Category Archives: Inspiration

A Rehearsal Dinner inspired by the Harry Potter Yule Ball

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In the 2005 “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” film from the very successful Harry Potter movie series based on the Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling there was a Yule Ball as part of the Triwizard Tournament, in the magical world of Harry Potter it takes place on Christmas night.  In this post I will offer ideas and suggestions inspired by the Yule Ball which could perhaps be used for a rehearsal dinner on the evening before a wedding or even perhaps a unique theme for a winter wedding.

The Yule Ball is part of the Triwizard Tournament competition held between the three largest wizarding schools – the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the Durmstang Institute and the Beauxbatons Academy.  In the “Goblet of Fire” movie, the Ball is held in the Great Hall at Hogwarts which has been transformed into a magical winter scene.  The brown stone walls of the Hall take on a silver tone, icicles seem to have formed falling from high above and at one end of the Hall are several snow covered evergreen trees.  Around the room the tables are covered with silver tablecloths and ice sculptures with a distinct Russian style are placed in the center.

The Yule Ball which takes place in the Great Hall at Hogwarts
photo from pottermore.com

Ideas and Suggestions for a Yule Ball inspired Rehearsal Dinner

Taking inspiration from the Harry Potter movie Yule Ball I will offer some ideas and suggestions for decorating a venue for a wedding rehearsal dinner.  A wedding rehearsal dinner usually takes place on the evening before the actual wedding and in general the guest list includes the bridal party and a small group of the relatives of the bride and groom.  The rehearsal dinner should be an opportunity for the guests to relax and mingle before the wedding.

Since the guest list is usually fewer than 50 people the venue chosen could be in a restaurant near the wedding ceremony location, which would make it convenient for those attending the rehearsal.  Maybe the event could be held in a small ballroom located in the hotel where most of the guests are staying or held at the home of the groom’s parent who would customarily be hosting the event.  Since the rehearsal dinner is a more informal event than the wedding it is a reasonable idea is to keep the cost within a smaller budget but still create a special occasion for the invited guests.

The Harry Potter Yule Ball inspired rehearsal dinner would be the perfect theme for a wedding taking place during the winter months.  The thought is NOT to create an exact duplicate but to find inspiration from the Yule Ball and to take design elements to decorate the space in an elegant winter themed style.

So, here are some ideas and suggestions for decorating and transforming any type of venue into a magical event.

A good place to start the design of a Yule Ball inspired rehearsal dinner is with the table linens.  In referencing the photos from the Harry Potter Yule Ball post the table linens used appear to be made in a grey shiny material.  Shown below are two examples of material choices for the tablecloths.  One is a silver sequin tablecloth and the other material selection is a grey velvet tablecloth, both choices are rich in texture and would add a luxurious style to the table setting.

The next elements to add to the table setting would be the china plates, silver utensils and crystal stemware items. Shown below are two examples for place settings that could be used for the tables, one features a grey stain napkin and the other uses a white napkin and a silver plate charger used underneath the china plates.

The centerpieces used in the movie scene show large “ice sculptures” that definitely have a Russian look very similar to the architecture of Saint Basil’s Cathedral located near the Kremlin in Moscow.  The “ice sculptures” look like they were created from large blocks of ice but in reality the Harry Potter set designers created them from clear resin and then special lighting was used to give them an icy blue appearance.

Real ice sculptures would be the obvious choice but they can be quite expensive.  If the dinner will be a buffet service instead of a sit down “plated” dinner perhaps one or two ice sculptures could be used on the buffet table and shown below are a couple of examples.

Instead of ice sculptures here are some less expensive and much more particular options to use on the dining tables.  One example is a crystal tree centerpiece and the other is a manzanitia tree draped with hanging crystals, either choice would add an elegant winter style.

  

Another element to add to the dining tables would be some candlelight, this would add a soft glow to the table setting and also a romantic touch to the rehearsal dinner.  Shown below are mercury glass candle holders for tea lights and several of these scattered around the base of the centerpieces would be perfect to use to complete the table setting!

Next, I would suggest adding several white evergreen trees to the room decorations.  The frosty trees selected should come in a variety of heights to create interest and would need no further decorations then white lights, the addition of ornament would make it to Christmasy!.  I would suggest perhaps a display of at least three trees arranged at one end of the room, white satin or velvet material can be used to cover the tree stands and would also further the illusion of snow.

Once again, using the movie for inspiration, I will suggest several different options based on the unique pastel colored drinks which were served in the movie’s ball.  One option is to arranged drinks on a multi-tiered ice sculpture to display on the buffet table, as shown in the photo below.  For the event blue champagne (yes, there are several brands available which could be purchased from a local grocery or liquor store) could be served.  Another choice would to serve unique pastel colored cocktail especially made for the event (you can get very creative with this idea and even give the cocktail a clever names!)

The final two ideas for a Harry Potter Yule Ball inspired rehearsal dinner involve desserts.  The first dessert is directly linked to the Harry Potter book series and in fact it is a cake shaped like a Harry Potter book with a Quidditch Golden Snitch and an Ollivanders magical wand placed on top.   The second dessert is an intricately designed white Dragon Cake that would add the perfect Harry Potter final element to complete a Harry Potter Yule Ball inspired rehearsal dinner.

The Ring Bearer

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Previously this month I featured a post about Flower Girls and this week I will discuss the role of the Ring Bearer.  The ring bearer is traditionally a young boy between the ages of four and eight that carries the wedding rings during the ceremony.  In other parts of the world a young boy can have another duty as part of the wedding party; a page boy would traditionally carry the train of the bride’s wedding dress.  Today the role of page boys is basically symbolic and most common in European weddings, such as the British Royal wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton in 2011.  Most recently the couple’s son, Prince George, was one of the page boys at his Aunt Pippa’s wedding in 2017, as shown in the photo below.

Prince George (second from the right) with the other page boys and flower girls

In this post I will discuss the origin and history behind the role of the ring bearer.  I will also give some ideas and suggestions for classic ring pillows for a ring bearer to carry on a wedding day.  In a future post, Unusual Ring Presentations, I will offer ideas for some very different items for the ring bearer to hold the wedding rings.

The origin and history of the ring bearer / page boy

To find the origin of the ring bearer / page boy we need to look back centuries ago.  But first, let’s clarify the difference between a ring bearer and a page boy.  In general a ring bearer is a young boy that carries the rings in an American wedding.  A page boy is a young boy that is part a European weddings, usually multiple page boys will walk down the aisle together with several young girls.

The tradition of a ring bearer dates back centuries ago to the time of the Ancient Egypt when the jewels of the pharaohs would be carried on luxurious pillows during ceremonies.  Throughout the decades, the custom spread to parts of Europe and the royal crowns or scepters would be carried for the King or Queen in royal processions.  In the Renaissance period of Northern Europe during a wedding ceremony of a knight and his lady, the ring bearer would present the wedding ring on the tip of a sword which sounds like a very grand gesture!  Eventually the custom of a ring bearer changed and would be incorporated into the weddings of the upper and middle classes and a young boy would be chosen to carrying the wedding rings, this became very popular in Victorian England and later in the United States.

