| But keep in mind that most of those
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| | block of floral foam, 12 stems of roses,
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| beautiful arrangements and bridal
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| | 5 stems of baby's breath, and 3 stems of
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| bouquets you see in pictures or magazines
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| | ivy. Well, you get the picture. Be sure
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| were probably done by professional floral
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| | you have more than you need for what you
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| designers with years of design experience
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| | expect to make.
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| and floral know-how.
| |
| | Gather All the Supplies
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| But if you're up to it, make the project
| |
| | Get everything together in a box with
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| more fun than frustrating, more awesome
| |
| | easy access. If you have 3 friends
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| than awful. The keys to beautiful wedding
| |
| | helping, be sure you have 3 sets of
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| flowers are planning every detail,
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| | supplies to help make the work go more
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| getting everything together in one place,
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| | smoothly. You'll want to include
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| and practice, practice, practice.
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| | clippers, floral tape, ribbons, floral
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| If you use our tips and follow our
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| | moss, flower preservative, rose strippers
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| advise, you're sure to have a good
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| | if you have roses, corsage pins, vase.
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| experience. So, let's get started!
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| | Once you have your recipe, you'll know
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| Get Lots of Ideas.
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| | what you need.
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| Look through magazines, books on floral
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| | A Cool Place for Storage
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| decorating, visit fine floral shops, and
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| | You'll probably purchase and start
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| take pictures of floral arrangements you
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| | preparing the flowers several days ahead
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| like in public places.
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| | of the big event and they'll need to be
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| A 5-star hotel is a great place to get
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| | kept chilled. If it's a hot summer,
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| ideas. Go on a Saturday and you'll
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| | reserve a room in the house and crank up
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| probably see weddings already set up. The
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| | the air conditioner. But don't let the
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| more ideas you have, the more you'll have
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| | cold air blow directly on the flowers.
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| to incorporate into your wedding flowers.
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| | Buckets of Water
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| Put All Your Ideas in One Place
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| | As soon as you buy the flowers, they need
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| There's nothing worse than finding just
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| | to go into water. Find some tall buckets
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| the look you want, then losing it because
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| | from a home improvement center or ask if
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| you weren't organized. So get a notebook
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| | you can buy or borrow some from the
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| with pockets or a manila envelope just
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| | flower vendor or florist. A very tall
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| for your flower pictures. When you're
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| | bucket (about 18" tall) will help to
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| ready to start making decisions, you can
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| | support the blossoms on tall stems.
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| toss out the photos that don't fit into
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| | A Dedicated Work Area
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| your plan.
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| | To prepare your wedding flowers, whether
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| Decide on Your Color Scheme
| |
| | you have small arrangements or large
|
| If you have a favorite color, that's what
| |
| | ones, you'll need an area dedicated for
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| you'll want for your wedding. But if the
| |
| | the task. Cover as many surfaces as you
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| carpet is hideous in the room, you should
| |
| | can with plastic or a carpet cover (some
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| probably think about a colors scheme that
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| | flowers will bleed onto the flooring).
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| will help to take the eye off it. Or you
| |
| | You'll need a deep sink to soak the
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| may have fallen in love with some dresses
| |
| | flowers, several large tables, trash
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| for your bridesmaids. Choose your color
| |
| | bags, a large garbage can, and a space
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| scheme using any of these sources.
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| | nearby to set finished bouquets and
|
| Set Your Flower Budget
| |
| | arrangements.
|
| The flowers are just one part of a
| |
| | Practice, Practice, Practice
|
| wedding celebration. Added to the cost of
| |
| | No matter how simple your plan or how
|
| the dress, music, reception, and gifts,
| |
| | confident you might feel, plan to do at
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| the budget for flowers can just about
| |
| | least one (preferably two) practice run.
|
| break the bank. But in any wedding, the
| |
| | Purchase the flowers you've selected to
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| flowers set the tone, add color and
| |
| | construct one centerpiece and one bouquet
|
| fragrance, and are one of the things that
| |
| | and put them together. Keep track of how
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| the guests really remember. So don't
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| | long it takes to prepare that one, then
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| skimp.
| |
| | multiply by how many you'll need to make.
|
| Select Your Flowers
| |
| | This will give you a great idea of how
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| Many different flowers can give the
| |
| | much time you'll need to dedicate to the
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| colors you choose. Will you want roses or
| |
| | flowers when the big day arrives. You
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| carnations, orchids or iris? Your
| |
| | might find that you've bought more
|
| decision will be somewhat influenced by
| |
| | flowers than you need or that you need a
|
| where you live and the season of the
| |
| | fuller bow, requiring more ribbon. This
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| year. Lilacs are almost impossible to get
| |
| | is a better time to realize these things
|
| (at a price you can afford) in January,
| |
| | than on the wedding day.
|
| so find other flowers that have a similar
| |
| | Work Ahead
|
| shade.
| |
| | The flowers will have to be done ahead of
|
| You may decide to have all roses or an
| |
| | time, but you can make bows, gather the
|
| assortment of several varieties. Whatever
| |
| | containers, purchase candles, fill
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| you choose, make sure the flowers are
| |
| | votives, fold napkins, print the wedding
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| available in your locale or place a
| |
| | programs or reception menus, and assemble
|
| special order for just what you want.
| |
| | the table favors weeks ahead. Remember
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| Recruit Lots of Help
| |
| | where you store them!
|
| Because flowers are perishable, they have
| |
| | When the Party's Over
|
| to be prepared and arranged at the last
| |
| | Ask a close friend to gather your
|
| minute. If you're having lots of flowers,
| |
| | centerpiece containers, candlesticks,
|
| you'll need lots of help.
| |
| | decorations, votive holders, and any
|
| Make a Recipe to Follow
| |
| | flowers you want to keep at the end of
|
| Prepare a recipe for your floral
| |
| | the reception. Be sure you provide bins,
|
| arrangements, just as you would write a
| |
| | boxes, or bags and wrapping materials
|
| recipe for a food you're preparing. Each
| |
| | along with instructions on what to save
|
| centerpiece will need a container, a
| |
| | and what to throw away.
|
