If you’re excited about seeing what unique wedding flowers are available for your Miami wedding, now is the time to jump up and down with joy. The reason to be so celebratory is because you have access to one of the most artistic, creative florists in all of Florida. Tria’s Flowers, Antiques & Gifts is far and away the most amazing Miami wedding florist if creativity and head-turning appeal are what you desire.

No exaggeration here. Hortensia Tria, owner of Tria’s Flowers Antiques & Gifts, is a brilliant designer who uses height, shape, and form to dramatically entertain the eye. Tria’s can do simple but they can’t do plain. If you want something simple but unique, Hortensia’s the florist for you. If you want over-the-top fun and quality, she’s a master of that too.

Hortensia is also bi-lingual. A bilingual wedding florist! This can be very handy in Miami Florida where wedding guests may include a combination of both. Hortensia has loads of experience dealing with a multicultural wedding featuring both Spanish-influenced and American wedding traditions. Not only do her flowers blow you away, but she also eases the flow of communication and allows you to plan your wedding flowers in an environment that is comfortable for YOU.

Tria’s Flowers Antiques & Gifts never fails to amaze. The contemporary beauty of each arrangement is a positive reflection on you, the bride. Wedding guests see the flowers as a reflection of your personal style. Bold, daring arrangements with traditional beauty and uncommon allure are a wonderful reflection on you and bring your similar features to light.

On the day the wedding guests see flowers from Tria’s, they aren’t just wowed by the flowers. They are wowed by YOU. Your style, your selection, your choice. When it’s time to choose the most creative wedding florist in Miami, choose Tria’s Flowers Antiques & Gifts.

Among the many talented florists in Tampa Florida is Forever Flowers & Gifts. Many brides are looking to Forever Flowers & Gifts for their wedding flowers because of the variety offered. Not only can brides choose from a long list of beautiful flowers, they can also choose unique designs that many florists do not offer.

Need a floral headpiece or flowers to accent your veil? Got ‘em. Need stunning wrist corsages for bridesmaids, the mother of the bride, or honored guests? Forever Flowers & Gifts creates those as well.

Of course, traditional wedding flowers such as the arrangements for the venue, wedding bouquets and wedding reception flowers are also handcrafted with flair and brilliance by Forever Flowers & Gifts. A bride’s options are nearly endless when she chooses Forever Flowers & Gifts. All of the popular shapes, colors, flowers, designs and styles are available. Family owned and operated, Forever Flowers & Gifts has been dazzling brides for years.

That’s just scratching the surface of what makes Forever Flowers & Gifts so incredible. They also have unique specialties like:

• One of the largest inventories of fresh cut flowers in Tampa
• Tropical flowers from South America and Hawaii
• Extensive gift line including novelty items for babies, unique vases, seasonal decor, GUND plush, friendship gifts, wreaths, baskets, dried flowers and more!
• Trapp Private Garden Candles

Forever Flowers & Gifts provides their unique touch to corporate events, anniversary and birthday parties, weddings and other events. If you need a talented Tampa Florida florist that can rock any and every occasion, contact Forever Flowers & Gifts.

To find other quality wedding vendors to make your wedding planning easier, visit Wedding And Party Network.

I recently detailed a wedding flower trend that we are seeing all across the country. Budget savvy brides are opting for a more hands-on experience when visiting their wedding florist. In the southwest, Sparks Florist has very creatively turned this trend to their advantage.

A florist in Sparks Nevada, Mike Fiannaca knows his way around the wonderful world of wedding flowers. His latest renovation is one that has caused a flood of brides to come his way and there’s an excellent reason for it.

Sparks Florist has found a way to turn a trend that wedding florists are apprehensive about into an opportunity by reaching out to DIY brides in a way that helps them see the value of leveraging the expertise of a wedding florist to their advantage.

Here’s his setup. Mike is a wedding florist who set up a network inside his large flower shop specifically for brides. With a 10,000+ feet warehouse to showcase his fresh flowers, brides are encouraged to come in and pick out exactly which flowers they want at their wedding. He even provides design assistance so the process is that much smoother!

In this way, Mike has addressed the needs of budget-savvy brides. They want to take a hands-on approach to their wedding planning but also require the unique expertise of a professional. Sparks Florist allows brides to choose their own flowers from his bulk selection and then creates the flowers that they want based on their needs and desires.