In regards to the origin of a page boy it can be traced back to medieval times when young boys were servants of noblemen.  One of the many duties of a page boy would be to carry the train of the nobleman during a procession so that it would not be soiled or damaged.  Today, page boys still hold important roles in royal ceremonies, such as the State Opening of Parliament in England every year when several page boys will hold the train of Queen Elizabeth II in the procession through the chambers.

Queen Elizabeth accompanied by Prince Philip during the State Opening of Parliament

The role of a ring bearer in today’s modern weddings

  • Ring bearers are generally related to either the bride or the groom and it is best if they are between the ages of four to eight years old. In the wedding procession, the ring bearer follows the bridesmaids and is positioned just in front of the flower girl, maid/matron of honor and the bride.
  • Traditionally, the ring bearer will carry a small pillow with the wedding rings securely attached by a ribbon. If concerned about the expensive rings being lost, an alternative is to attached inexpensive fake rings to the pillow instead.
  • If the ring bearer is too shy or nervous to walk alone in the wedding ceremony procession they can walk with the flower girl.
  • Another idea to make the ring bearer feel more comfortable is to position their parents near the front of the ceremony to “rescue” him if he get anxious or upset. If the wedding ceremony is too long, the ring bearer can sit with his parents after walking down the aisle.
  • If problems happen (like dropping the pillow, being fussy or crying) just stay calm and hopefully the ring bearer’s parents can step in to handle the situation.
  • It is a nice idea for the ring bearer and his parents to be invited to the rehearsal and the dinner that usually follows.  This would allow the ring bearer to meet the other people in the bridal party and it would make him feel more comfortable.

The ring pillow used at the wedding of Prince George and Princess May of Teck
(later known as King George VI & Queen Mary) which took place on July 6, 1893
photo from the royalcollection.org.uk

Ideas for traditional ring bearer pillows

In general, a ring bearer will carry the wedding rings securely attached to a pillow with ribbons during the wedding procession.  Most often the ring pillow is purchased specifically for the wedding and there are numerous styles available through bridal shops, retail stores or the internet.  Occasionally the bride or a relative will make a special ring pillow for the wedding.  The ring pillow selected should coordinate with the style, color or theme of the wedding.

So, here are some ideas for ring bearer pillows …

   

Two examples of classic ring pillows –
embellished square pillow (left) and round pillow (right)

An example of a lace fabric ring pillow with rhinestone initial pin attached
(I would suggest taking a look in the fabric section of a craft store for more ideas using bridal or other specialty material)

Two examples of crocheted ring pillows –
square pillow (left) and a romantic heart-shaped pillow (right)
 

Two examples of monogrammed ring pillow – machine embroidery (left) and needlepoint (right)

Another example of a needlepoint ring pillow

An example of a ring pillow used for “something blue”

An example of a ring pillow using a vintage cashmere sweater for “something old”

   

two examples using organic material for spring or summer ring pillows –
roses (left) and moss (right)

A ring pillow embellished with seashells for a beach wedding

Ideas for classic ring boxes

Instead of using a traditional ring pillow, might I suggested a classic ring box for the ring bearer to carry.  Some of the ring box examples are available in silver in a variety of shapes or unique vintage ones found in antique stores.

Two examples of silver ring boxes

An example of a vintage traditional bell-shaped ring box
Two more examples of vintage ring boxes

Two examples of vintage celluloid ring boxes
For more ideas for Unusual Ring Presentation, please click on the link.

The Flower Girl

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One of the most famous little girls in recent history is Princess Charlotte, the daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.  As one of the four flower girls at the wedding of her Aunt Pippa Middleton to James Matthews in May of 2017 the two year old Princess Charlotte looked so sweet in her lovely ivory dress with the big bow tied in the back.

In this post I will discuss the origin and history behind the role of the flower girl and what their purpose is in today’s modern weddings.  I will also give some ideas for several different types of flower girl baskets as well as some alternative items that a flower girl can carry on a wedding day.  (For information regarding the Ring Bearer, please click on the link)

The origin and history of the flower girl

In the wedding procession the flower girl will usually precede the bride down the aisle tossing flower petals along the way but how did this tradition get started and how has it changed throughout the years.

The custom of a flower girl dates back centuries ago to the time of the Ancient Romans when young girls were chosen to carry wheat sheaves or herbs possibly to symbolize fertility and prosperity for a young married couple.  Later during the Renaissance garlic would be carried to ward off evil spirts that could bring back luck.

During the Elizabethan Era flower petals would be throw along the path from the bride’s house to the church were the ceremony would take place.  Then the bridal party would walk in procession to the church and the flower girls would carry small flower and rosemary bouquets.

In the Victorian Era the flower girl would wear white dress with a colorful sash tied at the waist, the practical idea was that the dress could be worn again after the wedding.  The flower girl carried a decorated basket filled with flower petals or sometimes a floral wreath which was meant to symbolize never ending love.  Most recently, in the case of British Royal weddings, multiple flower girls participate in the ceremony.

The role of a flower girl in today’s modern weddings

  • Flower girls are generally related to either the bride or the groom and it is best if they are between the ages of three to eight years old. In the wedding procession, the flower girl follows the bridesmaids and is postioned just in front of the maid/matron of honor and the bride.
  • Traditionally, the flower girl will carrying a basket filled with flower petals and toss them as she moves down the aisle. An alternative for the flower girl to carry could be a pomander ball, a floral wreath or a wand.
  • If the flower girl is too shy or nervous to walk alone they can walk with the ring bearer.
  • Another idea to make the flower girl feel more comfortable, is to position their parents near the front of the ceremony to “rescue” them if they get anxious or upset. If the wedding ceremony is too long, the flower girl can sit with her parents after walking down the aisle.
  • Occasionally, the decision to choose one young girl to be a flower girl can be difficult to narrow down. Sometimes for this reason multiple children can be selected to walk down the aisle in pairs.
  • It is a nice idea for the flower girl and her mother to be invited to the bridal shower and/or the bridal luncheon. This would allow the flower girl to meet the other people in the bridal party and it would make her feel more comfortable.
  • If problems happen (like dropping the basket, being fussy or crying) just stay calm and hopefully the flower girl’s parents can step in to handle the situation.

Ideas for traditional flower girl baskets

A flower girl will traditionally carry a basket filled with flower petals that she will toss onto the ground as she precedes the bride down the aisle at the wedding ceremony. So, here are some ideas for flower girl baskets …

 An example of traditional flower girl basket
A classic white fabric basket with lace trim and stain bow and crystal brooch accent

An example of twig baskets embellished with flowers

A twig basket decorated with greenery

An example of an elegant silver basket

Ideas for flower girl pomanders

Another traditional idea for flower girls to carry on a wedding day is the pomander or a “kissing ball”, usually with a ribbon loop handle attached at the top.  Shown below are a few ideas for pomanders using a variety of materials.      

An example of floral pomander

A pine cone pomander for a winter wedding

A seashell pomander for a summer or beach wedding

Ideas for non-traditional flower girl alternatives

Most recently creative brides have been coming up with some unusual items linked to a specific season or wedding theme for their flower girls to carry down the aisle. Shown below are some examples of alternative items for a flower girl.

