One common tradition in Canadian weddings is to include young children in the ceremony as a flower girl and ring bearer. Couples often have nieces, nephews, godchildren, or the offspring of close friends, especially those within the age range of three to seven, in these roles. As with other wedding details, careful consideration should be given to who should be in your ceremony. Do you even want young children at your wedding? Here’s what you should know.
Doing What You Want
Some might say that having a flower girl and a male ring bearer is old-fashioned and based on outdated ideas of gender roles. You can have anyone, even older children or adults, in these roles. Anyone can carry flowers or sprinkle petals down the aisle if that’s what you want. Similarly, anybody can carry the rings to the altar. You might even prefer to have someone in the wedding party hold on to the rings until it’s time to place them. It’s your special day, and you can do what you want.
Minding the Children
When it comes to cuteness, it’s hard to compete with a flower girl or ring bearer dressed up and resembling miniature versions of others in the wedding party. But before you get taken by how adorable the flower girl and ring bearer are, think carefully about a child’s temperament. Even the most precocious and well-mannered kids can become moody, shy, or distracted during your ceremony. Some people have the patience to deal with a child’s mercurial moods, but you might not, especially during such an important event. Many couples don’t invite kids to weddings and receptions for these reasons.
Young children may need their parents or other adults they are comfortable with to be close by during the wedding ceremony. Keep this in mind if you need to have a seating chart for the ceremony. Consider reserving seats near the altar or the aisle. Someone may need to quickly remove a child who’s throwing a tantrum or having a meltdown.
Choosing the Children
While your preferences are most important, be mindful of others’ expectations when it comes to a ring bearer or flower girl. Maybe you have a sibling who’s expecting a child to be in your wedding? What about that godchild or your bestie’s firstborn? What about children from your partner’s side of the family? Sometimes including a child is a way to honor the parents, especially if they’re not in the wedding party. It’s important to communicate your intentions early and clearly with those around you. Suppose there is a set of twins with whom you have a close connection. You may consider having multiple ring bearers or flower girls to keep everyone happy.
Being Inclusive
There’s no rule that says the person sprinkling petals must be female. Similarly, your ring bearer doesn’t have to be a boy. Many couples are degenderizing their ceremonies to be more inclusive, especially with respect to trans and nonbinary people. It’s good to honor the personhood of everyone involved, even young children who may be genderfluid or non-binary.
Counting the Costs
In many wedding parties, members are expected to cover the costs of attire and provide support to the couple on and leading up to the big day. Are you expecting the parents of the flower girl and ring bearer to pay for their outfits? Depending on your situation, you may need to budget for the participation of someone else’s child.
Having children at your marriage ceremony is one thing. Involving them as flower children or ring bearers is another. You and your partner should think carefully about whether you want to have youngsters in your wedding and everything that entails. Your union should be a joyous affair for everyone, including kids and their parents.
Flowers are a huge part of the average wedding. Whether the event is held outdoors and surrounded by nature’s bounty or it takes place inside and away from the natural elements, there are likely going to be countless bursts of colorful blossoms dotting the space. If you’re stuck on which flowers to select, it can sometimes be useful to think outside the box. Understanding the symbolism behind different popular wedding flowers, for example, can provide you with immediate perspective.
No matter what kind of wedding you envision, make sure you have flowers that add the right energy to the event. Review these choices and see if the meaning behind a particular piece of flora is enough to sell you on the arrangement.
Strong and Proud Flowers
One of the more popular flowers included in wedding bouquets in recent years is amaryllis. This is a blossom with a lot of things going for it. The average couple opts for amaryllis in neutral shades. For example, coral is one of the most popular colors because it is understated and still enhances the rest of the scene with its presence. However, this is not true of all versions of this flower. Amaryllis can be found in bold colors like red, which helps to explain why the flower is symbolically connected to the idea of pride.
If you’re bursting with pride over the love you share with your partner, amaryllis in a strong color could be a perfect fit. Experts state that this flower is also connected to the themes of determination and flashiness. Couples tying the knot in the winter will be happy to learn that this is a winter flower, meaning it is typically easier to obtain and less expensive during the colder months.
Beautiful and Fortunate
For couples planning to marry in the spring, cherry blossoms can make for absolutely spectacular flowers to use as décor. Cherry blossoms are so spectacular that people come from all over to witness the trees changing color when the spring hits, with entire festivals all over the world dedicated to this moment for the blossom. If you’d like to include this type of plant in your wedding, you can guarantee it will enhance your event’s overall visuals.
