Roses

Choosing Your Event Florist

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Choosing the right florist can be a difficult task. You want to make sure the florist handling all your wedding flowers understands your vision. It will help to have a good idea of what you want your wedding design to be. Do you want to go tradition, classic, modern, or a specific theme? Once you have this decided, look online for inspiration photos and colors. If you have dress or tux swatches bring them along to your floral design appointments. Don’t forget, you can meet with multiple florists before you decide who to go with.

Keep in mind that not all flower shops participate in the wedding industry. Some shops may strictly do retail arrangements and focus on holidays. Then you have floral designers who are more likely to do weddings and special events. These shops are made up of creative individuals who will work with you to understand your vision and help bring it to life.  You are not just buying flowers, you are receiving floral event design and a set-up/delivery service.

You should decide how important your flowers are to you for your wedding in order to budget correctly. Do some research and ask for suggestions from friends or someone who has recently planned a wedding. Sometimes websites like Wedding Wire and The Knot can point you in the right direction with reviews and prices ranges for certain shops. Know that certain flowers cost more than others, being aware of this will keep you from feeling blindsided by the pricing of small bridal bouquet of roses. Pick a few Florists that you think you might click with and make some appointments! The sooner you book the date the better.

 

Wedding Floral Designs by Leigh Florist

 

When you attend your appointments be sure to bring your colors, and photos of any ideas or things that you like. They will most likely have tons of photos of their own work for you to look through as well. Ask about rental items and what flowers will be in season at the time of your wedding. Be sure to explain your vision for your wedding in detail. Ask questions and give/get as many details as you can. If you feel confident in the designer and like what he or she is saying then you may have found your perfect floral fit! It helps if the florist comes recommended by your venue. Chances are they have worked at your venue before and know the ins and outs. It’s always good to have a vendor that knows your venue and the people working there well. This goes for any vendor – venue relationship.

FALL in Love

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Fall weddings are extremely popular and are giving spring weddings a run for their money. The changing colors of the trees in the fall offer bright colors that will inspire your wedding décor. You will have beautiful floral color options from rich, deep reds to burgundy’s, and bright yellows to vibrant oranges.  Some of the most timeless flowers grow in the fall.  Here are 5 of our top favorite.

  1. Sunflowers

Sunflowers may be available all year round (at a higher cost in the off season) but they grow locally here in late summer and fall at a more budget friendly price.

  1. Dahlias

These lavish blooms are one of our bride’s favorites.  Their blooms range from a small delicate flower to a dinner plate size bloom.  They come in a multitude of colors, to match any bridesmaid dress, or color scheme.

Ashley Gerrity Photography

 

  1. Mums

Mums are a great wall to really bring fall into your wedding.  Having mums planted in a pot and used as ceremony décor is a great idea. They can then be moved and used to decorate your reception space too!  It’s cost effective, and really adds a lot of fall color.

Daisy mums make the perfect compliment to sunflowers.

 

  1. Celosia

Celosia comes in two types of blooms, feathered or coxcomb. The coxcomb bloom resembles coral. Celosia comes in many fall colors.  Very popular are its dark burgundy shades, for bouquets and centerpieces.

Ashley Gerrity Photography

 

  1. Bi-colored rose

These roses are grown all year round but are more likely used in the fall season. Popular fall roses are high and magic, or circus rose.  Its bright yellow and orange petals make them a true show stopper. They would look amazing in all aspects of your wedding.

Jennifer Carr Photography

BE a BEE Keeper

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Bees are an extremely important part of our Eco system.  Their pollination process is essential for the growth of flowers, plants and trees all over the world.

The European honeybee is the most common species, and the only species kept in America. They are just 1 species of 20,000 worldwide known species. North America is home to 4,400 bee species including social bumblebee colonies, solitary tunnel nesting bees and solitary ground nesting bees.

Honeybees are the only insect which stores food in excess.  The colonizing of bees is called bee keeping.  Tending to bee hives requires a lot of time and knowledge.  General maintenance requires periodic inspections during the warm months to make sure your queen is laying eggs, your workers are building up honey stores, and your colony has enough space to expand.

Bees are directly influenced by their environment.  Their behavior and success varies greatly across climates. Management time and style will depend on your climate, your hive style, and your particular bees. All colonies are unique, and each beekeeper will have a different experience.

There are 3 types of bees in the colony: The Queen, the worker bee, and the drone.  The queen is the most important bee in the colony, there is only one.  The queen will lay all of the eggs for the colony, “deciding” when to lay drones eggs, or workers eggs.  Worker bees are sterile females who do all of the foraging, feeding of young, honey production and storage, wax production, cleaning, and defending the hive against intruders.

The only male bees in the colony are drones. Their only purpose is to mate with virgin queens from other colonies. Once they mate, they die successful bees. Unsuccessful drones return to the hive to eat honey and pollen. Once swarm season is over, drones become a drain on resources inside the hive, and are evicted by workers.  Bee keeping is hard work, but rich in reward.  There are many bee keeping groups and clubs that you can join to learn more about the bees in your local area.

Dress up your Ceremony

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The ceremony is usually your guests first impression of your wedding so lets set the mood!  This is where a lot of photos will be taken of this special moment in your life, so how do you decorate? There are so many way to create the ultimate ceremony space.  It is amazing what flowers and a little imagination can do!

  • Doors

If you can find a set of old barn doors or historical weathered doors, you can drape a sheer fabric to soften and create a backdrop.  Have your florist create a beautiful garland or swag of flowers to accent.

  • Draping curtains

Whether you have a cozy indoor ceremony or a romantic outdoor setting, a simple way to create an altar is to drape fabric over branches of a large tree.  It’s romantic, simple, and with some added floral accents it will bring your garden wedding to life.  If you are working with an indoor space try an arch with draped fabric, florals and lights. Eye-catching and romantic!

