Flower Arrangement Ideas

There are at the moment thousands of sites on the internet that can arrange for you to have some flowers delivered. It is a fast and handy way for you to send flowers and you can even order for them to be sent the same day so that you will never miss that special occasion.

Although there are numerous advantages to using an online florist, there are also some issues that you should be made aware of. If you simply choose the first florist that you see on the internet, you may in fact be in contact with a call center that then contacts a florist located close to where your flowers are to be delivered. This means that you can’t use the knowledge of florists, and they may well charge you a lot more than if you had gone straight to a florist. Nevertheless, not all sites are like this and once you have found one that you are happy with, there is nothing to stop you ordering flowers for every occasion, because this is the easiest way to do it.

Flower arrangement is an art that first originated centuries ago and travelled all over the world, taking different forms in different countries is now a part of our lives. Flower arrangements first appeared in Classical Greek and Roman times and went on to be defined as an art in Europe from the 14th -17th centuries before turning east to America, China, and Japan.

Since flower arranging is an art, how your arrangement looks eventually depends on its creator. You can custom design your flower arrangements to suit a number of occasions such as a wedding, corporate event, anniversary, or birthday. You can also make flower arrangements from all sorts of materials such as fresh flowers, dried flowers, silk flowers, and paper flowers. You can dress up your life with well designed flower arrangements. Choose, innovate, and create the magic of flower arrangements for fun and style.

Flower arranging has become increasingly popular as a hobby, for individuals of all ages and backgrounds. Flowers add the final touch. Imagine the joy you will get by being able to make a lovely flower arrangement for your entrance hall or a floral centrepiece for the dining room table.

Flower arrangements make the perfect gift for so many different occasions, such as birthdays, anniversaries, get well wishes and many other things.
Huge amount of information on Flower Arranging – check out for your self.

Selecting wedding flowers can sometimes be very exciting and at times very stressful. With the help of a wedding planner or a designer, you can reduce your stress and enjoy the moment.

A decoration for your best day ceremony and reception depends mainly on the personal budget and preferences. Hence, you can always pick from the most traditional styles of flowers which are hand tied bouquets with a little bit of European flavor which is sweet and romantic or you can go in for the Victorian or even choose the exotic and funky flowers. Bridal bouquets can be as simple as one flower or to a big, long, renaissance creation (but remember this renaissance bouquet can be very heavy).

Funky flowers are for those brides who want to add a little bit of zing to their wedding day. Something really different, which can be cherished. Funky flowers are really bright and refreshing. Unusual blooms remind us about the amazing exotic flowers. All these funky long lasting flowers can be dried and used later in a dried flower arrangement.

Flowers are one of the most important visual elements in a wedding and should always compliment and not overpower the wedding dress or the bridesmaid’s dress. Wedding flowers always create a colorful impact on a wedding.

Choosing a style – So create lasting memories with the help of nature. You can use your favorite ideas and creative skills to put together an elegant floral bouquet. Flowers should compliment the wedding gown with the style and color or it can even compliment the wedding theme.

• All white bridal wedding bouquet- For an elegant and sophisticated formal look you can create an all white flower bouquet. White flowers such as roses and lilies can come in many shades of white and this bouquet will go well with the white wedding theme.

• Rainbow colors- Rich colors generally stand out and draw attention towards the bride. So choose flower colors that can enhance the wedding décor and the bridesmaid’s dresses. You have the option of selecting from the spectrum of flower colors including the soft pinks to the rich cranberry and the delicate mauve. While selecting colorful flowers, match the flowers to the dresses so that it looks subtle or if you want to call for attention then you can go funky and select contrasting tones.

• Buds beauty- Select flower buds that look like oval berries sometimes it looks more beautiful then the opened blooms. If combined with long stems or in clusters they accent a bridal bouquet.

• Hand tied bouquet- For an elegant custom look you can have a hand tied bridal bouquet. You may have to keep this bouquet in water till it is used or it may not remain fresh.

