How To Write an Obituary

Are you the one with the responsibility of writing an obituary for a recently departed loved one? If so, this article will put you on the right path to creating a memoir that will summarize well the life of the recently departed. Writing the obituary is a big responsibility but if you follow this guide, you will surely be successful.

On a blank piece of paper or on your computer write out the name of the deceased, the date and place of birth as well as the date and place of death. You then may or may not write out the cause of death; this is optional.

As you are filling out this essential information don`t worry too much about the flow of your obituary since you will be able to touch up the actual text at the end once you have on the important information on paper (or on screen).

Now comes time to honor the life of the deceased. Start by stating the name of the spouse as well as the date and place of marriage if applicable. The parents`names, siblings, schools attended and special friends come next. You may want to recount any childhood stories that are significant to the deceased. Follow up with education, college or universities attended as well as significant jobs, charitable projects, awards, achievements or other stories of life successes, trials or tribulations.

Follow up now by acknowledging the survivors. So you could say: ______is survived by: spouse, children in order of date of birth and their spouses, any grandchildren, parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters in order of birthdate, pets, friends and any other significant others such as nephews, nieces, cousins and in-laws. You may also wish to include who the departed is predeceased by such as spouse, children, pets and any other significant people in their life.

Now comes time in your obituary to announce where and when the visitations, funeral and burial will take place. If there are any other memorials, vigils or receptions taking place in honor of the newly deceased, now is the time to give details such as day, date, time and place. You can also mention the name of the officiant, pallbearers and of course the name of the funeral home in charge of arrangements along with address and phone number to call for more information.

In conclusion, you will want to include a statement about where and to which association memorial contributions can be sent if applicable. Many people will want to send flowers to offer their condolences in addition to donations to a charity of choice and the information in your obituary will be very helpful. You may wish to thank any people, groups or institutions that helped the loved one in his or her dying days or lifetime. If there was a quotation that meant a lot to the newly deceased, you may want to finish with this quote or else sum up the life of the deceased in one last sentence.

Now that you are done writing your obituary, go over the text carefully to edit your work. Make sure the sentences flow well together. If possible, get a second person to double-check your work and offer suggestions for improvement. Last but not least call the paper to schedule running your obituary in their paper and online edition for a few days before the memorial service.

If the memorial service is being held in Timmins, Ontario, you can find links to local funeral homes here:   Obituary Timmins

If you are the one responsible for planning the memorial flowers, you can find more information about how to select sympathy flowers here: Sympathy Flowers Timmins

Article Source:  Writing an Obituary: A Guide To Writing a Treasured Memoir

What To Expect for Christmas Décor in 2011

from: http://www.proflowers.com/guide/2011-christmas-decorating-trends-you-want-to-know

Here’s what you’ll be seeing in the stores this year that’s considered “new:”

• Christmas Sentiment: Less is more. Simplicity. With widespread economic uncertainty, more consumers are reporting that they will comparison shop, use more coupons and be more careful with money in general. That said, the National Retail Federation estimates that 2011 Christmas spending will rise 2.8% over last year’s figures--not a great boost, but better than 2008’s 4.4% drop. Shocked by unemployment and stock market gyrations, American consumers have developed a new-found interest in simplicity. The soon-to-be released felts and decorated tins with folkloric accents indicate a longing for a simpler, earlier time.
• Christmas Flowers:  Decorators have long been encouraging homeowners to try flowers other than the ubiquitous poinsettia. While no specific Christmas flower trends have emerged per se, lookfor deep red Calla lilies and red or white tulips on professional decorators’ Christmas mantles and tables this season.
• Christmas Color:  A subdued mix of frosty green and silver will appear in the Christmas windows of the biggest retailers this year. Any store window displaying bright reds and greens will suddenly seem dated. Think of two Christmas balls, one silver and one more of a metallic gray-green. Woody and other natural accents complement these shades beautifully. Again, these hues are less garish, reflecting the cautious attitude that’s struck most families.
• Christmas Metals:  In keeping with the subdued hues of silver and frosty green, this year’s metal accents stick more closely to tin, pewter and burnished bronze rather than sparkling golds. The trend toward simplicity emerges in metal mesh pieces coated with uneven paints which renders an earthy texture, as well as the folklore-themed felts and tins. Even the glitters (popular again this year) lend more color than shine. The more sophisticated “superfine” is again the glitter of the day, and it’s showing up in plastic gift wrap and home décor in swirl and plaid patterns.

Color Trends for Winter or. If you found me quoted in a magazine regarding wedding color trends / combination, then you know I dedicate my ‘spare’ time researching wedding color trends a year in advance. Since 2001, I’ve been helping brides with th

from: http://www.mypersonalartist.com/blog/2010/01/27/2011-weddingcolor-trends-part...

If you found me quoted in a magazine regarding wedding color trends / combination, then you know I dedicate my ‘spare’ time researching wedding color trends a year in advance. Since 2001, I’ve been helping brides with their wedding color decisions by displaying color trend swatches and ideas on my website.

I was TRULY delighted with my findings this morning! The 2011 year in color will be BRIGHT and amazing! As shown above, tropical, fun and whimsical!

Apple green, mauve, lilac, hot pink, slate grey, celadon, aged gold, coral, red, violet purple, mocha / chocolate / brown, navy, emerald / pine green / dark cyan, clementine orange, and yellow.

What is your favorite color in this palette?

2011 Color Trends Palette Part Two now available to view …

January 27th, 2010 | Category: brown, gray, honeysuckle pink, inspiration boards, lilac / lavender, orange, pink, red, spring colors, summer colors, wedding colors, wedding ideas, yellow

Planning A Stylish Winter Wedding

from: http://weddings.about.com/od/traditionscolorsthemes/a/winterwedding.htm

In the movies, everyone seems to get married in June. But a winter wedding can be terribly glamorous, cinematic and magical.

