We recently created this lush purple centerpiece for a home-session for a few of our industry friends and just had to share the beauty with you! We actually want to let you in on a little secret too- this lovely arrangement is a mix of real and fake flowers! Gasp! We bet you wouldn’t have known if we didn’t spill the beans. But, we like to give you the truth around here, so there it is!
Our client had a specific color palette in mind (you guessed it, purple + plum) that can sometimes be challenging to create without a little help. See below for the details on what you see!
Fantasy Floral Details
Fake Floral Choices: purple hydrangea, lime + deep plum/eggplant ranunculus, lavender waxflower
Real Floral Choices: Roses, greenery, thistle, status (the fluffy deep purple-blue filler), aster (the petite purple flower with a yellow center), Alstroemeria (the delicate freckled flower in the same shade as the rose)
Now, we will be the first to say that we always prefer and encourage the real deal. Nothing truly compares to fresh florals. But, sometimes we have to stretch the boundaries a bit to give our clients the visual look they want. So, silk it is!
Much like you, we often take to Pinterest and Instagram to find the latest and greatest wedding trends. Although we like to think we’re already a little ahead of the curve, sometimes we need a photo or two to explain our design ideas, as well as to provide a visual for a general theme or overall ambiance. Many of today’s most popular wedding trends come from large metropolitan areas here in the US and many come from abroad. We find there is usually a six+ month delay for trends to reach us in Florida. Some of that is because it’s harder to get materials here, sometimes it’s simply because we may not have a venue or vendor that can deliver “the goods” quite yet.
All that said, we have some great ideas for your wedding ceremony decor! Your ceremony is the launch point for your marriage! Your MARRIAGE and vows are THE most important part of the day. Without the ceremony, there isn’t technically a wedding now, is there?! So we believe that your ceremony should be amazing. From the words you tell each other, to #allthefeelings you’re sharing, to the kiss. The ceremony is SO very special. And we want it to be as spectacular looking as it is feeling.
Here are our top tips (and inspiration) for making this important part of the wedding ceremony really visually memorable.
Entranceway:
Say WOW with a statement piece or a subtle “come hither” grouping. We love a large statement arrangement on either side of the walkway area. This is also a great place for a suspended option- think handing greenery, a large floral & crystal chandelier, or cascading floral arrangement. A cluster of lanterns or candles work great too.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BdBLeDIHVMr/?taken-by=afantasyinflowers
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bf-4Z-GnfIw/?tagged=weddingentrance
https://www.instagram.com/p/BfqBg9Tj6eI/?tagged=weddingentrance
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bf4SbxxHEHi/?tagged=weddingentrance
Signage:
This is a non-negotiable in our book! You must direct your guests! Adding a floral or greenery flourish to your signage really elevates the look. It’s a great way to incorporate added color too. Be it mirrored, wooded, vintage window, acrylic (a new favorite of ours) or chalkboard, don’t leave it naked!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BemMyqSnUzM/?taken-by=afantasyinflowers
https://www.instagram.com/p/BZO2njYnTej/?taken-by=afantasyinflowers
https://www.instagram.com/p/Be6KEcIgyI_/?taken-by=stylemepretty
https://www.instagram.com/p/BfJMmlZgpLm/?taken-by=stylemepretty
Aisle:
Don’t forget to define this space! And we’re not just talking about adding an aisle runner or rose petals. We’re talking about defining your entrance, roping off the aisle, and decorating the chairs. This is the most important walk of your life. Make it the prettiest too! We love large arrangements, doorway arches, and fabric at the front of the aisle to really say “hello, here I am!” We also love when each chair has some kind of accessory- be it a hanging arrangement, a hand-tied bouquet, a sprig or greenery or single stem, your chairs, like your signage, should be dressed!
https://www.instagram.com/p/Be_OyktH3N2/?taken-by=afantasyinflowers
https://www.instagram.com/p/BZ_WByHHxjl/?taken-by=afantasyinflowers
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bf86QOgFJ7s/?tagged=aisle
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bf-7jx1gt8A/?tagged=aisle
https://www.instagram.com/p/BgB2gJegAek/?tagged=aisle
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bf_0gD0Aca9/?tagged=aisle
https://www.instagram.com/p/BA_mtbOuzcm/?tagged=aisle
Altar Area:
If you could only pick one or two ceremony spaces to accessorize with florals, THIS is it! We’re obsessing over moon arches (aka circular arches/arbors), but love anything that says “please get married beneath me!” Ha! We also adore a flower wall! From twig arbors to full floral arches, we want your vows and first kiss to not only be incredible but for the photos to look fabulous too! This IS the backdrop for the entire ceremony and the area should be defined accordingly! Of course, take your venue into consideration (a church, for example, is more suited for large arrangments on pillars than a moon arch). But also don’t be afraid to go bold. We promise it won’t be a distraction!