Gather round all you ladies & yes, gents, too. The fun & enjoyment of working with dried flowers awaits you. 1st. off we will begin by creating gorgeous floral arrangements using natural products to bring vibrant color to home accessories. Imagine this if you will, the combination of colored exotics like the mango Ting Ting flowers mixed with the longer twisted Ting Ting in mango, keeping the twisted Ting as the highest point in the arrangement. Use Brown, Bordeaux or Mango Flax grass as filler. Add several (5) 24” long stem natural Pro Tea flowers. Place these in a fairly tall marble looking vase, or a terra cotta pot. Bring one of the Pro Tea flowers & a few of the Ting Ting’s down in front of the vase or pot. Play with the arrangement till you get just the look you want & for a job well done.

After all that work we need to relax. To help bring a restful, refreshing feel to our habitat, bring on the domestically grown English lavender mixed with the white Larkspur & the preserved dark green Lasiantha, arranged in a metal Americana pitcher, for an aromatic potpourri treat. Sit near an open window or air vent.

While we’re on this smell good potpourri kick, gather-up the flavorful cinnamon sticks & lavender buds. We can crush them up or make a bundle of the sticks, tied with a ribbon on a bed of lavender buds in a wicker basket, adding a few lavender blooms for a complete smell good temptation. If lavender is not your choice, select several stems of polished preserved Eucalyptus in array of vibrant color of blue, camel, green, olive, orange, purple or red. Tie with ribbon & place on a shelf or windowsill.

Since many of us love to craft, I have an idea. Take several strands of the natural raffia (length of choice); make a knot at the top end. Attach at random by gluing or tying, natural dried fruits such as apple slices, grapefruit slices, & orange slices, including cinnamon sticks tied on with small raffia bows at each one of the fruit slices. Brew –up a cup of tea or apple cider, pop-in a cinnamon stick, stir gently, wake –up the taste buds, as well as the sinuses. Another simpler option would be to gather-up the yummy fruit slices, including the whole split orange, place in a crystal bowl. Stir often & enjoy.

With all these aromatic natural products available for wholesale purchases at www.schustersoftexas.com there is no excuse for not having good smelling homes.

With the use of the honeysuckle garland shaped into an arched bundle as the base, attach preserved foliage of burgundy Peppermint & burgundy Cedar with raffia ties. Add a few natural sun Palms @ random along with burgundy parchment Hydrangeas, pinching off a few blooms to place at strategic points on the sun Palms. Now you have a vibrant

colored swag, HANG ANYWHERE, HANG EVERYWHERE.
Anna Lee Schuster is a floral designer and her how-to articles on dried flower craft ideas have been published in several magazines and newspapers. Get more information regarding dried flowers Larkspur Ting Ting’s Pro Tea craft ideas.

Dried flowers have been used decoratively since prehistoric times. Early Japanese art used pressed flowers and leaves to create scenes of landscapes and gardens. Pressing flowers flat while drying them, however, seems to have become popular in Western culture during the Renaissance (14th-17thcenturies). This was a time of rebirth for the arts and the sciences, and botany, the study of plants, became a popular hobby. Plant classifications were developed and soon even amateurs were pressing and cataloging the herbs and flowers in their gardens. The Victorians, of course, raised it to an artform.

Today, pressed flowers can be beautiful natural decorations for notecards, greeting cards, scrapbook pages and other crafts. Yes, you can buy a commercial flower press, if you think you are going to get into pressing in a big way. For the rest of us who want to press flowers occasionally, there is this simple “home-made” version method.