With the right elements, your winter wedding will be a wonderland. Attire for Your Winter Wedding Think about you and your sweetie in the elegant look of old Hollywood; the groom in tails, and the bride in a white long silk dress with a white fur or faux fur wrap.

Evoke the season with "ice" –diamond or diamond-like jewelry. 90% of wedding dresses are strapless or sleeveless, but that's not so practical for a bride who wants to take pictures outside, or needs to walk any distance.

Look for wraps, shrugs, and capes, or dramatic coats. I've always loved the look of a bride in a white dress and a large red shawl, huddled against her groom who has a red boutonnière. And don't forget your bridesmaids! An attractive wrap to wear on the day of your wedding and beyond makes a great bridesmaid present.

Where to Have a Winter Wedding

Look for an inn with a fireplace for an intimate winter wedding. For a larger affair, you may be able to use a historic mansion or private club that will still have intimate warmth. Unless you're getting married in a state that will have guaranteed snow during your wedding date, avoid a room that has a large picture window.

You may imagine drifts of beautiful snow, and end up with a grey rainy day. Be sure to ask what seasonal decorations they use – you'll save money as many sites are already heavily decorated. Also, check to make sure your site will be adequately heated during the winter months; old churches can be especially drafty.

Planning the Menu

You can have all of your favorite food but add some winter touches like a squash dish, or warm pumpkin soup. Consider serving eggnog, spiced wine, or hot chocolate (alcoholic or non-) as special treats. Look for an all-white cake, decorated with snowflake patterns, silver embellishments, or sugar sculptures. Ask your caterer about using a decorative snow globe as a cake topper

Winter Wedding Flowers

Decide whether you want to go for a silver and white elegant look, or celebrate the season with reds and greens. For those who like silver, look for dusty miller, silver-dollar eucalyptus, and baby blue eucalyptus, mixed with white flowers such as roses, football mums, crocus, lilies and stephanotis.

If you're looking for a brighter bouquet, consider red roses with holly and pine-tree greenery. In season flowers such as tulips, roses, and ornamental berries generally will be less expensive choices. (Talk to your florist, as your region may have different availability)

The Décor for Your Winter Wedding

Decorate your tables with simple and inexpensive white poinsettias, or fill the room with light by arranging pillar candles on a bed of pine branches At the after-Christmas sales, stock up on strands of small white lights, then string them decoratively around doorways, over tables and on archways.

Bright red cranberries in a bowl surrounding floating candles make an easy and inexpensive centerpiece. Look at this article for other simple holiday centerpieces.. Or, decorate a pre-made gingerbread house for each table, and center it on a bed of greenery with candles around it.

Favors

If you and most of your guests celebrate Christmas, an ornament makes a perfect favor. An inexpensive homemade favor is a pretty tin of spiced hot chocolate mix or hot cocoa mix with marshmallows. Also consider a snow globe, with a bride and groom inside, or a holiday cookie cutter with a cookie recipe attached that says your names, wedding date, and "truly cut out for each other".

Special touches

Have the bride and groom travel by horse and carriage to the reception, complete with a fur throw to keep them warm of course!
Decorate the reception with miniature and life-size Christmas trees. Commission an ice sculpture to decorate the reception hall Use a crystal bouquet for that extra wintery feel. As a bonus, you'll get to keep your your bouquet forever.

Greet your guests with warm coffee or hot chocolate as soon as they come in the ceremony or reception site.

Floral Trends For 2012

from: http://m.retail-jeweler .com/5030027.article

When the now Duke and Duchess of Cambridge tied the knot at Westminster Abbey surrounded by trees, including field maples and horn beams, and with Kate Middleton brandishing a bouquet made of the equally seasonal lily of the valley, bridezillas nationwide were taking note.

“Following the royal wedding, soft and subtle [flower] arrangements will prove popular, with many brides focusing on the meaning of the flowers they choose just as much as how they look,” explains Rayner.

With lily of the valley apparently holding hopeful connotations, such as return of happiness and purity of heart, the British bloom is likely to prove popular.

“For spring 2012 the English country garden will be a key inspiration for British brides, with lily of the valley chosen for its delicate, bell-shaped blooms,” says Rayner. With that in mind, it’s hard not to immediately envisage the aptness of Shaun Leane’s white gold, pearl and diamond Maybell Collection - the perfect pairing for delicate flower arrangements.

Intricate will definitely be key to wedding flowers, agrees Polly Atkinson, lifestyle editor of Condé Nast Brides, who predicts a “move away from big domes”.

“Shades of ivory whites and cream will continue to be popular, classic and unbeatable. Flowers in these shades never distract from the bride and her dress, which should be the focus,” she adds. Shaun Leane’s Maybell Collection

While lily of the valley will certainly feature in floral arrangements for 2012, it is best for a wedding in May, when the English variety is in season. According to the experts, home-grown will be the fleurs de jour for spring/summer 2012 “with quirky mismatches and sentimental finds replacing anything too coiffed and formal,” says Juliet Hutton-Squire, co-founder of trend forecast website Adorn Insight.

“Delicate meadow and garden flowers, for example, will become a strong design influence, with elegant styling replacing anything OTT.”

Bridesmaid beauties
Formality is also being given more of a wide berth when it comes to bridesmaid ensembles. While in the past bridesmaids were likely to be matching from their satin shoes to their drop pearl earrings, individuality down the aisle is no longer shunned.

“The bride may decide on a colour and theme but the bridesmaid trend is moving away from anything that hints of matchy matchy,” explains Hutton-Squire. “The fabric might be the same, for example, but the dresses might be cut in different styles to suit the individual personalities.

