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5
BRIDES OF ’85
or '85
Anything
hough traditional floral
T rere are very popular at
today’s formal weddings, new ideas
are also welcome.
‘Anything goes from a small nosegay
to a formal cascading arrangement,’
according to Judy Yovanovich of FTD, a
cooperative association of retail florists
across the country. A bride may also
elect to eliminate the traditional bouquet
and carry instead a white prayer book
adorned with a single orchid, rose or
gardenia.
Among trends in bridal bouquets are
the introduction of a note of color into
the formerly all-white bouquet; the use of
feathers, pearls and fabrics like gauze,
tulle and lace; and the inclusion of a
small bouquet for tossing inside the
larger one, so the bride may press and
keep her own.
With air transport, enough advance
notice and better sources of supply,
virtually any type of flower is available
anywhere in the United States.
Besides the bridal bouquet, corsages
for the mothers of bride and groom and
bouquets for honor attendants are usual.
Selecting the
flowers — a
pleasant interlude
In additicn, the groom and his
attendants general sport boutonnieres.
Flowers traditionally decorate the
bridal altar and are often placed
strategically along the aisle.
The size and nature of the place of
ceremony and the wishes of the bridal
party determine what flowers should be
used and how many. However, it is
customary to ascertain what is
customary and permissible with church
authorities before making final
arrangements. Those planning the
wedding may also request that the florist
visit the site to offer some suggestions.
Flowers are often a feature of the
reception. They are usually found at the
bridal table and at guests’ tables, if
there is a sit-down meal. The buffet table
and table on which the wedding cake is
displayed may also be decorated with
floral arrangements. When selecting
arrangements for the bridal table, keep
them low so that guests can see you.
The process of selecting flowers is
often a pleasant interlude in which the
bride and an adviser (usually her mother)
make an appointment to visit one or
more florists for a consultation.
“We show the bride pictures of
arrangements we have made and also
have some flowers made up in silk,’
says Andrea Burg, wedding coordinator
for Bachman'’s Florists in Minneapolis.
The florist, which has 14 branches in
Minneapolis-St. Paul, is one of the larger
concerns in the country and handles
about 12 weddings a week.
Ms. Burg estimates that a typical
expenditure for flowers might range
between $400 and $600. However, she
adds, a bride might spend as little as
$100 or as much as $1,000, depending
on number of attendants, size of
wedding site and amount of flowers
purchased. ;
Bridesmaid’s bouquets, for example,
range from $20 to $40, depending on
size and type flowers selected. In recent
years, growing accessibility to flowers
from Holland and interest in more
colorful bouquets has resulted in higher
standards and thus more costliness.
However, she notes, a good florist
should be able to suggest attractive
combinations in many price ranges.
She suggests that a bride prepare for
a meeting with a florist by looking for
ideas in bridal magazines, questioning
friends whose weddings she may have
attended, and considering the type of
dress she will be wearing and the degree
of formality desired in the wedding. If a
color scheme has been selected, she
should provide this information (along
with fabric swatches, if available) to the
florist.
One idea is to consider ahead of time
a price range you can afford. Enumerate
also the flowers you would like without
regard to price. If the two numbers don’t
gibe, you can ask for suggestions to
lower the cost through substitutions or
elimination of some arrangements. The
florist you select should be able to help
you meet your budget, provided you
have not been totally unrealistic.
Once you have obtained several
estimates and have an idea of what is
available, expect to choose one florist
and to sign a written contract. The
contract should specify each floral
piece, its cost, date and time of delivery.
perfect way to enhance the
A beauty of the bride as she
walks down the aisle is with the
gift of a necklace of cultured pearls.
Their shimmering iridescence is the
finishing touch, complementing her
glowing complexion.
For centuries the pearl has been a
symbol of love, beauty and romance.
The ancients believed that the pearl
would bring romance and ward off harm.
Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love,
was said to have been born from the
foam of the sea and carried ashore like a
pearl. Cleopatra, the sensuous Egyptian
queen, is said to have concocted a love
tion f
pearl earring in a glass of wine.
The pearl is one of nature’s most
exquisite creations. It flatters the wearer
and lends an air of elegance to any
outfit.
Pearl jewelry is not only appropriate for
a wedding gown but is a timeless classic
that is a beautiful investment in the
bride's future.
When choosing a strand of cultured
pearls to be worn on the wedding day, -
consideration should be given to
matching an appropriate style with the
neckline of the bridal gown.
With high round necklines a multiple
strand ‘‘dog collar’’ or a classic single
a high standing collar or a scooped
neckline, a matinee or opera length
necklace is desirable.
With a deeper scooped neckline, a
luxurious bib of several strands of
cultured pearls falling from the base of
the throat is alluring and regal.
Adding a pair of pearl earrings and, if
sleeves permit, a single or double strand
cultured pearl bracelet completes a look
of delicate elegance.
The look of a shorter necklace can be
changed by the simple addition of a
decorative colored stone or cameo
pendant. :
Cultured pearls with rose overtones
“are the most popular in the United
States, and are generally the most
costly. Necklaces, however, should
always be selected on the basis of skin
color.
Olive skin is best complemented by
dark cream cultured pearls medium
complexions by pink cultured pearls, and
for light skin tones, light cream cultured
pearls are preferable.
Cultured pearls are also the ideal
accessory for the pre-wedding whirl of
engagement parties and bridal showers.
From casual to sophisticated to
completely elegant, cultured pearls have
the remarkable capacity to accent each
look to its fullest. Heated
a