Pick several delicate flowers at the peak of their bloom, as well as some leaves.Lay a piece of blotting paper on top of several sheets of newspaper on a flat surface. (For very succulent flowers, use more newspaper to absorb the moisture).Place the flowers and leaves on the blotting paper without overlapping them.Cover them with another sheet of blotting paper and several more sheets of newspaper.Place heavy books, phone books, or a bowling ball on top.Let sit for 3-4 weeks in a cool, dry place. Check the flowers every few days for the first week, and once a week after that. With tweezers, carefully peel the flowers from the blotting paper and reposition them to prevent them from adhering. Replace the newspapers at the same time.After four weeks, the flowers should be stiff and dry and the paper should feel dry. If not, leave them for another week.Now, your dried, pressed flowers are ready to embellish greeting and note cards, scrapbook pages, or other crafts. Use tweezers to handle and position them on your surface. When you like your arrangement, glue them down with white glue using a small paintbrush, being sure to glue all edges. As they dry, press them under a piece of wax paper and a heavy book for a day to prevent curling. You can protect your final work with a spray of clear polyurethane, a coat of decoupage medium, or laminating.

There is a quicker, easier method for making pressed flowers using your home microwave oven – if you are “pressed” for time!
Scott Henderson founded Vintage Image Craft (http://www.vintageimagecraft.com) for crafters and scrapbookers who love creating with vintage images. Visit for free ideas, techniques, instructions and vintage image downloads.

Face it, weddings can be expensive.

Anytime that you can cut costs without compromising quality you would be wise to take advantage of the opportunity.

There are some things that you can do to reduce your floral expenses but still have beautiful flowers for your wedding.

After all, wedding flowers are the finishing touch to your special day.

Use Flowers that are “In Season”

When you go to the market, fruit is more expensive when it is out of season and less expensive when it is in season. The same goes for flowers.

Try to select your wedding flowers so that they will be in season at the time of your wedding.

Give Your Florist Creative Freedom

You can save some money by allowing your florist to have a little creative freedom.

Give them your color scheme, perhaps some swatches, and let them know the style of wedding you are planning.

If you have any flowers that you absolutely do not want, let them know that too. Then let them go about selecting your wedding flowers for you.

Be honest with your florist and let them know that you are on a tight budget then let them find the best floral deals for you.

Take Advantage of Holidays

Choosing to have your wedding close to Christmas or just after Easter could be quite a coup in saving on your floral bill.

Most churches and chapels are already decorated for the holiday so your budget will be cut substantially.

The floral decorating is already done for you.

Consider having your Wedding Outdoors

Having your wedding outdoors, in a garden can give you the beauty of natural wedding flowers.

A garden full of blooms is a lovely backdrop for your wedding. It is also a very inexpensive way to decorate.

An outdoor wedding has a simple quality and is very beautiful.

There are some special considerations that you must remember for an outdoor wedding, but it can create beautiful, special memories.

Try Rentals

Renting large potted plants or tropical palms can be an option. They will fill large spaces and usually cost less than purchasing a bunch of flowers to fill the same area.

They can give your ceremony style and bring warmth to the area. This may be an option that will help you save some money.

Do it Yourself

Some creative brides are opting to do their wedding flowers themselves. A few roses set against a spray of babies breath and tied with a ribbon makes a lovely bouquet.

Sprinkling some rose petals on the table and around some pillar candles is very simple, yet stunning.

The options are only limited by your imagination.

Silk flowers or dried flowers may also be an option and you can put them in a vase with some colored marbles or pebbles.

When it comes to decorating for your wedding, remember, it is “your wedding” so do what feels right to you.

Select your wedding flowers to reflect your personality and style as well as that of your groom’s.

A beautiful wedding does not have to cost a fortune.

Floral arrangements always bring vibrancy, elegance, and a sense of beauty into a room or to a person. Flowers appeal to our innermost selves and allow us to cut a snippet of earth’s grandeur and take it indoors or wherever we choose. They give voice to emotions and make perfect gifts that speak volumes. Flowers also denote divine and virgin beauty. It is no surprise that floral arrangements are used to decorate places of worship, banquets, hotel lobbies, wedding receptions, and the like.