On a symbolic level, it has been said that cherry blossoms are associated with beauty and hope. It is also common for women in different cultures to include these blossoms in their weddings as a way of encouraging good luck with fertility in particular. If you want to have a child right away after your event, this could be a simple way to rouse some luck in your favor. Whether used for its visual appeal or symbolic meaning, it is hard to deny how beautiful cherry blossoms can be.
Big and Bold
Finally, summertime affairs can benefit from a flower that makes a statement. Few blooms are as captivating in this way as the dahlia. Dahlias are large and colorful in a way that makes them a perfect addition to bouquets, garden ceremonies, and more. Beyond this, the dahlia is said to be the flower associated with gratitude and grace. Since these are traits you likely want to embody during your wedding and beyond, it may be the perfect push you need to pick this flower for your event.
Though there are hundreds upon thousands of different types of flowers to consider when putting together wedding décor, you can easily narrow your search by thinking about the symbolic side of things. Learn more about what flowers mean and see if this can help you figure out the right bouquets for your big day.
COVID-19 has certainly changed Canadians’ lives. Many now focus on simplicity and economy in areas, including planning their weddings. They’re ditching elaborate details for elegant, minimalist, and less expensive alternatives. If you want gorgeous wedding flowers with less cost, time, and hassle, keep reading. Some great tips offer more streamlined approaches for achieving your wedding-day vision.
Perfect as a Pair
Several factors can impact the price of your wedding flowers. But simpler orders are often less expensive and easier for your florist to work with. That’s why The Knot’s Lauren Kay suggests sticking with only two kinds of flowers. As she explains, your florist spends less when buying in bulk. And that can translate to bigger savings for you. Try choosing blooms in similar shapes, sizes, and colors – this helps your florist achieve a unified look for your arrangements.
Simple Yet Elegant
Another great suggestion comes from personal finance expert Jennifer Calonia: Choose simpler arrangements. In her MyWalletJoy blog post, she mentions that your florist can create a sophisticated look without the need for huge and elaborate arrangements. A few stems in a glass bottle, for instance, can elevate any table décor. And your florist can craft them to match your event’s style. Olivia Muenter shows some rustic, boho, and traditional flower/bottle centerpieces in a September 2020 Brides article.
Mixing and MatchingFlowers
Must all your flower arrangements match? Absolutely not, according to Calonia. Simple and inexpensive doesn’t have to mean uniform or boring. Some great examples include varying tall and short centerpieces and using candles in some arrangements. This approach gives your florist more creative leeway, but it can also cut your total costs.
Year-Round Flower Favorites
Couples often focus seasonally when designing their weddings. That said, it’s worth considering some flower varieties that are available the entire year. The Spruce’s Nina Callaway lists several excellent options – gardenias, garden roses, orchids, and gladiolas, to name a few. If you must reschedule your big day, your florist can still get these blooming beauties.
If you’re concerned about cost, you needn’t worry. While gardenias and orchids are expensive, other varieties fall in low- to mid-range price tiers. As a compromise, you can pair a pricier stem with a less costly one. Talk to your florist for suggestions.
Callaway also mentions carnations in her list. They’re a polarizing choice for many thanks to their reputation as a “cheap filler flower.” But they don’t have to be, as Taysha Murtaugh points out in a Country Living piece. They’re hardy, available in many shades, and can create chic arrangements when clustered together. If you’re needing inspiration, check out some exquisite bouquets in this January 2021 Brides writeup.
From Ceremony to Reception
Creative couples are also repurposing their wedding ceremony flowers for their receptions. Martha Stewart Weddings explains how this can work. You’ll need a smart plan and cooperation with your florist or event planner to pull it off. Some ceremony arrangements can double as décor on the welcome or buffet tables. Large arrangements can sit near the head table to add some drama. Some ceremony chair décor can be shifted to reception chairs with a few modifications. To aid in your planning, take a look at Wedding Wire Canada’s guide to reception flowers by Alice Prendergast.
Weddings are joyful and memorable events, but their planning requires time and attention to detail. Maybe you’re a cost-conscious couple or rescheduling a postponed celebration. Perhaps you don’t have the time or energy to mind all the complicated minutiae. Fortunately, some simpler approaches can make it easier to choose your flower arrangements. From carefully curated choices to repurposed arrangements, you can accomplish an elegant, stylish, and cohesive look for your big day.