A metal beach pail embellished with seashells

A seashell for a summer or beach themed wedding

A hallowed pumpkin with a twig handle for a fall wedding

A white furry muff embellished with white roses and evergreen

Two wonderful ideas for a nightime wedding –

A metal lantern embellished with roses and ivy

A twig ball with handle accented with “fairy lights” (right)

SPECIAL NOTE AND CAUTION WARNING! – do not use an open flame for a nighttime wedding especially when the item with be handled by children.  Instead use a battery operated candle or a string of small battery operated lights which are available at a retail or craft store.

A whimsical silver teapot filled with filled with flowers

A rose heart wand for a flower girl

A starfish wand  for a beach wedding

Finally, in recent years the trend has been for the flower girl to carry a sign and shown below are two examples

Finally, shown below is a photo when I was a flower girl back in the 1960s.  The dress was made of orange satin and I carried a white wicker basket.  (I still have the dress and the white wicker basket packed away in a box which I have stored in my closet!)

The Princess Bride – the Book and the Movie

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It is hard to believe that the wonderful 1987 movie, “The Princess Bride”, was released 30 years ago this year, the movie is based on the 1973 book by the same name.  The story had everything – adventure, fantasy, comedy, an evil prince named Humperdinck and a love story between Westley and Buttercup.  In this post I will discuss both the book and movie.  I will also give a brief description of three of the beautiful dresses created for the character of Buttercup that were made by the famous British costume designer Phyllis Dalton.  Perhaps these dresses worn in The Princess Bride film could provide inspiration for a Renaissance themed wedding dress.

“The Princess Bride” Book Information

“The Princess Bride” author, William Goldman, presents the story as an abridged version of a tale originally told by S. Morgenstern.  This was a literary device used to enhance the telling of the story but Goldman originally made-up the story for his two daughters, one that requested a story about a princess and the other about a bride.  Goldman would later go on to adapt the story into a screenplay for the movie.

Possibly to generate publicity for the book, Goldman claimed that he had written a chapter about the reunion of Buttercup and Westley which was not used in the book; the missing chapter could be obtained upon request from the publisher.  Interestingly, many readers did write and subsequently received a letter stating that a copy of the chapter was unavailable for legal reasons because the fictional Morgenstern estate would not allow the release of the chapter in question.  (What a brilliant way to create additional interest while still keeping the ruse that Morgenstern wrote the original story!)

In “The Princess Bride” movie directed by Rob Reiner, the four principal leads are played by Robin Wright as Buttercup, Cary Elwes as Westley, Chris Sarandon as Prince Humperdinck and Mandy Patinkin as Inigo Montoya.  Other supporting actors include Peter Falk as the Grandpa with a very young Fred Savage as the Grandson, Andre the Giant is Fezzik, Wallace Shawn is Vizzini, Christopher Guest is Count Rugen and Peter Cook is the memorable priest at the wedding.  Billy Crystal makes a brief appearance as Miracle Max with his wife is played by Carol Kane.

“The Princess Bride” Movie Plot

The movie begins with a grandfather reading his ill grandson an adventure story and, much to the dread of the grandson, the story has a little bit of romance.  The story starts on a farm in the fictional country of Florin and centers on a young and beautiful girl named Buttercup and a handsome “farm boy” named Westley.  The strong-willed and selfish Buttercup frequently demands that Westley perform seemingly useless chores for her and he happily complies to the requests always with the response of “as you wish”.  Then one day Buttercup realizes that what he actually is telling her with his actions and words is “I love you”.  The confused Buttercup confesses that she loves him too and Westley decides that he must seek his fortune before they can be married and he set out to sea.  Sadly, Buttercup receives word that her beloved Westley has been killed by the Dread Pirate Roberts when he attacks the ship in which Westley is traveling on.  Buttercup falls into a deep melancholy after the loss and vows that she will “never love again”.

After a period of time the heir to the throne of Florin, Prince Humperdinck, is in need of a wife and of all the women in the land he chooses Buttercup.  She agrees to the marriage but is very clear that she does not love him.  But before the wedding can take place Buttercup is kidnapped by a trio of misfits – a Sicilian named Vizzini, a Spanaird named Inigo Montoya and a Turkish giant named Fezzik.  As they make their escape across the sea to the Cliffs of Insanity a mysterious man in black follows them.  Once he catches up to them he wins a fencing battle with Inigo, strikes Fezzik unconscious with a large boulder and in a wit of nerves he defeats Vizzini.  Then, as he captures Buttercup and he argues with her about how easily she found love with another man, she tells him that his remarks are unwarranted and she shoves him down a hill as he yells, “as you wish”.  Shocked that the man in black is her beloved Westley Buttercup tumbles down the hill after him!

Meanwhile, Prince Humperdinck sets out to rescue Buttercup and almost catches up to Westley and Buttercup but they escape into the Fire Swamp.  When they briefly stop battling “rodents of unusual size” and other perils of the swamp, Westley explains that when his ship was attacked by the Dread Pirate Roberts he was taken prisoner, served as a crew member on board the pirate’s ship for years until he eventually assumed the role of the Dread Pirate Roberts at the request of the old pirate.

Meanwhile, it turns out that Prince Humperdinck was actually behind the kidnapping of Buttercup, he is not the kindhearted man that he wishes everyone to believe.  When Westley and Buttercup emerge on the other side of the swamp, Prince Humperdinck captures them.  Buttercup agrees to marry the Prince if he agrees to free Westley.  He returns to Florin with Buttercup but sends Westley to be tortured in “the Pit of Despair” by the cruel Count Rugen.  (In a strange coincidence it turns out that the Count is identified as the six-handed man that killed Inigo’s father many years earlier)

Thinking that she has guaranteed the safety of Westley, Buttercup is dreading her marriage to Prince Humperdinck.  Meanwhile Inigo and Fezzik rescue the paralyzed and “only half-dead” Westley and they take him to Miracle Max to have his health restored.  After receiving treatment, they set out for the castle to stop the wedding of Prince Humperdinck and Buttercup but they seem to have arrived too late.  As Westley goes in search of Buttercup, Inigo meets the Count and realizes that he is in fact the six-handed man, after a brief battle Inigo kills the Count to avenge the death of his father.  Finally, Westley finds Buttercup’s room and they are reunited but Prince Humperdinck suddenly appears to threaten Westley.  Just as the Prince believes he has gained the upper hand, Westley suddenly regains his strength and he challenges the Prince but Humperdinck proves himself a coward and runs away.  Luckily it turns out that the Prince and Buttercup were not officially pronounced man and wife and therefore not legally married.  So, in the end Westley, Buttercup, Inigo and Fezzik leave the castle to ride into the night and hopefully they get there happily ever after.

In the final scene, the grandfather finishes the story he is reading to his grandson and gets up to leave the room when the boy asks if his grandfather could please return the next day to read the book again the grandfather turns and says … “as you wish”.

Special Note:  Perhaps one of the most memorable and humorous scenes of the movie was the wedding.  The castle chapel is set for the ceremony and as the wedding starts the priest turns to the couple and utters these words – “Mawwiage. Mawwiage is what bwings us togethew today. Mawwiage, that bwessed awwangement, that dweam within a dweam. And wove, twue wove, wiww fowwow you fowevah and evah… So tweasuwe youw wove.”