Silk flowers are known to imitate their original counterparts very well; further, they endure hot and cold climates relatively well. Floral designers will also find silk flowers very easy to work with because very little care has to be taken and mistakes can be easily rectified. There are a variety of arrangements that can be worked upon and enhanced. Combining silk flowers with fresh flowers or dried flowers gives one amazing results, and it adds to the ambience of a particular arrangement.

With silk flowers, you can make quick, beautiful floral arrangements with a few snips here and there and a shifting of flowers. You can also make elaborate and sophisticated silk flower arrangements by picking the right silk flower to matches your décor and taste. Also, with silk flowers, there is very little waste. If you have left over pieces (leaves, blooms, and so forth), you can just pack them away and keep them for later design. And there is room for mistake with silk flower arrangements. If, for example, you have cut a stem too short, fret not. Just add a floral pick or wire to the end of the stem, and the problem is solved.
Silk Flowers provides detailed information on Silk Flowers, Silk Flower Arrangements, Silk Wedding Flowers, Wholesale Silk Flowers and more. Silk Flowers is affiliated with Flower Bulbs for Sale.

At some point during your wedding planning you will probably realize (if you haven’t already) that weddings aren’t cheap, and you may be forced to make difficult budgetary decisions.

There are many ways to cut costs out of your wedding budget. For example, you can choose not to give out wedding favors, limit the choices at the open bar to beer and wine and choose elegant, inexpensive wedding centerpieces.

The key is to find inexpensive wedding centerpieces that fit into your overall wedding theme without coming off as cheap and tacky. With a little thought you can make this happen.

Here are three ideas for elegant, inexpensive wedding centerpieces:

Alternative Floral Arrangements

The most popular choices for wedding centerpieces contain flowers in some way. If you have talked to any florists, you will quickly find out that you have to pay a premium to have the beauty that flowers can bring to a wedding reception.

Instead of real flowers, consider silk floral arrangements. These aren’t the silk flowers that your grandmother has from the seventies. Silk floral arrangements today are created by artists, and honestly they are sometimes more beautiful than the real thing.

Dried flowers are another possibility. Many times they are less expensive than fresh flowers, and you can also combine them with silk or select fresh flowers.

Lastly, if you have a few close friends or family members helping out you can create your own floral arrangements to use as your centerpieces.

Candles Can Set The Mood

Another option for inexpensive wedding centerpieces is taper displays. Take three or four tapers of different size and put them on a decorative plate or other holder.

Tapers come in all shapes and colors, so it should be easy to match the color of your wedding. You can also add a few silk or dried flowers to the centerpiece for added effect.

Hurricane Vases Are Versatile

Hurricane vases are elegant and practical, and you can do many things with them. They can be found at many craft stores and online for only a few dollars each.

Take the hurricanes and fill them with an object that compliments your overall wedding theme. For example, tapers or pillar candles work really well. Wrap ribbon or silk flowers around the base, and you have the perfect inexpensive wedding centerpiece.

Other things to put in a hurricane include stones, water with a single Gerber daisy, coffee beans and just about anything you can think of that goes with your wedding.

It is easy to get overwhelmed when planning a wedding, especially the financial end of things. With a little thought you can trim some of those costs by making creative and smart choices about your centerpieces.
Stephen Badiali is the owner of Wedding Ideas Guide For more information about wedding centerpieces visit Wedding Centerpiece Idea

Most average gardeners quietly and sadly resign themselves to a long winter empty of the lovely flowers that, only a few weeks before, had graced their lives with color and fragrance. Yes, it’s sad to leave the outdoor garden behind.

Houseplants relieve some of the sadness, but somehow it’s just not the same. I mean, African violets and Christmas Cactus are nice, but I long for my lupines and roses, delphiniums and pansies and all the other wonderfully cheerful little flower-faces that once looked back from the border. Surely there must be a way to bring my favorites in for the winter! The real trick, as you’ll soon see, is to plan ahead.

Enter my very best friend of over 45 years, Linda. . .to my rescue (why am I not surprised?!). “Not to fear,” says she. “I’ll bring in some of summer’s delights and dry them so they can be our company this winter!”
“What a marvelous idea!” says I. “But doesn’t it take some special trick or magic? Don’t we have to take a class or something?” “Well, no” says she. “Just you watch. You’ll see!”