As a result of this shift, accessories are becoming less coordinated and more personalised.” According to Rayner, colours too are becoming more adventurous, with many brides moving away from classic ivory jewellery to softer tones of blush pink, subtle golds and pretty champagnes. “These shades will also translate into bridesmaid dresses,” she says. Think Breil’s latest offering - the Duplicity collection of bracelets, necklaces, earrings and rings made from stainless steel and featuring mother of pearl inserts.

As well as prevalence for what Rayner describes as ‘Cadbury’s purple’ weddings, other alternative colours are also making it onto the canvas. “A vibrant palette of mouth watering hues from jade green and fuchsia to subtle shades of mint and sorbet pink take us into spring/summer 2012,” says Hutton-Squire.

For those embracing the rich hug of purples, amethyst may be the stone of suggestion, demonstrated beautifully in So Jewellery’s Heart Amethyst earrings and pendant. For those seeking something a bit bolder, the Lola Rose grey agate and peacock quartzite or blue sandstone and dumortierite Isidora bracelets will add that blast of colour.

Frequently Asked Questions About Centerpieces

How do I go about deciding what type of centerpiece would look good at my wedding reception?

When you start to think about wedding centerpiece ideas you'll want to keep two things in mind. First,think of the mood or style you are going for and this will decide a lot about your wedding centerpieces.
Second, it is important to know what kind of tables you'll have.

Will the guests be seated at small round tables or large long communal tables?

Also, notice if there are any strong colors at the hall as in the chairs or counters or floor that you need to match with your table settings. These factors will all impact your decision. If you have decided on a theme for your wedding reception it can be easy to find a perfect matching wedding centerpiece idea. Examples of themes would be a beach theme with lots of shells and sand; a tropical theme with lots of bright colors and exotic flowers like orchids, anthuriums and birds of paradise or simply a color theme such as butter yellow with navy blue. Finally, if you are going with a country wedding theme, you could use a pottery or earthen container.

What vase height is good for centerpieces?

The centerpieces need to be designed in a way that allows eye contact with the person sitting across from each guest. This allows an unobstructed fl ow of conversation. You don't want your centerpieces to annoy the guests to the point where they want to tuck them away somewhere just to get them out of the way. You have two choices in creating centerpieces that can be enjoyed by all.

The first option includes selecting a vase or container that is short (less than 14 inches-35cm) such as a low vase, bowl or dish.

The second option is selecting a clear and tall vase that is high enough to allow a clear view of the people on the other side of the table such as Eiffel Tower vases or other thin, long clear vase so that the part of the vase that is interfering with the view is see through and only 1-2" thick. Elevated centerpieces are an impressive focal point that can be seen from the dance floor and from every angle in the hall. You can rent these from select decor shops or you can buy them.

How do I know what type and size of centerpiece bowl I should use?

Glass containers are most popular since they are elegant and classy. The size and shape of your table should guide your decision in the size and shape of the centerpiece dish you choose. Your container of choice could be a 4-6" (10-15cm) rose bowl if your tables are the long tables all in rows.

However, if you have round dining room tables that sit 8, you'll want your container to be at least 6-8" (15-20cm), 10" (25cm), even 12" (30cm) wide. Another option is to choose a smaller dish or very tall vase and use a sprinkling accent of rose petals, seashells, fall leaves or confetti in your theme to extend the centerpiece out and to obtain a substantial focal point at the center of each table.

If your table is long and rectangle, long low bowls would look great with river rocks at the bottom and floating flowers or candles. Table runners down the center of the tables with multiple blooms in different low clear bowls can also look stunning. Try alternating one small bouquet in a square vase, one floating bloom in a round bowl, then a candle votive and this, all the way down the table. Use flowers all in the same colors to creative unity.

If you want more ideas and want to learn how to make centerpieces the easy, cheap and right way, get my book called: Unleash Your Inner Florist: How to Make Wedding & Special Event Flowers. http://www.howtoweddingflowers.com

This easy to follow guidebook will save you hundreds of dollars on your wedding flowers. You can get the paper copy for only $24.99 or order it as an ebook for $19.99 and be reading it in just a few minutes. Be surrounded by flowers on your wedding day...the guests don`t have to know how much you saved!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sophia_Rodriguez

Decorating The Gift, Bar & Buffet Tables

by Sophia Rodriguez

If you are wondering how to decorate your gift table, bar and buffet table, this article will help you get started in planning so that all the important areas at your wedding reception are carefully laid out.

Gift Table Accents
For your gift table, usually, it is located close to the entrance. Many people have an extra table close to the guest registry table or as a continuation of it for the presents to be displayed on.

A card holder on this table is a widespread tradition that can take many forms. From birdcages to mailboxes to treasure chests to wells to heart boxes to hot air balloons, many options exist as an area for your guests to deposit their cards to you. Just make sure that you have someone trustworthy to keep a close eye on the card holder since it will usually contain checks and cash in the cards.

Make sure this table is dressed up with a tablecloth and table skirt. Other than that you might also want an embellishment like rose petals or fall leaves but that's all you need on this table.

Bar or Buffet Table
A nice touch that shows how well you have organized your event is to have extra bouquets for areas that are very visible and in a high traffic area. Perfect examples of this are bar bouquets on one or either side of the bar.

Also, Buffet Tables are a prime area to showcase a beautiful fresh bouquet. Topiary bouquets are beautiful for this purpose since they are tall enough to attract attention and showcase your focal flowers in style.

Bouquets in vases are long lasting, showy and add style and color to a reception. Make a large bouquet for the buffet table and small ones for the bar. If you have a buffet table, you might want to scatter silk rose petals or other embellishment on it to blend it in with your theme.

