designing wedding pieces - cusd 4 · presentation bouquets are constructed in this manner....

Designing Wedding Pieces

A WEDDING is often the biggest day in

the lives of a man and a woman.

Couples want the occasion to be perfect.

Since flowers play a role in creating a

memorable event, many couples consult

with florists and hire their floral services.

Objective:

� Describe the floral needs forweddings.

Key Terms:

�

WeddingFlowers

Nearly every wedding has at

least some flowers. Many wed-

dings are planned with lavish flo-

ral pieces. Usually, wedding par-

ties seek professional help with

flowers. The planning process

with a knowledgeable florist is the

first step in helping the bride and

groom make floral decisions

about their wedding.

E-unit: Designing Wedding Pieces

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Copyright © by CAERT, Inc. — Reproduction by subscription only. E030064

aisle runner

altar arrangements

arm bouquet

candelabra designs

cascade bouquet

chuppah

colonial bouquet

crescent bouquet

floral foam holder

hand-tied bouquet

kneeling bench flowers

pew decorations

toss bouquet

unity candlearrangement

FIGURE 1. Flowers add to the beauty of a wedding.

WEDDING CONSULTATION

The wedding consultation is conducted after the bride and groom have set a date for the

wedding. The florist should provide a conference area that is big enough for three or four peo-

ple; the bride will usually bring the groom, a friend, or her mother. The florist should provide

a portfolio or a book of wedding flower ideas. During the meeting, the florist should collect

information on date, time, colors, and style of the wedding. Different customs or ceremonial

requirements should be identified.

The florist should note all the wedding floral needs on a wedding order form. The bride

decides what floral pieces will be needed. The order form should note who is paying for each

arrangement and how the payments will be made. A down payment is often requested and paid

during this consultation.

A wedding usually involves many different types of floral pieces. Floral needs for the wed-

ding ceremony often include many of the following pieces.

� Bouquet for the bride

� Bouquet for the maid or matron of honor

� Bouquets for the bridesmaids

� Bouquet for the flower girl

� Boutonniere for the groom

� Boutonniere for the best man

� Boutonnieres for the groomsmen

� Boutonnieres for the ushers

� Boutonniere for the ring bearer

� Flowers for the parents and grandparents

� Flowers for other people involved in the cere-mony (e.g., clergy, musicians, soloist, attendantsat guest registry, personal attendant, specialfriends or relatives)

� Presentation bouquets for the parents

� Altar arrangements—flowers placed on thealtar

� Unity candle arrangement—a floral designcreated for a unity candle that will be placed onor near the altar

� Pew decorations—arrangements of flowersand/or bows placed on the pews

� Kneeling bench flowers—flowers for abench on which the bride and groom kneel


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FIGURE 2. Altar flower arrangement.

� Candelabra designs—formal arrangements created to hang on free-standing candela-bras

� Aisle runner—the white runner placed down the middle of the aisle before the weddingparty enters the wedding site

� Chuppah—a canopy for Jewish weddings

� Guest book arrangement

The wedding reception typically follows the wedding service. Additional floral needs for the

wedding reception must be addressed.

� Centerpieces for the headtable

� Centerpieces for the servingtables

� Centerpieces for the guesttables

� Cake table decorations

� Flowers for the weddingcake

� Toss bouquet—a smallbouquet used by the bride inthe bouquet toss

ORDERING FLOWERS

Ordering flowers from the wholesaler is the next step for the florist. Sometimes, to meet

special requests, this needs to be done several weeks in advance. When working with the bride

in consultation, remember that to make efficient and economical flower choices, the size of the

wholesale bundles must be considered.

The florist might make a list of the flowers that he or she will be using in each design and

might even make a sketch of the design. Then, the flower totals are tabulated, with flowers

added for any possible unseen needs.

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

Many important steps are involved in designing a wedding.

Wedding Style

The wedding style is determined by the type of wedding to take place. A wedding in the

back yard with the reception in the parents’ house is different from a wedding in a cathedral


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FIGURE 3. A toss bouquet.

with the reception at a country club. Thus, determining whether the wedding will be informal

or formal is the first step in deciding the style. Sometimes, themes are used in a wedding.

Examples are a storybook wedding and a winter wonderland theme.

Bouquets

Once the overall style is selected, the bouquets are designed. The bridal bouquet should

reflect the style of the gown and the wedding. Bridal bouquet choices are colonial, cascade,

variations of the cascade, arm bouquet, hand-tied bouquet, and special bouquet designs. Flow-

ers the bride chooses will help in determining the best style of bouquet design.

A bouquet may be designed in a floral foam holder or be wired and taped. A floral foam

holder consists of a plastic cage with a handle and with floral foam on the inside. The foam

and the cage hold the flowers in place, and the foam provides moisture for the flowers. Con-

struction of a bouquet using this mechanic is far faster than construction of one using wiring

and taping. The disadvantage is that if the bouquet is overhandled, it may start to lose flowers.

A sticky product can be used to add extra holding power. Toss bouquets should never be con-

structed using this mechanic.

Wiring and taping bouquets takes a great deal of time. However, bouquets made in this way

are very sturdy and durable.

A bouquet may either be stored in a flat position or be placed in a bouquet holder. When

delivering bouquets to the wedding site, they should be placed in bags and sprayed with a fine

mist of water. Avoid getting water on the ribbons.

Styles of bouquets include the following.