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bf9lMu3AiFh/?tagged=weddingceremony
https://www.instagram.com/p/Be-pJPOAA7j/?taken-by=stylemepretty
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bf_x-fcAFLp/?taken-by=stylemepretty
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bf9aRiRH8xv/?tagged=weddingceremony
https://www.instagram.com/p/BgB9a5UAMki/?tagged=weddingceremony
https://www.instagram.com/p/BfjH-TUAdUN/?taken-by=stylemepretty
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bf_ko1RFMdp/?tagged=ceremonyflowers
With all the wedding planning decisions, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by choices. We’re here to help you make the best ones you can about your florals & design. Questions? Ask away!
It’s Instagram roundup time! If you don’t follow us on Instagram (and even if you do), we’re sharing our last five bouquets from our Insta feed to give you a little inspiration!
As you can likely tell, there are two huge trends right now- soft + feminine or bold + bright! To each their own, because we can’t decide! We would love to which one is your favorite! Comment below and tell us which one you’d love for yourself.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BauyCiBHGjE/?taken-by=afantasyinflowers
The beauty above was for a recent wedding at Casa Marina in Jacksonville Beach. The touches of peach were so refreshing to see (we’re seeing a shift from blush to peach).
https://www.instagram.com/p/BZhhUmjHrrZ/?taken-by=afantasyinflowers
This one was for a wedding at the Cummer Museum. We blogged about it here.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BYE2fy4DJO4/?taken-by=afantasyinflowers
This has been a HUGE hit! It was our favorite post of the recent months and was actually published on InStyles’ blog! Read more about that here.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BXfln4BAm3U/?taken-by=afantasyinflowers
St. Johns Golf Club wedding.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BWAS-H8g3eO/?taken-by=afantasyinflowers
Selecting a bouquet is an important decision (as are so many others in the wedding planning process). Your bouquet is an accessory, as well as a decor element. It’s where you begin to incorporate wedding style & color. And for some, sentimental meaning. From carrying a rose bouquet like your grandmother to including freesia for innocence and friendship, your bouquet is the most personal flower choice you’ll make on your wedding day.
The size, shape, color and floral selection in your bouquet all matter for conveying your wedding “theme”
Posy – The timeless option that most people think of when they say “bouquet of flowers”. A “tight” yet slightly organic style bouquet with lots of blooms, often hand tied or wrapped. We consider this the most popular for modern weddings.
Round – The other timeless option that many people immediately think of when referring to a wedding bouquet. This is a “dome” of flowers in a very tight, round ball shape. However, this isnt’ to be confused with the pomander, because the stems are still included. They’re usually wrapped pretty tight with ribbon, lace, twine, etc.
Cascade – We’re seeing a BIG comeback with cascading bouquets. This what what almost every bride married in the 70s and 80s had. Bountiful blooms cascading down the front. Large and in charge. Princess Diana’s has been one of the most memorable cascading bouquets.
Hand tied (aka garden style) – some people may refer to this style as bohemian, and we must admit, it does have a strong boho vibe. The nature of the design is very free form, loose and organic, with flowing, cascading ribbons and soft ‘edges”. It’s been a popular choice over the last couple of years and we don’t see any major changes in the near future. A greenery bouquet often fits into this category as well.
Nosegay – A small bouquet, also known as a tussie-mussie. These are really just bouquets that are smaller in size from the brides, great for mothers, grandmothers, flower girls and even bridesmaids. They’re usually in a more rounded or hand-tied style and often compared or confused with a posy. They’re very similar.
Pomander – This is an adorable option that is often seen carried by flower girls. It’s a full rounded circular bouquet suspended/hanging from a ribbon. Usually a single color of hydrangea or roses.
Composite – One giant flower! If you’ve ever pictured yourself walking down the aisle with a single stem but would prefer it to be the size of a more “traditional bouquet”, a composite style is exactly what you’re looking for. It’s basically a deconstructed and reconstructed flower. The best example would be a rose. We take hundreds of petals and recreate the “rose” in a gigantic, no way you could find this in nature, size. It’s quite the statement piece!
We think this article by Inside Weddings gives some great examples of what we’ve described above.
Although not defined yet, we’re also seeing a trend for bridesmaids to carry something a touch different- from a geometric open terrarium to a wire wreath with floral accents, couples are breaking the bouquet mold and trying something completely different! We’re ALL for expressing individuality and always up for a good challenge 😉
We specialize in floral artistry in all shapes, styles & sizes. We pride ourselves on creating the style that is best suited for our couple’s preference! We’d love to show you our portfolio and discuss YOUR perfect bouquet! Contact us today to schedule your free consult in the studio (or via video chat).