You can do this before the caterer's setup with no problem. Another idea is to create a higher platform at the center of the table perhaps with a sturdy cardboard or wooden box, cover it with material in your feature color and use this platform as a display area for a fresh floral bouquet. It could be a topiary bouquet or a fresh flower bouquet in a vase or in floral foam. Make sure your platform is very stable though since you would not want it to spill onto the guests as they are helping themselves to food.

If you had large bouquets at the church or ceremony, make sure to make the most of these bouquets and display them at your reception. You can then offer them as a gift to someone who helped you out in planning your wedding. If you decide you can handle making your own centerpieces and flowers especially at such an incredible savings to you, you should get my book which will make your life so much easier.

It will get you all organized and will give you the confidence and the instructions you need to achieve all your floral dreams for your big day. Unleash Your Inner Florist: How To Make Wedding And Special Event Flowers http://www.howtoweddingflowers.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sophia_Rodriguez

FAQ's About Decorating a Wedding Cake

If you have questions about decorating a wedding cake with flowers, hopefully this article will shed a little light on the situation and inspire you to design a gorgeous floral cake for your wedding.

For my wedding cake I have bought four cakes of varying sizes and rented stands of varying heights to display them. How can I decorate my cakes?

When choosing a topper, be sure to balance its size and weight with the size of the cake. You could choose one traditional topper for the top cake and simple floral accents on the other three cakes. You could use single flowers such as lilies or roses in water picks. In this instance I would also put a mini accent on the cake with the topper.

Foliage used on the table at bottom would also complement your cakes. You could also add a coordinating bouquet in a vase to display on the table alongside the cakes. I'm trying to decide between having cupcakes or a traditional wedding cake for my wedding.

Which is less expensive and more appropriate for a modern wedding?

Cupcakes are usually cheaper than wedding cake. They are fun and familiar but if you are having a very formal wedding, cupcakes could be too casual, nontraditional and perceived as cheap, although some modern cupcakes are anything but cheap!

Keep in mind that depending on the way you wish to decorate all your individual cupcakes, it could turn out to be more expensive than decorating one grand and formal cake. If you are having a relaxed and casual reception where fun is the main goal, cupcakes could be ideal for your wedding.

If you are having a country wedding for example, you could decorate each cupcake with a fresh violet or other edible flower for that country charm.

Overall, the decision needs to be based on your wedding's style. If you are having an elegant, classic event, the traditional wedding cake is the best choice for you.

My groom is a golf fanatic. I thought of surprising him with a golf theme cake topper at our wedding. Is this a good idea and do you know where I could get such a cake topper?

Yes, cake toppers are becoming more and more personalized these days. It would definitely be a conversation piece to have a comical theme cake topper or one that reflects the bride or the groom's hobby or personality. You can find golf theme, fishing theme, soccer theme as well as many other creative cake toppers online or in select party and wedding decor shops.

To learn more about how to make flowers for your wedding and how to save lots of money doing it, check out my book: Unleash Your Inner Florist: How To Make Wedding And Special Event Flowers. Click here: How To Wedding Flowers http://www.howtoweddingflowers.com

Make Your Own Wedding Flowers: Top 5 Things To Avoid

By Sophia Rodriguez

When you lay out plans to make your own wedding flowers, there are certain things you should definitely avoid if you wish to have modern looking bouquets that will coordinate well with your wedding colors and your wedding decor.

1) Avoid colors and color combinations that are out of season or out of style. Never choose more than 2 colors as your wedding scheme. If you choose 2 colors, make sure they actually match well together. Choose colors that coordinate with the month or season you are getting married in. If possible, choose color combinations that are in style that year. You will have better luck matching dresses, flowers and accessories if you select colors that are current and modern.

2) Choose a bouquet style that matches with your body type, your weight and your style. Don`t choose an extra large cascading bouquet if you are a 100 pound bride. On the opposite side, don`t choose a small hand held bouquet of 6 roses if you are a 300 pound bride; it will look out of proportion!

3) Don`t choose super smelly flowers that will give you and your entire bridal party a killer headache on your most special day. Sure, you may enjoy the look of a Casablanca or a Stargazer lily but are you aware of your body`s reaction to this flower`s scent. Make sure to test yourself before making any final decisions.

4) Select flowers that won`t stain your dress or your men`s tuxes. Certain dyed flowers are beautiful and coordinate well with certain color schemes when natural flowers just don`t compare. For example, blue roses come in a dark cobalt blue but leak die as soon as any kind of moisture reaches the petals. Watch out for lilies too! The pistils at the center of the flowers give off a dark brown/yellow powder that stains clothes, hands, and anything else they come in contact with.

5) Choose flowers that give you a warm fuzzy feeling and that you totally love. Don`t just pick flowers for the sake of matching with the bridesmaids dresses. It should be the other way around. Research online and in bridal magazines until you find the bouquet and the flowers that really turn you on. This way, you will be sure to enjoy every minute spent with your wedding flowers and you will be extra proud of the flowers you made.

Do you want to make sure your wedding flowers look professional and well coordinated? If you are not sure how to go about it and want a step by step guide that will take you by the hand and unleash your inner florist, click here:

How To Wedding Flowers http://www.howtoweddingflowers.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sophia_Rodriguez

A Baby's Breath Wedding

from: http://blytheponytailparades.typepad.com/my-blog/2011/09/wedding-trends-babys...

Enmaline Bride has posted some truly inspiring images of Baby's Breath being used in countless ways on a wedding day!

The nice thing about Baby's breath is that dry or fresh, it is always inexpensive. If you are going for a soft vintage, whimsical look for your special day, this post may interest you even more! "Instead of placing those cards on an ordinary table, dress them up with a layer of baby’s breath underneath.

Place inside a vintage luggage for added rustic charm. "For a chic and inexpensive aisle decor idea, try grouping baby’s breath bouquets tied to chairs along the aisle-way.

"Decorate your ceremony or reception site with this elegant baby’s breath wreath. Stunning!

