require transportation to the ceremony and from there on to the wedding breakfast. A horse and carriage or a vintage car will provide perfect ‘props’ for photographic opportunities. It simply depends on your personal taste and style.
FLOWERS
An essential ingredient on your wedding day will be the flowers, from the bridal bouquet and buttonholes through to the church and wedding breakfast table displays.
The choice of flowers is largely personal, but a lot will depend on the season and the budget. The flowers will provide a beautiful clement of style, colour and perfume on the day.
Have you ever wondered why a bride carries flowers? Flowers are a symbol of fertility and children. Strong-smelling herbs used to be entwined amongst the flowers as it was believed that the pungent smell of rosemary and thyme would help ward off evil spirits, bad luck and ill-health. Unless the bride is allergic to fresh flowers or wishes to keep her bouquet indefinitely, I consider it essential for her to carry fresh flowers on her wedding day. The Queen carried a traditional shower bouquet containing flowers from all regions of her Kingdom and Commonwealth on her wedding day, and the Princess of Wales carried a bouquet which contained stephanotis, roses, lilies of the valley and sweet peas. You may w-ant to select flowers which have a specific meaning, and I have compiled a list of common flowers and their connotations which you might find interesting (see page 82).
Before you decide on the flowers, think of the theme, style and colour of your wedding outfit. The bridesmaids may carry similar small arrangements to the bride's bouquet. Young bridesmaids may find it easier to carry a posy or small basket of flowers. Recently I saw a little girl carrying a ‘wand’ complete with a glittering star! You may also want to wear flowers in your hair, and provide headdresses for your bridesmaids.
FLOWERS AND THEIR MEANINGS
ACACIA secret love
APPLE BLOSSOM perfection
BLUEBELL lasting love
CHRYSANTHEMUM (RED) love
CHRYSANTHEMUM (WHITE) truth
DAFFODIL regard
DAHLIA good taste
FORGET-ME-NOT true love
GERANIUM true friendship
HOLLY enchantment
HONEYSUCKLE bonds of love
IVY fidelity
JASMINE sensuality
LILAC first emotions
LILY OF THE VALLEY happiness
MIMOSA sensitivity
ROSE love
SNOWDROP hope
STEPHANOTIS travel
STOCK lasting beauty
SUNFLOWER adoration
TULIP love
VIOLET faithfulness
WISTERIA I cling to you
If the men are wearing morning dress or frock coats then you will need to provide buttonholes. There is nothing more attractive or stylish than a simple rose or a few stems of lily of the valley, if in season.
At the church, the doorway can be transformed with climbing roses in baskets or pots, or topiary trees on either side of the door. One or two displays of large lilies like Longi or Casablanca look stunning at the altar. Make sure that the stamens are removed to avoid any mishaps on dresses and cassocks! The ends of pews can be decorated with simple hand-tied natural posies. If there is another wedding in the church on the same day, you will have to consult with the other families when it comes to decorating the church, and a compromise will have to be reached.
You may be advised to check the church's regulations on the scattering of petals or confetti; I have seen bridesmaids scattering rose petals from baskets all the way up the aisle, much to the disapproval of the priest.
At the wedding breakfast, you will probably want to decorate each table with a small arrangement. Candles look good, especially floating ones, if it is an evening reception. The top table can be decorated more grandly with swags of greenery draping up and around the sides of the table—ivy works particularly well for this.
Whatever your taste, the flowers you choose will add an extra special dimension to your wedding day.*
THE WEDDING CAKE
The centrepiece of your wedding breakfast will be your cake. A local baker or cake
FLOWERS
An essential ingredient on your wedding day will be the flowers, from the bridal bouquet and buttonholes through to the church and wedding breakfast table displays.
The choice of flowers is largely personal, but a lot will depend on the season and the budget. The flowers will provide a beautiful clement of style, colour and perfume on the day.
Have you ever wondered why a bride carries flowers? Flowers are a symbol of fertility and children. Strong-smelling herbs used to be entwined amongst the flowers as it was believed that the pungent smell of rosemary and thyme would help ward off evil spirits, bad luck and ill-health. Unless the bride is allergic to fresh flowers or wishes to keep her bouquet indefinitely, I consider it essential for her to carry fresh flowers on her wedding day. The Queen carried a traditional shower bouquet containing flowers from all regions of her Kingdom and Commonwealth on her wedding day, and the Princess of Wales carried a bouquet which contained stephanotis, roses, lilies of the valley and sweet peas. You may w-ant to select flowers which have a specific meaning, and I have compiled a list of common flowers and their connotations which you might find interesting (see page 82).
Before you decide on the flowers, think of the theme, style and colour of your wedding outfit. The bridesmaids may carry similar small arrangements to the bride's bouquet. Young bridesmaids may find it easier to carry a posy or small basket of flowers. Recently I saw a little girl carrying a ‘wand’ complete with a glittering star! You may also want to wear flowers in your hair, and provide headdresses for your bridesmaids.
FLOWERS AND THEIR MEANINGS
ACACIA secret love
APPLE BLOSSOM perfection
BLUEBELL lasting love
CHRYSANTHEMUM (RED) love
CHRYSANTHEMUM (WHITE) truth
DAFFODIL regard
DAHLIA good taste
FORGET-ME-NOT true love
GERANIUM true friendship
HOLLY enchantment
HONEYSUCKLE bonds of love
IVY fidelity
JASMINE sensuality
LILAC first emotions
LILY OF THE VALLEY happiness
MIMOSA sensitivity
ROSE love
SNOWDROP hope
STEPHANOTIS travel
STOCK lasting beauty
SUNFLOWER adoration
TULIP love
VIOLET faithfulness
WISTERIA I cling to you
If the men are wearing morning dress or frock coats then you will need to provide buttonholes. There is nothing more attractive or stylish than a simple rose or a few stems of lily of the valley, if in season.
At the church, the doorway can be transformed with climbing roses in baskets or pots, or topiary trees on either side of the door. One or two displays of large lilies like Longi or Casablanca look stunning at the altar. Make sure that the stamens are removed to avoid any mishaps on dresses and cassocks! The ends of pews can be decorated with simple hand-tied natural posies. If there is another wedding in the church on the same day, you will have to consult with the other families when it comes to decorating the church, and a compromise will have to be reached.
You may be advised to check the church's regulations on the scattering of petals or confetti; I have seen bridesmaids scattering rose petals from baskets all the way up the aisle, much to the disapproval of the priest.
At the wedding breakfast, you will probably want to decorate each table with a small arrangement. Candles look good, especially floating ones, if it is an evening reception. The top table can be decorated more grandly with swags of greenery draping up and around the sides of the table—ivy works particularly well for this.
Whatever your taste, the flowers you choose will add an extra special dimension to your wedding day.*
THE WEDDING CAKE
The centrepiece of your wedding breakfast will be your cake. A local baker or cake
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