A bride may dream most often and most vocally about her wedding gown, but it’s the design of her bridal bouquet that puts that perfect finishing touch on her wedding day look. The trends in wedding flowers change often, with bouquets growing larger then shrinking again into tightly-packed masterpieces filled with roses and stephanotis, and our New Jersey brides’ bouquets are now especially accessorized with sparkle and glamour and diamond pins.
We’ve collected the latest trends in bride’s bouquet designs, to help you create your ideal wedding flowers look, and complete your dream wedding day ensemble:
Bouquet Styles: Ninety-five percent of today’s wedding bouquets are hand-tied designs, in which the flowers are gathered together by hand in a symmetrical, round design, then the stems are wrapped first with securing floral tape, then wrapped again with wide, satin ribbon. This style provides for both formal and informal wedding looks as the most modern and stylish of today’s brides’ bouquet selections.
Bouquet Colors: Vibrant colors are in, with our New Jersey brides looking to the recent Pantone Color Report for wedding hues to adhere to the current hot shades of coral, turquoise, yellow, bright red, fuchsia, and purple. Bright, vibrant wedding bouquets may be monochromatic – such as an all-red bouquet — or they may be mixes of bright colors and a lighter shade of that same color. Still popular among many of our brides is the all-white bridal bouquet, perhaps with subtle touches of light pink or sage green flowers to add just a bit of dimension in the bouquet.
Here are some of the top bouquet color combinations expected as the hot shades of spring and summer this year:
Bouquet Flowers: The top bride’s bouquet flowers include the top overall wedding flowers in the New Jersey wedding realm, with roses continuing to be the most popular at elegant weddings. Our brides love exotic wedding flowers in their wedding décor as well as in their bouquets, so we’re seeing more orchids and gardenias in floral pieces carried by our brides. And for both formal and informal garden weddings, the bride’s bouquet includes lilies, peonies, tulips, hydrangeas, and stephanotis.
Bouquet Accents: As mentioned, our local New Jersey brides bring their sense of sophisticated style into their bridal bouquets as well as to their wedding gowns, accenting their bouquets – within the blooms and on the wrapped handle — with crystal pins, jewel pins, rhinestone picks, pearl pins, and even true diamond brooches or pins that may be gifts from the groom or their parents, or may be an heirloom jewelry pieces handed down to her by a beloved relative or her new in-laws. Our brides are also incorporating into their wedding floral décor and bridal bouquets tiny accent touches that convey their wedding theme: seashells or butterflies or feathers are seen most often lately here at our West Orange wedding venue. And many of our brides add a touch of good luck to their bouquets by pinning on saint medallions or inserting a lucky penny into them.
With so much design thought and value placed on the bridal bouquet, it’s rarely this floral piece that is presented to a special female relative, or thrown to the awaiting single ladies. Most of our brides have at the ready a separate, small bouquet or nosegay featuring bright, fresh flowers that is used for this wedding celebration ritual.
Best,
Michael Mahle, Director of Communications, Pleasantdale Château
By Christopher Gellings, Banquet Manager, Highlawn Pavilion
Honeymoons can be as diverse as weddings are nowadays. So don’t feel you have to do the traditional honeymoon destination. Do what fits your lifestyle. While beach bliss honeymoons are still popular, the default location is often Hawaii. But Tahiti and Bora Bora are gaining favor. Staying in thatch huts above the clear waters and enjoying massages and just de-stressing from the wedding process seems to be the most natural way to go.
Keep in mind that depending on the time of year you get married will determine where you want to go based on what climate you’re looking for. If you decide to have a winter wedding there are some great winter honeymoon options. You can choose to stay in Norway’s snowy wonderland known as the Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel that is open only for a few months a year and considered as “green” as they come. If you’re a summer bride looking for a winter honeymoon look no further than South America with endless possibilities of winter activities throughout Patagonia (Argentina and Chile).
If adventure is what you’re seeking, then a Safari in Africa or a walkabout in Australia might be the right choice for you. There are luxury packages for both of these to accommodate your needs
Eco-Hotels are a great choice for the eco-conscious bride and groom. Going Green does not mean giving up luxury, either. One Napa Valley green hotel has the right mix of green and luxury. When you arrive you receive bicycles to discover the surrounding town with and a portion of your room rate is donated to the Napa Valley Land Trust.
Thanks!
Christopher
By Caitlyn Bradley, Director of Private Dining, Ram’s Head Inn
Wedding invitations printed on recycled paper are very popular today. It’s part of the eco-friendly, green concerns more and more couples are incorporating into their weddings, ceremonies and receptions. Invitations made from recycled paper are widely available with a number of patterns to choose from. The only drawback is that some people think it has the look and feel of a slightly less formal wedding. But that’s for you to decide – the choice is entirely the bride and groom’s to make. Another green option is the “plantable” invitation – an invite made of biodegradable material, often recycled paper, with seeds embedded in it. We’ve seen this done for save the date cards too. So if you’ve been eager to incorporate some eco-friendly element into your wedding ceremony, consider this your invitation.
All the best,
Caitlyn
By Rolf Schick, Banquet Manager, The Manor
There’s a popular new color for weddings: Green. More couples are making their weddings eco-friendly. Just a few small changes to traditional nuptials can have a big impact on the green quotient of a wedding. And since many ingredients to a great wedding have green alternatives, couples can make their ceremony and reception whatever shade of green they want. Here are a few suggestions:
1. Flowers and centerpieces: Locally grown flowers don’t use as much energy to transport as those shipped from overseas. Talk to your florist about the availability of locally grown flowers. You’ll also be supporting local growers and plant nurseries.
2. Wedding invitations and stationery: Specifying recycled paper for your invitations is a great way to set the tone for an eco friendly wedding. Invitations can also be made from tree-free paper. Talk to whoever is handling your printing about your eco-options.
3. Donating Food: No one leaves a wedding hungry. There’s usually an abundance of leftover food that goes home with members of the wedding party. But you can donate the extra food to local food banks or other charities. Check with charities in your local area to learn about organizations you can help.
4. Wedding rings: Even wedding rings can be eco-friendly. Some jewelers now feature rings made from recycled stones and metals. And some couples are taking heirloom jewelry and having it restyled into a more contemporary design. Considering what it takes to mine metals and gems, this can be a giant eco step.
Another way to have a green wedding: get married outdoors, in a beautiful garden or other natural setting filled with greenery! The Manor has been hosting outdoor ceremonies in our formal gardens for years. And our other properties – the Ram’s Head Inn, the Pleasantdale Chateau and Highlawn Pavilion – also have beautiful outdoor areas for weddings and civil ceremonies. If we can help with your wedding, whatever shade of green you’re planning to make it, we look forward to hearing from you.
Yours,
Rolf