Large bouquet of different colored flowers, specifically tulips.
At one of the most prominent weddings of the 21st century, the flowers for the bridal bouquet were carefully chosen. Kate Middleton selected the ones that were important to her family and to the Royal Family. Myrtle was chosen as an emblem of marriage and love, and specifically, the sprigs of myrtle came from a plant grown from the myrtle used in the bouquet of Queen Elizabeth II. Kate chose ivy, the symbolization of fidelity and affection. The hyacinth was representative of “constancy of love.” Sweet William was for gallantry, and the lily of the valley for the return of happiness.
You don’t have to be royal to make a wedding bouquet that’s representative of your partner and yourself. Flowers aren’t only for weddings, either. You may want to use this list when you need to choose a spray for your grandma’s funeral.
The Meaning of Roses
You probably know that red roses are for love. Practically everyone gives these flowers for Valentine’s Day, but roses come in many different colors. Say what you mean by choosing different colors for the bouquet you bring to your loved one:
White – innocence and purity
Yellow – joy and friendship, or a new beginning
Orange – enthusiasm
Dark red – unconscious beauty
Light pink – grace and gentleness
Coral – friendship and modesty
Lavender – love at first sight
Dark pink – gratitude or appreciation
Pale peach – modesty
Yellow with a red tip – falling in love
More Flowers With Meanings
Here are some other popular flowers and greenery that you can choose to say something special:
Bachelor’s button – blessedness
Bay – glory
Chrysanthemum – cheerfulness
Daffodils – regard
Daisy – innocence
Ferns – sincerity
White jasmine – sweet love
Lavender – devotion
Mint – virtue
Red poppy – consolation
Sage – wisdom and mortality
Yellow tulips – hope and cheery thoughts, friendship
White tulips – an apology
Pink tulips – confidence and happiness
Purple tulips – the color of royalty, used to express admiration for someone’s accomplishments
Violets – faithfulness
The white carnation symbolizes pure love. Pink carnations are symbolic of a mother’s undying love. Legend suggests that the pink carnation first appeared from the Virgin Mary’s tears. Purple carnations are for unpredictability. Light red carnations are for admiration; dark red carnations are a sign of deep love and affection.
Another suggestion for symbolic flowers is to host a garden party with your friends and have each one bring a flower or plant that has meaning to the person. Make a pretty flower garden or create a mixed bouquet to remember each other. It would make a nice housewarming gift or a memory for a new bride.
Make a Special Message
Flowers aren’t just for weddings, funerals and special holidays. Take home a bunch of flowers to your loved one anytime to make a special memory. Know the language of flowers to send the right message any time you choose.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, how many words is a flower bouquet worth? Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “the earth laughs in flowers.” Christian Dior believes, “after women, flowers are the most lovely thing God has given the world.” Say something special with flowers.
Correctly choosing flowers for the wedding can be one of the hardest parts of a wedding.
When you’re planning a wedding, there are so many decisions to make to have the perfect day. Choosing flowers is one of the most important elements of the ceremony, as the bridal bouquet will most likely be in 95 percent of the pictures. It’s recommended that brides allot about 10 percent of their overall budget for flowers. This should include the bouquet, the bridesmaid’s bouquets, the boutonnieres, corsages and the reception.
According to The Knot, these are some of the most popular wedding flowers:
Rose
Tulip
Calla lily
Lily of the valley
Hydrangea
Peony
Sweet pea
Gardenia
Many of these popular flowers are only available seasonally, such as the peony and lily of the valley. The price of roses often fluctuates, depending on the season. You will pay much more for roses in the month of February, because demand is so high. Here are some tips for finding the right flowers and florist for your wedding.
Get some ideas about what you like before you go talk to your florist. Know what you’d like to have at the wedding and where you’re willing to compromise.
Meet with two or three florists to compare styles and prices. Talk with the florist about the seasonality of your options for flowers.
The florist will want to know your budget and your style.
When you meet with the florist, bring a photo of your wedding dress and swatches of your colors. You might also want to bring the brochures of your ceremony and reception sites.
Ask to see the florist’s portfolio to get an idea of his or her sense of style.
