Zara’s Winter Wonderland – and the Last Minute Carnations

Having had a bit more time to gather our thoughts about Zara Phillips (now Tindall)’s bouquet from her wedding this past Saturday, we figured we would share a few as it seems our posts about the royals are terribly popular! Greetings UK and AU readers, should you return for this one! Now that we are done harumphing about the stolen sleeves, we got a good look at the church flowers as well as the bouquet in further detail.

First of all, can we say how much we love the shot of the designer on the ladder finishing the Church flowers?

https://mylittleflowershop.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/radiant2bbride2bzara2bphillips2bbeams2bas2bshe2bmakes2bher2bway2binto2bthe2bchurch2bto2bmarry2bmike2btindall2b3.jpg?w=300 It is beyond gratifying to know that even at Royal weddings there is last minute scurrying and hurrying. Somehow we had in our minds this picture of posh English designers in beautiful sun hats admiring their perfect work finished since 3AM. So the guy on the ladder furiously adding flowers a few hours before the wedding was marvelous.

About the flowers themselves: LOVE them!  Our favorite thing: she’s re-introduced the use of carnations into high end floral decor. Yes – worked in there between those gorgeous hydrangea blooms, are puffy white carnations. Carnations get a bad rap – they are so useful and come in a million colors. Somewhere along the way they got labeled as cheap, and it’s true the are budget friendly. But it’s all in how you use them, and we’ll address that it another blog entry. Needless to say Zara – well done my dear.

The bridal bouquet itself is an interesting one. Retro in a 1974 “Winter Wedding Wonderland” way, it doesn’t give the slightest hint of a summer wedding. Not that it takes color to do that by the way, but there’s something in the formality of this arrangement that makes it a bit too chilly. If you plan to include the frosty looking “Dusty Miller” in a bouquet, we recommend using some color to offset that winter feeling. We do like that Zara went with a hand tied bouquet with no ribbon hiding the stems. Perhaps she’ll start a bare-stemmed trend on both sides of the pond.

Whatever shall we do now that all the Royal weddings of the summer are done? I suppose we didn’t truly cover Princess Charlene of Monaco. Back to Monte Carlo, anyone?

A wedding in Hyannisport. So windblown and wholesome!

Stephen Breyer, U.S. Supreme Court judge.
Stephen Breyer, U.S. Supreme Court judge, and wedding officiant

A person would be hard pressed to find a more picture-perfect East Coast beach wedding spot than the Kennedy Compound in Hyannisport, MA.  Apparently the location comes with the option of a Supreme Court Justice as officiant, and your own paparazzi.  In all seriousness, congratulations to Patrick and Amy Kennedy, who were wed, yes, by Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer.  (Who were you expecting, Scalia)? We didn’t get the best view but, we’re going to talk about the flowers as best we can.  Note to the AP – zoom in on the bouquet when Maria’s daughters tie the knot, ok?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_296w/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2011/07/16/Style/Images/Patrick_Kennedy_Wedding_09e5f.jpg?uuid=6nIm_K_ZEeCagMRrnLElXw
The most genuinely happy photo from any wedding: heading back down the aisle as Mr. & Mrs.
Caroline Kennedy on her wedding day
Caroline Kennedy's shamrock-dotted wedding gown (and gorgeous orchid bouquet)!

The bouquet:  Though from afar, looks quite beautiful – hydrangea, miniature green calla lillies, and we’re willing to bet white roses and bells-of-Ireland.  Bells of Ireland are a lovely nod to  the family’s Irish heritage, and they can be seen in the altar-pieces as well.  The Irish history nod is a classic Kennedy bride move – check out the shamrocks on Caroline Kennedy-Schlossberg‘s custom Carolina Herrera gown. But back to the bouquet – it is “composed,” or “english garden” style meaning the flowers are grouped by type rather than all mixed together. We frequently design in this style.

Moluccella laevis 35 seeds "Bells of Ireland" BULK
Bells of Ireland - beautiful and meaningful, perfect!

Dahhling, you must meet Dahlia!

Meet the Dahlia.  With it’s depth and wide face it fills out arrangements and bouquets with character.  Coming in a range of rich saturated colors as well as variegated yellows and pinks, it’s a breath of fresh air in the standard wedding lineup.  And going by some of the meanings ascribed to the different colors, you couldn’t find a more appropriate flower to include in your celebration.

Variegated dahlia – “I think of you constantly”

White dahlia – “gratitude to parents”

(this one’s the kicker)

Yellow dahlia – “I’m happy you love me”

Dahlia in Sunshine

Orange with Pink Dahlia

Flowers Group 2

Summer Dahlias

Photos by Cindy See