Premium flowers like calla lilies and stargazer lilies are there. Standards like carnations and roses abound. He even has greenery. Literally every fresh cut flower that you need for wedding bouquets, altar flowers, reception arrangements and the rest of the wedding flowers is there at his location waiting to be chosen by brides for their wedding flowers. Once the selections are made, professional florists are standing by to gather information on how to create the perfect wedding flowers for that bride.

Mike knows how important it is to provide high quality wedding flowers at a reasonable price. That’s why he enhanced his skills as a talented wedding florist and created this haven for budget savvy brides.

Remember, Sparks Nevada brides, that you can watch the other parts of your wedding budget grow. When you’re elbow deep in the wedding planning, consider Sparks Florist for your wedding flowers. You’ll be glad you did and the rest of your budget will thank you.

You don’t have to be on a strict budget to love this wedding flower trend. In fact, it’s perfect regardless of your budget! Brides are now choosing to use florists and flower wholesalers who provide a selection of flowers and allow the bride to come in and literally pick out / pick up the flowers that she wants for her wedding.

Imagine walking into a warehouse full of fresh cut flowers. Every style you could imagine is there including premium flowers, the standards, and a mass of greenery. If you’re wanting to save some money or just have a hands-on experience in your wedding planning, this set up is perfect! You’ll look like the preverbial “kid in a candy store” and feel like you’re the year’s most savvy, involved and smartest bride.

Here’s the basics of this trend:

1. Brides want to buy their own flowers and cut out the middle man so they go to a flower wholesaler. Many sell to florists only but there are several that sell to whomever wants to buy their flowers.
2. Brides walk in and pick out / pick up all of the flowers that they will need for their wedding bouquets, altar arrangements, wedding reception centerpieces, and other wedding flowers. If it’s floral and at the wedding, they find and buy it at the wholesaler.
3. Brides take their finds and either create the wedding flowers themselves or hire a local florist to create the arrangements.

Here’s why this is a helpful wedding trend (and why brides love it):

• Saves money which allows other areas of the budget to be enhanced
• Allows a more hands-on involvement with the wedding planning
• Ensures the bride gets exactly what she wants because SHE picks it out

All things considered, this is one fun way to make sure that your wedding flowers are exactly what you want with no middle men to worry about and more dinero for other items like the wedding cake.

No, that’s not a typo. It’s a much deserved compliment directed at Blumen Garten Florists, a flower shop in Columbus Ohio well known for their wedding flowers.

Let’s face it, girls. We want a florist who is on our team and looking out for us when we shop for wedding flowers. Since wedding flowers are such a huge part of the event, we really want to knock our guests’ socks off with what we choose. So, we turn to wedding florists that will make our jaws drop every time they show us their next creation. If that’s what you want (and what bride doesn’t want to be spoiled a little?), contact Blumen Garten Florists.

After a long day of searching for a wedding florist, it’s difficult to discern between one person’s cascading bouquet and another person’s nosegay. Not with Blumen Garten Florists! They make sure that all of the wedding flowers for your ceremony and reception are distinctive and beautiful.

Whether interested in contemporary wedding flowers or more traditional wedding flowers, your best bet for exactly what you want is Blumen Garten Florists. The florists here are highly experienced in creating Columbus’ best wedding flowers. They’ve done contemporary. They’ve done traditional. They’ve done large and formal. They’ve done smaller and more intimate. You know what’s really something though? They’ve done it all with style, pride and a true concern for getting the bride what she wants at a fair price.

If you’re a bride in Columbus Ohio looking for wedding flowers, stop looking! Contact Blumen Garten Florists instead. Here’s what you can count on:

• Excellent service
• The best possible selection of flowers for the style that you want
• A fair price
• A knowledgeable and friendly team of florists who have YOU in mind

Your dream wedding flowers await.

Sometimes when women plan their wedding day they go for extravagance and glitz. But I think many times simple is more elegant, especially when it comes to wedding flowers. One of my favorite flowers is the daisy. It’s fresh, simple and clean. My mom always said about the daisy, “Daisies never tell.” They also remind me of the “He loves me; He loves me not” flower.

The simple white petals and bright yellow center just remind me of summer days and youth. But when made into a stylish flower arrangement or bouquet, they evoke a youthful elegance. And your wedding colors don’t have to be yellow and white to use daisies–they look great with any color: turquoise blue, fuchsia, lavender, black or navy blue just to name a few.

