Bridal Bouquet Created By:  Botanica Floral Designs

Photo By: The Memory Journalists

Mono-chromatic that is!  Monochromatic is a color term used to describe the use of all one color in varying shades.

Monochromatic wedding bouquets make such an impact and splash of color against any wedding gown.  They add drama and say FUN to any bridal ensemble.  The hot trend of having bright shoes to match your flowers ties right in with this look.

Worried about what your bridesmaid’s might carry then?  Another hot trend is to have them carry white flowers while you carry bright colors.  If your wedding color palette is only of a few colors, this is the way to go.  Your bridesmaid’s will still get contrast with carrying a white bouquet against their dresses, and your bouquet won’t get lost by being the same hue as your dress.

This monochromatic  Scarlet red bouquet is made of red gladiolus, ‘Black Magic’ roses, and red celosia.  Accents of red Guinea rooster feathers tie in the black embellishments on the handle.

With prom and wedding season in full gear, today we are going to teach you how to pin on a boutonniere so that it won’t fall off and you’ll never see a pin.  Take a look at the video and let me know what you think.  It was our first, I’d love to hear some feedback!

Have you checked in yet?  Well, the Doctor is in, Dr. Bride that is!  Do you have a wedding day dilemma, or is something just eating at you and you don’t know how to handle it?  Make sure you attend this complimentary session with Dr. Bride herself!

Helping brides for over a decade long, Dr. Bride, Kristina Smith has heard it all!  From wedding dress dilemmas to future Mother-In-Law problems, she’ll be here to help you and solve your problems.  Below is an invitation to the event. Please be sure to r.s.v.p. so the Doctor will be ready for your check in!

You can read more about Dr. Bride and the advice and help she offers on her website: www.askdrbride.com

If you haven’t already R.S.V.P.’d, make sure you do, this event is going to rock!  Sacramento’s best cake designers in a competition that is Marie Antoinette themed!  And the best part?  You, as a bride are going to judge it!  Yes, you will judge these cakes based on appearance and taste!  What better way to celebrate a Sunday!  And, if you are looking for a cake artist, what better place to see all at once!  Here’s the invitation and information so you can check it all out yourself!

Sunday, February 21st

Antiquite Maison Privee

2114 P Street, Sacramento, CA

Admission $10 at the door

R.S.V.P. to wish_bridal@yahoo.com

Or call: 916.969.9721

See you there!

I meet with many brides each year to provide them with a complimentary consultation where we can better see what their floral needs are and also provide them with accurate pricing to reflect the look that they desire.

I will be honest in that I cringe when I hear a bride is just price shopping, they’ve met with four florists, and they are “waiting to make a decision.”  Not that researching pricing is bad, no, I think it is something that absolutely should be done.  As most brides don’t know how much flowers cost, this is understandable, but there is a difference between shopping for price and finding the perfect match when deciding on a floral designer.

Here’s a few reasons why you shouldn’t shop solely on price:  And, this can be applied to hiring a wedding planner, photographer, caterer, or other wedding vendor:

1.  There is no way to compare two florists’ bids.  Even if you show two florists a photo, they may both interpret what you are looking for in a different manner.  One may make your centerpieces larger than the other, one may use more stems of flowers, one florist may include the rental cost of vases and vessels, while the other does not.  There’s just no way to compare apples to apples.

2.  What are you really getting?  Are you settling for a lower price point and having the quality of work compensated?  Will the flowers be less than premium quality?  Will your delivery and set-up be included, or will this be tacked on after a contract is signed?  Are there additional fees for rentals?  Before deciding or signing a contract, you need to know the details.

3.  What kind of experience, or added benefits are you getting?  Has the designer been working in the industry for many years, do they have any credentials or is this just a hobby they do every now and then.  Having experience and a portfolio to back this up is essential.  You need to see their work, and ask many questions to see if they are a good match for you.

4.  Are they going to devout the time to you and your needs?  Will they be prompt in returning emails and phone messages, or do they have other priorities.  Sure, designers are busy, but making time for you is essential in having a stress-free bride.

My advice:

1.  Qualify florists before meeting in person.  Browse their websites, designs and read their backgrounds as well as their philosophy.  Make sure they are a good match for you first.  After reviewing their portfolio, you may find that you don’t even like their work.  You don’t want to waste your precious time nor theirs if you don’t get excited when looking at their website.

2.  Follow-up after receiving an estimate.  Chances are, you may have forgotten what you discussed.  If the estimate is out of your price range, suggestions can be made as to other options.  Many changes and additions or deletions are made before a contract is signed with clients.

3.  Most importantly, during your consultation did you have a connection with the designer?  Did you feel that they could make your vision come to reality, or did you have hesitations and didn’t feel very confident after meeting with them?

Your wedding day is the most important day of your life, you want to make sure you hire the perfect vendors to make your day spectacular!