Ask for suggestions about flowers that won’t wilt over the time of the wedding and reception. Get affordable options that might work more effectively.
Get information about the “warranty.” Will the flowers be fresh and arrive on time? What happens if a specific flower isn’t available on the wedding day?
Find out the payment process for the florist. It’s not uncommon for a 50 percent deposit to be made when you sign the contract. The balance will most likely be due the week of the wedding.
Talk with each prospective florist and get an estimate in writing based on what you’ve discussed. Then go home and consider what really works with your budget.
Correctly Choosing Flowers Doesn’t Mean Breaking the Bank
Keeping your flower budget in check isn’t easy, so here are some tips to help you manage your money.
Reuse bridesmaid bouquets and ceremony arrangements. Have the bridesmaids slip their bouquets into vases in the reception area and ask venue staff to move the arrangements from the ceremony to the reception.
You might skip the ceremony arrangements altogether. There’s no rule that says you have to have flowers at the altar. Greenery, candles or lights might fill the space quite effectively.
Don’t plan on getting married in February when demand for roses and other flowers are quite high.
Use large, inexpensive blossoms to fill in space.
Choose cheaper flowers as the mainstay of the arrangements. Carnations and baby’s breath are two of the most inexpensive stems and have a lot of bang for your buck.
DIY floral arrangements and bouquets. The internet has plenty of how-to guides for those who love to craft by putting together their own wedding arrangements. Consider paying the florist to make the intricate corsages and boutonnieres.
Get your blooms from the grocery store instead of the florist.
Work with a florist who understands your budget and is willing to help you stay within it.
You can get the beautiful flowers you want for your wedding and stay within your budget when you plan for it.
One of the most solemn occasions most people ever have to attend is a funeral or memorial service. It can be hard to know what to do or say when someone dies. In today’s world, it is even more common to have friends and colleagues who are from different faiths. Here is some general information about funeral etiquette.
Sending Cards, Flowers, and Food
The sympathy card industry is booming, but Emily Post would tell you that it is considered proper etiquette to actually write a note of condolence. It demonstrates you took the time to really think about what you wanted to say. It doesn’t have to be long, but a personal story about the deceased can tell the family how important that person was to you. In any culture, a sympathy note is always appreciated.
Flowers are another traditional offering for funerals, but there are religions which prefer not to have cut flowers. A Jewish family prefers that you give a gift to charity instead of sending flowers. Many people today are having eco-friendly funerals, in which cut flowers are not preferred, but maybe a plant which can continue to thrive would be welcome. The funeral home or memorial service should have information about the family’s preferences.
It’s also considered appropriate to have a family meal following the service. In most churches, synagogues, and mosques, members prepare food for the family to help them in the first days of grief. If you’re unsure about the family’s preferences, you may choose to send them a gift card for food delivery for an evening when they need it most. Meals that can be frozen are helpful, because the family can take them out as needed.
Attending the Funeral or Memorial Service
You might be wondering what is the difference between a funeral or memorial service? At a funeral, the body of the deceased will be present. A memorial service is one where the body is not, such as a cremation. It’s common to wear dark, muted clothes. A funeral is an important occasion, dress as you might for a religious ceremony or business dinner.
Be on time for the service. Funeral venues may have specific parking instructions when you arrive to help with the procession to the graveside. When you enter the location, you should be quiet. Turn off your cell phone or leave it in your car. The seats toward the front of the venue are generally reserved for family and close friends.
This is not the place to talk to the family. Generally, the family will be in a private room before the service, to come in right before it starts. The service will not begin until the family is seated. You will most likely be given a program to follow the flow of the memorial.
Following the service, there is generally a recessional. The pallbearers take the coffin to the hearse, which will take the body to the gravesite. If you are going to the interment, follow the instructions at the venue. As you exit, there may be a family member who is thanking those in attendance. Keep any remarks brief, to keep the flow going.
Be Authentic and Sincere
When someone dies, it is sad. They will be missed. Sometimes, all you have to do is let the surviving family know that you care. Phrases like, “I’m so sorry for your loss,” or “I’m here to help,” can be comforting. When Jews are in their mourning period known as shiva, visitors actually don’t say anything until the family breaks the silence. Just your presence is enough. You don’t have to fix their sadness, just let them know that you understand. Everyone gets tongue-tied and feels inadequate during a time of grief. Be respectful and solemn, even when you are unsure of what to do.