You can dress them up or down with the right containers for the wedding decorations—clear, tall glass vases for the modern, contemporary wedding; rustic planters for a more casual affair. You can carry the daisy flower through all the wedding decorations such as the flower arrangements at the altar, the pew decorations, bouquets and boutonnieres. And they work well at the wedding reception as table centerpieces and food table garnishes. Needless to say, daisies are a lot more affordable than lavish flower arrangements, but they can be a beautiful embellishment to any wedding with their simple style.

I love citrus! Lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruit, tangerines—they all say warm breezes, freshness and a fun way to decorate your wedding reception. Whether your reception is elegant and elaborate with large, lavish floral centerpieces or simple and modern with small, compact floral arrangements, this is a great idea to incorporate. Using one or several varieties of citrus—let’s say oranges and tangerines—place whole or sliced fruit in your centerpiece containers, depending on the size of the containers. Fill with water, then place your flowers, ribbon and other embellishments in the vases. The look is stunning!

I recently used this idea for a bridal shower where the young bride’s main wedding colors were tangerine and turquoise. I used small clear vases, added orange slices, orange Gerbera daisies, and turquoise ribbon. They looked fresh and youthful on the white tablecloths, and the votive candles on each side added a beautiful elegance to the arrangements. They also added a pleasant orange fragrance to the air.

This idea works well no matter what your color choices. The natural, organic beauty of the citrus fruit adds a unique twist to the floral arrangements that can be carried into the food trays, as well. Adding a slice or wedge of citrus on each tray, and adding slices of citrus to crystal pitchers of ice water helps to carry through the citrus theme at your wedding reception.

A special thanks to Inspired Floral Design, a Bradford RI florist and Carolina MediaStar Photography, a Fayetteville NC photographer for sharing this wonderful example of a citrus floral arrangement.

Did you know that the average wedding costs over $23,000? While there is no shame in spending more or less than this, the averaged wedding costs can still add up quickly. Most brides overshoot their wedding budget goals by as much as 15%! To avoid breaking the bank with your wedding planning, here are some budget-friendly tips for brides-to-be!

Wedding Budget Tip 1:  Avoid The Busy Season

The majority of weddings occur between May and October. In fact, October is the new June. Late fall weddings and winter weddings are beautiful and allow brides to reduce costs by catching vendors and wedding supplies when they’re not in great demand!

Also, consider marrying on a Friday or throughout the week. Marrying on a weekday may be less traditional, but it’s a fun and unique way to make your ceremony special (and save money!). Weekend weddings are great but reception halls charge the most for Saturday evening weddings. By marrying on a Friday, you’ll be able to save on the reception costs, enjoy great options for the ceremony location, and spend a three day weekend with your groom!

Wedding Budget Tip 2:  Pass Up The Dessert Tray

Wedding cakes are a huge reception expense. Since this is the most important piece at the reception, no bride wants to cut it out completely. Instead, opt for a smaller wedding cake. Also consider a cupcake wedding cake. This tasty trend allows guests to enjoy a small portion of the same great flavor. The biggest treat for you? Cupcake cakes usually run about $60 compared to hundreds for a traditional wedding cake.

If a smaller version of your dream cake won’t feed everyone, consider having a sheet cake of the same flavor along with your wedding cake. An evening of dancing, drinks and good food doesn’t leave much room for dessert. Consider passing up extra dessert options which quickly add up (on the hips as well)!

Wedding Budget Tip 3:  Go Green With The Wedding Flowers

Opt for more greenery in the reception arrangements. Most guests won’t know which flowers are in or out of season so trim the cost of your wedding flowers by using more greenery. The wedding ceremony flowers are a beautiful addition to the ceremony but remember that this is where guests spend the least amount of time. Most spend more time at the reception so consider putting the budget emphasis on your wedding reception flowers instead.

Wedding Budget Tip 4: Go Green With The Wedding Invitations

In the age of technology and conservation, eco-friendly wedding invitations are a big perk. If you want to send standard wedding invitations, consider replacing the RSVP cards with a note on the invitation that asks guests to RSVP at your wedding website. Wedding websites will save a ton on less important wedding stationery. (Oh, and invitation liners are unnecessary. You’re breaking no etiquette by opting out on these.)