So, for the price of a trifling few moments of summer effort (which this remarkable person calls fun), our home is frequently host to a quantity of most attractive little dry flower arrangements in baskets and vases, adding joy to joy.

You see, there really wasn’t any magic involved. All it took was a desire, some good old New England resolve, a few wire coat hangers and some twist ‘n ties like the ones that come with most household trash bags. Combine those factors and inexpensive materials with a space in your attic or closet—and selections from the list of “best-bets-to-begin-with” that I’ll include below—and you have arrived at the prestigious stage of “expert.”

What’s that you say? “Fine time to tell us about this now that the whole world is covered with snow!” “Nay,” say I! This is the perfect time. Winter is for planning. If I’d have told you about this in May or June, you’d have been so busy it would never have managed to be squeezed in. Isn’t this the time for resolutions? So make one that says: “This is the last winter I’ll spend with no summertime flowers in the house!”

The instructions are pure simplicity. On a dry, sunny day, cut your fresh flowers, leaving fairly long stems. Gather them into small bunches of not more than 6 or 7 stems and wrap the ends tightly with a twist ‘n tie. Attach several of these small bunches to a wire clothes hanger so they dangle down, and suspend it in an attic or closet to dry. The drying process takes from ten days to three or four weeks. Most will retain their color, but a few will turn a pale tan. Not to worry, even softer, faded-out colors fit into dried flower arrangements nicely.

The rest is up to you and your arranging imagination and creativity. Pictures in a book are very helpful. Remember that dried flowers are fragile and some delicate parts are bound to shatter away if handled roughly.

Dried arrangements add so much to a home! They brighten a room and certainly brighten spirits. The icing on a cake: they make thoughtful and much appreciated gifts-especially to shut-ins.

That’s it for air-drying. Here’s the list of “best bets” I promised you:
Artemisia; Astilbe; Baby’s Breath; Beebalm; Cattails; Celosia; Chive seed heads; Coneflower seed heads; Globe Amaranth; Globe Thistle; Goldenrod; Gomphrena; Heather; Helichrysom; Hydrangea (especially “Pee-Gee”); Lavender; Lunaria (seed structures, not the flowers); Ornamental Grasses; Pearly Everlastings; Pussywillows; Salvia; Sea Lavender; Statice; Veronica; Yarrow.

The list could go on but I think you get the picture. Just keep your eyes open and don’t be bashful.
Now let’s tackle a trickier process: drying some of the more delicate and intricate blossoms in sand. Large flowers like roses, carnations, daisies, delphiniums and many others not only lose their shape, but most fade to brown if simply hung out to dry.

Sand Drying. By far the least complicated method is air-drying, but that limits us to a relatively short list of possibilities. Carefully surrounding more delicate and intricate flowers with sand (or silica gel) extends the list considerably and opens the door to much more elaborate and lovely floral displays that can last for months.

First, a word or two of caution. Most sand-dried flowers are extremely fragile, shattering at the slightest misadventure. A playful kitten or curious child will quickly turn a beautiful flower into a handful of fragments resembling breakfast flakes. The entire process briefly described below must be undertaken slowly, very deliberately and with the lightest touch. The final requirement is patience. A flower removed from its sandy bed too soon – before it is completely desiccated – will quickly shrivel to ruin…so don’t be too anxious.

Sand. Probably the most difficult first step is finding just the right sand. If you’re willing to spend a little extra, most larger craft stores either have in stock or can order sand best suited to the purpose, usually in five-pound tins. You’ll need about fifteen or twenty pounds to get started. Since sand specifically manufactured for the purpose is completely reusable, it should last a while, especially if it’s kept reasonably clean. Silica gel may be too tricky (and too expensive) for the beginner, experimenter or for anyone on a limited budget. It dries flowers very quickly but must be timed almost to the exact, “just right” moment.

