Top 10 Floral Trends of 2012

Every bride knows the importance of beautiful flowers at their wedding. When planning you big day make sure to keep in mind the top 10 Floral Trends for 2012!

The Rustic style was huge in 2011, but for 2012 look for that rustic style to have a more modern flare.

Unusual Bouquets

A return to simple elegance

Elements of surprise: plants instead of flowers, feathers, fruit, tree stubs.

Patterns

Bringing the outside indoors

Bright Colors

A touch of whimsy

Garden roses: the hot flower for 2012

White & green: Such a classic combination, this trend seems to be everywhere this year.

Cost Effective Flowers For Your Wedding

A big worry when it comes to weddings is cost. Whether you are spending your money on the basics, or decided to go all out, it’s always nice to realize there are a few places you can be cost effective.

One place you can be budget friendly is with your flowers. Brides are able to discover a ton of spots where they can obtain those low-priced flowers. You can check out the Markets for roses and carnations, along with other bouquets. There’s

always the Farmers Market and any other type of Farm. And then there’s the ever-reliable internet- where you can get a happy price reducing floral provider. What about your own personal garden? You can plant the seeds you want and end up with a beautiful homemade touch at the wedding!

Whatever you choose, make sure to take into account the styles, the season, and most importantly, yourself!

What To Do With All Those Flowers

One of the most important aspects of your wedding day will be your decor. But after the big day is over and you have danced your last dance, what do you do with all the left over flowers?

Here are a few suggestions:

- Donate Your Flowers:
Check with your local nursing homes or assisted living centers to see where your centerpieces could be put to good use. The following websites will help you locate a nursing home or assisted living facility in your area.
www.nursinghomeinfo.com
www.assistedlivinginfo.com
www.alfa.org
www.assisted-living-directory.com

- Use Centerpieces as Gifts
One way to honor those who helped make your wedding a special day is to give them a bouquet, perhaps a centerpiece, as a gift. Everyone loves fresh flowers, and with the right care those flowers will stay beautiful for a week or two after your wedding. The people that helped make your special day such a success can relive the beauty of your wedding every time they look at your beautiful flowers.

- Preserve Your Bouquet
You can have your wedding bouquet freeze dried to preserve it after your wedding day. Be sure you have this professionally done, as it takes special equipment to remove all of the moisture from your bouquet and preserve its shape and beauty. Once it is preserved, you can have it mounted to display in your new home. As long as you do not touch the bouquet, it should stay beautiful for several years. Imagine being able to show your children your wedding bouquet one day!
http://www.hellerandreid.com/
http://www.frostedfloralmemories.com/

- Start a Compost Heap
Composting is probably not on your mind on your wedding day, but if you intend to have a garden in your new home, your wedding flowers are the perfect way to start your compost heap. You can designate someone to collect the flowers after the party and take them to your home where the compost area is set up.

Once the flowers are in the compost heap, they can remain untouched until you return from your honeymoon. Then, you can add your kitchen waste and gardening waste to the compost heap as you begin your new life together. Soon you will have healthy compost that you can add to the soil of your next garden. Whether you want to grow food or plant flowers, compost, created with your wedding flowers, will help the plants grow big and stay healthy

Popular Flowers and Their Meanings

Flowers have become such an important aspect to weddings, more so now than in the past.   In ancient times, they believed strong smelling herbs/flowers would ward off evil spirits and bad luck. That’s how the tradition of walking down the aisle with a bouquet began.  Flowers, in the Victorian times, gained meanings behind them as they were given to convey a message. Today, flowers are incorporated into every event from the mehndi and sangeet, to the ceremony and reception.    So, I wanted to share with you the significance of some of the most popular wedding flowers used today.  I hope this helps when you’re deciding which flowers to use at your events.  

Apple Blossom – Better things to come

Camelia - Gratitude

Carnation – Fascination and love

Chrysanthemum (red) – I love you

Chrysanthemum (white) – Truth

Cyclamen – Modesty and shyness

Daffodil – Regard

Daisy – Innocence

Forget-me-not – True love and remembrance

Heliotrope – Devotion and faithfulness

Honeysuckle – Generosity

Hyacinth – Loveliness

Hydrangea – Boastfulness

Iris – Warmth of affection

Ivy – Eternal fidelity

Japonica – Loveliness

Jasmine - Amiability

Lilac (white) – Youthful innocence

Lily – Majesty

Lily-of-the-valley – Return of happiness

Magnolia – Perseverance

Maidenhair – Discretion

Marigold – Passion

Mimosa – Sensitivity

Orange Blossom – Purity and virginity

Peach Blossom – Captive

Rose (red) – Love

Rose (yellow) – friendship

Rose (coral) – Desire

Rose (peach) – Modesty

Rose (dark pink) – Thankfulness

Rose (pale pink) – Grace

Rose (orange) – Fascination

Rose (white) – Innocence

Rosemary – Remembrance

Sweet Pea – Delicate pleasures

Tulip – Love

Veronica – Fidelity

Violet – Faithfulness