One common tradition in Canadian weddings is to include young children in the ceremony as a flower girl and ring bearer. Couples often have nieces, nephews, godchildren, or the offspring of close friends, especially those within the age range of three to seven, in these roles. As with other wedding details, careful consideration should be given to who should be in your ceremony. Do you even want young children at your wedding? Here’s what you should know.
Doing What You Want
Some might say that having a flower girl and a male ring bearer is old-fashioned and based on outdated ideas of gender roles. You can have anyone, even older children or adults, in these roles. Anyone can carry flowers or sprinkle petals down the aisle if that’s what you want. Similarly, anybody can carry the rings to the altar. You might even prefer to have someone in the wedding party hold on to the rings until it’s time to place them. It’s your special day, and you can do what you want.
Minding the Children
When it comes to cuteness, it’s hard to compete with a flower girl or ring bearer dressed up and resembling miniature versions of others in the wedding party. But before you get taken by how adorable the flower girl and ring bearer are, think carefully about a child’s temperament. Even the most precocious and well-mannered kids can become moody, shy, or distracted during your ceremony. Some people have the patience to deal with a child’s mercurial moods, but you might not, especially during such an important event. Many couples don’t invite kids to weddings and receptions for these reasons.
Young children may need their parents or other adults they are comfortable with to be close by during the wedding ceremony. Keep this in mind if you need to have a seating chart for the ceremony. Consider reserving seats near the altar or the aisle. Someone may need to quickly remove a child who’s throwing a tantrum or having a meltdown.
Choosing the Children
While your preferences are most important, be mindful of others’ expectations when it comes to a ring bearer or flower girl. Maybe you have a sibling who’s expecting a child to be in your wedding? What about that godchild or your bestie’s firstborn? What about children from your partner’s side of the family? Sometimes including a child is a way to honor the parents, especially if they’re not in the wedding party. It’s important to communicate your intentions early and clearly with those around you. Suppose there is a set of twins with whom you have a close connection. You may consider having multiple ring bearers or flower girls to keep everyone happy.
Being Inclusive
There’s no rule that says the person sprinkling petals must be female. Similarly, your ring bearer doesn’t have to be a boy. Many couples are degenderizing their ceremonies to be more inclusive, especially with respect to trans and nonbinary people. It’s good to honor the personhood of everyone involved, even young children who may be genderfluid or non-binary.
Counting the Costs
In many wedding parties, members are expected to cover the costs of attire and provide support to the couple on and leading up to the big day. Are you expecting the parents of the flower girl and ring bearer to pay for their outfits? Depending on your situation, you may need to budget for the participation of someone else’s child.
Having children at your marriage ceremony is one thing. Involving them as flower children or ring bearers is another. You and your partner should think carefully about whether you want to have youngsters in your wedding and everything that entails. Your union should be a joyous affair for everyone, including kids and their parents.
Flowers are a huge part of the average wedding. Whether the event is held outdoors and surrounded by nature’s bounty or it takes place inside and away from the natural elements, there are likely going to be countless bursts of colorful blossoms dotting the space. If you’re stuck on which flowers to select, it can sometimes be useful to think outside the box. Understanding the symbolism behind different popular wedding flowers, for example, can provide you with immediate perspective.
No matter what kind of wedding you envision, make sure you have flowers that add the right energy to the event. Review these choices and see if the meaning behind a particular piece of flora is enough to sell you on the arrangement.
Strong and Proud Flowers
One of the more popular flowers included in wedding bouquets in recent years is amaryllis. This is a blossom with a lot of things going for it. The average couple opts for amaryllis in neutral shades. For example, coral is one of the most popular colors because it is understated and still enhances the rest of the scene with its presence. However, this is not true of all versions of this flower. Amaryllis can be found in bold colors like red, which helps to explain why the flower is symbolically connected to the idea of pride.
If you’re bursting with pride over the love you share with your partner, amaryllis in a strong color could be a perfect fit. Experts state that this flower is also connected to the themes of determination and flashiness. Couples tying the knot in the winter will be happy to learn that this is a winter flower, meaning it is typically easier to obtain and less expensive during the colder months.
Beautiful and Fortunate
For couples planning to marry in the spring, cherry blossoms can make for absolutely spectacular flowers to use as décor. Cherry blossoms are so spectacular that people come from all over to witness the trees changing color when the spring hits, with entire festivals all over the world dedicated to this moment for the blossom. If you’d like to include this type of plant in your wedding, you can guarantee it will enhance your event’s overall visuals.