The actor Peter Cook plays the priest in the film and he delivers an unforgettable performance by mispronouncing the R’s, W’s and L’s.  It is one of the funniest moments in the movie and needless to say, I’m sure many bridal couples have briefly contemplated replicating this infamous scene from The Princess Bride!!

The infamous wedding scene

“The Princess Bride” Movie Costumes

The Princess Bride costumes were designed by the well-known British costume designer Phyllis Dalton.  She had won two Academy Awards for Best Costume Design for her work for the 1965 film Dr. Zhivago and the 1989 film Henry V, and she also won an Emmy for Outstanding Costume Design for a Limited Series for the 1982 The Scarlet Pimpernel.  In regards to The Princess Bride, the film is set in a non-descript time period but Dalton’s costume designs are based on the style of the dresses worn during the Middle Ages.

The Red Dress

When Buttercup was kidnapped by Vizzini, Fezzik and Inigo, she was wearing a red dress.  The design is based on a traditional outer garment from the Middle Ages known as a houppelande.  The long dress with a full skirt features a high piped collar, a pleated bodice, flared full sleeves that are tied at the wrists, a laced back and she also wears  an embellished gold fabric belt.  Initially Buttercup is riding in the countryside when she is abducted and she is shown wearing a golden beaded cap and brown riding gloves which obviously become lost during her ordeal.

Buttercup wearing the red dress in the kidnapping scene

The details of the sleeves  

The details of the back of the red dress (without the lace tie)

The Pink Dress

In the dream scene of the movie, Buttercup emerges from the castle to be introduced to the crowd as the future Princess of Florin.  The pink dress with long tapered sleeves that she is wearing over a plain white chemise features an empire bodice which is beautiful decorated with gold, pearl and crystal beading and embroidery.

Buttercup wearing the pink dress in the dream scene

The beautiful details of Buttercup’s pink dress and her rather large gold crown

 In another dream scene Buttercup wears the same dress with a beaded cap

The Wedding Dress

The dress worn by Buttercup at her wedding to Prince Humperdinck has a wonderfully detailed empire waist gown made from pale blue flocked velvet and the empire bodice is accented with beautiful pearl beadwork and embroidery, worn underneath the dress is a white chemise with more beadwork at the neckline.

Buttercup’s wedding dress on display
with the outfits of Inigo and Westley/the Dread Pirate Roberts

Although The Princess Bride is not set in a specified time period, in the Middle Ages young unmarried women would wear their long hair down.  This is how Buttercup wears her hair throughout the movie.  For her wedding to Humperdinck, Buttercup wears an intricately designed crown which features ivory colored flowers, leaves and pearls.

Westley and Buttercup

Special Note:  Robin Wright’s first acting job was in the NBC daytime soap opera “Santa Barbara”.  From 1984 to 1988 she played the role of Kelly Capwell, the quintessential “California girl” with her long wavy hair.  It is perhaps for this reason that she was cast into her first film in the role of Buttercup in The Princess Bride film because she had the perfect appearance to fit the look of a Medieval-period princess.

Wedding Flowers – The Stephanotis

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This month as part of my ongoing series about wedding flowers I will be featuring the stephanotis.  The stephanotis is one of the most popular flowers used in wedding and is known for its sweet scent and lovely white flowers.  In this post I will briefly discuss the origin and history of the stephanotis.  I will also offer some ideas and suggestions for classic bridal bouquets and boutonnieres as well as other wedding floral arrangements.

The stephanotis floribunda is a flowering plant native to the Madagascar region of Africa, the thrives in areas with a hot and humid climate.  The stephanotis plant is wood stemmed with green leaves and it produces a distinctive looking white flower with five long waxed petals with a pleasant scent.  The origin of the name comes from the Greek stephanos, meaning crown and otis meaning ear which describes the long stamens of the flower.  In the language of flowers the stephanotis means happiness in marriage and also the desire to travel.

In general, stephanotis flowers are available to the floral industry are grown commercially in greenhouses because the fragile plants requires high humid conditions and can be susceptible to extreme changes in temperature.  As a result, the stephanotis can be expensive to produce so it is most often reserved for use in bridal bouquets or boutonnieres.

The stephanotis does need some preparation before being used in bridal bouquets or other wedding arrangements.  One technique is to use a 26 gauge wire cut to the length of 9 inches creating a slight hook at the top which is then inserted into the base of the stephanotis and then finished by wrapping portion of the stem and the remaining exposed wire with floral tape for additional support.  Another alternative is to use a pre-fabricated “stephanotis stems” and are available for purchase on the internet or from a local florist supply store.

  

Another option when preparing the stephanotis for use is by accenting the flower with either a pearl or crystal center insert to add a bit of elegance or sparkle.

As previously mentioned since the stephanotis can be expensive it is often limited to bridal bouquets or boutonnieres.  But, if a wedding budget can allow for the additional cost, the stephanotis could also be used for ceremony and reception floral arrangements, such as pew decorations or a cake topper.

Shown below are several ideas and suggestions for using the stephanotis:

The classic stephanotis bridal bouquet

    

Two different traditional round bouquets using stephanotis and roses

A cascade style bridal bouquet using stephanotis and white roses

    

Three different types of bouquets using stephanotis – blue hydrangeas (left),
pink peonies (center) and white tulips (right)

    

Two different types of boutonnieres using stephanotis – three stephanotis (left)
and the other with a stephanotis and a white rose (right)

      

Two different types of bridal hair accessories using stephanotis

    

Two flower girl accessories using stephanotis –
a hair wreath (top) and pomander (bottom) to carry

     

Two different types of cake decorations using stephanotis

      

Two diferent reception floral uses of stephanotis –
stephanotis and manzanita centerpiece (left) and stephanotis hung from chandeliers

Here is a charming idea for a floral arrangement to send to the parents of the bridal couple after the wedding as a lovely thank you (be sure to attach a note)

Wedding Flowers – The Rose

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As part of my ongoing series about wedding flowers, this month I will be featuring the classic rose.  In a previous post, History of the Rose, I discussed the origin, legend and history of the rose.  I will also discuss the language of the rose and the meaning of the different colors.  Since the rose has remained a very popular choice for weddings at the end of this post I will offer some tips and suggestions for bridal bouquets and boutonnieres as well ceremony and reception floral arrangements.

The language of flowers (floriography) was practiced centuries ago throughout Europe, Asia and the Middle East.  In the Victorian era, the custom of nosegays (tussie-mussies) became a popular way for men and women to send secret messages to each other thereby somehow circumventing the eyes of their chaperones.  Flowers were chosen for their special meanings, such as the gardenia for new love, a camellia for romantic love, violets for faithfulness and forget-me-nots for remembrance, but the flower most often used was the rose which had a variety of different meanings.

An example of a classic Victorian tussie-mussie in a silver holder

The different meanings of roses

In the language of flowers, the classic rose had many different meanings according to its color and also the number of roses used.  I will explain the various meanings of the five most popular colors of roses below:

White Rose –

The white rose has become one of the most popular and traditional wedding flowers, in fact it is sometimes referred to as the bridal rose.  During Victorian times, in the language of flowers, the deeper the color of the rose meant the deeper the passion.  So, a white rose represented purity and innocence and was often sent as a message of true love.  Since it is also associated with new beginnings, the white rose was often appropriate to use for special occasions such as a wedding or a baptism.

