The 10th Annual Bridal Extravaganza Sunday, February 27, 2000

Sunday, February 27, 2000

Y Flowers Free-form flowers are the rage By AMY ELLIOTT www.theknot.com Wedding flowers for spring weddings are free form, playful and imaginative. Strewn rose petals are replacing formal centerpieces. And the bouquet itself has morphed into a single, perfect orchid. Tired of pale pink and white? Look for a lush profusion of varied blooms in striking, brilliant colors. Whatever the style, make wedding flowers a millennium masterpiece with these tips. Simple or elaborate flowers? Striking or minimalist? Tightly arranged? Thinking monochromatic, traditional (whites or pastels), multicolored or modern (dark hues and bright citrus shades)? Dreaming of old-school roses and lilies or new-school berries, grasses, greens and herbs? Figure out the floral concept first. Flowers in matching shades or cool contrasts are breathtaking, but make sure they suit the wedding. Couples should bring a bridesmaid dress fabric swatch when they meet with the floral designer (to illustrate wedding colors), and provide a wedding dress photo (to give the designer a sense of the bride’s personal style). If you need to cut costs, local, in-season flowers guarantee freshness and affordability. So opt for a couple of seasonal staples and use them as a base for bouquets, boutonnieres and decorative arrangements. Use less expensive flowers and greens — such as baby’s breath, daisies, and ivy — to fill out bouquets. Ribbon-tied, unstructured bouquets are all the rage. Carrying one large, stunning bloom, such as an orchid or sunflower, is ultra chic. Plastic bouquet holders are par for the course, but couples can jazz things up: Grab onto a tussy mussy. These cone-shaped, hand-held vases first became popular in the Victorian era and are vintage hip. For a luxurious look, cover a plastic handle with shiny French-braided ribbon, or frame the blooms with a collar of lace and streaming bows. For other presentation ideas, talk to the florist. Marrying in summer? Go for hardy flowers that won’t wilt, such as sunflowers, zinnias, dahlias, lilies and hydrangeas. Steer clear of gardenias, tulips and wildflowers. For the reception, consider decorating freestanding tables (bar, cake table or guest book table) with sturdy flowers or ivy garlands. Attach them to tablecloths with a glue gun on the morning of the big day or the night before, or just scatter them randomly for a spontaneous, unaffected look. (Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service.)

Abilene brides stick to tradition Most big city designers are showing simple and stylized floral arrangements for weddings. But arrangements aren’t taking that path in Abilene, according to one local designer. “Usually we have arrangements that stay more traditional,” said Gary Lee Norman, floral designer at Philpott Florist and Green-house. “We don’t have very many far-out weddings. That’s not to say that designers in Abilene aren’t capable of producing simple, stylized looks.” Floral arrangements in most Abilene weddings take on a traditional Southern look, Norman said, characterized by outdoor settings with tables and tents. “It’s Southern elegance — hydrangeas, lily of the valley. Bouquets have a cascading look and garlands are draped over the doors,” said the designer. He added that with the number of outdoor, garden weddings and tent receptions the Southern look fits right in. One thing that is changing in Abilene’s wedding floral look is the number of brides carrying bundled bouquets with stems exposed.