On a symbolic level, it has been said that cherry blossoms are associated with beauty and hope. It is also common for women in different cultures to include these blossoms in their weddings as a way of encouraging good luck with fertility in particular. If you want to have a child right away after your event, this could be a simple way to rouse some luck in your favor. Whether used for its visual appeal or symbolic meaning, it is hard to deny how beautiful cherry blossoms can be.
Big and Bold
Finally, summertime affairs can benefit from a flower that makes a statement. Few blooms are as captivating in this way as the dahlia. Dahlias are large and colorful in a way that makes them a perfect addition to bouquets, garden ceremonies, and more. Beyond this, the dahlia is said to be the flower associated with gratitude and grace. Since these are traits you likely want to embody during your wedding and beyond, it may be the perfect push you need to pick this flower for your event.
Though there are hundreds upon thousands of different types of flowers to consider when putting together wedding décor, you can easily narrow your search by thinking about the symbolic side of things. Learn more about what flowers mean and see if this can help you figure out the right bouquets for your big day.
COVID-19 has certainly changed Canadians’ lives. Many now focus on simplicity and economy in areas, including planning their weddings. They’re ditching elaborate details for elegant, minimalist, and less expensive alternatives. If you want gorgeous wedding flowers with less cost, time, and hassle, keep reading. Some great tips offer more streamlined approaches for achieving your wedding-day vision.
Perfect as a Pair
Several factors can impact the price of your wedding flowers. But simpler orders are often less expensive and easier for your florist to work with. That’s why The Knot’s Lauren Kay suggests sticking with only two kinds of flowers. As she explains, your florist spends less when buying in bulk. And that can translate to bigger savings for you. Try choosing blooms in similar shapes, sizes, and colors – this helps your florist achieve a unified look for your arrangements.
Simple Yet Elegant
Another great suggestion comes from personal finance expert Jennifer Calonia: Choose simpler arrangements. In her MyWalletJoy blog post, she mentions that your florist can create a sophisticated look without the need for huge and elaborate arrangements. A few stems in a glass bottle, for instance, can elevate any table décor. And your florist can craft them to match your event’s style. Olivia Muenter shows some rustic, boho, and traditional flower/bottle centerpieces in a September 2020 Brides article.
Mixing and MatchingFlowers
Must all your flower arrangements match? Absolutely not, according to Calonia. Simple and inexpensive doesn’t have to mean uniform or boring. Some great examples include varying tall and short centerpieces and using candles in some arrangements. This approach gives your florist more creative leeway, but it can also cut your total costs.
Year-Round Flower Favorites
Couples often focus seasonally when designing their weddings. That said, it’s worth considering some flower varieties that are available the entire year. The Spruce’s Nina Callaway lists several excellent options – gardenias, garden roses, orchids, and gladiolas, to name a few. If you must reschedule your big day, your florist can still get these blooming beauties.
If you’re concerned about cost, you needn’t worry. While gardenias and orchids are expensive, other varieties fall in low- to mid-range price tiers. As a compromise, you can pair a pricier stem with a less costly one. Talk to your florist for suggestions.
Callaway also mentions carnations in her list. They’re a polarizing choice for many thanks to their reputation as a “cheap filler flower.” But they don’t have to be, as Taysha Murtaugh points out in a Country Living piece. They’re hardy, available in many shades, and can create chic arrangements when clustered together. If you’re needing inspiration, check out some exquisite bouquets in this January 2021 Brides writeup.
From Ceremony to Reception
Creative couples are also repurposing their wedding ceremony flowers for their receptions. Martha Stewart Weddings explains how this can work. You’ll need a smart plan and cooperation with your florist or event planner to pull it off. Some ceremony arrangements can double as décor on the welcome or buffet tables. Large arrangements can sit near the head table to add some drama. Some ceremony chair décor can be shifted to reception chairs with a few modifications. To aid in your planning, take a look at Wedding Wire Canada’s guide to reception flowers by Alice Prendergast.
Weddings are joyful and memorable events, but their planning requires time and attention to detail. Maybe you’re a cost-conscious couple or rescheduling a postponed celebration. Perhaps you don’t have the time or energy to mind all the complicated minutiae. Fortunately, some simpler approaches can make it easier to choose your flower arrangements. From carefully curated choices to repurposed arrangements, you can accomplish an elegant, stylish, and cohesive look for your big day.
