Decor divine

The bridesmaids bouquets can be elaborate and should complement the groomsmen boutinnieres. Photo source: www.sxc.hu

Wedding décor sets the mood and the tone of the wedding and determines overall how the wedding will be. A lot goes into doing wedding décor and it is an art in itself. We are going to have a look at the elements that comprise the wedding décor and give you tips on how you can make your wedding décor glamorous and beautiful.

Bouquets & Boutonnieres:

Bouquets are to brides and bridesmaids what boutonnieres are to grooms and groomsmen.  A bouquet is a flower arrangement that the bride and her female entourage carry to compliment their wedding attire and just to look pretty.  The boutonnieres are a petite & pretty flower arrangement, usually a single stem, pinned on the groom’s and groomsmen’s lapel. They serve the same purpose as bouquets and make the men look dashingly handsome in their suits.

Here are a few bouquet tips:

• They should complement the wedding gown not compete with it
• Rhyme with the wedding color scheme.
• Flatter your figure. If you are petite avoid carrying a big bouquet with large blooms.
• If you are asthmatic or allergic to pollen, ensure that you use silk/dried flowers so as not to have provoke any reactions
• To cut costs, choose an arrangement that is in bloom and pick locally available flowers rather than exotic ones which are often more expensive.
• Have your bouquet made into potpourri to store those special memories. You can find potpourri making tutorials on the internet.

For the boutonnieres: 

• The color of the boutonnieres should rhyme with that of the wedding color scheme and should complement the wedding outfits.
• Locally, the most common boutonnieres are made of a single rose flower with a foil piece of paper, ask you décor service provider to do an out of the box boutonniere with the flower choice being from your bouquet.
• The groom’s boutonniere should be slightly different from his entourage to help differentiate him from his fellow groomsmen.
• All the pins used to hole the boutonniere should be invisible and should not be captured by the photographer.
• A quick tip for the florist; in case you want to keep your boutonnieres fresh keep them refrigerated. 

Car Décor: 

Floral arrangements are left solely for the bride’s and groom’s car. Depending on the decor budget and on the wedding car that you are hiring, the décor service provider can do a bonnet arrangement or an arrangement that flows from the front of the car all the way to the back. Netting /Tulle is also used in these arrangements. Fragrances and roses petals are scattered on the floor of the car to set the mood for the wedding couple.

For the other cars in the wedding entourage, you have the option of using netting, tulle or ribbon. The other cars ought to be identified with the bridal car and it is fitting that the décor used should be in rhyme with the other cars. If your wedding budget allows, you should consider having small floral arrangements for the other cars as this will make your wedding entourage uniquely beautiful.

Aisles & Arches

The aisle is the grand entrance that is created for the bridal party to neatly file through before the wedding ceremony. The bride makes her grand entrance on the aisle. A t times wedding décor service providers will layout the red carpet for the couple and on it will be strewn petals, this is one option of decorating the aisle, the other could be creating a neat carpet of petals in a monotone wedding theme color e.g. red and having the couple’s initials monogrammed at the end of the aisle in another color of petals. This is suitable for a garden wedding as most churches and enclosed venues do not allow for petals to be used.

Pew markers are the floral arrangements that you use on the sides of the church benches. They add a beautiful flair to your aisle and can be complemented with a netting rope or organza fabric. In some settings, pew markers are made of pretty flowers planted in small pots that are hung from the edge of the pew.

In case you fancy an arch to be placed at the entrance of the wedding church, chapel, ceremony and reception, you could go for a different style, from roman pillars to metallic arches. The florist needs to drape the arch with the couple’s theme colors and a delightful floral arrangement.

Centerpieces & Cake Tables

As the name suggests the centerpiece is the name of the décor piece that is put in the middle of the table. Centerpieces often consist of a beautiful flower arrangement coordinated with the wedding theme and style. For example if you are having a garden wedding you could use a beautiful combination of fruits & flowers for your centerpieces. You don’t always need to use flowers for your centerpieces; you could go for an assortment of colored vases and candles, or dried flowers too. When creating a centerpiece you should put into consideration your floral budget, the number of occupants on each table and space for table settings e.t.c.

The cake table in most tent arrangements falls in the middle of the tents setup. The cake table is often covered with a cake gazebo but in case you would want something different, why not get a cake huppah, which is made of four poles and fabric as the ceiling instead of canvas. The tent is draped with the colors of the wedding theme. The table can be decorated with an eclectic mix of organza fabric, silk linen and rings of flowers. Add a fountain to make it unique.

Tents, Tables, Chairs & Tie backs

The décor service provider often provides all the linen that is used to dress the tents, chairs & tables. If your wedding budget is extravagant, opt for colored linen especially for the tables. The chairs can also be dressed in colored/patterned linen. Tents are often draped in the wedding theme color with the high table having an elaborate backdrop depending on the bride & groom's liking.

Some linen is not provided by the décor service, such as the linen that is used to cover the buffet tables. Always ensure that you have confirmed with your caterer if they shall provide the linen.

Using tie backs, which are the colored sashes on your chairs, helps keep in tune with the wedding theme. For the tables to complement the wedding table linen you can always use a colored aisle runner which is a colored sash that runs across the table to complement your centerpiece.