I'm thinking of using dendrobiums for all or most of my wedding flowers. My attendants would carry a stem (or three) of purple and or white dendrobiums backed by a varrigated ti leaf as an arm swag. The tables (which are oblong ovalesque rather than circles) will be topped with something similar or with floating candles and dendrobium blossoms scattered on the table top.
I would like to have a more traditionally shaped bouquet than the attendants and I've heard wiring the blossoms is a way to do this and make them drape the way you need them too. However, I've only heard this as a suggestion for oncidiums. It seems like the dendrobiums would work the same way though. Am I right?
What would you suggest as some filler flowers to go in bouquet? It will be mostly white but I'd like a little purple mixed in as well. I might do some stephanotis just because it is the Hawaiian wedding flower. I'm very sensitive to smells and perfumes so I have to be careful with the flowers I choose. Any ideas?
(This post was
edited by TWQadmin on Mar 21, 2008, 5:56 PM)
Everything you have suggested sounds beautiful and easily accomplished. Wiring dendrobiums is not hard. Like any orchid put a hairpin shaped wire through the throat of the flower and tape from the back. It would be a lot of work to tape enough dendrobiums to make a traditional round bouquet. Maybe something to consider would be to treat yourself to a larger orchid like a phalenopsis or a cattelya or three. The money spent would be offset by their beauty and drama and especially by the less intense labor involved in putting them together. The phalenopsis automatically creates a near perfect arch and great shape. (see my website bouquets# 18 and 23) If you are having a florist do your bouquets there are lots of things she can do. If you are working them up yourself I would definitely take a look at the other types of orchids available. Some accents that are nice might be rolled leaves as you mentioned, Bear grass and very elegant ribbon accents. I sort of like to keep it pretty simple with orchids. Not a lot of fillers. If anything a little ladies mantle or bulpurum but overall be conservative on that. They are so elegant on their own, why overwork it too much? See if you can expose yourself to some stephanotis. It is a great and fragrant flower and most of the time not an allergy problem. Definitely a question to determine before your wedding day however. If you are doing this yourself and using stephanotis be sure to order "stephanotis stems" which are a great little device that makes the wiring of them a cinch...For lack of a better term they insert up the bottom of the stems like a tampon and hold a bit of moisture in the center so they stay fresh and happy all day long. With these the bending them into place is easy too. Hope this helps...You have a great start already!!!Lots of luch and have a beautiful wedding!!!! Sue of Hobart's Fine Florals http://www.hobartsfineflorals.com
wiring orchids for wedding flowers
Everything you have suggested sounds beautiful and easily accomplished. Wiring dendrobiums is not hard. Like any orchid put a hairpin shaped wire through the throat of the flower and tape from the back. It would be a lot of work to tape enough dendrobiums to make a traditional round bouquet. Maybe something to consider would be to treat yourself to a larger orchid like a phalenopsis or a cattelya or three. The money spent would be offset by their beauty and drama and especially by the less intense labor involved in putting them together. The phalenopsis automatically creates a near perfect arch and great shape. (see my website bouquets# 18 and 23) 