Large bouquet of different colored flowers, specifically tulips.
At one of the most prominent weddings of the 21st century, the flowers for the bridal bouquet were carefully chosen. Kate Middleton selected the ones that were important to her family and to the Royal Family. Myrtle was chosen as an emblem of marriage and love, and specifically, the sprigs of myrtle came from a plant grown from the myrtle used in the bouquet of Queen Elizabeth II. Kate chose ivy, the symbolization of fidelity and affection. The hyacinth was representative of “constancy of love.” Sweet William was for gallantry, and the lily of the valley for the return of happiness.
You don’t have to be royal to make a wedding bouquet that’s representative of your partner and yourself. Flowers aren’t only for weddings, either. You may want to use this list when you need to choose a spray for your grandma’s funeral.
The Meaning of Roses
You probably know that red roses are for love. Practically everyone gives these flowers for Valentine’s Day, but roses come in many different colors. Say what you mean by choosing different colors for the bouquet you bring to your loved one:
White – innocence and purity
Yellow – joy and friendship, or a new beginning
Orange – enthusiasm
Dark red – unconscious beauty
Light pink – grace and gentleness
Coral – friendship and modesty
Lavender – love at first sight
Dark pink – gratitude or appreciation
Pale peach – modesty
Yellow with a red tip – falling in love
More Flowers With Meanings
Here are some other popular flowers and greenery that you can choose to say something special:
Bachelor’s button – blessedness
Bay – glory
Chrysanthemum – cheerfulness
Daffodils – regard
Daisy – innocence
Ferns – sincerity
White jasmine – sweet love
Lavender – devotion
Mint – virtue
Red poppy – consolation
Sage – wisdom and mortality
Yellow tulips – hope and cheery thoughts, friendship
White tulips – an apology
Pink tulips – confidence and happiness
Purple tulips – the color of royalty, used to express admiration for someone’s accomplishments
Violets – faithfulness
The white carnation symbolizes pure love. Pink carnations are symbolic of a mother’s undying love. Legend suggests that the pink carnation first appeared from the Virgin Mary’s tears. Purple carnations are for unpredictability. Light red carnations are for admiration; dark red carnations are a sign of deep love and affection.
Another suggestion for symbolic flowers is to host a garden party with your friends and have each one bring a flower or plant that has meaning to the person. Make a pretty flower garden or create a mixed bouquet to remember each other. It would make a nice housewarming gift or a memory for a new bride.
Make a Special Message
Flowers aren’t just for weddings, funerals and special holidays. Take home a bunch of flowers to your loved one anytime to make a special memory. Know the language of flowers to send the right message any time you choose.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, how many words is a flower bouquet worth? Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “the earth laughs in flowers.” Christian Dior believes, “after women, flowers are the most lovely thing God has given the world.” Say something special with flowers.
Correctly choosing flowers for the wedding can be one of the hardest parts of a wedding.
When you’re planning a wedding, there are so many decisions to make to have the perfect day. Choosing flowers is one of the most important elements of the ceremony, as the bridal bouquet will most likely be in 95 percent of the pictures. It’s recommended that brides allot about 10 percent of their overall budget for flowers. This should include the bouquet, the bridesmaid’s bouquets, the boutonnieres, corsages and the reception.
According to The Knot, these are some of the most popular wedding flowers:
Rose
Tulip
Calla lily
Lily of the valley
Hydrangea
Peony
Sweet pea
Gardenia
Many of these popular flowers are only available seasonally, such as the peony and lily of the valley. The price of roses often fluctuates, depending on the season. You will pay much more for roses in the month of February, because demand is so high. Here are some tips for finding the right flowers and florist for your wedding.
Get some ideas about what you like before you go talk to your florist. Know what you’d like to have at the wedding and where you’re willing to compromise.
Meet with two or three florists to compare styles and prices. Talk with the florist about the seasonality of your options for flowers.
The florist will want to know your budget and your style.
When you meet with the florist, bring a photo of your wedding dress and swatches of your colors. You might also want to bring the brochures of your ceremony and reception sites.
Ask to see the florist’s portfolio to get an idea of his or her sense of style.