Silica sand (or “glass sand”), on the other hand, is perfect, much more pleasant to handle and is considerably less expensive. It is almost pure white and looks like fine granulated sugar. Beach sand, masonry or “sharp” builder’s sand and road sand is irregular and dirty, and may leave an unpleasant and difficult-to-remove residue on your dried specimens. Take the time to find just the right kind.

Containers. Sturdy shoe boxes are just about perfect for drying flowers. Round cardboard oatmeal containers work well, too, but can be a little awkward. Both have close-fitting lids and are stable, not being easily upset. Plastic bags and glass jars are not suitable; neither are grocery or lunch bags.
Where? Just the other day someone said to me “Sure, dry all kinds of flowers! But where can I get flowers this time of year?” A reasonable question, and one that’s easy to answer. Here’s where you’ll find plenty of material—
* From a thoughtful spouse or friend who sends or brings you a nice bouquet or potted flowering plant from a local florist or supermarket.
* Weddings are happening all around us. In my earlier days as a wedding photographer I attended hundreds of weddings and many had attractive little fresh arrangements at each reception table.
* There are almost as many funerals as there are weddings (hmmmm). While I don’t recommend you go to a funeral just for the flowers, very often those large arrangements, loaded with a wide variety of suitable blossoms and greenery, end up in the rubbish after the service. Most funeral homes would be happy to see them “recycled.”
* The local florist or flower shop. One or two single daisies or mums shouldn’t cost too much. They might even let you have a few of their “rejects.” Tiny flaws which make a flower unsuitable for a fresh arrangement are perfectly acceptable for drying. Ask.
* And of course there’s your own garden-next year.

Ok…before going to Part 2, run down some suitable sand and gather up a few mush or shoe boxes. Also, gather together a paper cup or two, and a small, soft artist’s paintbrush. Finally, if you’re the type who salvages and recycles such things, a block of dried-out “Oasis”—spongy, green blocks which florists use in arrangements—will make a handy place to temporarily hold the finished, dried specimens.

Part 2 in this 3-part series will show you how to use your sand for drying, and will introduce the secret that florists have guarded for decades to retain that “live” look in dry-arrangement foliage accents. Later, in Part 3, we’ll get the plans and instructions for an affordable—do-it-yourself—flower press.
View the list of Fred’s other articles at: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Fred_Davis

Fred Davis is a Master Gardener, Master Composter, lecturer, and long-time nurseryman. He and his wife, Linda, own and operate a popular perennial nursery in Palermo, Maine, and maintain a no-frills gardening information website at: http://www.HillGardens.com/ where you’ll find answers to your gardening questions.

You could be forgiven for thinking that wedding flowers and floral decorations, being “natural,” are not a primary source of environmental concern. Sadly that’s a long way from the truth. Many commercially derived cut flowers are imported from hundreds or even thousands of miles away and because of their perishable nature, they come by air. The countries where they are grown are not always as fussy about use of pesticides and other chemicals as we are in this country, so pollution from that is a serious issue on top of the air travel problem.

All this may make you take a second look the next time you walk past a brilliant display of exotic blooms in your local flower shop, and certainly may make you want to reconsider the traditional floral decorations if you’re planning a wedding. Happily, there are some alternatives that are much kinder to the planet.

Eco-friendlier flowers

A lot depends on when your wedding is to take place, but if it occurs at an appropriate time you should be able to source flowers locally, preferably grown organically.

If organic flowers aren’t a realistic proposition you can still make a significant reduction in planet damage by using locally grown flowers, perhaps bought from a local farmer’s market or nursery. This will mean you must use flowers that happen to be in season at the time of your wedding, but even so in the UK that still leaves you and your flower arranger with a good choice for the summer season, and also late spring and early autumn.

Some brides these days – especially in North America – are determined to grow their own organic flowers for their weddings. Obviously this assumes that they are planning many months in advance, but it’s a lovely idea! If you are – or a close friend or relative is – a keen gardener with a decent sized garden or allotment, and your wedding is not due to take place for some time, that’s an option you might like to consider.