Wedding Budget Tip 5:  Double Up With Wedding Favors

Wedding favors are a must-have for most brides according to traditional wedding etiquette. Wedding favors can be practical and functional though! Consider favors that double as place cards or serve a purpose after the wedding. Personalized bottles of bubbles serves as wedding favors and can be used instead of tossing rice or bird seed after the ceremony.

Wedding Budget Tip 6:  Opt For A Cocktail Reception

This is a good way to glam up your reception without spending lots of money on food and decorations. Waiters carrying trays of hor d’oeuvres is a glamorous look and a frugal choice for brides. Many wedding caterers have their own wait staff, so consider hiring a local caterer with wait staff for a glamorous but easy-on-the-wallet reception.

Wedding Budget Tip 7:  Buy The Music, Not The Band

A band at the wedding is always fun, but consider a single musician or a dj instead. Going this route with wedding reception entertainment will save costs simply because you’re paying for one person instead of multiple people.

Wedding Budget Tip 8:  Share The Menus

Instead of giving each guest a menu at the reception, opt for one or two per table. These can look elegant when placed between beautiful table settings or when stood on either side of the table’s centerpice. This saves paper and printing costs plus adds to the decor of the table.

Ask The Wedding Guide: My parents want to help pay for the wedding so that my fiancee and I can have a nicer ceremony. We really appreciate the help but aren’t sure what to ask them to pay. We don’t want to step on toes or ask too much to we thought about asking them to buy the wedding flowers. Is that appropriate? ~ Jesse J. from Fountain, Colorado.

The Wedding Guide: Jesse, great question! I love discussing wedding etiquette so I was thrilled when I came across your question. The simplest answer is that it is fine to ask your parents if they would like to provide the wedding flowers. It’s not uncommon in modern weddings for many different people to have a hand in payment. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when the wedding is being paid for by more than just the couple.

First, consider your parents temperament. I say this first because of your concern for stepping on toes. It’s easy to do even by accident in matters this large. You know your parents well and very likely know how to best approach them with this subject. Simply be respectful when the subject is brought up. Understand that you and your bride may have to forgo certain features in favor of compromise.

If they ask to pay for more than the wedding flowers, discuss it with your fiancee before agreeing or declining. Then again, your parents may not want to foot more than the wedding flowers. It’s always a good idea to discuss this with your bride first. If you want to know about some other options, here is a recent blog about whose family pays for what under traditional wedding etiquette standards. Not to bead a dead horse or bore you with a longer answer, you may also enjoy this checklist about the roles of brides, grooms, bridesmaids and ushers in paying for the wedding.

I hope you figure out a compromise. I’m sure you’ll walk the aisle of a great wedding ceremony! Don’t forget to let me know how it turns out. Thanks Jesse!

Most brides today carry flowers because they are beautiful and it gives the nervous bride something to do with her hands. However, the carrying of flowers goes back as far as the beginning of marriage.  Rooted in superstition, it was thought bridal bouquets consisting of odoriferous herbs and garlands worn or carried would ward off demons and evil spirits. Variations of this superstition are found in many cultures throughout the world.

In India the bride and groom are sprinkled with flower petals to ward of evil. It is said that a Roman bride carried herbs such as rosemary in her veil to ward off evil spirits. In fact, the modern tradition of carrying flowers and herbs in the bridal bouquet stems from this Roman practice. With many cultures sharing their wedding traditions over the centuries, the primitive superstition of smelly garlands went by the wayside. Brides began to use flowers as a way to symbolize emotion, virtue of love and marriage transforming the tradition.

Flowers such as roses became symbols of love for western weddings. Herbs and flowers were mixed together as a symbolic gesture. Over the years, wedding traditions have been manipulated blending old tradition with contemporary ideals. Old Greek wedding traditions used ivy and ribbons; weaving them into crowns for the bride and groom to symbolize unity. This tradition of greenery and ribbons has been incorporated in many modern wedding bouquets. In fact, it is commonplace to see bridal bouquets with greenery and ribbons intertwined in the flowers.

Although wedding flowers are a long standing tradition, the use flowers has become more of a tradition of elegance than one of warding off demons. Thankfully the tradition changed and flowers are now used to decorate the wedding. The bride can now carry a bouquet for beauty and not as protection from evil spirits.