What's The Must-Have Flower For Your Wedding? - Part 5: Ranunculus

    
Ranunculus
Season: Grows abundantly in Spring, also available in late summer from Chile
Price:  In spring they can be very affordable.
Colors: red, white, yellow, pink, hot pink, orange, purple/plum, peach
Meaning: Maybe because of the Ranunculus' bright colors or because it's petals form the cutest layers, the Ranunculus is said to symbolize charm, admiration, and attraction.  It can also be referred to as the "buttercup" flower.
Cool Fact: You can visit the Carlsbad Flower Fields each Spring to see the stunning acres of Ranunculus blooms. Seriously, the fields are filled with rows and rows of gorgeous, brightly colored Ranunculus blooms!

Why we LOVE them: Ranunculus blooms are perfect for soooo many things! They are the perfect size for boutonnieres (not too large or small), GREAT for bouquets, are bold enough to stand on their own as a centerpiece, and can fit any wedding style (rustic, modern, vintage, ethereal).  They just happen to be Stacey, the owner's favorite flower :)  Randi, our new assistant loves them too!

Check out Floral Occasions' many Ranunculus designs:

What's The Must-Have Flower For Your Wedding? - Part 4: Peony

  
Peony
Season: mostly May-June. Peonies from Chile are available late October-December.
Price:  High, but when you think about the size of the flower, so worth it!
Meaning: Peonies are very lush and full-bodied flowers, most often meaning good fortune, luxury, and prosperity. Peonies are also said to symbolize good wishes and loving marriages.
Cool Fact: Peonies originated in China, AND not only are their blooms greatly treasured, but their foliage is often used as greenery in arrangements.

Why we LOVE them: When I think romance, I think peonies! They look almost feather-soft, like gorgeous clouds...and their fragrance is amazing!!!

Check out Floral Occasion's Peony creations:

  

Photo by Elle Photography

Photo by Tyler Branch Photography (and picture below)

Photo by Lucero Photography

So far we have featured Peonies, Calla Lilies, Roses, and Cymbidium Orchids....one more feature left to go! I won't give away the name of this super-popular bloom until tomorrow, but I'll give you a hint: it also has MANY layers of petals like the Peony. :)

What's The Must-Have Flower For Your Wedding? - Part 3: Cymbidium Orchid

    
Cymbidium Orchid
Season: Mostly available year round. 
Price:  Moderate to high.  Worth every penny!!
Colors: white, rusty orange, light to dark pink, green, yellow, burgundy/plum, new brown tones
Meaning: Cymbidium orchids most often symbolize strength, beauty, and wealth.
Cool fact: Once a Cymbidium flower opens, that flower can last (on the plant) for as long as 2-3 months! Off the stock, it will hold up for at least 2 or 3 days.  You can also get smaller "mini" Cymbidium orchids for boutonnieres or corsages.

Why we LOVE them: Cymbidiums have such bold colors and can make a grand statement all on their own. They can give any wedding a feeling of luxury and elegance.

Check some weddings that have used Cymbidium Orchids, a la Floral Occasions:

Photo by Lucero Photography

Photo by Elle Photography

As you can see, it doesn't take very many Cymbidium blooms to make a statement. We hope you enjoyed today's installment of the most popular wedding flowers. Please share any comments, ideas, or other favorite flowers with us below. What was your favorite Cymbidium photo?

What's The Must-Have flower for your wedding? -Part 2: Rose

 
Roses
Season: Summer :) BUT most roses you can get year-round
Price:  Moderate.  Garden Roses are higher in price.
Colors: red, white, yellow, lavender, champagne, pastels, purple, burgundy, orange, pinks, multi-colored, peach/apricot, light pink, rust, ivory, cream, deep red....the list could go on and on.
Meaning: Roses ooze love and romance, so it's no surprise that they are considered to symbolize love. Just as with the Calla Lilies, the color of the rose carries it's own significance. For example, yellow roses mean "friendship," red roses mean "true love," and so on...
Cool Fact: Some Garden Roses actually share very similar qualities with the famous Peony flower, and can often work as a substitute for Peonies. They are very delicate with a vintage flair.

Why we LOVE them: The smell! The textures! Roses are classic and can add a touch of elegance to any event!

Check out some of the arrangements with roses by Floral Occasions:

Photo by Elle Photography

 Photo by Lucero Photography

Photo by Julie Harmsen Photography

Photo by Paul Von Rieter
 

Photo by Tyler Branch Photography

Photo by Julie Harmsen Photography

Which rose design did you like best? Leave us a comment below! :)

Also, stay tuned for our feature on Cymbidium Orchids tomorrow! Here's to spreading floral love!

What's The Must-Have Flower For Your Wedding? - Part 1: Calla Lily

When a bride comes to me wanting to use her favorite flower in her wedding, I ALWAYS do my best to accommodate. Every bride deserves to love her florals! Therefore, one tip I would give to brides is this: If there is a flower you MUST have for your wedding, research its season and maybe even the different colors it comes in. Nothing is harder than having your heart set on Peonies in the Fall. :(

In my experience, some of the most popular flowers requested for weddings (in no particular order) are Calla Lilies, Roses, Cymbidium Orchids, Peonies,  and Ranunculus. I thought I'd start sharing some of the important information for these popular beauties to help brides make the best decisions for their special day. :)

Please keep in mind that all this information is from my experience, and things (like prices) are always changing. 

Calla Lilies

Season: Mostly Spring and Summer, but can be available almost year-round

Price: Higher than most flowers, use for personals such as bouquets and boutonnieres.

Colors: white, red, yellow/orange, pink, eggplant, burgundy, cream, peach/apricot, lavender, purple

Meaning: Calla Lilies are said to mean "magnificence or beauty" but depending on the color, that can change. For instance, a white Calla Lily can mean magnificence, virtue, and innocence.

Cool Fact: You can get Miniature Calla Lilies too! Mini-Calla Lilies are great for boutonnieres or other small details.

Why we LOVE them: Calla Lilies come in so many different colors! Also, not only are the flowers gorgeous, but you can get really creative with the stems. Calla Lilies have flexible stems that really allow them to be twisted, curled, or left long for a very grand statement.

Check out some of the ways Floral Occasions has used Calla Lilies:

  

 
Photo by Lucero Photography

  

Photo by Barnet Photography.

 

 Photo by Julie Harmsen Photography



























Photo by Christine Farah Photography

Photo by Frenzel Photography

Check back each day this week for a new featured flower and more photos, as Floral Occasions continues to spread some floral love! Tomorrow we will be featuring the Rose...can't wait!

What are some of your favorite wedding flowers and why? We would love to hear about any flowers you would like us to feature in upcoming blog segments. Looking forward to it!

A Simply Gorgeous Wedding in July

This elegant wedding at Maison des Olivieres really reminded me how keeping things simple can often make the biggest statement of all! Mason jars, monochromatic arrangements, and a creative assortment of vintage vases and votives, truly created a sophisticated ambiance. Thank you to the beautiful bride and handsome groom, Katie and Adam, for sharing your special day with us! Oh, and we can't forget to thank the always-fabulous Elle Photography for capturing all the loving moments and gorgeous details AND Stephanie @ Ribbons and Rust, as usual, for having such fun vintage pieces for us to choose from!  Spreading floral love is always easier when you got a great team to work with. :)

Loving these soft, white Lisianthus......stunning!

A breathtaking view of the rose garden and the happy couple....

These wedding details were so fun to create! Katie and Adam, thank you for giving Floral Occasions the opportunity be a part of your amazing day!