Happy Spring!

Beth

Vintage Is Out, A Golden Touch Is In For 2013 Wedding Trends
Expert wedding planner Mark Kingsdorf has released his wedding trends for 2013, and no mason jars appear on his list. In fact, he specifically points out that vintage-themed weddings, in general, are falling out of favor with current brides-to-be. No worries whether Mark’s forecasting can be trusted, either. Mark is one of only 65 Master Bridal Consultants in the world–a rare certification bestowed by the Association of Bridal Consultants. Plus, his credentials prove his expertise. So what does Mark forecast as the top trends for this year? Here’s a summary of his top ten predictions:

A Return to Elegance. This year will bring back plated dinners, soft, romantic décor in white, cream, taupe and blush and an overall elegant, sophisticated ambiance.

Gold is HOT! Expect gold enhancements on gowns, accessories and décor: linens, chargers, floral risers and bouquets.

Take a Seat. Lounge furniture for cocktail receptions is on the rise. High-top cocktail tables are disappearing, and comfy ottomans, love seats with pillows and occasional tables are taking their place.

Patterns. Anticipate big, bold patterns. Chevrons, circles and Focal Points 22 stripes are all the rage.

Lace. Lace has never gone out of style. But soft touches of lace are now being seen in linen overlays, as details on cakes and in bouquets.

Simplicity. Simple, elegant décor is making a comeback, and “styled” accents are fading. We’re seeing fewer vintage suitcases, typewriters and card catalogues.

Have a Mint. Mint green, pale turquoise, sea foam green and pale tones of emerald in bridesmaid’s dresses, linens, accents and cakes will be widely seen.

A Little Birdie Told Me. Love birds seem to be popping up all over on invitations and cake toppers and in arrangements.

The ’20s Are Roaring. A combination of the trends mentioned—a return to elegance, soft romantic colors, art-deco patterns and gold—all combine to create a 1920’s feel. Pair them with classic cocktails, canapés and an elegant seated dinner paired with wine and a big band sound, and the theme truly comes to life.

Go Local. More couples are choosing venues that offer menus with fresh local, seasonal ingredients, locally brewed beers and spirits, and are using local, seasonal plants and flowers and local vendors to fulfill their needs.

Originally posted on www.flowerchat.com

featuring some of our recent work. Congratulations Angie and Tim.

“For many brides flowers are one of the most important aspects of their wedding, besides their groom-to-be of course! Beth Hohensee of Studio Flora Diva truly creates magic with flowers for weddings and events all over the country.”

Read the entire post on StudioWed’s Blog!

Bridal Bar’s Jet Fete Blog tells the story of a wedding that took place at the Biltmore Estate with makeup by E. Scott Thompson, photography by Two Ring Studios, and floral design by yours truly. Read the entire post on the Jet Fete Blog…

I subscribe to a blog written specifically for those who make their living doing art. The author is quite passionate in his belief that those of us in creative businesses clearly define our client: for whom, (and how) do we do our art?

I thought I’d offer some thoughts on the reverse of that question which is: how do you find the right florist for you/your wedding? While there are no hard and fast rules, here are some things to consider:

Not every florist offers the same services, or designs in the same style. Florists can range from very small home-based enterprises to large-scale corporations with several locations. If you are transforming a historic mansion into a Grand Gala affair and need to accommodate 500+ guests, checking out some of the larger companies might be prudent. Conversely, if you plan to have an intimate gathering of 20 on a veranda at a B&B, perhaps one of the smaller companies would be a better fit.

It all depends on what you want, and knowing what you want, (or at least having some idea) is key. How important are the flowers to you? Are you someone who adores them and wants them everywhere, or will a casual jar of wildflowers in the center of the table suffice? Are you all about the band and bar, or does the exquisite lemon/sugar scent of an open English garden rose make you swoon?!

Doing a bit of homework before you meet with a florist can help smooth out the consultation process. What is your color palette? Are there flower varieties you like? Dislike? Is there a theme for the wedding? Do you have a specific design style in mind for the flowers? Are you accenting with a metal?

Then there’s the big scary question: What is your budget? Having an approximate idea of your flower budget, (and being willing to share that up front), will help the designer make recommendations, and make effective use of your consultation time. After spending an hour discussing amazing over the top centerpieces, it’s disappointing to find out you’d have to spend your entire flower budget to get them!

As a rule of thumb, a flower budget should be 10-15% of the total wedding cost. So, say you’re spending $25K on your wedding, $2500-$3750.00 would be reserved for your flowers.

A good florist is not only an artist they are also an advocate for you, giving you the most “bang” for your investment.

Because flowers and floral design are my life’s passion, I’d be delighted to spend some time with you, and a bowl of lush, open, English garden roses, swooning….

-Beth