I don't want my bouquet to overpower me or my dress. I was going for an overall "understated elegant" look but have fallen in love with some flowers of different colors that I really want to use in my bouquet. Mauve colored asiatic lily/lilies, open lavender roses, a coral/rust/plum peony, and small aubergine/eggplant color orchids. I also want to use lily of the valley and stephanotis.
My dress is ivory, split front skirt with embroidery on the bodice and pointing up from the bottom of the skirt. The bridesmaids dresses are very simple aubergine/eggplant. The groomsmens vests will be a lavender.
I can't decide whether to have my bouquet mostly color, with hints of white/ivory - or to have a background of cream/ivory, with the larger color flowers as accents. Which would appear less busy or more understated?
Please help me look balanced!
flowersue
WEDDING FLOWERS PRO
Post #2 of 4
(2058 views)
Re: [MariJay] All Color or Some Color?
[In reply to]
First of all I want to be sure you are getting married in June. Yes? Good. Otherwise don't get your heart set on the peonies or lily of the valley. Both of those are very seasonal.
As far as your wish to stay understated... that just will require a bit of restraint. The colors you have chosen will do a lot of that for you but you have to consider each bouquet and its setting.
For instance, you are the Bride. So there you want intricate and elegant and probably not too over the top color wise. I would probably tone down the hues on the purple side and play up the white a bit more. If you want understated you probably have to forgo a few of your choices in this bouquet. I would say eliminate the asiatic lily or the peony (which should be white in the case of the bride.) Save the deep tones for the briesmaids and centerpieces.
Another important and often dismissed rule is to not have your bouquet be any more than 2/3 rds the width of the Bride...Make your florist stick to that. It's an act of disipline on her part but very important. Actually it is the difference between "here comes the Bride" and "Whoa, Here comes the flowers".
Now, pull all those fun colors into the bridesmaids, ceremony and centerpieces and eliminate the white in those and you are in business. Big color is great in all these areas and the ones you love will make a georgeous statement. You can also have the lilies and coral peonies back in these arrangements.
Re: [flowersue] All Color or Some Color?
[In reply to]
Thanks, flowersue. Actually, I'm getting married in September. I'm using silks, but I still wanted to stay as "in-season" and as realistic as possible. I was under the impression that Lily of the Valley was available year-round, or at least during the summer. Am I mistaken? Would baby's breath be a better alternative?
After much flower shopping and soul searching yesterday, I think I've decided not to use the peony, and to tone down my bouquet a bit & use the mauve lilies as the primary flowers of my bouquet, with minimal filler. They are rather large, about 6" diameter. Does your suggestion of maximum "2/3 of the bride" refer to waist or hips?
I want to use lighter color flowers for the bridesmaids so they will show up against their dark dresses. I have several choices for these, but I'll wait unti I figure out my bouquet before I narrow it down.
I have also seen some teeny tiny lavender & purple roses that I really like (pompon and mini-victorian). Do these exist in nature?
Thanks for your help.
flowersue
WEDDING FLOWERS PRO
Post #4 of 4
(2042 views)
Re: [MariJay] All Color or Some Color?
[In reply to]
[;)Hi again..lily of the valley is available all year..Though very expensive. In terms of silks sure why not. 2/3 of the bride means more or less.If your dress flairs fron the waist you can go a bit wider. Hold up dinner plates in various sizes in front of yourself in the mirror and see what you think. Sue of Hobart's Fine Florals http://www.hobartsfineflorals.com
All Color or Some Color?
First of all I want to be sure you are getting married in June. Yes? Good. Otherwise don't get your heart set on the peonies or lily of the valley. Both of those are very seasonal. 
". 