Three Types of Flowers to Avoid At Your Wedding October 22, 2009

You want your wedding day to be perfect. You want everything to run smoothly, for people to have a good time, and to be able to celebrate with family and friends. You don’t want to hear that flowers could have potentially ruined your day, do you? If you listen to these three helpful suggestions you won’t have to worry about flowers having the potential to ruin your picture perfect day.

Suggestion #1: Avoid Fragrant Flowers. Even though some flowers have such a strong, sweet scent, we recommend avoiding using them, or at the very least, using them sparingly. You may love the scent, but your guests may not. Some flowers have such an overbearing scent that it can give guests a headache, and some even have the potential to change the taste of your meal and cake if they are placed nearby.

Suggestion #2: Avoid Flowers That Die Quickly. This seems fairly obvious, doesn’t it? If you are having an outdoor, summer wedding, avoid these types of flowers especially, since the hot sun blazing down on them will result in them dehydrating quickly.

Suggestion #3: Avoid Flowers That Will Stain. Pollen is a particular culprit – and a pollen stain is very difficult to remove from a white wedding gown. Also, if you are using flowers that are artificially coloured, sometimes dyes may rub off onto your dress. If you must use dyed flowers just remember to avoid having them rest against your dress when walking up the aisle, standing at the alter, or posing for photographs.

Why Are Roses the Most Popular Wedding Flower? October 21, 2009

The rose has been a beloved flower in many cultures throughout history. Archaeologists have discovered fossilized remains of roses in Florissant, Colorado, dating back 30 million years. The Ancient Romans used these gorgeous flowers as symbols for intrigue, celebration, and medicine. The British royal family has used roses as a heraldic symbol. And now North Americans have adopted the rose as an official floral emblem.

Roses are – plain and simple – the quintessential wedding flower, but why is that?

Since roses are synonymous with romance it seems only normal that they would be the most popular wedding flower. They are more elegant than daisies, less pretentious than tulips, and more affordable than orchids.

• They are symbolic. The rose, myrtle, and apple were all sacred to Venus, the goddess of love. Even though roses were sacred to the goddess of love, they were turned into poetry by the Victorians. The Victorians were inspired by the French book Le Language des Fleurs by Charlotte de la Tour, and adopted the flowers code to convey their sentiments. Soon every young Victorian woman took pleasure in in knowing that receiving a rose – a symbol for true love – was of the highest meaning.
• Despite their worldwide cultivation, roses are still considered a luxury. No matter how often you receive roses, or use them in an arrangement, they always have the utmost importance due to their symbolic nature.
• There are over eleven thousand varieties and forms of roses in existence. With such a large selection there is a rose for any wedding theme, no matter how exotic. Plus, due to such a variety, styles range from small blooms with sturdy leaves to larger flowers with soft, delicate petals. But the real beauty? Roses are widely available and can be reasonably priced.
• Roses are varied. As a result, there are three main types of roses that are likely the best candidates for weddings:
  • Hybrid Tea Roses: The hybrid tea rose is valued for its classic uniform shape, its durability (it can last a whole day without wilting) and its availability.
  • Spray Roses: These are smaller roses that include five to ten small heads per stem and help fill out a bouquet more than a single stem, which makes them a great value. Spray roses are available in single hues or bicolour, like the hybrid tea rose too. Because of their variance in size, they are ideal for giving texture and visual interest to an arrangement.
  • Garden Roses: These roses are larger and lusher than the other varieties. They are often very open, and they are more natural and free form than other varieties. Because of their fragility they are rarer, precious, and costly – but they definitely add an element of elegance to your wedding.
    

