ALT-1 Flower Arrangements for Winter Weddings
Flowers form a vital part of the winter wedding theme. Whether marrying on a snowy day, or on one of those rare days of summer sunshine, the flowers chosen for the wedding help to add color or to highlight the beauty of the bride, and the church which greets the visitors. Flower arrangements are needed too for the reception tables and buttonholes, and all can fall into the color scheme chosen, to give a stunning look to every aspect of the wedding ceremony and celebrations. It's certainly worthwhile visiting different florists to see what they have on offer for a winter wedding, since styles will vary considerably.
The winter posy.
Against the backdrop of a white dress,warm winter colorslook stunning. A traditional bouquet in Victorian style sets the scene wonderfully, with rich deep red roses, the green foliage of Quince, and the red berries from the Quince all intermingling to give richness. Add burgundy, and rich colored lilies and the look is complete. On a cold winter day, the bridesmaids can wear hair bands which are decorated in a similar theme, and the church aisle can exhibit lush red ribbons, and the occasional splash of color from winter foliage and berries, pine cones and natural woodland color. The table centers to go with this style of winter theme are simple in construction and can include seasonal favorites such as holly backings, to give a contrast to the reddest roses.
Snowdrop based.
Create or order a stunning bouquet made from the most delicate shades of rose or evensilk roses, mingled with leaves and then wrapped in a stunning background of imitation white leaves. The nice thing about this theme for the bouquet is that it opens up so many possibilities for other floral arrangements, and can be enhanced with imitation pearls to resemble snowdrops. Within the church area, a more subtle ribbon coloring would be required, such as deep pink and perhaps even ivory white, with flowers being in silks, and featuring rose and lily combinations. The important thing is balance of color, and these styles suit the bride who wants their special day to be more subtle than in less traditional or more seasonal colors. The table center pieces can also include the theme of snow, as spray snow can indeed be subtly blended onto the foliage and the same color of flowers used.
The traditional rose posy
Roses offer a wealth of color, and the great thing about a rose posy is that it can be chosen to blend in with the bridal gown, but also highlight colors which are flatteringly pretty. Therose posyconsists mostly of roses in full flower and needs to be carefully preserved ready for the day, the roses being highlighted by the lightest green foliage around the edges. Buttonholes for this style of wedding are particularly easy, using a favorite color to present to gentlemen, with corsages for the ladies. These can easily be prepared in advance, and the budded variety work best for the buttonholes and corsages. The church can be decorated with traditional rose variations and colored ribbons, and certainly the center pieces for reception tables can easily follow a similar theme.
White and fresh.
Anemonesgive a stunning look, though best when contrasted. When made into a winter white bouquet, with a contrast of Viburnum berries, the contrast is stunning. Choose silver green foliage to add even more contrast for a sophisticated yet understated look and ivory white ribbon. The church can similarly be decorated in all white flowers of all varieties with the Viburnum berries used similarly, and ivory white ribbon to match. In this case, a simple white floral buttonhole or corsage is suitable, and this can also be themed by adding a small sprig of berries. Table center pieces should include white roses, lilies, and of course the starring anemone.
The stunning.
Amaryllisin a deep red make a very stunning feature which will draw attention to any white wedding gown. These must be ordered well in advance and be prepared by an experienced florist. Using a green ribbon, to match the stalks of the flowers, Amaryllis are large enough to make a statement without being over stated. For the winter bride, these are a particular favorite because of their relative rarity in bridal use. The long stems and wonderfully large floral heads make the perfect bouquet, keeping the stems long for effect. Church coloring can be in reds, using roses, and other dark red flowers, with plenty of seasonal foliage. Buttonholes and corsages made from medium red rose buds mix and match to perfection.
Wedding flowers for the winter period can be as individual as the bride herself, and choice of the correct flowers really is a very individual thing. Try to avoid over-statement or overly including the holiday season as the main theme, since the wedding should always stand out as an occasion which merits individuality and not simply be Christmas orientated. The church and congregation awaits the bride, as the nervous groom takes his place by the altar. The floral decoration finishes that look to perfection, and will also enhance the photographs which will become part of a new family history book in the making.