Working with florists

If you use a florist, even if they do use locally-grown, organic flowers or at least import fairtrade flowers, they may still use accessories which can be hard or even impossible to recycle. For example, the green foam used by florists in arrangements – often called “oasis” – is not recyclable. The same applies to some of the other things they use like packaging and preserving solutions.

You might also like to ask them about their own approach to eco-friendliness and particularly recycling and composting: do they donate still-usable arrangements to nursing homes and other deserving causes? Do they operate a sensible composting policy for flowers that really are past it, as well as all the trimmings and cast offs?

Finally, you may feel that although not all flowers used are local and/or organic, to use a florist local to your wedding venue makes a great deal of eco-sense. As always, it’s about getting the balance right.

Doubling up

One way of conserving energy and minimising the use of flowers is to double up on the flowers used for your ceremony, with those used for the reception. Naturally if the ceremony and reception are held in the same place this is not a problem. However even if the two venues are separate, sometimes it is possible to arrange for people to transfer the floral arrangements from the ceremony venue to the reception, while you and your guests are having photographs done and getting the first glass or two of bubbly under your belts.

Another element of “doubling up” that can provide a greener solution is to consult other couples getting married at the same venue on the same day, and see if your flower arrangements and other decorations can be co-ordinated to avoid wastage. That idea may save money and certainly will be greener.

Bouquets and things

I know that upon the bride’s bouquet hangs a whole load of tradition, not least of which is the bridesmaids’ and other girls’ burning desire to catch the bouquet as you throw it over your shoulder so they may be the next in your crowd to marry, but…!! There is no reason why your bouquet should not consist of an eclectic mix of local, seasonal fresh delights. And if you want really to be eco-chic, consider – instead of a bouquet – one single, stunning, bloom held close to your heart.

Bridesmaids do not necessarily have to carry bouquets, either, and the men do not necessarily have to have elaborate buttonholes.

For the girls, why not consider getting them to carry elegant paper fans, or pretty, handmade little beaded or embroidered bags? And then for the lads, how about a flamboyantly coloured pocket handkerchief, or a fabric rosette?

Dried or fake flowers

I’m certainly no expert on things horticultural but friends of mine who are, say that dried flowers really are stunning to look at, and carry the added advantage of being virtually everlasting. Certainly, dried flowers can be purchased from florists and other outlets, but also they can be made to measure, so to speak – provided that there is sufficient time in the run-up to your wedding. Fake flowers – not the ugly plastic type, but those made from delicate fabrics – look stunning. And these bouquets and arrangements can be taken home by the bridal party – and guests – to treasure for many years to come.

Why not go potty?

Oh, shock, horror! No cut flowers? But let’s calm down and think about this one. In many “green” weddings in North America, so I’m told, people dump the cut flower ethic altogether in favour of having all wedding decorations courtesy of potted plants.

Of course, you could cultivate your own potted flowering plants and use those as decorations. But if this is not a realistic proposition in your case, there are other options. There are companies in the UK offering to rent potted plants out for special occasions. Try keying “potted plants”+hire, or “indoor plants”+hire, into your favourite search engine and see what’s on offer. (Tip: do not key in “plant hire” … if you do you’ll get URLs for companies that rent out construction and other heavy equipment!)

However investing in potted plants to use as decorations for your wedding – on a purchasing basis, not one of rental – makes quite a lot of sense in green terms.

The huge advantage of potted plants is, obviously, that they will live to see another day. And it’s worth thinking creatively here. Potted plants, as you know, come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. So if you want to go down this route, you can think in terms of large or even very large potted plants (hired of course) to decorate your ceremony and the major areas of your reception, but then stop down to much smaller potted plants as table and other small decorations which you buy, and pass on to your guests so they can keep them going.

