a company 401(k) plan.

5. What are your financial aspirations?

This is the fun talk.

This is about your individual and combined hopes and dreams: the college you want your kids to attend; the lake house you want to buy; the trips you want to take; the classic Corvette you want to restore. Saving enough to retire early to open a bistro or flower shop or to do pro bono work for a nonprofit.

You may never attain all your dreams, and that's fine. This conversation, instead, aims to help you articulate your priorities and talk about how you'll ultimately fund those priorities together. This shows where common ground already exists, and where you need to start looking for it.

As part of the online version, there is a free podcast publicly available: “Jeff Opdyke discusses what happens when one spouse in a married couple earns more than the other and the stress it can cause”.  Listen at http://podcast.mktw.net/wsj/audio/20060324/pod-wsjopdyke/pod-wsjopdyke.mp3 (this podcast may be available for a limited time).

Money is perhaps the most difficult topic to discuss when in a relationship, but money strife is one of the leading causes of divorce.  Discussing money is tough to do, but doing so could help build a stronger foundation for your relationship.

The unity candle is probably the best known symbol for a couple’s joining in marriage.  In a recent wedding that had a St. Patrick’s Day theme, our couple rang a porcelain bell (shown below) as part of their ceremony to signify their union.  As the program explained:

Ringing of the bell is a custom that is performed as part of this wedding ceremony.  The bell has been blessed and presented to the bride and groom by the pastor.  It is to be rung while they lovingly think of each other and of their future.  The tinkling sound is always to remind the couple of their wedding vows and conjure up joyous memories of their wedding day.

We weren’t around when the tradition started, but we have a sneaking suspicion the ringing of a wedding bell during the ceremony may have led to the the tradition of reception guests clinking their stemware with silverware or ringing small bells for the bride and groom to kiss.  If you’re interested in small bells for your reception, you’ll find them at http://www.bloomeryweddings.com/detail.asp?product_id=1971.

Our couple met two years ago at a St. Pattick’s Day party, hosted by mutual friends.  They re-met a year ago at a party hosted by the same friends, and began dating.  They were married yesterday, and the reception was imbued with a St.Patrick’s Day theme.

Since both have travelled to the Emerald Isle, they decided to name their tables after some of their favorite cities.  Instead of seating cards, our couple made shamrock lollipops, and directed guests to their proper tables with labels on the lollipops.

Fortunately, lollipops (sugar or chocoalte) are very easy to make, and molds are available in almost every imaginable theme.  Your local bake shop will have a decent selection, and can probably provide you with recipes to use.

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.

Mini calla lily bouquets are always popular at a wedding show, but especially when we use the Black Schwarzwalder variety.  Their deep purple color looks almost black when fresh (the color lightens toward purple as the flowers age), and is striking.  Our bouquet was a simple hand-tied arrangement held together with a small wrap of silver ribbon and black-headed pins.

The long stems of mini calla lilies make for a sleek, elegant bouquet, and also allow us to make some very contemporary centerpieces.  In the second photo below, we've used the same Schwarzwalder mini calla lilies with bear grass and curly willow in an elliptical vase, for a very modern look.

Dear Polly,

We would like to personally thank you for doing such a beautiful job with the flowers for our wedding.  They totally exceeded our expectations and were the talk of the wedding.  Thank you for all you did to make our day perfect!

Thank you,

E. & M. W.