  

• When picked and processed, roses are one of the most long-lasting flowers.
• Many rose varieties produce a sweet fragrance – and more than 85 percent of North Americans identify it as their favourite smell.
• Roses are versatile; they are able to transform your wedding from minimal to mod all in a single arrangement. Here are some fantastic ways to use roses on your wedding day:
  • For a classic, clean look pair white roses with a classic flower like a gardenia or hydrangea. White-on-white creates a stunning sight for you and your guests to enjoy.
  • Or you can take a classic white arrangement and throw in something a bit unexpected, like a shocking black or brown floral element (i.e.,  an olive or fern shoot) to create a dynamic contrast.
  • If you want to create something a bit more romantic try making a visual statement with roses by adding fur-trimmed or beaded wraps to your bouquet. Or try jewel-toned, tear-shaped beads dangling from candelabras instead.
  • Think feminine and modern by incorporating sweet elements like satin ribbons looped into an arrangement of big, open, garden roses.
  • Do you want something romantic, yet eccentric? Suspend a wreath of garden roses from the ceiling over each table. That will be a wonderful décor element for your guests to admire.
  • If you are looking for something a bit more modern try monochromatic arrangements in any colour you wish. Take the single-colour cluster of flowers and arrange them in a glass cube or vase with a strong geometric shape.
  • Or juxtapose roses with bright flowers, like spiky dahlias in yellow and orange. Place them in a cool coloured vase, like blue, for a stunning contrast.
    

  

• Roses are simply perfection. It doesn’t matter where you are getting married; an outdoor garden, or a ballroom, roses make your wedding ring romance.
• After your wedding, you can dry your wedding bouquet to keep as a reminder of your special day (stay tuned for an upcoming blog about how you can dry your wedding bouquet yourself – it is a great way to keep a part of your wedding day).

First Dance Songs for Newlyweds October 19, 2009

Is it a hard decision for you and your fiancé to decide on your wedding song? Here is a list of eight popular wedding songs, each for their own unique reason, for each unique couple.

The Romantic Song: “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” by Aerosmith
Why: Do you remember the movie Armageddon? No? Well, it wasn’t too memorable, but this song definitely stood out. Over ten years after the movies release the song remains a first dance favourite thanks to its dreamy lyrics of love and devotion.
Key Lyrics: “Lying close to you feeling our heart beating/And I’m wondering what you’re dreaming/Wondering if it’s me you’re seeing/Then I kiss your eyes and thank God were together/ I just want to stay with you in this moment forever”

The Sexy Song: “Your Body is a Wonderland” by John Mayer
Why: This is a fun and sexy wedding song. It’s more upbeat than your typical first dance song, but it is still one that you are able to sway to.
Key Lyrics: “And if you want love/We’ll make it/Swimming in a deep sea of blankets/Take all your big plans and break ‘em/This is bound to be a while”

The Traditional Song: “The Way Your Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra
Why: Frank Sinatra is as classic as they come, and this song has probably been playing at wedding receptions since its recording in 1964. Sinatra’s voice adds a touch of elegance to any reception.
Key Lyrics: “Some day, when I’m awfully low/When the world is cold/I will feel a glow just think of you/And the way you look tonight”

The Non-Traditional Song: “Better Together” by Jack Johnson
Why: Jack Johnson’s voice is recognizable yet unique. This isn’t your usual first dance fare, but it hits all the right notes and acts as the ultimate sweet and loving wedding song.
Key Lyrics: “There’s no combination of words/I could put on the back of a postcard/No song that I could sing/But I can try for your heart/Our dreams, and they are made out of real things/Like a shoebox of photographs/With a sepia-tone loving”

The Fun Song: “I Found Love” by the Free Design
Why: What better song for a fun-loving couple than a wedding song that has you tapping your toes to its sunshine melody? It’s quirky, light, fluffy – and it’ll without a doubt make the bride and groom crack a smile.
Key Lyrics: “I found love in the fall and it did not hurt at all/I found sunlight and flowers, soft summer showers/ I can feel my heart touch my Adams apple/I can feel the feather in my head/There is a lightness, politeness, fingers tingle, tootsies tap/‘Til dawn comes and finds me never in my bed”

The Friends-First Song: “Because You Loved Me” by Celine Dion
Why: This song is from the Up Close and Personal soundtrack, where the film’s main characters build a relationship – both professional and romantic – that was rooted in mutual respect and friendship. The lyrics encompass the same type of love between two people, gathering strength from an encouraging friend and lover.
Key Lyrics: “You were my strength when I was weak/You were my voice when I couldn’t speak/You were my eyes when I couldn’t see/You saw the best there was in me”