Traditionally a bridal bouquet is made of all white flowers and white roses are a perfect choice.  Roses can be used either as buds or full bloom flowers; either type is fairly sturdy and will generally withstand most weather conditions.  White roses are available in pure white but other varieties can have a hint of color, such as pink, which can add some subtle interest when used in an all-white bridal bouquet.

Pink Rose –

Another popular color choice for weddings is the pink rose.  In the language of flowers a pink rose represents happiness and admiration but there were sometimes additional meanings depending on the particular shade of a pink rose.  Specifically a light pink rose means grace while a dark rose would mean gratitude.  Pink roses are often used for bouquets or floral arrangement to send to a young girl to mark a special milestone such as a graduation.

Pink roses used as wedding flowers in bouquets, boutonnieres and other arrangements would be a wonderful idea for a spring or summer wedding.  Since pink roses are available in a variety of shades, a combination of light and dark pink roses would add interest to any type of arrangement of wedding flowers.

Red Rose –

The red rose is one of the most popular rose colors and in the language of flowers it was used to convey a message of deep emotion and romantic love.  Red roses can also represent beauty, devotion, desire and deep passion.

The demand for red roses increases dramatically for Valentine’s Day, so to avoid paying a higher price or risking a supply shortage when planning a February wedding it might be best to choose another type of flower.  But if you have your heart set on red roses be prepared to order early and to pay a higher price!

Orange roses –

In the language of flowers, the orange rose represents enthusiasm and gratitude.  Specifically a light peach rose meant modesty, innocence and purity and a darker orange (or corral) rose which is more intense in color meant passion.

Orange or peach roses would be the perfect color to use for a fall wedding  Just image a lovely bouquet made in a combination of the two colors set against the bride’s white dress or a bridesmaids gold colored dress.

Yellow rose –

Back in the Victorian times, a yellow rose sent a message of jealousy and when given to someone it usually indicated that the person receiving the rose had committed infidelity.  Today, the yellow rose represents friendship, joy and wishes for good health which makes it an appropriate flower to use for a baby shower, a gift for a new mother or as a get well wish for someone in the hospital.

A yellow rose would be a wonderful flower to use for a wedding, just consider a bouquet of yellow roses for the bridesmaids to carry which would convey a silent message of friendship from the bride.

Ideas and suggestions for rose wedding flowers 

Roses can be a very versatile wedding flower that can be used for bridal bouquets and boutonnieres as well ceremony and reception floral arrangements.  Below are several ideas and suggestions for wedding flowers using rose, the examples show various arrangements using all white roses but any color or combination of colors can be used.

  

Two examples of different shaped rose bouquets

An example of a classic rose boutonniere

Two examples of rose corsages

An example of a rose arch used in church
but could also be used for an outdoor wedding

An example of a rose floral arrangement – perfect for a church altar decoration

An example of a candle and rose arrangement – would be perfect for a unity candle!

Two examples of rose chair decorations

An example of rose petals beautifully arranged for an aisle

 An elegant example of rose floral arrangement for a reception

An example of a rose cake topper

The History of the Rose

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In my ongoing series about wedding flowers, this month I will feature the rose.  The classic rose has remained a very popular choice for weddings and is frequently used for bridal bouquets and boutonnieres, as well ceremony and reception floral arrangements.  In this post I will not only discuss the history the rose but also several legends associated with this beautiful flower.  Then in an additional post, Wedding Flowers – The Rose, I will discuss the customs and traditions associated with the rose and the meaning of the different colors of roses.  I will also offer some tips and suggestions in which the rose can be used in bouquets and floral arrangements for both ceremony and reception decorations.

The rose (rosa) is a perennial flowering plant which can grow as a bush, shrub, a climbing or trailing plant.  The flowers grow on wooden stems with leaves and prickly thorns which form on the outer layer of the stems.  There are approximately 150 species of roses grown throughout the world and the flowers can vary in diameter from 2” miniature to almost 6” large full blooms.  These different types of roses are available in a variety of colors with the most popular being white, pink, red and yellow.

In general, roses are considered a landscape plant specifically grown and used in gardens primarily for their fragrant and colorful flowers.   Commercially roses are also grown to be used as cut flowers for the floral industry and the rose petals are sometimes used as a source for the perfume companies.  In mild climates, the roses are grown outdoors, sometimes in covered areas to avoid any damage to the plant.  In more severe climates the plants can be grown in greenhouses with temperature control environments that can extends the growing season.  Whether it be outdoors or indoors, the plants are often sprayed to prevent plant disease or pest damage although today there are some growers that produce organic roses without the use of harmful chemicals.

A variety of hybrid roses are used by the lucrative floral industry, the roses are cut before their bloom while still buds and then refrigerated until ready for sale or to be made into arrangements for celebrations such as weddings.  For the perfume or cosmetic industries rose petals are crushed to produce attar of roses (meaning rose oil) and about two thousand flowers are needed to produce one gram of oil.

The Perfume Makers painting by Ernst Rudolf

Historical and archeological evidence suggests that roses have been used in a variety of different ways dating back several centuries.  There is a Greek legend about Flora (the goddess of flower) who is deeply saddened by the death of a woman of remarkable beauty.  She asks for the help of the other gods and goddesses to transform the woman into a beautiful flower as a lasting memorial.  She names the flower “Rose” and Apollo (the god of the sun) shines on the flower so that it will grow, Aphrodite (the goddess of love) gives it beauty and Dionysius (the god of fertility and harvest) gives it a lovely fragrance.

The mythological creation of the Rose

During the time of Ancient Egypt it has been said that Cleopatra used roses to seduce Mark Anthony.  In order to charm him she soaked the sails of her royal barge with rose water to create a heavenly scent when she first greeted him.  She also covered the floor of her bedroom with an intoxicating layer of fragrant rose petals to further entice him.  Needless to say, Mark Antony succumbed to her methods of seduction and was forevermore reminded of Cleopatra whenever he smelled the scent of roses.

Mark Antony meeting Cleopatra’s barge

During the time of the Ancient Romans, roses were often used in celebrations or religious ceremonies.  One such event with a tragic ending is depicted in the 1888 painting The Roses of Heliogabalus by the Anglo-Dutch artist Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema.  The painting shows the Roman Emperor Elagabalus presiding over a feast during which the guests are showered with rose petals.  Although this may sound like an enchanting celebration, the ominous intent of the Emperor was to actually smother his guests thereby causing their deaths.

The Roses of Heliogabalus painting by Alma Tadema

As previously mentioned, roses are grown in a variety of different colors and there is a Persian legend regarding the Red Damask Rose that dates back to the 7th century which offers an interesting explanation as to how the rose got its deep red color.  The story goes that a nightingale (the poetic and symbolic bird once referenced in the Odyssey) loved the white rose so intently that when it held the flower tightly the thorns cut into its chest causing it to bled profusely onto the flower thus turning the once pure white rose into a blood red rose.

