The Royal Watch

With all eyes watching the Royal Wedding, it will definitely set some trends to be followed by those brides in the US who want the look. A simple modified Teardrop shaped bouquet of wired Lily-of-the-Valley, Sweet William, and Hyacinth accented with Myrtle is what Shane Connolly designed for HRH. A very clean, elegant and sophisticated presentation for sure!
The absence of any dramatic color allowed for the beauty and architecture of the Abbey to make its impact without visual confusion. The simplicity of the ceremony décor did not compete with the wedding party or its venue. Definitely a good point to remind brides that sometimes more is just more. This was a lesson to all in tasteful, understated elegance.
It will now give future brides the nudge away from the hand-tied bouquet and back to the 70’s and early 80’s; encouraging the return of the cascade bouquet. While we may never return to those floor cascades of yesteryear, it will allow to sell style and professional precession versus a “bunch of flowers tied with a piece of ribbon” that seemed to gain popularity especially with the DIY customers.
Do remember that this was a wired and taped bouquet as the stems of Lilly of the Valley are extremely short in length. Wiring and taping seem to be a lost art among the florist industry especially with the newer florists. What a great time to attend a workshop or AIFD Educational Partner educational center that places emphasis on traditional mechanics to learn or fresh those forgotten skills. While bouquet holders are a great mechanic that afford earlier construction and does provide a water source, wired bouquets create a look that is hard to duplicate in any other way.
Be ready to sell simplistic romance for those who desire the Royal Treatment. While not everyone may not be able to afford the’ understated elegance’ of 100+ stems of Lily-of-the-Valley, there are still great options for you to suggest. By talking to your bride to be, you will be able to find out which flowers and style of bouquet will best suit her and work with within her budget. Cymbidium, Dendrobium, and Vanda Orchids are excellent choices that make a grand statement and can be cost effective. Working with seasonal availability also helps in controlling costs. Many flowers have an extended season but are still more available at certain times of the year.
Be sure and visit the Florabundance web site for future wedding trend reports and insights to help you with your future brides.