� Colonial bouquet—The colonial bouquet is a round bouquet based on the Englishnosegay design of the Victorian and Georgian periods.

� Cascade bouquet—The cascade bouquet has a full, rounded, central area with aneye-catching trailing line of flowers and foliage. It is designed the same way as the colo-nial, with the addition of the trailing flowers and foliage as the beginning placement.

� Crescent bouquet—The crescent bouquet is a variation of the cascade bouquetdesigned in a “C” shape.

� Arm bouquet—The arm bouquet consists of a grouping of flowers tied together andcradled in the left arm. Presentation bouquets are constructed in this manner.

� Hand-tied bouquet—The hand-tied bouquet is a natural-looking gathering of flowersand foliage with the stems tied together. Hand-tied bouquets can be adorned with ribbon,cording, or tulle.

Other designs are usually attached to something, such as a parasol, a fan, or a muff.

Flowers for the Hair

Flowers for the hair can be incorporated into a veil, a wreath or garland headband, or a small

comb. These flowers are often repeated from the bouquets. Bobby pins are used to attach


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flowers and keep them in place. Baby’s breath may be worked into the hair and held in place by

hair spray.

Altar Arrangements

Symmetrical altar arrangements are placed on both sides of the altar. They are sometimes

created in canisters that fit into gold vases. These canisters need to be obtained before the wed-

ding. Sometimes the wedding

couple requests that altar arrange-

ments be made in containers that

can be taken to the reception after

the wedding.

Candelabra pieces may be sub-

stituted for altar flowers or be

used in combination with altar

flowers.

A unity candle piece is usually

composed of two taper candles

with a large unity candle in the

center, symbolizing two lives

becoming one.

Pew Decorations

Pew decorations are bows,

flowers, or floral designs attached

to the ends of pews. Reserved

seating is often marked with

larger pew decorations than the

other pews. The bride should

determine how many pews are to

be decorated. Pew bows are most

commonly created from #9 or

#40 ribbon. Tulle may be added

for a softer appearance. Florists

generally use anything from che-

nille wires to rubber bands to

attach the pew decorations. Also, a

floral foam holder with a clip that

attaches to the pew is available.

The general shape of a pew deco-

ration is an oval or round

one-sided arrangement with

cascading foliage.


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FIGURE 4. Unity candle arrangement.

FIGURE 5. This church has been decorated as the site for a wedding.

Reception Flowers

Flowers at the reception

should have much the same style

as flowers at the wedding site.

Many of the flowers will be taken

from the wedding to the recep-

tion and used to decorate the

reception hall. Therefore, in cre-

ating centerpieces for the head

table, the serving table, and the

general seating tables, a florist

should carry over the style from

the wedding ceremony. Other

items that might be created for

the reception include an entryway

arch, floral garlands, potted plants, and arrangements for the wedding cake. Wedding cake

flowers are often designed like corsages or in small floral foam containers. The florist and the

bakery should communicate and coordinate on what is specifically needed.

FLORAL SERVICES

A variety of services may be provided by the florist. General service includes delivering the

flowers to the wedding site and to the reception site. If the florist is to provide more than basic

services, an additional amount may be charged. Creating a wedding service kit that can be

taken from one site to the next is helpful for a florist. Additional services might include:

� Distributing the flowers

� Pinning on corsages and boutonnieres

� Lighting candles as needed

� Positioning the aisle runner

� Giving instructions on holding the bouquets properly

� Transporting the ceremony flowers to the reception

Summary:

� The wedding consultation is conducted to collect information on the date, time,colors, and style of the wedding.

The wedding style is determined by the type of wedding. The bridal bouquetshould reflect the style of the gown and the wedding. Bridal bouquet choices are


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FIGURE 6. Wedding bouquet and cake.

colonial, cascade, variations of the cascade, arm bouquet, hand-tied bouquet, andspecial bouquet designs.

Flowers for the hair can be incorporated into a veil, a headband, or a small comb.

Symmetrical altar arrangements or candelabra pieces are placed on both sides of thealtar.

A unity candle piece is usually composed of two taper candles with a large unitycandle in the center.

Pew decorations are bows, flowers, or floral designs attached to the ends of pews.

Flowers at the reception should have much the same style as flowers at the weddingsite.

General service by a florist includes delivering the flowers to the wedding site andto the reception site. Additional services should require additional charges.

Checking Your Knowledge:

� 1. What takes place during a wedding consultation?

2. What floral pieces are commonly used for weddings?

3. What are the styles of bouquets?

4. What considerations are made with flowers for the hair, alter arrangements,pew decorations, and reception flowers?

5. What wedding services do florists provide?

Expanding Your Knowledge:

� Conduct a mock wedding in your classroom. Students in the class can role-play thedifferent parties, such as bride, groom, and wedding attendants. Conduct a consul-tation and prepare the wedding pieces.

Web Links:

� Wedding Flowers

http://www.floristsregister.com/wedding_flowers.php

Weddings

http://www.aboutflowers.com/holidays_b1.html

Wedding Craft Projects

http://www.save-on-crafts.com/weddingcrafts2.html


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http://www.floristsregister.com/wedding_flowers.php

http://www.aboutflowers.com/holidays_b1.html

http://www.save-on-crafts.com/weddingcrafts2.html

designing wedding pieces - cusd 4 · presentation bouquets are constructed in this manner....

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