Feasting tables, little bridesmaids and family are lastest trends in weddings...

Flowers follow suit with more intimate look and feel

Julie Poeltler, AIFD
Smithers-Oasis Design Director

[2006] More brides are choosing smaller, intimate gatherings with personal themes for their weddings, spending less on the production and more on the details, according to florists and wedding planners. Julie Poeltler, AIFD, a Design Director for Smithers-Oasis, says it's all about intimacy and a couple's personal preferences that make the day special.

"The focus is definitely on the couple, their families and closest friends-whether it's a destination wedding or a traditional wedding-it's the little things that are making the day a more intimate expression of the couple's love," Poeltler said.

One of those little things-is a big thing called a feasting table, said Poeltler, who owns Fountain of Flowers and Gifts in Lone Tree, Iowa. Tables that seat as many as 20 people to accommodate entire families are replacing traditional rounds. "And the floral arrangements are more extravagant. Often spanning the length of the table, they are mixed with fruits, vegetables and other textures, such as branches and berries," said Poeltler. "When you create a theme that has personal meaning to the couple, you get a unique glimpse into what makes this couple happy."

Theme weddings, said Poeltler, often include garden parties, luaus, fiestas and-the most important-the outdoor tent wedding that extends the feeling of home and family into grandmother's backyard or the bride's childhood home. "You see more children, and more little bridesmaids [who are older than flower girls] and lots and lots of layers of flowers, fabrics and textures," Poeltler said.

The trick is to find that one element that puts the whole color combination together in a personal statement. A recent example is a wedding Poeltler designed around the couple's invitation - the first item they selected - that incorporated toasted almond and white ribbons. "To decorate the outdoor wedding reception, we used green topiaries with toasted almond and white ribbons, ivory brocade linens with toasted almond table runners, and clear cylinders with floating toasted almond and white candles. The effect was a very personal statement for the couple," she said.

Modern couples, said Poeltler, often select an art deco theme, which really lets you take an adventure in color, especially in your flowers. OASIS® RAINBOW® colored foams, by Smithers-Oasis, gives floral designers an entire color palette to work with. Pumpkin RAINBOW® Foam makes a bold and beautiful statement and adds interest to the design when exposed as part of a chic tulip arrangement. Art deco themes also include black and white-very stunning-especially when mixed with a striking accent color such as hot pink or chartreuse green. Also, mixes of red or orange flowers are a top trend, Poeltler said.

One the hottest trends, however, is in the bridal bouquet. The new "hand-tied" bouquets, popular because they look as though they've been freshly picked from a garden, have evolved from simple white roses to roses with stunning colors, tulips and combinations of unique flowers. The issue of wilting, a problem with hand-tied bouquets, is being eliminated by LOMEY® Hand-Tied Bouquet Wraps with VELCRO® closure systems by Smithers-Oasis, that lets brides "undo" the flowers for a revitalizing soak in water prior to the reception. As for colors, the biggest color this year is chartreuse green with accent colors. "Chartreuse and white or chartreuse and red, plus combinations of reds, for example, are very feminine looks," Poeltler said. To give their bouquets more visibility during the reception, many brides are choosing to place hand-blown, clear glass vases on the bridal table. LOMEY® Design Vases include a beautiful, decorative stand that can be painted to coordinate with the bridal colors.

"When it comes to planning your wedding-especially the flowers-make a personal statement by working with your florist to find just the right look and feel that makes your wedding your own," Poeltler said.

For more information on LOMEY® Hand-Tied Bouquet Wraps, call Smithers-Oasis at 1-800-321-8286 or go to the product information pages within this site.