We were recently quoted on a recent article on InStyle called: ” 8 Chic Fall Floral Trends to Inspire Your Wedding Centerpieces.” It was such an honor to provide our expertise! We had a total OMG moment when it went live and there was most definitely a happy dance in the shop. Ha!
So, what did we have to say and what trends are other florists seeing? See below!
We’re #1 on the list with this:
Photo by Sunny Lee
1. THE MORE THE MERRIER
“We’re seeing a shift from soft tones to vibrant shades in all spectrums of the rainbow. Lots of blooms with greenery accents, versus all greenery with floral accents. Arrangements and bouquets are leaning toward lush, eye-catching designs.” — Susan Kass, A Fantasy in Flowers.
Others included:
- RUSTIC CHIC
- FORAGED GREENERY
- MARSALA
- COPPER
- GO DARK
- SUCCULENTS
- ADD SOME COLOR
Head on over to their page to check out the article here and tell us which wedding trend for fall is your favorite!
Let’s talk wedding venues! There are so many amazing venues in the north Florida area. We mainly serve the Jacksonville and St. Augustine market, with an occasional Amelia Island, St. George Island or Palm Coast wedding mixed in.
We want to share our top favorites- and why they’re on our list!
Jacksonville Wedding Venues
Bowing Oaks Plantation – For starters, the venue is gorgeous! Secondly, they a have all the amenities our couples look for. They offer indoor and outdoor options, have a fantastic sales staff and are conveniently located between 295 and I95 with easy access for Ponte Vedra, Jacksonville, and St. Augustine
Deercreek Country Club (a ClubCorp property) – Where golf course beauty meets southern hospitality, at least in our humble opinion! A wonderful option for couples that love a good tee time and the view that comes with those 18-holes of golf! Also rich with amenities (if you want to read between the lines, this means parking! Ha!) and an attentive staff
Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront -The view of downtown will take your breath away! A great option for a “traditional” ballroom wedding. Plus, they have on-site accommodations, which makes things really easy for our couples.
Ponte Vedra Wedding Venues
Ponte Vedra Inn & Club + The Lodge – We’re partial to both of these venues not because we’ve had a family wedding here, but because they are superb at what they do! The location is gorgeous- it’s upscale elegance with a coastal vibe, and they have a ton of great venue options. Also with ample amenities and on-site accommodations, the venue is a wedding retreat that you and your guests will recall with fond memories for many years to come.
Sawgrass Marriott – A sophisticated, classic venue option nestled among a 65-acre property, Sawgrass is a Florida Oasis. The venue is also home to the PGA tour and has a fantastic on-site spa well (great for wedding prep & bridal party celebrations)!
The Clubhouse at TPC Sawgrass– A luxurious, elegant, Mediterranean Revival style venue with incredible views and exquisite architecture! It is a wonderful venue for large weddings as well as intimate events. They an onsite bridal suite, plenty of parking (do you sense a theme here? haha) and the food is amazing.
Nocatee Crosswater Hall– A venue with classic Florida craftsmanship offering so much flexibility. The tall ceilings, large windows and neutral floor to ceiling color palette, it’s a beautiful space for large and small events. We’ve seen amazing DIY weddings to grandoise affairs, and they both work wonderfully!
St. Augustine Wedding Venues
Treasury on the Plaza – in the heart of downtown St Augustine, this is a stunning, architectural delight (previously a bank)! Marble floors, sky-high ruling, unique vault style bar. It’s a great option for someone who wants a modern wedding with a historical element.
The White Room – a wedding venue with arguably the best view in town. Wood floors, white columns, exposed brick. They have three venues to choose from, all with unique character and a classic, southern feel.
The River House – also with a fantastic view (and parking) this venue is traditional without being stuffy. Located in downtown On the Matanzas Inlet, this modern ballroom can easily accommodate 200. They offer flexible options and provide exclusivity for the day (in other words, only one event per day).
World Golf Hall of Fame – a hidden St Augustine wedding venue gem! They have a gorgeous courtyard & golf course view that can’t be found anywhere else in town. It’s in a super convenient location just off I95 and the “vibe” completely unexpected. Surprisingly coastal (for not being on the beach) and really easy to work with.
We also must state that every single one of these venues has an option for ceremony and reception on-site. Not only is this convenient for our couples, it cuts down on our delivery & set-up time too!
We’re sure that you’ll be happy with any of these choices for your wedding day. And we’d be happy to be your florist! Contact us today with your questions!