The Nightingale and the Rose

During Medieval times, rose petals were sometimes crushed to make powder or oils for medical purposes to cure a variety of illnesses. For this reason, the type of rose used for this became known as the Apothecary Rose (Rose Gallica Officinalis) because an apothecary by definition is a person who prepares and sells medicines and drugs.  Another use for the rose was to create beads for jewelry or other items, such as rosaries.  To form the beads, the dried rose petals were mixed with a little water or oil and the mixed would be rolled into small balls.  (Special Note: Rosaries made from rose petals are still available for purchase today through many sources, most commonly the rosaries are made for sentimental reasons usually created from the flowers from funerals)

A rosary made with rose petal beads

In the 15th century the rose became the symbol of two fractions fighting for power in England.  In the War of the Roses, which took place in the period from 1455 to 1487, the red rose (Rose Gallica) had become a symbol of the House of Lancaster and the white rose (Rose Alba) was used by the House of York.  When King Henry VII ultimately won the war and peace was established he ordered the two roses combined to create the Tudor Rose, this iconic symbol is still used today in England.

The Tudor Rose

In the 18th century Empress Josephine, the wife of Emperor Napoleon, had an extensive garden at the royal estate, Chateau de Malamaion, located a few miles from Paris.  The Empress had a special interest in botany and horticulture and it has been noted that she imported almost 200 different varieties of roses from Asia and England which were planted in the gardens at the Chateau.  To document the roses the Empress commissioned the botanical illustrator, Pierre Joseph Redoute, to create a series of watercolors called “Les Rose” which quickly gained fame as one of the finest collections of floral illustrations.

     Empress Josephine in her garden of roses by Farah Khan

During the Regency period an English garden looked very different, old rose bushes reached the height of sometimes six feet.  The growing season for old roses was relatively shorter in length and a rose plant could literally be covered with large blooming flowers that became known as cabbage roses because of their size.  Another popular rose emerged at this time and it was called the moss rose because the stem and sepals were covered with a bristly growth which resembled moss.

An Old Moss Rose

Today, the roses grown in a modern garden are generally hybrid tea roses which can be traced back to the 19th century when they began to be cultivated as different varieties, the first known hybrid tea rose was the La France rose in 1867.  By 1902, records indicated that there were only 36 varieties of old roses while the number of hybrid roses had grown to approximately 1,900 varieties.  By the late 20th century the number had increased substantially to more than 10,000 varieties of hybrid tea roses.

The La France hybrid tea rose

The oldest documented living rose bush is recorded to be over 1,000 years old.  Known as the Tauseandbjahriger Rosenstock (the German translation means literally the Thousand Year Rose) the rose bush grows on the wall of the Hildesheim Cathedral located in northern Germany.  The Rose of Hildesheim is a Rosa Canina which is a native climbing wild rose native to Europe and when last measured the rose bush was about 33 feet in height and 30 feet width.  During World War II the Cathedral was bombed, destroying the structure but the rose bush survived and it continued to grow and bloom among the church ruins.

The Rose of Hildesheim growing at Hildesheim Cathedral in Germany

For more information regarding roses, please click on the link to Wedding Flowers – The Rose.  In this additional post I will discuss the customs and traditions associated with the rose and the meaning of the different colors of roses.  I will also offer some tips and suggestions in which the rose can be used as a wedding flower.

Movie Wedding – “Robin Hood – Prince of Thieves”

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There have been many movies based on the English legend of Robin Hood throughout the years and in this post I will feature the 1991 movie “Robin Hood – Prince of Thieves” which starred Kevin Costner as Robin of Locksley and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as Maid Marian.  The film was the second highest grossing film of the year in which it premiered and also won a Grammy Award for the Best Song Written for a Motion Picture or Television, “Everything I Do I Do it for You” by Bryan Adams.

At the end of the movie there is a scene when Robin and Marian get married in Sherwood Forest.  The scene is relatively short but it offers some wonderful inspiration for a rustic wedding and at the end of this post I will feature ideas and suggestions for creating a special wedding in the forest.  But first …

A brief synopsis of “Robin Hood – Prince of Thieves” movie

The film begins during the time of the Crusades when Robin escapes a prison in Jerusalem with a Moorish companion named Azeem (Morgan Freeman).  The pair arrives back in England to find that King Richard the Lionheart is in France and in his absence the evil Sheriff of Nottingham (Alan Rickman) rules over the land.  Robin also learns that when he is gone fighting in the Crusades the Sheriff had demanded that Robin’s father plead his allegiance to him and when he refused Lord Locksley was killed and his castle destroyed.

After hearing this devastating news Robin visits his childhood friend, Maid Marian, and to his surprise she has turned into a beautiful and spirited woman.  Robin and Marian at first fight their attraction for one another but soon they fall in love.  Meanwhile, when the Sheriff hears that Robin has returned to claim his father’s inheritance he pursues him to the edge of Sherwood Forest where Robin has fled to avoid being captured.

While in Sherwood Forest he encounters a group of outlaws (Little John, Will Scarlet and later Friar Tuck) that have joined together to fight back against the unjust payments that have been demanded by the Sheriff of Nottingham.  Robin decides he will lead the group in their pursuit and he organizes them “to rob from the rich to give to the poor”.

When the “band of merry men” succeeds in bringing justice against the Sheriff, Nottingham is furious.  He orders an attack and destroys their hideout in the forest taking several of them prisoner.  Ultimately, Robin gathers the remaining men that were not captured and plans to save the prisoners from the evil Sheriff.  They are successful in freeing the prisoners and this makes Nottingham even more determined to defeat Robin.

Next, Nottingham sets his sights on Marian (the cousin of King Richard) and tries to force her into marriage to gain the throne of King.  When she strongly resists his offer he forces her but just before the ceremony can be completed Robin comes to her rescue and after a brief fight Robin kills the Sheriff!  Robin and Marian are reunited and peace returns to this part of England.

At the end of the movie Robin and Marian are married in a beautiful ceremony held in the Sherwood Forest.  The wedding is interrupted by King Richard who has returned to England.  The King compliments Marian on how beautiful she looks and thanks Robin for his efforts in defeating the evil Sheriff of Nottingham.  Then after the King gives his blessing on the marriage the ceremony proceeds and Robin and Marian are pronounced husband and wife.

Wedding ideas inspired by “Robin Hood – Prince of Thieves” movie

The brief scene at the end of the movie visually offers many ideas and suggestions for a rustic forest wedding.  The following is a description of the scene which starts as the camera panes down from the tree tops to reveal an arrangement of twigs formed into a rustic “stain glassed window” with large cross below.  An altar is constructed from tree branches and is decorated with berries, fruit and leaves.  Placed on top the altar at either end are two wooden candelabras.  Maid Marian wears a beautiful wreath of wheat, berries, fruit and leaves.  Then, at the end of the ceremony, a flock of white birds are released as Robin and Marian seal their marriage with a kiss.

  

  

A rustic forest wedding in defined by the setting and the elements used for decoration.  Everything should to kept simple using only items generally found in the forest, such as leaves and twigs, flowers, berries and nuts (acorns or pinecones) and then supplement the decorations with an abundance or flowers to create a beautiful natural setting for the cememony.