"Baby’s breath + a mason jar wrapped in burlap and raffia = Perfection. "Holy wow, table decor finds number seven and eight are incredible. It’s almost hard to believe it’s baby’s breath. Check out Emmaline Bride for more helpful tips, tricks and cost effective wedding ideas!

Check out the pics here: http://blytheponytailparades.typepad.com/my-blog/2011/09/wedding-trends-babys...

Rainbow Wedding Trend

from: http://bellethemagazine.blogspot.com/2011/09/wedding-trends-over-rainbow.html...

I’m bringing you a fun, bright and inspirational wedding trend to start your week with a smile.

Some people think that couples have to pick one or two colors and base their whole wedding off of that, but a new wedding trend is to incorporate every color and have a rainbow-inspired wedding.

From the bridesmaid dresses to the flowers, from the decor to the groomsmen's ties, no longer are weddings bound by the traditional color combos. While this trend may not be for everyone, it automatically sends a message of fun.

A rainbow says, “the party is here.” But forget the images of the Rainbow Bright bedroom you had as a little girl, because this wedding trend can be done in an extremely chic way. Check it out…

http://bellethemagazine.blogspot.com/2011/09/wedding-trends-over-rainbow.html...

How To Dress Up Your Wedding Guest Tables

By Sophia Rodriguez

If you are wondering how to dress up your guest tables, visions of centerpieces probably come to mind. Yes, centerpieces are an essential part of decorating your head table and should coordinate well with the theme and colors of your special day.

From floral centerpieces to candle accents to elaborate vase arrangements with flowers, grasses, stones, leaves and other natural elements, every bride's centerpieces should be unique to her special event.

There are other ways to dress up your wedding guest tables though and this is what this article will discuss. Tablecloths are an important way to dress up your guest tables before even thinking of putting a centerpiece on it.

If you are getting married in a hall, 99% of the time, the hall will be responsible for doing this and so you need not worry about it. Make sure to ask though and to confirm that they will be white, which they usually are. If you want unusual or color linens, you will need to take care of that on your own by renting them, buying them or making them.

Another less expensive way to reflect your wedding colors and theme onto your guest tables is to use table runners, color overlays or other linen to go on top of the basic white tablecloth. These add much style to a table setting. From a raffia table runner for beach and tropical settings to bamboo table liners for exotic or Chinese weddings to simple colored cloths, this type of table upgrade can really make a difference on your overall look.

Accents on your guest tables is the next consideration. Depending on your theme and colors, different accents sprinkled on your tables around your centerpieces or down and around the middle of your tables would be ideal.

Rose Petals are the most popular embellishment for guest tables. Of course if you have no roses at all in your wedding flowers, this would not be appropriate for you. However, if you feature roses in your bouquets and your centerpieces, this would be perfect for you.

Now, should you go with fresh or artificial petals? If you want no stress and perfect petals the whole night long, fake ones would be best. Even if you have no other artificial flowers at your wedding, fake for petals is quite acceptable and unnoticeable.

Because you want to make sure your petals still look great throughout the whole reception, artificial rose petals are recommended. You can purchase these at any craft, party or wedding shop.

Petals of other flowers such as daisies and hydrangeas are also available and can look great as long as they match your color and your flower type. To use, simply sprinkle your petals all around the centerpiece. You can plan on using about 12-25 petals per table.

Other ideas for table accents are: Beach theme: seashells Fall theme: fall leaves (preserved oak leaves are gorgeous!) Summer theme: silk flower heads such as pieces of hydrangea or daisy heads For all weddings: candles, battery candles, mirrors, crystal beads

If you have questions about your wedding flowers that have not been answered here, visit my blog at How To Wedding Flowers Blog http://www.howtoweddingflowers.blogspot.com

If you decide you can handle making your own centerpieces and flowers especially at such an incredible savings to you, you need to get my book to make your life so much easier.

It will get you all organized and will give you the confidence and the instructions you need to achieve all your floral dreams for your big day. "Unleash Your Inner Florist" http://www.howtoweddingflowers.com : How To Make Wedding And Special Event Flowers Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sophia_Rodriguez

Are Artificial Flowers Tacky? The Pros And Cons Of Silk Flowers

By Sophia Rodriguez

While many people think that artificial flowers are tacky and should not be a part of any special event or wedding celebration, the truth is, there are many variables that can make an artificial flower look tacky or not.

It all depends on the quality of the flowers chosen and the type of arrangement composed with these artificials. Of course, real flowers will never be topped by artificial blooms.

The smells, the vibrancy and the uniqueness of fresh blooms will always surpass fake flowers but artificials have their place in special event celebrations when chosen with discretion.

How do I know which artificial flowers don't look tacky?
Take your time when you go shopping to find the right blooms that match your color scheme and preferences. Look for the most realistic looking silks. Color tone is also very important.

I've been to weddings where the bridal parties' fresh flowers were beautiful dark red roses that blended with creme roses accented by dainty baby's breath and feathery greens.

At this same wedding's reception ,the centerpieces were made with obvious artificials. They looked plastic and tacky. What made it worse was the fire engine red color, the clumpy baby's breath and the faded plastic green leaves. What a nightmare from a florist's point of view!

To choose realistic looking flowers, they must be well made with no fringing or fraying of the petals. The colors should be representative of the real flower. If the stamens on a lily are yellow for example, dont pick lilies with hot pink stamens on a red lily. Eewh! The texture and materials used should look and feel realistic and appealing... No plastic rigid flowers please!
The overall look of the flower should be very close to the real thing for success with fake flowers.

What are the pros and cons of artificial flowers vs. fresh flowers?

As a general rule artificial flowers are usually cheaper than fresh flowers especially if you seek exotic or tropicals. Sometimes though, you are able to find amazing deals on your loose fresh flowers.