Ask for suggestions about flowers that won’t wilt over the time of the wedding and reception. Get affordable options that might work more effectively.
Get information about the “warranty.” Will the flowers be fresh and arrive on time? What happens if a specific flower isn’t available on the wedding day?
Find out the payment process for the florist. It’s not uncommon for a 50 percent deposit to be made when you sign the contract. The balance will most likely be due the week of the wedding.
Talk with each prospective florist and get an estimate in writing based on what you’ve discussed. Then go home and consider what really works with your budget.
Correctly Choosing Flowers Doesn’t Mean Breaking the Bank
Keeping your flower budget in check isn’t easy, so here are some tips to help you manage your money.
Reuse bridesmaid bouquets and ceremony arrangements. Have the bridesmaids slip their bouquets into vases in the reception area and ask venue staff to move the arrangements from the ceremony to the reception.
You might skip the ceremony arrangements altogether. There’s no rule that says you have to have flowers at the altar. Greenery, candles or lights might fill the space quite effectively.
Don’t plan on getting married in February when demand for roses and other flowers are quite high.
Use large, inexpensive blossoms to fill in space.
Choose cheaper flowers as the mainstay of the arrangements. Carnations and baby’s breath are two of the most inexpensive stems and have a lot of bang for your buck.
DIY floral arrangements and bouquets. The internet has plenty of how-to guides for those who love to craft by putting together their own wedding arrangements. Consider paying the florist to make the intricate corsages and boutonnieres.
Get your blooms from the grocery store instead of the florist.
Work with a florist who understands your budget and is willing to help you stay within it.
You can get the beautiful flowers you want for your wedding and stay within your budget when you plan for it.
One of the most solemn occasions most people ever have to attend is a funeral or memorial service. It can be hard to know what to do or say when someone dies. In today’s world, it is even more common to have friends and colleagues who are from different faiths. Here is some general information about funeral etiquette.
Sending Cards, Flowers, and Food
The sympathy card industry is booming, but Emily Post would tell you that it is considered proper etiquette to actually write a note of condolence. It demonstrates you took the time to really think about what you wanted to say. It doesn’t have to be long, but a personal story about the deceased can tell the family how important that person was to you. In any culture, a sympathy note is always appreciated.
Flowers are another traditional offering for funerals, but there are religions which prefer not to have cut flowers. A Jewish family prefers that you give a gift to charity instead of sending flowers. Many people today are having eco-friendly funerals, in which cut flowers are not preferred, but maybe a plant which can continue to thrive would be welcome. The funeral home or memorial service should have information about the family’s preferences.
It’s also considered appropriate to have a family meal following the service. In most churches, synagogues, and mosques, members prepare food for the family to help them in the first days of grief. If you’re unsure about the family’s preferences, you may choose to send them a gift card for food delivery for an evening when they need it most. Meals that can be frozen are helpful, because the family can take them out as needed.
Attending the Funeral or Memorial Service
You might be wondering what is the difference between a funeral or memorial service? At a funeral, the body of the deceased will be present. A memorial service is one where the body is not, such as a cremation. It’s common to wear dark, muted clothes. A funeral is an important occasion, dress as you might for a religious ceremony or business dinner.
Be on time for the service. Funeral venues may have specific parking instructions when you arrive to help with the procession to the graveside. When you enter the location, you should be quiet. Turn off your cell phone or leave it in your car. The seats toward the front of the venue are generally reserved for family and close friends.
This is not the place to talk to the family. Generally, the family will be in a private room before the service, to come in right before it starts. The service will not begin until the family is seated. You will most likely be given a program to follow the flow of the memorial.
Following the service, there is generally a recessional. The pallbearers take the coffin to the hearse, which will take the body to the gravesite. If you are going to the interment, follow the instructions at the venue. As you exit, there may be a family member who is thanking those in attendance. Keep any remarks brief, to keep the flow going.
Be Authentic and Sincere
When someone dies, it is sad. They will be missed. Sometimes, all you have to do is let the surviving family know that you care. Phrases like, “I’m so sorry for your loss,” or “I’m here to help,” can be comforting. When Jews are in their mourning period known as shiva, visitors actually don’t say anything until the family breaks the silence. Just your presence is enough. You don’t have to fix their sadness, just let them know that you understand. Everyone gets tongue-tied and feels inadequate during a time of grief. Be respectful and solemn, even when you are unsure of what to do.
