The 411 On Floral Design & Decor
We believe wedding flowers are more than simply beautiful. They represent your style and tell the 1st Chapter of your blossoming life together. Wedding florals and design are an elegant way to enhance your vision of the day. Whether you would like colorful, luscious blooms or prefer minimalist greenery with lots of candlelight, there is nothing more exciting than watching your vision come to life through design! From the latest trends to expert tips, Team MAE is here to help you achieve the wedding design of your dreams!
We've interviewed three leading industry experts, Adam Havrilla of Artistic Blooms, Justin Jacobson of Platinum Events and Jason Williquette of HMR to share some of their inside scoop on all things wedding design florals!
Personal Floral Arrangements
Personal arrangements complement the distinct design style of your wedding day. They are also a great way to show your family and wedding party some love too, through mini blooms like bridesmaids bouquets, boutonnieres, etc.
What are some exciting trends in personal wedding flowers?
"COLOR!! Lots of brides are trending to carry color while giving their bridesmaids more neutral toned bouquets. Mix and match bouquets so the bridal party isn't cookie cutter is also becoming popular. Just like we are seeing bridesmaids dresses in different shades and styles, the flowers are following suit. Greenery is also the BIG trend of the year. Doing all greenery is both beautiful and cost-effective but don't be afraid to add your pop of color to it too." - Jason Williquette, HMR
"We're suggesting putting our bride’s wedding dress to even greater use! Rather than seamstress' throwing away any clippings of your wedding dress or bridesmaids dresses, use the tailored materials for your bouquet ribbon!" - Justin Jacobson, Platinum Events
"And gentleman, the 1980's called and they want their boutonnières back! Put that big lapel floral arrangement back in the pina colada and just go with a clean basic white pocket square. Differentiate you, as the groom, by using a different pocket fold than your groomsmen. Plus this makes a GREAT groomsmen gift!" - Justin Jacobson
"We're getting a lot of requests for Brides’ bouquets cascading garden style with bold colors. Bridesmaids’ bouquets are trending towards garden style too (as opposed to compact, tight bouquets), and boutonnieres are becoming more stylized and personal to the men." - Adam Havrilla, Artistic Blooms
Are there any seasonal flower must-haves when it comes to personal flower arrangements?
"Everyone has different 'musts', but I love incorporating something personal into the bouquet. The lace from your mom’s veil, your grandma’s favorite flower or some other favorite flower memory. Just make it yours!" - Jason Williquette
"For personals there really isn't a "must-have" because each bride is so different. However, I like to suggest our brides to leave the color to the bridesmaids and keep the brides bouquet in white. With so much time and detail dedicated to the bride’s dress, let the bride be the focus of attention; a colorful bouquet can draw the eye’s attention away from the bride." - Justin Jacobson
Some of our personal favorites are "Lush greeneries (dusty miller, eucalyptus, plumosa), hydrangea, garden roses, peonies, ranunculus." - Adam Havrilla
Ceremony Florals
From walking down the aisle to saying "I Do," you'll always remember the poignancy of your wedding ceremony. Do you plan to include religious or symbolic design into your ceremony? Are you getting married in a church that needs little additional decor or are you getting married at a venue that will need to be converted across all of your wedding events? Decorating the ceremony space can make the moment even more memorable, but may also quickly increase your budget. Here are additional tips below to avoid unnecessary stress!
How can couples save time, stress and money in the design process?
"Choosing seasonal flowers is always best but really so long as your not asking for dripping orchids! For a handful of blooms you should be fine even if things are "out of season". Be open to all varieties of floral too. The bride that says "I hate roses" is closing herself off to a world of colors and textures. A ball of roses is of course not everyone’s cup of tea, but mixed into other seasonal/textural arrangements, they can add depth without driving up the price tag. Keeping an open mind is key!" - Jason Williquette
"Hire a professional reputable design firm. We see this all the time, especially with floral designers that freelance or bounce from company to company. While an individual designer may seem talented, it takes a seasoned team to execute a flawless wedding. What may seem like a "cheaper" option at first, can result in a much costlier experience." - Justin Jacobson
"Start early and select the design team that you enjoy speaking with. After all, you will be spending plenty of time communicating with them. By starting early, it also helps ensure the company of your choice has your date open. Be flexible... not every flower is in season or coordinates with your look. Your designer will show you alternatives if need be." - Adam Havrilla
Cocktail Hour Florals
Don't let your decor be an after thought just because it is only an hour! We advise being smart about that hour and incorporating personal details into your cocktail décor, such as your photos, generational photos or creating a unique escort card and gift table display. Let these tips guide you in creating an unforgettable hour.
How do you advise your clients with getting creative for cocktail hour — outside of the standard mini arrangements and votive candles?
"Floral and greenery backdrops are show-stoppers that can double as amazing place card tables and then be used for an interactive photo-booth backdrop. A statement piece at the place card table or bar always does the trick too. Don't waste money on small arrangements that get buried by a table full of wine glasses, make a splash!" - Jason Williquette
"We love a client that can think outside the box. An experience should begin at the start of a wedding and transcend throughout the night. There should never be a lull - even if it's cocktail hour. A really great eye catching bar, exquisite lounge vignettes or a jaw-dropping place card table all help to keep your night’s momentum going!" - Justin Jacobson
"This is a perfect place to make it all about your love. Try having unique photo cubes on the tables to show your happy times together and also include photos of parents and grandparents go a long way. Remember, this is all about love... transitioning from the “I Do’s” to the celebration! Show mementos of your travels on the tables, but remember to be classy and full of design." - Adam Havrilla
Reception Florals
We like to think of your reception as the culmination of your wedding extravaganza! We encourage you to ask yourself three questions, "How realistic can I be with decor considering my wedding vision and budget?" "What kind of style is my venue and do I need to enhance or change it?" "What kind of lasting impression do I want to leave on my guests?" This segment of your wedding day should reflect a larger portion of your design budget.
What exciting trends do you foresee for reception design?
"Traditional elevated pieces are giving way to some amazing ceiling decor. Whether it's lush garlands or halos of greenery and wedding floral, hanging centerpieces make a huge impact. Also mixing and matching two or three different concepts to keep the interest going from table to table." - Jason Williquette
"We see client budgets increasing as the years are progressing... Extravagant floral bridges, floral chandeliers, stark black & whites and acrylics..." - Justin Jacobson
"We are going back to nature with the 2017 color "Green". Greenery in garlands down your tables are a great way to bring the outdoors inside. Hanging centerpieces will continue to be requested." - Adam Havrilla
xoxo Janet & Team Mae
Overall we believe its important for couples to realistically budget out florals and have honest conversations with their wedding planner and design team early on in the planning process. Couples must take into account not just florals, but lighting, draping, rentals and overhead fees across Personal Flowers, Ceremony, Cocktail Hour & Reception. To see how Michigan Avenue Events can assist you in the design process and most importantly, help plan your dream wedding please visit us at www.michiganavenueevents.com or call us at 312-585-7265.