With artificial flowers, you can make your bouquets as far in advance as you are comfortable with and this is a great comfort to some brides.

On the other hand, making your own flowers either alone, with your close friends, bridesmaids or with a bunch of family members can be greatly rewarding. Imagine the memories created and the sense of pride at knowing that you and your loved ones collaborated in creating beautiful bouquets that will live on forever in the pictures and in the stories of the fun you all had making them.

Fresh flowers could never be surpassed in beauty and uniqueness.

The number one reason I've heard as a bridal florist when brides choose artificial bouquets is that they can be great keepsake souvenirs long after the wedding.

The number one reason brides choose fresh flowers is for the traditional luxury of fresh blooms on their most special occasion.

Can I mix fresh flowers with silks at my wedding?

Many brides successfully combine silk and fresh flowers. But please follow these rules for an elegant look:

1) Choose the prettiest, most realistic looking flowers if choosing silks and the freshest most beautiful flowers if going fresh.

2) Do not mix fresh flowers with silks within the wedding party bouquets and body flowers. If your bouquets are real, your body flowers should be real and vice versa. Some exceptions include flowers for little ones. Flower girls and ring bearers flowers can be silk. Since kids tend to be a little rough, artificials stand a much better chance of surviving the little one's happy day. The throwaway bouquet is the other exception to the rule. Since this bouquet must withstand very trying conditions, silks are quite acceptable for this traditional floral item.

3) Many brides choose fresh flowers for their wedding bouquets and body flowers but prefer having silks for their centerpieces. If done in a tasteful and classic way, this can work out fine. For optimal elegance, choose your flowers well. They must be the exact same shades, especially if going with red.

4) Do not mix fresh and artificials within the same arrangement. For example, if you are floating a red rose in a rose bowl as a centerpiece, don't use silk flower accents in the same arrangement. Silk flower petals are the exception; they are way more practical and most look quite realistic.

If you want to learn how to make all your real or artificial flowers for your special event and save a bundle, check out my book here: "Unleash Your Inner Florist" http://www.howtoweddingflowers.com

Wedding Cake Topper: How to Combine Flowers With A Cake Topper For The Ultimate Topper

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Sophia_Rodriguez]Sophia Rodriguez

Are you wondering how you can combine your original idea of decorating your wedding cake with flowers with that cute little topper you found? A combination of flowers with a theme cake topper can be the ultimate way to top a wedding cake when done right. Follow the instructions in this article so that you can have your cake and eat it too...literally!

The easiest way to bring your floral theme to your cake is to add a few choice flowers in water picks here and there on different levels of the cake and surrounding your cake topper.

What you will need

* Chosen cake topper
* Small water picks
* Chosen flowers
* Glossy leaves

Step One
Let's say you have chosen a golf themed topper and your flowers are yellow roses and baby's breath, plan to place the topper on the top section of your cake at the center, then add a yellow rose in front of it resting on a small piece of foliage such as leather or pittosporum. Add another little piece of foliage over top of the water pick to conceal it. Please note that all roses should definitely be inserted into picks since they are heavy drinkers and will need the moisture to look great throughout the night.

Step Two
Add more roses at different angles all around the cake, depending on which sides of the cake will be visible. To camouflage the water pick and to add style to your cake, use glossy leaves such as leather, camellia, ruscus or pittosporum and simply lay them on top of the water pickholder. Most foliage and fillers such as baby's breath will look just fine out of water for an evening. Baby's breath is great to fill in the gaps between flowers however it will look out of place unless you are using it elsewhere in your wedding flowers. Many tropical plants with short glossy leaves would also work wonderfully. The glossier they are, the longer they will look fresh. Other single flowers that look great on a cake are daisies, bits and pieces of hydrangea, lilies and sunflowers.

Petal Pointer:
Water picks are available at your local florist. When purchasing them for the purpose of cake accents, ask for orchid water tubes. They are the best since they are the shortest and easier to camouflage on the cake. If you can't get those, a regular pick, the shortest you can get it will be fine.

if you want to know more than just how to decorate the top of your cake with flowers and wish to know how to make floral centerpieces, bouquets and corsages, check out my book called: Unleash Your Inner Florist: How To Make Your Own Wedding and Special Event Flowers. Save hundreds of dollars by making your own wedding flowers here: [http://www.howtoweddingflowers.com]How To Make Wedding Flowers

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Wedding-Cake-Topper:-How-to-Combine-Flowers-With-A-Cake-Topper-For-The-Ultimate-Topper&id=6173342] Wedding Cake Topper: How to Combine Flowers With A Cake Topper For The Ultimate Topper

FAQ'S About Making Fresh Flowers Last Longer

By Sophia Rodriguez

Should I place my fresh cut flowers in the sunshine to help open them up?

No! Since temperature is the #1 factor in keeping flowers fresher longer, placing them in the sunshine will overheat them and promote early death. Set containers in a cool, dark area overnight before starting to work with them. The darkness helps to eliminate transpiration or water loss to keep the blooms at their freshest.

Where should I put my flowers while they are waiting to be arranged in bouquets?

The area used to recondition your flowers should have lots of air circulation but no drafts, heaters or fans. Ideally, this would be a fl oral cooler with a 38-50 degrees Fahrenheit (3-10 degrees Celsius) temperature and with a very high (80%) of humidity. Of course, in a home setting, this is rarely possible. Therefore, just do your best at finding the coolest area in the house (must be at least 3 degrees) to store your flowers. A cold cellar or basement would be great.

To increase humidity, just before leaving them for the night, use a mist sprayer to spray a fine mist of water into the air above and around the blooms. A simple procedure like putting the bloom in a cool spot overnight helps them recuperate from the journey and last longer. Even placing finished bouquets on the floor where it is naturally cooler can help with the freshness.