The Rock n’ Roll Song: “November Rain” by Guns n’ Roses
Why: For the couple who lives a bit on the edge, it is probably the music video – and Stephanie Seymour’s wedding dress mini skirt – that made it one ultimate first dance song for the rockeuse in all of us.
Key Lyrics: “If we could take the time to lay it on the line/I could rest my head/Just knowin’ that you were mine/All mine/So if you want to love me, then darlin’ don’t refrain/Or I’ll just end up walkin’/In the cold November rain”

The Nostalgic Song: “Everything I Do (I Do It for You) by Bryan Adams
Why: This is probably the song we sway to with our first crush at the grade school dance. So for the couple who wants a dose of nostalgia this tune is it. While it has been overused as a first dance song, it remains a classic and most certainly conveys love and devotion.
Key Lyrics: “Look into my eyes, you will see/What you mean to me/Search your heart, search your soul/And when you find me here you’ll search no more”

Adapted from: Divine.ca

Wedding Receptions: Ideas and Suggestions October 5, 2009

Want to know a little secret? Wedding aren’t just about getting married – they are also about showing off your fabulous style! Not quite sure how to translate your style into your reception though? Flowers are certainly the easiest and most dramatic way to perk up a room quickly. It is the big ticket embellishments tied together, often with inexpensive details that really put the sizzle into your space. These 17 suggestions will help you spruce up your style and give you the reception you always dreamed of.

Match the Mood:
The site of your wedding is going to have the biggest influence on your design decisions whether you are a beach bride or an urban sophisticate. If you haven’t decided on a decorating scheme, look to elements of the room for clues. For instance, a historic mansion is perfect for an all-white celebration, whereas a wood-walled ballroom can call for 1920s elegance.

Create a Common Cord:
Many brides shudder at the word “theme, but it is becoming to be known as a “subtle touch of style”- a repeated design element that makes a lasting and personal impression on the space. A theme can be as loose as your colour palette or much more rigid, like a Wild, Wild West theme. Implementing a theme, or at the very least, a colour scheme, is a great focal point to start your planning around.

Make Everyone Look Perfect:
Lighting is the best way to brighten any room – and it can give your reception a terrific, dramatic glow. If you hire a lighting designer to focus guests’ attention where you want it (on the cake table, not on the ugly floor) then you are guaranteed to have a positively radiant reception. When you hire a lighting designer they are also able to use coloured gels to alter the intensity of the light stream, which creates a softer, more natural look – make your friends, family, and yourself look like celebrities under this softer glow.

Look Up:
Did you find the reception hall of your dreams? But is there one tiny problem: an unsightly ceiling? The simple (and beautiful) solution is to cover it up! Try draping hundreds of tiny white lights, swags of greenery, or coordinating fabric – add a simple touch of elegance to your party.  Is money not an issue? Then look into renting chandeliers – they will distract from the ceiling and give your room an added radiance.

Look Down:
Don’t let the brown shag carpet dissuade you from booking your dream space; you can hide the floor with ground-sweeping linens. Or you can cover it with a nice rental carpet, or a rented parquet wooden floor.

Furnish a Spare Space:
An all-white, empty loft space may seem like the perfect blank canvas to work with, but remember, you are starting from scratch. Translation: it is going to be expensive to furnish – although it is doable. Go with something borrowed to furnish the space – it will save you hundreds. Look to movie prop companies for cool finds like mirrors, chaise lounges, and filled bookcases. Plus you never know what friends and relatives have lurking in their basement – it might just be the perfect thing for your reception.

Toil with Texture:
Interesting materials and nature-driven accents can help turn a boring ballroom into a designer showcase. How? By adding texture! Try faux fur, grapevines, and branches; huge kissing balls, tall trees bejeweled with lights, and bamboo shoots are also able to help satisfy the senses and add some interesting décor to your reception.

Call for the Wild:
Outdoor weddings are becoming a popular choice among many brides – this is probably due to the fact that Mother Nature has taken care of a large portion of the decorating. If you are having an outdoor wedding or reception take note of the surroundings, like wildflowers, and choose your wedding blooms accordingly. Keep the carefree outdoor vibe in mind when you are styling your flowers – tightly packed modern centerpieces might be too formal for this more casual celebration.