Top marks for topiary

One popular option for the larger plants – and one that is readily available here in the UK – is to hire topiary plants. In case you didn’t already know, these are usually evergreen trees, plants or shrubs which have been clipped and/or trained into a range of weird, wonderful and often very beautiful shapes.

Some people – wedding organisers – I know filled the church with elegant (hired) topiary plants, one at the end of each pew with others placed strategically around the area. The only other decoration was lots of white ribbon and fairy lights added to some of the topiary. I wasn’t at the wedding, but people who were said it looked absolutely stunning.

There is even a school of thought that says, get small potted plants to use in individual place settings at your reception, so that people not only will appreciate them on the day, but also can take them home and keep them as indoor houseplants – or even plant them out in their gardens, depending of course on what they are.

So whatever your choice for wedding flowers and floral decorations, make sure that your greenery really is green!
Excerpted from “How To Get Married In Green” by Suzan St Maur, published by How To Books, £8.99. From all good bookshops and Amazon. Suzan St Maur is a leading business writer, author, editor and writing coach. Check out her website http://www.SuzanStMaur.com

DIY flower arrangements can be presented as gifts for weddings, Valentines Day, or any other special occasion. DIY flower arrangements are well suited for simple house decorations. These add color and elegance to any home. DIY flower arrangements save you a lot of money while at the same time offering an opportunity to have enjoyment and fun.

Some of the essential materials that are needed for DIY flower arrangements are flowers, floral tape, stem cutter, and stem stripper. The first step for creating DIY centerpieces is the preparation of flowers. Assembling of flowers comes next. Securing and measuring the centerpieces are the other steps. You can also add filler flowers and extra greenery according to your desire. Small flowers and candles will add beauty to DIY flower arrangement.

You can make DIY flower arrangements from dried flowers, paper flowers, and silk flowers as well. If you are purchasing flowers from local florists or from grocery stores, always select fresh flowers. Also check petals, stems, and leaves. For creating DIY rose bouquets, select the rose colors to coordinate with your interior décor.

A large selection of fresh flowers with bulk pricing for DIY flower arrangements are offered through online stores. A wide selection of exclusive designs is offered in kit form in many flower shops. Included in the kit are flowers, foliage, vases, and other accessories needed to design DIY floral arrangement.

With the advent of the Internet, it is no longer necessary to spend loads of money for flower arranging courses or floral design books. Plenty of tips and techniques are provided through websites. These websites offer all needed advice on making DIY flower arrangements. You are able to view pictures of popular bridal bouquet styles, wedding flowers, flower arrangement styles, floral design basics, and more.
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Flowers have a curious magical power over people. Not only do they add to our present but are also linked to our past. Dried flowers, in this respect, are an important part of our lives.

To dry fresh flowers, you can either freeze-dry them or air-dry them by hanging them upside down, or you can use silica gel. You could also place flowers in the microwave.

To make a dried flower arrangement, place your vase on a lazy Susan, stick the base of the vase with floral clay and fix a piece of foam into your vase. With lepidium, lavender, and straw give an overall shape to your arrangement. Now, fill in the center with flax, galax leaves, maidenhair fern, or foliage. Place flowers in descending order of size—begin with large flowers such as hydrangea, and then move on to medium sized flowers, spacing them evenly. For better effect, add larkspur, delphinium, or dried flax.

To make a dried floral bouquet, you should first imagine a triangular floral arrangement with a flat back. Use enough materials to make an arrangement 1.5 times the size of the vase. Begin by using twigs, ferns, long seed heads and spiked flowers. For depth, use longer pieces such as larkspur at the back of the arrangement.

Now, add filling material, say tansy, statice or hortensia, reaching half the height of the twigs and ferns. For greater appeal, place the most attractive flowers with the main colors of the arrangement in the center of the arrangement.

Take care to see that the arrangement is in a fine balance—neither too heavy on one side nor too weak on the other. While maintaining the basic shape of the arrangement, keep putting in flowers and heighten its effect with grasses and seed heads.
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