  • Hanging a curtain of lights

Hanging lights is such a beautiful and romantic backdrop to your ceremony.  It will illuminate your event with a beautiful glow, and the pictures will be jaw dropping!

  • Flower or garland curtain

Create a backdrop with a curtain of flowers or have a simple, minimalistic look with greenery garlands. The things florists have down with flowers to create those soft and beautiful backdrops is amazing.

 

Stephanie & Jarrett at The Bradford Estate

Photos by Tiffany Atlas Photography

 

Roses Flower Curtain by Leigh Florist Weddings

 

Chic Rusitc Door Decor

http://shabbychicmagazine.com/wedding-decor-ideas/

Preserve Your Wedding Memories

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We preserve wedding bouquets!  Feature your beautiful blooms in a custom framed shadow box with your wedding invitation.  This makes a great keepsake!

For more information, visit our website

Wedding flower shadow box – Photo credit to Sue B Photography

What’s a Corsage?

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For as far back as we can remember for occasions such as milestones birthdays, graduations, proms,   weddings and even baby showers there have been flowers involved. From table decorations to personal arrangements pinned to a shirt, or tied around a wrist to fresh flowers placed in an up-do or a flower crown on your head. But where did this floral tradition start? Why were people pinning fresh flowers to their clothing?

The word “corsage” is French and originally referred to the bodice portion of a formal dress. Women used to pin flowers to the bodices of their formal wear which was known as “bouquet de corsage”, quickly shortened to what we use today.

In ancient times, flowers were worn to special events in order to ward of any evil. Hence why weddings and special occasions became the main flower wearing events! Some even wore flowers to simply keep themselves safe. It is said that boutonnieres provide the same for men by warding off evil and preventing disease. Back in the 16th and 17th centuries many people would wear corsages and boutonnieres every day to stay healthy, but as time went on they became more common just for special events.

As more time went on, the placement of corsages changed from the bodice to a strap on a dress near the shoulder. The meaning of corsages also change and was less focused on warding off evil or preventing illnesses and became more of a luxury. When courting a lady, a gentlemen would give his date a corsage as a gift for attending an event or dance with him. This is more like what we know corsages to be for today.

The gentleman would show respect to his date’s parents by presenting a bouquet of flowers and usually would pin a flower from the bouquet to his date’s dress. This was meant to represent attachment to another person. Corsages were also given on holidays, and even birthdays to show love and appreciation.

More presently, corsages are still worn for many special occasions. However, fashions and styles continue to change and more ladies will wear a wrist corsage, flower crown, flower ring, or carry a bouquet instead of pinning anything to their beautiful (and expensive) dresses.

A cordage is meant to make someone stand out from others and signify that she is celebrating something very special. Some will even press and frame their corsages to hold on to special memories.

Corsages by Leigh Florist

Custom Floral Preservation Art

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Custom Floral Preservation Designs Available! We are reserving spots for 2018…

Visit our website for more information visit our website or contact us: sales@leighflorist.com     (856)547-1090

Preserved Flower Shadow Box – Photo Credit to Sue B Photography

Wedding Roses

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May of 2017 at the Abbie Holmes Estate in Cape May Court House, NJ.

Photos By: Jessica Cooper Photography

The Abbie Holmes Estate is the perfect setting for weddings with its beautifully manicured gardens and natural surroundings it is sure to make your wedding memorable.

The bride’s bouquet consisted of a gorgeous combination of peach and lavender roses in a small cascade shape. Her bridesmaids carried a small bouquet of similar colors consisting of white hydrangea, peach roses and small purplish blue accents. Having more white in the bridesmaids bouquets allowed the flowers to really pop against their dresses and the opposite effect for the bride in her stunning white gown.

Jessica Cooper Photography

Erin & Kevin

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Erin and Kevin said their I Do’s on a beautiful day in Philadelphia, PA. Erin’s crystal beaded gown sparkled in the sunlight and was complimented by her bouquet of soft pink and white blooms. Kevin wore a white bloom with greens to match his bride. The reception took place at the Crystal Tea Room in Philadelphia where the tables were decorated in  soft neutral colors with pinks and greens to accent. Floating candles and tealights were added for a romantic candle lit atmosphere.

Photos by: Juliana Laury Photography
Venue: The Crystal Tea Room – Philadelphia, PA

The Rose

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Roses are the national flower of England, and represented two important families in the 15th century. The Lancasters (red roses) and the Yorks (white roses) competed against each other for rule of England in The War of The Roses.

Williams Shakespeare, one of England’s greatest writers was inspired by the rose. Romeo and Juliet has one of the most well-known quotes on roses, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Juliet is reminding Romeo it doesn’t matter that they come from feuding houses because their love is real.

The Rose is one on the most popular and easily recognized flower out there. Many people see them as a gift of love and affection. Well, they are correct, but did you know that different colors and groupings of roses symbolize different things?

A rose’s symbolism changes based on the color and the number of them given. Below is a list of the most popular colors and what they represent.

  • Red roses symbolize love and romance.
  • Pink roses symbolize gratitude, grace, admiration, and joy.
  • Orange roses symbolize enthusiasm and passion.
  • Yellow roses symbolize friendship.
  • White roses symbolize innocence and purity.

Uptown Roses                     Sweet Love                    Cupid’s Arrow
        By: Leigh Florist

Did you know you can send a more specific message with the number of roses given?

  • One rose symbolizes love at first sight.
  • Two roses symbolize shared and deep love.
  • Three roses says “I love you”.
  • Six roses says “I want to be yours”.
  • Seven roses says “I’m infatuated with you”.
  • Nine roses symbolize eternal love.
  • Ten roses says “You’re perfect”.

Modern Gem by Leigh Florist