Think Outside the Space:
Try something different, something unique: clothesline escort-card holders, mason jars filled with candles (collect them from garage sales to save money), hanging flower baskets, and 4-foot high twig chandeliers. Does a 4-foot high twig chandelier intrigue you? To make it, bundle about 10 large sticks together, per chandelier, bind them together with wire, then string tiny twinkling lights all around them. This will turn a traditional space into an enchanted forest instead.

Make a Good First Impression:
Want to impress your guests? Create a grand entrance for them. Floral wreathes on doors, colourful candles (votives create a spectacular atmosphere) atop every table, hurricane lanterns hanging from trees, luminaries lining the walkways, and other beautifully stunning embellishments will give guests a lovely welcome to your event.

Monitor the Hall:
A real detail-oriented bride will make over the hallways too, not just the reception room itself. Potted plants, trees, floral gardens, and trellises help to create a big impact on the rented space.

Beautify the Bar:
Chances are the bar will be a hot spot at your wedding. Impress your guests with colourful rented barware, tropical parasols, and a frozen drink machine. Making over the bar is a great way to incorporate the theme of your wedding into all areas of the reception.

Size Up Your Tables:
Peace-loving brides are turning to long banquet style tables that evoke a more family-style feeling and lessen seating arrangement stress (a bit, hopefully). You can even go for a mix of square and round tables in various sizes for an eclectic look to your reception. These eclectic table arrangements allow you to seat groups of people much more easily because you are not stuck with 10 to a table, like most traditional tables allow.

Take Care of Chairs:
Chair covers are not a new invention. Using funky fabrics to modify your chairs is a great way to bedazzle a room. You can even dress up a chair with silk flowers, tulle, or leafy swags – just make sure the chairs are still comfortable to sit on though.

Liven Up the Loo:
Give bathroom-bound guests something to talk about, however, don’t go overboard. Simply evoke subtle sophistication; this is enough to brighten up the room. Flower arrangements (like sweet smelling lavender in small vases or wild flower bundled in a basket), heart-shaped soaps, or monogrammed hand towels will go a long way.

Don’t Get Lost:
If your ceremony and reception are being held in the same location, make sure there is natural flow between the spaces. Perhaps you can design, and create, cute signs that direct guests to where they need to be, or to point out the restrooms. Little things can go a long way.

Mind Your Manners:
Much more than crumb-catchers, napkins are an easy way to add an extra little something to your reception tables. Either by using napkin rings or embracing the art of napkin folding; these are two easy ways to enhance your reception tables. Spring wedding? Try using the tulip fold. The more difficult pocket fold is great for any season.

 

Ideas from: The Knot

Interview with Bloomex Wedding Flower Consultant Michelle Brazeau July 15, 2008

By Alyssa Julie

Designing the perfect wedding at a low cost is a lot easier than most people believe. That’s thanks to companies such as Bloomex, which sells beautiful flowers at extremely low-costs. The company has an expert team of florists that can design the perfect arrangements for your weddings, or they can sell you a selection of beautiful flowers at a wholesale price that won’t break your budget. That’s a great option for young and crafty couples that want a beautiful wedding, but don’t have as much money to spend.

Although the company has been around for 10 years, the wholesale division of the company is relatively new (only within the last year or so). Taking up the reigns is Michelle Brazeau, young-women with a background in forestry and a passion for plants of all kinds. She jumped headfirst into her career with the company and has been rising quickly through the ranks ever since. She is now the wedding and wholesale’s consultant for Canada’s largest online flower company.

Bloomex, she explains, is able to offer bulk flowers at such affordable prices because they deal directly with the growers. There is no middle- man to speak of. That means the flowers they sell are beautiful and fresh and since they are grown in Canada, they don’t take too long to reach the customer.

So whether you want to create your own beautiful arrangements, or whether you want someone to do that for you, Michelle is their to help brides and grooms-to-be understand what flowers there are available and what flowers make great matches. That’s something that can often be very surprising she says, adding, “ I was never a big fan of Carnations, but after seeing the beautiful ways they can be arranged, I’ve definitely become a fan of Carnations.” The company, she says, can also provide a striking, expertly arranged bouquet at an extremely low cost that will look beautiful with any DIY or professionally designed flower arrangements.