Below is a list of ideas and suggestions for a rustic forest wedding:

  • A rustic style wedding ceremony can take place in a forest setting similar to the location of Robin’s Sherwood Forest. Check with the local National or State Parks in the area for the perfect forest setting but always ask about permits and restrictions that might be required which will take some advanced planning.  Local city parks with large trees could also be a great alternative and will probably be more cost effective eliminating a destination wedding.   Even better still is if you live on a property with a forest area or perhaps known a relative or friend that has a similar setting.

 

photo from pinterest

  • Decorations for the wedding ceremony site should be relatively simple so as not to distract from the forest setting but should compliment the beauty of the location. An example as shown in the above photo uses ferns and white flowers lining the aisle.   Another example shown below is wooden stumps placed on both sides of the aisle with candles inside glass containers for fire safety (bettery operated candles could also be used)  Still another suggestion would be to wrap floral garlands around the trunks of the trees.

  

photos from pinterest

  • Some decorations for the wedding reception are shown in the photos below. The first photo picnic tables are covered with simple white tablecloths.  The second photo shows a more elaborate table covering of sheet moss and flowers.  Another alternative to table decorations is shown in the third photo with a candelabra completely covered with Spanish moss and flowers.  The fourth photo shows a simple buffet table with a beautiful floral arrangement.

  

  

photos from pinterest

  • In keeping with a rustic theme, for the wedding cake display I would suggest using a tree stump to elevate the cake, the table top can be embellished with sheet moss and the cake can be decorated with fresh flowers as shown in the first photo. The second photo shows an example of a rustic style cake topper which features a moss base, a pair of “love birds” and a heart made from twigs.

photos from pinterest

  • Shown below are two examples for the bride or the bridesmaid bouquets. The first is a large cascading bouquet and the second is a smaller bouquet for the bride or perhaps the bridesmaids.  Both bouquets are accented with leaves and berries.

photos from pinterest

  • Shown below are some examples for bridal accessories for the bride and bridesmaids using flowers, berries and leaves. Any of these floral hair accessories would look wonderful with hair styled in soft curls or more elaborate “updos”.

photos from pinterest

  • Finally, shown below are two examples for the ringpresentations, the first features a bird’s nest lined with Spanish moss and the second shows a moss covered square.  (Important Tip: be sure to secure the rings and tie them with ribbon)

photos from pinterest

Wedding Flowers – Orange Blossoms

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In my ongoing series about the various types of wedding flowers, this post will be about the orange blossom which were once a popular choice for bridal flowers especially during the Victorian and Edwardian era.  The orange blossom has been used throughout the years in bridal bouquets, head wreaths and even as a decoration for wedding dresses.  In this post I will start with some information about the orange blossom and then I will discuss the history of the flower as it pertains to weddings.

The flower of the orange tree is known as the orange blossom (citrus sinensis).  The fragrant flower has been used for making sweet scented perfumes, for baking delicious desserts, for brewing refreshing tea, for making citrus flavored honey and was also used for wedding decorations.  In ancient China orange trees were very abundant in the region and the plants were considered very unusual because the tree could bloom and produce fruit at the same time.  For this reason oriental brides were the first to use orange blossoms for their weddings as a symbol of fertility.

Later during the Crusades the knights would bring back exotic orange blossoms from the East back to Europe.  This custom started first in Spain and it is here that perhaps the historic origin of the orange blossom wreath can be traced.  There is an old Spanish legend that begins with the Royal Palace gardener’s daughter and her fiancé that were denied to marry because an inadequate dowry could not be obtained.  When a French ambassador visited the Spanish monarch at the palace he sees the orchard of orange trees with its fragrant white flowers and delicious fruit and he asked to have a cutting to bring back to France.  Seeing an opportunity to acquire the money for a dowry, the daughter arranges to give the French ambassador a cutting from the orange tree in exchange for a substantial price.  With this money the couple was now able to get married and to honor the important role that the orange tree played in enabling her to marry the daughter decided to wear a wreath made of orange blossoms on her wedding day.

The orange blossom custom moved across the countries of the world from China to Spain to France and later to England in the early 1800s.   The exotic orange blossoms were beautiful and fragrant and the flowers came to represent wealth and status for those that could afford such a luxury.  When Queen Victoria married Prince Albert in 1840 instead of wearing a crown, as would befit her royal status, she choose to wear a simple wreath of orange blossoms, she also wore more orange blossoms on the bodice of her bridal dress.  Like many customs and traditions set by Queen Victoria during her long reign, the popularly of both white wedding dresses and orange blossoms increased throughout the following years.

Sentimental gifts between couples were always popular especially during the Victorian era.  Prior to their wedding, in 1939 Prince Albert gave Queen Victoria a lovely gold and porcelain brooch created in the form of an orange blossom sprig as an engagement present.  The Prince continued to give the Queen orange blossom jewelry; he gave her another brooch and matching earrings in 1845 and then for their wedding anniversary in 1846 he gave her a a wreath of white porcelain orange blossoms with gold leaves attached to a braided black velvet band.  The wreath includes four green enamel oranges to represent the four children they had at that time (the couple would eventually have a total of nine children).

Queen Victoria’s porcelain and gold orange blossom parure
photo from the Royal Collection Trust

Because she was so deeply in love with her Prince consort, the Queen cherished her lovely parure of orange blossom jewelry and she would wear them every year on their wedding anniversary.  The 1854 photograph below was taken almost fifteen years after the wedding and the Queen is shown wearing the orange blossom wreath with her bridal veil.

Queen Victoria in 1854 wearing her orange blossom jewelry
photo from the Royal Collection trust

Upon the death of Queen Victoria’s death in 1901 she had left detailed instructions that the orange blossom parure was a personal gift from her beloved husband to be worn only by her during her lifetime and would not be passed onto any of her children.  This request was honored and today the orange blossom parure is part of the British Royal Collection.

During the Victorian era, the popularity of orange blossoms used at weddings placed such a high demand that when the flowers were out of season a special technique was developed to manufacture wax orange blossoms that were used for making bridal headpieces, trimmings for wedding dresses and bouquets or boutonnières.  In 1863 when Princess Alexandra of Denmark married Prince Albert Edward, the heir to the British throne, her wedding dress was trimmed with an abundance of wax orange blossoms.

Princess Alexandra in her wedding dress trimmed with orange blossom
photo from the Royal Collection trust

The always sentimental Queen Victoria, who was the mother of the groom, saved one of the wax orange blossoms from Princess Alexandra’s bridal wreath.  She carefully placed the orange blossom in an envelope marked with the wedding date and it is now part of the British Royal Collection.

photo from the Royal Collection trust

Special Note:  During the Victorian era it was the superstition that to avoid bad luck wax orange blossom bridal headpieces should be destroyed within a month (the normal cycle of a real orange blossom).  For this reason very few headpieces from this time period have survived and the ones that can be found at antique stores or from other sources usually have some damage with broken flowers or discoloration.

Vintage Victorian era wax orange blossom bridal headpiece

In 1953, when Jacqueline Bouvier married John Kennedy, she wore the Lee heirloom veil.  Her grandmother, Margaret Merritt Lee, had worn the lovely lace veil when she married James Lee in 1903 and then fifty years later Jacqueline wore the veil on her wedding day.  In the photos shown below the pattern of the lace looks beautiful centered on the back of her head and the veil was secured with a headpiece made from orange blossoms and lace accents.