What about foliage, how do I keep it fresh until I am ready to use it in my bouquets and corsages?

The best way to preserve foliage until you are ready to use it is to first re-cut the stem underwater about 1" (2.5cm), then spray them with a fine mist of water. Place them in a plastic bag in the fridge or in a cool location. This helps preserve maximum moisture into the leaves.

I heard that I should never put flowers with fruit. Is this true?

Yes. Ripening fruit causes the most amount of ethylene in a home setting and can greatly damage fresh blooms and foliage. Ethylene is a hormone that is like an odorless and invisible gas that speeds up floral maturation and death. Ethylene is produced by two main sources. The first is outside factors such as the burning of fuels, by bacteria forming and by the ripening of fruits.

The second source of ethylene in a home setting is from the flower itself. Even when you cut stems, small amounts of ethylene escape. This is not a huge concern as long as you store your blooms in a fresh and cool atmosphere. Make sure not to bunch them all in one vase: spread them out and let your floral beauties breathe. Also, make sure to keep all your tools, buckets and water solutions clean. Finally, remember to always store your flowers away from any fruit.

Do you want to learn a lot more about handling and preparing fresh flowers? If so, my book may be perfect for you. It is called: Unleash Your Inner Florist: How to Make Wedding And Special Event Flowers. Click here to get more information about how to make pretty bouquets, corsages, centerpieces and lots more: Unleash Your Inner Florist http://www.howtoweddingflowers.com

How To Cut Costs When Planning Your Wedding Flowers

How to cut costs when planning your wedding flowers is easy when you follow some or all the suggestions in this article.

First of all you will save big if you make your own flowers for your wedding. if you can tolerate the thought of having fake flowers at your wedding, you will save if you make your own artificial flowers.
Of course there are artificial flowers that will cost you an arm and a leg and there are real flowers that are just as cheap as fake flowers.

However, if you love calla lilies, orchids, stephanotis and other exotics, the artificial variety will be cheaper. If you are getting a florist to make your flowers ask for a price for both fake and real flowers.

Making your own wedding flowers will greatly decrease your bottom line price. Even if you don't feel comfortable making all your wedding flowers you can focus on one aspect of your wedding flowers.

Centerpieces is the number one thing you can do to reduce your costs. Centerpieces, even ones made with real flowers can be made at least 4-5 days before the wedding; artificial ones can be made weeks ahead of the big day. You could get together with your bridesmaids a few days before the wedding and have a go at creating your centerpieces and bouquets.

To save the most on the actual bulk flowers, you can order a growers box online which could be a large bundle of roses or hydrangeas fresh from the farm at incredible prices and base your floral wedding theme around an abundance of that flower. Of course, you will need proper instructions and a complete plan of action to ensure your floral success.

Boutonnieres and corsages are another area where you can definitely cut costs when making your wedding flowers. Consider that it can cost you $1 for a rose and.50 for greens. Add floral tape and a corsage pin and you have yourself a recipe for a boutonniere for under $2 whereas if you order one all made up for you at the florist, it will cost you at least 3 times that amount.

Reusing bouquets is another way to cut costs on wedding flowers by making the most of each bouquet.If you have bouquets in flower holders, you can purchase or rent bouquet holders that can be clipped on the front of the head table to decorate the head table elegantly. Bridal bouquets can also double as bouquets to decorate the cake table, the sign in guest registry table or another focal table at your reception.

Not sure if you should use fresh or fake flowers at your wedding? Take the quiz here to make sure you do what`s best for your personality type Fake or Fresh Quiz
http://makeweddingflowers.com/should-you-use-real-or-fake-flowers-for-your-we...

If you want complete and inexpensive instructions on how to make your wedding flowers, get my book called Unleash Your Inner Florist. It will guide you every step of the way and make it look like a professional florist made your flowers. Read more about my book here: How To Wedding Flowers http://www.howtoweddingflowers.com

What Makes a Special Event Look Professional Vs Tacky?

By Sophia Rodriguez

Are you wondering what makes a special event look professional vs. tacky? If so, this article will shed some light on the subject and help you achieve a professional look for your special event.

We will discuss color choice, unity of decor and richness of materials.

Color choice is the number one element that can make or break an overall elegant look. Please refer to a color chart before picking your definite colors or go with a look of the year color combination to make sure you choose modern colors that coordinate well together.

A bad color choice can create tackiness. For example, we once decorated a wedding in a beautiful timber framed ballroom. The decor was sheer elegant draping on the ceiling with twinkling lights. The head table and the cake table had mini light accents as well.

It could have been quite elegant. However, the bride wouldn't budge on the colors...olive green and dull red! It totally ruined the look and left the decorator and florist cringing! Another element of decor that makes it professional looking is unity of decor.

For example if you choose to use ivy in your wedding bouquets, it would be great to use ivy in your decor at the reception as well. Touches of ivy on the front of the head table could be used as well on the cake table. If you use the colors red and white in the wedding flowers, use the same colors in the centerpieces as well.

If your theme is a beach theme, you will want to follow through with your theme all the way from shells in your bouquets to a cake topper in a beach theme and shells sprinkled along a sandy candlelight centerpiece. Don't overdo it though. If you exaggerate one element too much, it will become tacky.

Finally, the best way to create unity and save money is to reuse bouquets, bows and an arch that you will use at the church.

Get trusted family members to move these items. Make sure to tell them, better yet, make them a diagram of what and where you would like things moved. They will appreciate your instructions and allow them to perform their task as per your wishes.

Finally, materials used should be rich looking, vibrant, healthy and modern.

For example: lace and lattice are now rarely used at modern weddings. Same goes for plastic and cloth flowers, flower fans and paper bells. Of course, there could be exceptions, but usually, try to leave these materials out.