The one piece of advice she says needs to be emphasized, is that whether you’re interested in DIY or not, couples should take time to plan flower arrangements well in advance of the big day. Most couples, she says, change their minds a few times before coming up with the perfect arrangements, simply because there is so much to choose from. Just think; couples can choose anything from striking and colorful Hydrangeas, to Carnations or Tulips, to the timeless and elegant Calla Lily.

That said, although most brides change their mind quite a bit before the big day, there are definitely some noticeable trends. For one, brides often choose colors that will match their bridesmaid dresses. Many brides are also choosing flowers in cream colors and shades of pink, such as Fuchsia. “Really anything that’s feminine,” Brazeau explains. Matching the color of your flowers and bouquet to your bridesmaids’ dresses makes sense, because it ties all the colors together so they aren’t overwhelming.

At the end of the day, Michelle says she really loves her job and sees herself working there for some time to come. Not only does she love working with flowers; but also It’s such an important day for all of her customers and it’s a great feeling to be involved in something so monumental to their lives.

New Wedding Flower Division June 4, 2008

Wedding Flowers, a division of Bloomex, was launched in September 2007, when Bloomex management found there was a large market for wedding flowers.

The core strategy behind Bloomex Weddings is similar to that of Bloomex.ca, in that it offers a vast variety of freshly cut flowers, bouquets and flower arrangements at up to 80% off market prices. The site is specially designed to enable the consumer to view numerous styles, colors and arrangement of flowers for their special day. The Wedding Flowers website is easy to navigate, very user friendly, which included a wedding flower image gallery and related information. The site also included advance features such as Designer Collection packages, live support and free flower design consultants available to help in the selection and cultivation of the perfect arrangement.
The Bloomex management team found that in the past the majority of these consumers would purchase from local florists that would offer a modest discount for large orders of flowers, and depending on the size of the order, the traditional florist often would be unable to service the consumer, and certainly would be limited to custom arrangements at such a high volume. As well, many small local florists would deal with several wholesalers for their flowers, some wholesalers being American, which would have the flowers in transit for many days, losing its freshness. As well, traditional florist often require up to a years notice for wedding flower collections.

Wedding Flowers from Bloomex is able to create and deliver your custom orders in as little as 30 days, directly from the fields, to our floral design specialist to your door, just one more way that Bloomex is revolutionizing the floral market to better serve the consumer.

ABOUT BLOOMEX

Bloomex is a national Canadian based floral company, offering various floral and gift arrangements throughout Canada and the U.S. via its online computerized sending system. The Bloomex website acts as a storefront allowing consumers worldwide to place orders online themselves, chat with a live agent or place orders through a 1-800 number. Bloomex is the only Canadian floral company that offers same day delivery to almost any location in Canada, and orders can be placed 24 hours a day.

”Through its harmonized network of growers, and company owned facilities, Bloomex is able to provide fresh cut flowers at significantly reduced costs to the consumer”, says Dimitri Lokhonia, President of Bloomex Inc. “Since Bloomex is Canadian owned, the flowers being shipped to their destination would be in transit for hours instead of days, keeping their freshness and longevity. Wedding flowers have traditionally been a large expense and many couples could not afford real flowers. With Bloomex’s combination of fresh cut flowers, exceptionally low prices and new wedding program, anyone can enjoy premium floral arrangements for that special day and not break the bank.”

Bloomex’s national brand name is able to offer exceptional customer service and quality products that are 100% guaranteed, working directly with the consumer to create the perfect ambiance for their event. Bloomex’s customer centric business structure allows the consumer to deal with one contact, from placing their order to its delivery, reducing the margin of errors associated with middlemen. Bloomex has already launched new and innovative approaches to further ameliorate the growing floral market, by adding such product lines such as wholesale flowers and weddings.

For more information, or to view our selection of assorted products, visit our websites at http://www.bloomex.ca and http://bloomex.ca/wedding/

For further information, contact:

Michelle Robitaille
PR Manager
Bloomex Inc
613-216-0969
publicrelations@bloomex.ca