Perfection is in the details, and nothing finishes off a bouquet quite like a little detailed treatment to the stems of a bouquet.  Whether it be satin white ribbon or a textured velvet finish, I love to add a little personality to the last finishing touches on the handle.

A little bling or a family brooch, you can tie in your wedding day look right down to the final touches.  Above are a few of my favorites we’ve created.

Photo By: Carmen Salazar Photography

Here we finished off the stems with a tone on tone brown french twist treatment along with a complimenting gold brooch and pearl pins.

Photo By: Gino Creglia Photography

A brown flocked ribbon treatment wrapped the stems, accented with a brown brooch to pick up the feathers.  Gold freshwater pearls created bands to add that extra lush touch!

Photo By: Gino Creglia Photography

Cerise ribbon wraps the stems here along with decorative bullion accented with blue freshwater pearls for a fun color combo!

Soft velvet ribbon is accented with a pink brooch.

Photo By: Wendy Hithe Photography

For this bouquet we used colorful croton leaves wrapped around the stems of the bouquet. Over this we then did a french twist treatment to hold these in place.

Here we’ve wrapped the stems with faux fur accented with rhinestone detailing.

Sacramento’s Designer Showcase + Symposium

Are you a recently engaged Sacramento bride?  Want to attend an evening of pampering and get educated all about your upcoming wedding?  Well then join us and some of Sacramento’s premier wedding vendors this month!

Wish Bridal is hosting a designer showcase and symposium for engaged Sacramento wedding brides.  From invitations to gorgeous gowns, custom men’s suits to florals and catering, it’ll all be under one building!  Here’s your chance to speak with the pros, and get some added information to take your wedding to the next level.

January 14th from 6pm-9pm

Negative Space Studio

2114 P Street

Sacramento, CA 95693

Free admission with a donation of a new or gently used bra for {Bra}vo, a campaign for women’s homeless shelters.

Please RSVP to Kristina Smith at:  wish_bridal@yahoo.com

We look forward to seeing you there!

Photo By:  Carmen Salazar Photography

On your wedding day you will be glowing with confidence, poise and breathtaking beauty.  When it comes to carrying your bouquet down the aisle, you want to make sure you look your best and that you are properly carrying your flowers.  This will ensure flawless photos, and can make you look even better than you already do.  I always share with the bride and her bridesmaids a few helpful tips when I deliver a wedding so that they can look their best.

Before you Start Photos:  Make sure you dry the stems off of the bouquets before starting photos.  Your bouquets will be delivered in a vase of water so that they stay looking fresh and beautiful that day.  The last thing you want is a wet mark on your dress or your bridesmaid dresses in your photos.

Carrying the Bouquet:  The back of your forearms should rest on your hips, placing the bouquet around your belly button, angling the bouquet out a bit.  You don’t want your bouquet “creeeping” up into your face as you walk down the aisle. Elongating your arms with a slight bend will also elongate your torso and give you good posture as you walk down the aisle.

There’s A Front to the Bouquet?:  Yes!  Your designer has chosen the best view for your bouquet based on how it was designed.  This will ensure that your bouquets are all looking perfect and at their best angle for your photos.   The front usually has detailing such as decorative pins.  Your designer should inform you the correct way to hold your bouquets.

Keep these few tips in mind on your wedding day, and you’ll look poised to perfection!

Do you have a question for Audrey?

Email me at audrey@botanicafloraldesigns.com and I’ll get your questions answered!

Sacramento’s Designer Showcase + Symposium

Are you a recently engaged Sacramento bride?  Want to attend an evening of pampering and get educated all about your upcoming wedding?  Well then join us and some of Sacramento’s premier wedding vendors this month!

Wish Bridal is hosting a designer showcase and symposium for engaged Sacramento wedding brides.  From invitations to gorgeous gowns, custom men’s suits to florals and catering, it’ll all be under one building!  Here’s your chance to speak with the pros, and get some added information to take your wedding to the next level.

January 14th from 6pm-9pm

Negative Space Studio

2114 P Street

Sacramento, CA 95693

Free admission with a donation of a new or gently used bra for {Bra}vo, a campaign for women’s homeless shelters.

Please RSVP to Kristina Smith at:  wish_bridal@yahoo.com

We look forward to seeing you there!

While flowers such as gardenias, lilac, freesia and tuberose can be quite fragrant and wonderful in certain situations, they can be competing and overpowering in a centerpiece setting.  For your reception, you don’t want the florals to compete with cuisine, and you certainly don’t want a guest with scent sensitivity to not enjoy your reception because they have a migraine from the overpowering smell of your centerpiece.

Used in small amounts, these blossoms are alright, but creating a very fragrant centerpiece, especially if your venue is an indoor environment can be less than enjoyable.  Your guests will enjoy the atmosphere, the smell of the fine cuisine they are about to eat, and the beauty of your centerpieces without overpowering them with a floral fragrance.

Clockwise from top left: Lilac, tuberose, freesia, gardenia, jasmine vine, paperwhites, casablanca lilies.