Jaqueline Bouvier wearing the Lee heirloom wedding veil

Orange blossom wedding ideas and suggestions

Throughout the years orange blossoms continued to be a popular choice for weddings incorporating the real or wax flowers into hairpieces and bridal accessories or ceremony and reception decorations such as floral arrangements or cake decorations.  The orange blossom designs have been used for jewelry items such as wedding rings or necklaces, some of these items can be found in antique stores or online websites such as eBay.  Orange blossom scented perfumes or candles would be perfect for a spring or summer wedding and these items can be purchased at retail stores or online websites.  (Special Note: When purchasing any items or products through online sources always use caution and only buy from reputable vendors).

Listed below are some ideas and suggestions incorporating orange blossoms into a wedding:

Floral arrangements for ceremony or reception using orange blossoms

Since the orange blossom has such a great fragrance, may I suggest using the flowers in the bouquets of the bride and her attendants.  The bride’s bouquet would look beautiful with white roses, lilies of the valley and orange blossoms similar to the one pictured below.  The bridesmaids’ bouquets could be yellow roses, green or white hydrangeas and orange blossoms.  Both of these bouquets would be wonderful to use for a spring or summer wedding.

Orange blossom cake decorations

A grand wedding cake is sometimes known as the centerpiece of a wedding reception.  In keeping with the theme of orange blossoms, the cake shown in the photo below is a simple vanilla frosted three tiered cake which is beautifully decorated with a cascade of fresh orange blossoms.

Vintage wedding rings or other jewelry with orange blossom designs  

Here is a wonderful idea for “something old”.  Since the orange blossom represented fertility and everlasting love the image of the flower was often used for jewelry items.  During the 1920s to the 1940s wedding rings embellished with engraved orange blossoms accents were all the rage!  The rings ranged from simple gold bands to platinum diamond rings.

1940s magazine ad for Traub Brothers orange blossom rings

Orange blossom scented perfumes or scented candles

Orange blossoms have such a lovely fragrance and would be a wonderful scent for a spring or summer bride to use for a wedding.  One of the most popular perfume currently available on the market is the Jo Malone Orange Blossom perfume.  Might I suggest that the perfume or any of the products in the orange blossom line would also make a great bridesmaid’s gift – the entire bridal party would smell go good!!

Orange Blossom Perfume by Jo Malone

Wedding Flowers – Lily of the Valley

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This will be the first post in an ongoing series about the various types of wedding flowers.  (Check out next month’s Orange Blossom post which will be about another favorite bridal flower)  So, I will start with a little bit of the history of the tradition as to why brides carry floral bouquets on their wedding days.

The origin and history of a bridal bouquet

The first reason was originally thought to date back to the 15th century when people of the time would bath rather infrequently and the bride would carry a fragrant floral bouquet to mask any unpleasant smells.  Still another reason for this old custom is that a superstitious bride would carry a bouquet as a way to ward off evil spirts, these bouquets would be made of herbs, spice and sometimes even garlic!

Then, as the centuries passed it was thought that a bride was considered to be especially lucky on her wedding day.  For this reason the guests would sometimes tear off pieces of the bride’s dress to keep as a good luck memento for themselves.  Since this rather odd custom would ruin a bride’s beautiful dress it has been thought that the tradition of throwing her garter and bouquet would satisfy anyone looking for a lucky memento to take away on the wedding day.  This is a one of those traditions that is still being done at modern day weddings celebrations.

A bouquet can add a touch of beauty and color to the bride’s accessories.  Today, bridal bouquets can be created with a vast variety of flowers and greenery and can be designed into several different shapes and sizes.

Lily of the valley bridal flower

One the most popular bridal flowers that is a frequent choice for a bouquet is the lily of the valley flower.  The lily of the valley (convallaria majalis) is a flowering heavily scented but highly poisonous woodland plant that is native throughout the Northern Hemisphere. The bell-shaped buds are delicate in appearance and look wonderful in contrast to the plant’s vibrant green leaves.

In the “language of flowers”, the lily of the valley means happiness and maybe for this reason the fragrant flower has been widely used in weddings, particularly for a bride’s bouquet or the groom’s boutonniere.  The cost of using the lily of valley can be rather expensive, even when in season during the months of spring and summer, and this might be why it is used so sparingly as a wedding flower.

List of famous brides and their lily of the valley wedding bouquets

For inspiration, here is a list of some of the most famous brides that have used lily of the valley flowers in their wedding bouquets.

Jacqueline “Jackie” Bouvier married John Kennedy (then a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts and future President of the United States) on September 12, 1953 at St. Mary’s Church in Newport, Rhode Island.  The wedding reception took place at Hammersmith Farm which was the home of her stepfather Hugh Auchincloss.  On her wedding day, Jackie’s bridal bouquet was a mixture of white and pink gardenias, orchids and lilies of the valley.

 

Jacqueline Bouvier – September 13, 1953

Special Note: When Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis died on May 20, 1994 her simple mahogany casket was covered with ferns and lilies of the valley arranged in the shape of a cross.  The funeral mass took place at St. Ignatius Loyola Roman Catholic church in New York City on May 23.  Later in the day, she was buried alongside her husband, President Kennedy, at Arlington National Cemetery just outside of Washington, D.C.

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis burial service Arlington Cemetery – May 23, 1994

When American actress Grace Kelly married Prince Rainer III of Monaco they had two ceremonies.  The first was a civil ceremony that took place in the Palace of Monaco Throne Room on April 18, 1956.  The following day the Roman Catholic ceremony took place at the St. Nicholas Cathedral in Monaco.  The beautiful Grace wore perhaps one of the most iconic wedding dresses of the past century; some people have noted that Kate Middleton’s wedding dress many years later was very similar in design.  On her wedding day, Grace carried a small Bible and a bouquet made of lilies of the valley.

Grace Kelly – April 19, 1956

Elizabeth Taylor, the American actress was famous for her multiple marriages throughout the years, she had seven husbands (she married Richard Burton twice!)  Lillies of the valley were her most frequent choice for her bridal bouquet.  Shown below are photos from her first marriage to Conrad “Nicky” Hilton on May 6, 1950, followed by her second marriage to Michael Wilding on February 21, 1952, then her fourth marriage to Eddie Fisher on May 12, 1959 and finally her eight (and last wedding!) to Larry Fotensky on October 6, 1991.

   

   

When Carolyn Bassett married John Kennedy, Jr. on September 21, 1996 on Cumberland Island, Georgia in a very secret ceremony she wore a simple and elegant Narcisco Rodriguez wedding gown, the bias-cut silk crepe in “pearl white” proved to be another iconic bridal dress.  On her wedding day, Carolyn carried a lovely lilies of the valley bouquet.

John and Carolyn Kennedy – September 21, 1996

The final bridal bouquet featured in this post will be the one Catherine Middleton carried on her wedding to Prince William on April 29, 2011 at Westminster Abbey in London, England.  Kate personal floral request was to incorporate the English tradition of the “language of the flowers” and the all white bouquet featured lily of the valley (happiness), Sweet William (gallantry and also an unspoken tribute to her new husband), hyacinth (constancy of love), ivy (fidelity) and myrtle (love and marriage).

Catherine Middleton – April 29, 2011