Spring has sprung! (Well almost for those of us in some parts of the Midwest) and you know what they say, April showers bring May flowers – so what a better way to kick off Spring wedding season than by featuring some gorgeous Midwest Botanical gardens that also double as beautiful backdrops to your wedding day. Better yet, these venues don’t necessary need to be utilized for their outdoor space, the inside space overlooking the gardens can be just as amazing of an option.
Cleveland Botanical Garden | Jason Peel Photography
Toledo Botanical Garden | Andrea Dozier Photography
Missouri Botanical Garden | Fresh Blend Media
Chicago Botanical Garden | Oliva Leigh Photography
Boerner Botanical Garden (Milwaukee, WI) | Christy Tyler Photography
Whose ready for Spring? Is anyone having or attending a botanical garden wedding this wedding season?!
The wedding bouquet, and choosing which flowers will be included, can be one of the biggest decisions for a bride during the wedding planning process. This is a classic, traditional and beautiful element of any wedding day, and one I always look forward too. However, these days, brides are able to be a little less traditional and are updating traditional wedding elements to best fit their personality. We’ve seen the evolvement of flower bouquets to stunning, sparkling broach bouquets, and here are 5 more bouquet alternatives to consider.
1) Clutches
Ryan Ray Photography via A Groom Sold Seperately
2) Pinwheels
Jagger Photography via Green Wedding Shoes
3) Felt Flowers
Muncle Fred Art on ETSY via One Wed
4). Corsages
Sherry Hammonds Photography via Uber Brides
5) Parasols
Mihaja Photography via The Louisville Wedding Blog
Do you plan on going traditional and carrying a flower bouquet, or do you have something else in mind for you and your bridal party?
Although I adore the Fall and Winter seasons, there is just something about the blossoming of Spring that excites me. One trend that seems to still be blossoming for 2013 is incorporating Peonies into signature touches for your celebration. From bouquets to centerpieces, brides continue to find unique ways to bring this romantic, lush flower into their ceremonies and receptions and I’m totally on board! With so many colors, its so easy to find ways to bring these sweet flowers in on their own or incorporate them into larger pieces. We’ve collected a few examples to inspire you to bring these velvety, sweet flowers into your own special day!
Kathleen Deery Design - Lauren Miller Designs – TableArt - Bows and Arrows - CLY Creation – Richelle Dante Photography
What do you like most about Peonies? Would you use them in your ceremony? If so, how and why?
I love wedding elements that add a little bit of drama to the overall feel of the event. Taking a common element, like flowers, and making them oversized is a great way to do this. Whether they are real or faux, giant flowers can create a whimsical ambiance (not to mention possibly save you money!).
Top Left: BHLDN, Top Right: Photo by Marie Labbancz via The Bride’s Cafe, Bottom Left: Photo by Studio Castillero via Green Wedding Shoes, Bottom Right: Ruche via Design Sponge
Left: Photo by Suthi Picotte, flowers by Holly Flora via SMP, Top Right: Photo by Austin Gros via SMP, Bottom Right: Photo by Flutter Glass Photography via Wedding Bells
Top: Photo by Lauren Gabrielle via Rock Paper Scissors Events, Middle: Annie McElwain via Green Wedding Shoes, Bottom Left: Brancoprata, Bottom Left: Wedding Paper Divas
Left: Martha Stewart Weddings, Middle: The Knot, Left: Photo by Katie Cassidy via SMP
How are you adding drama to your wedding? Are you supersizing anything?
Typically, I cringe at the idea of painting flowers for any reason, but when my boss came back from Engage 12 with photos of this:
Bob Gail, Scott Clark Photo, Ready Luck
my mind opened up a little. It looks like a succulent statue! So many brides are in love with succulents for their rustic feel, and some choose them because they love their earthy colors. I personally like them for their texture, and so using them as a blank canvas for color intrigues me. There are so many possibilities!
Bornay, a florist hailing from Barcelona, has been making true art out of succulents for a long while now. Literally, he takes pieces of art, usually paintings, and recreates them using flowers of all kinds, but his succulent creations are my favorite.
Top Left, Top Right, Bottom Left, Bottom Right
He also created these amazing boutonnieres.
Carissa of JL Designs used succulents to create a silver pop in her tablescape. This is a perfect idea to incorporate a metallic if there is one present in your color palette.
Aaron Shintaku
I’m dying to see this done with a mix of greens, bronzes and golds, neon pops, or black and white.
I’m a true sucker for a ranuncula or peony, but com September, those beauties are out of season. But, when Fall does roll around, some of the most vivid, full and colorful flowers (and plants) make their appearance.
Take advantage of what is in season – not only for the sake of what’s available (because, lets be honest, those aubergine dahlia’s below are totally swoon-worthy), but also to keep your floral costs reasonable.
- Dahlias
- Sunflowers
- Mums
- Hypericum Berries
- Leaves and Ornamental Cabbage
- Succulents
- Astilbe
- Wheat
Row 1: Christian P Photography / Panacea Event Floral Design via SMP, Martha Stewart Weddings, Martha Stewart Weddings
Row 2: Brian Sheffield Photography via In The Now Weddings
Row 3: Snap! Photography / Hana Floral Design and Boutique via SMP, Sweet Pea Floral Design via SMP, Floret Flowers
Genius idea, I’m telling you. I love a succulent bouquet. And one filled with feathers or wheat. But an entire bouquet of billy balls? Why, yes, please.
Photos courtesy of Morgan Trinker via Love and Lavender.
In case you forgot that chill in the air is Fall knocking at your door, here’s a reminder with some gorgeous Fall bouquets. I love that the palette changes. Colors become more rich, or more saturated. In some cases they are toned down. No matter what, Fall palettes in flowers are enough to make me swoon like crazy.
What Fall colors and flowers do you most look forward to?
Photo courtesy of Untamed Heart Photography
Photo courtesy of Tyler Jones Photography
Photo courtesy of Revert Photo
Lets think outside the box for minute.
Yes, it’s summer. So, it may seem that tropical flowers seem a bit cliche? But not so much, you see. This is the Midwest – no beach or ocean in site.
Instead of roses, opt for something bold. And, make a statement with your bouquet. I know one Delta Gamma who did.
Images courtesy of Jodi Schlosser Photography
Callas.
I cannot get over the size of these. I first noticed them when Chicago photographer, Steve Koo shared these on his blog, and was reminded of their awesomeness when Ami at EAD Weddings shared the wedding. INSANE!
Images courtesy of Steve Koo Photography via EAD Weddings