For more information on how to choose colors for this year`s special event of yours, check out my blog: How To Wedding Flowers Blog Http://www.makeweddingflowers.com

If you want complete and inexpensive instructions on how to make flowers for your special event, get my book called Unleash Your Inner Florist. It will guide you every step of the way and make it look like a professional florist made your flowers and unified your wedding decor. Read more about my book here: How To Wedding Flowers http://www.howtoweddingflowers.com

Wedding Flowers Cost Cutting - Top 5 Cheapest Flowers for Wedding Elegance

by Sophie Castonguay

Wedding flowers cost cutting is often a concern for brides-to-be who want floral elegance featured at their wedding but don't know how to save without cutting flowers out of their special day. As a retired wedding florist, I can suggest that the first rule of cost cutting on wedding flowers is to select your main flowers carefully.

You want to choose a flower that will look beautiful, will coordinate with your theme or color scheme, will not have an overpowering smell that will give you a headache on your special day and a flower that will look romantic and wedding appropriate. For this purpose, I have compiled a list of the top 5 flowers that may be perfect for your wedding while being cost conscious to save you money on your wedding flowers.

5. The Rose

Not the cheapest of the cheap flowers but definitely on the list due the rose's ultimate role as The quintessential flower of romance. This all-star in the world of weddings comes in most colors and even in bi-colored, stripped and tipped roses too. Though roses are commonly associated with strong fragrance, not every rose is scented and even those that are scented are not overpowering. All these reasons make roses the ideal choice as a wedding feature flower. Of course, in order for your roses to be as cost conscious as possible, choose popular long stem rose colors such as red, pink, white, yellow or orange (in that order) Also, choose simple hand tied rose bouquets for minimum labor and a modern look. If you want to save even more money, make your own wedding bouquets. It's not that complicated especially if you are following good step by step instructions written by a florist and if you are making hand held bouquets. If you decide to make your own boutonnieres and corsages, make sure to use sweetheart roses for a more elegant and long lasting look. On the same note, if ordering from your florist make sure she will use sweetheart roses for your body flowers.

4. The Gerbera

If gerbera daisies are your favorite flowers, you might want to choose this look for your wedding or for your special event. Inexpensive, cute, modern, easy and quick to work with, you will not have to worry about being able to achieve these simple bouquets in time if you decide to make them yourself. Gerberas come in a wide variety of colors and can therefore blend well with any color theme. Although you can easily choose hand-tied bouquets for the bride and the whole wedding party, you could also decide to have a more elaborate bouquet for the bride including a few gerberas or amongst other flowers while your bridesmaids could carry gerberas exclusively. You will have to provide a constant water source between the times when you or your girls will be holding the gerbera bouquets. This can be an advantage at your reception in the sense that if you provide elegant vases at the hall for them to place their bouquets in when they get there, these can also decorate and add style to your reception. For the boutonnieres and corsages, gerberas also come in the miniature versions although they are still approximately 4 inches in diameter; this is the ideal size for body flowers. Just one per lapel or wrist will suffice.

3. The Sunflower

Sunflowers are perfect for fall events and look beautiful with hypericum berries or other fall berries and foliage, Although sunflowers come in a few different colors besides yellow now, such as orange, brown and rust; going with yellow sunflowers ensures getting the healthiest and longest lasting budget flowers that will shine at your wedding. Sunflowers are perfectly suited for hand held bouquets. The bridesmaids could carry 3-5 sunflowers with fall foliage, berries and accents tied with a pretty bow, whereas the bride could carry a more elaborate bouquet featuring 5-7 sunflowers (any more would be too big) with 3-6 fall roses, berries and fall foliage, tied with a pretty bow. As for corsages and boutonnieres that will coordinate with a sunflower wedding...even the mini sunflowers are way too big for body flowers. Instead, I would suggest either mini yellow gerberas with the black center or novelty chrysanthemums, preferably with the black center as well.

2. The Carnation

Although carnations sometimes get a bad rap as being the cheapest undesirable flower, the truth is, carnations are long lasting, smell sweet without being overpowering and are easy to work with. For wedding elegance, I would suggest going with white or cream carnations if you want to use only carnations. If you prefer a mix of flowers, I would recommend combining carnations with daisies and poms for lovely mixed bouquets that won't cost much and will have that wildflower look but will last so much longer and won't wilt in the summer heat (as long as they have a source of water) Mini carnations are the perfect size for corsages and boutonnieres. One bloom with a bud is the ideal body flower when combined with a touch of foliage and perhaps a filler flower such as baby's breath.

1. Daisies and Poms

Often neglected out of weddings, I cannot imagine why. Poms are pretty, long lasting and come in many types and forms. Daisies and poms are available in white, cream, yellow, orange, pink, purple, lavender, orange and rust. They come in 3 varieties appropriate for weddings: button poms are like little flat balls atop a stem, flat poms look as the name implies and daisies which need no introduction. If you like the wildflower look, combine daisies with other types of forms in bouquet holders with greens and foliage. If you prefer a classier look, focus on flat and button mums. The bridesmaids could carry a round bouquet in a bouquet holder featuring poms, foliage and fillers while the bride could carry a cascading or round bouquet with poms, roses, foliage and fillers. The groom, groomsmen and parents could be wearing body flowers featuring similar types of mums, daisies, foliage and fillers. Be fore warned though that if some petals are pulled out of the main head of the flower, they will fall apart. Ultimately, daisies and poms will offer the best value and elegance for the lowest cost.

Want to Save Money on Your Wedding Flowers? Learn how to Do It Yourself with the right flowers and save on Your Wedding Flowers. Unleash Your Inner Florist: How to Make Wedding And Special Event Flowers - Click Here.

For more articles on budgeting for your wedding, read: Wedding Flowers Cost Cutting

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sophie_Castonguay

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