Category Archives: Weddings

Floral Accents, Extras, and Details

floral accents

Weddings are beautiful by nature. But there are many opportunities within your wedding planning and design that you can add elements and details to make it uniquely personal and truly spectacular. After decades of helping Mission Viejo couples plan the perfect wedding day, the expert designers at Mission Viejo Florist are excited to help you with the floral accents that will transform your day.
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The Floral Designer is an Important Part of Your Dream Wedding

floral designerEvery bride looks for assistance when it comes time to choose the details of her wedding day. Whether a Mother, a best friend or online tools and social media forums – a Bride has many places to go for advice and guidance. But if you are planning your wedding, we have a better suggestion. The very best place to turn for professional advice – that will result in a stunning wedding as well as remain within budget – is Mission Viejo Florist. Even if you think you cannot afford a professional wedding designer, call us and schedule a complimentary appointment. . . we will surprise you with the value we provide.

“Picking your florist is about the personal connection between the bride and the designer. You want the designer to be just as excited about your wedding as you are!” says Joni, owner at Mission Viejo. Getting to know the bride is an important aspect of designing the perfect day, for many reasons. “Flowers are the ‘jewelry’ for any event, but especially weddings,” Joni says. “Your bouquet is not a stand alone piece – flowers highlight and accent you and your dress, and any of the floral designers at Mission Viejo Florist will look at the whole wedding picture, not just quote a price.

Any wedding floral designer can provide a laundry list of items with a bottom line price, but at our florist we spend time with our Brides to understand their desired look and what elements are most important, her “must” haves.  Count on our expertise to know which flowers are in season and readily available, therefore more cost effective.  And if you love a look you saw in a trendy magazine or a recent celebrity wedding, one of our floral designers can help you achieve the same look and feel, but stay in your budget.

We are professional wedding consultants and we have designed hundreds and hundreds of weddings in our area.  We know the venues and we have the ability to translate your style and dreams into floral designs that will exceed your expectations while staying within your budget.  We have the expertise with non-traditional and outside-the-box creativity and we are happy to recommend unique ideas and tips along with helping with all aspects of planning to make your day beautiful and carefree.  So gather up your Mother, your best friend, and all of your inspirational photos and make an appointment with a member of our team. . . we can’t wait to meet you and help you create the wedding of your dreams!

Traditional Roles for the Mother of the Bride

mother rolesYour daughter is on her way to the altar, and as the Mother of the Bride, you’ve probably got a thousand ideas about how this day could be amazing – after all, this is one of the biggest events of her life! It is also a situation that may require a delicate approach.  Your daughter most certainly wants your love, support, and help, but she will also have her own ideas about how the day will look and which details she wants to handle.  So Moms, make yourself available and let her know what you are interested in helping with, but then take a step back, take a deep breath, and let her take the lead!

There are traditionally many ways that the Mother of the Bride can be involved; and often, the Mother of the Groom, if close with the Bride, can join in the fun. For instance, dress shopping is a cherished custom that Moms are often involved in; Mothers are also indispensable when it comes to scheduling times with vendors, fielding phone calls from caterers and musicians, and in general, handling all the day to day details. Mothers also will help to compile the guest list, and subsequently, send out invitations and handle responses.

Advice about Advice: Whether paying for the day or not, reserve input to that which is requested or is something constructive, not critical. (For instance, reminding her that the venue will need to accommodate older or handicapped guests, NOT that you don’t like the choice of venue.)

Mothers should always plan on attending any bridal shower but traditionally is not involved in the planning. On the big day, Mom has ceremonial and traditional duties as well – she is the last to be seated, signaling the beginning of the wedding; she greets guests at the reception, and she dances the traditional dance with her husband or escort. In more modern weddings, Moms will also dance with their daughter if a father was not present.

Moms also can be quite useful in staying in touch with the florist regarding bouquet choices, centerpieces, venue decor and more.  Our Wedding Specialists are experts in the Art of Floral Expression and the Team at Mission Viejo Florist would be honored to assist you in creating the wedding of your dreams.  Call us to set an appointment today!

True but Strange Wedding Traditions

wedding traditionsThe human desire for continuity and tradition is deeply ingrained. We tend to believe things, and do things, because that is the way it always was, often not knowing the origins of the behavior. So many things that we associate with a wedding day actually originated with superstitions and medieval belief systems – from what the bride wears to what she carries, from who sees her before the wedding to who attends the wedding.

 

For instance, in many ancient cultures it was believed that a bride was particularly vulnerable to evil spirits. Wearing a veil was meant to offer her protection from these spirits that may wish to do her harm. Veils were popularized in Roman culture and later adopted by the British; but they also date back to ancient Jewish ritual where it was considered a sign of chastity. The groom often was not allowed to see the face of his bride until after the ceremony, although sometimes the groom was allowed to verify it was his bride before covering her face for the remainder of the ceremony.

 

The idea of bridesmaids and groomsmen has a less happy origin as well. The bridal party was originally a protective detail; as it was not uncommon for the weddings to be crashed by marauders and pillagers, and the bride carried off as bounty. The people surrounding the couple were meant to prevent such a tragedy. Similarly, sometimes it was “necessary” for the groom to kidnap his bride from a neighboring village, necessitating the “best man” – his strongest fighting ally – to assist him. Of course, the tradition of including a bridal party has a much less insidious meaning in contemporary times; these people represent love, support and friendship on the special day.

 

Flowers have long played a role in weddings, although in the past they were considered more as good luck charms than décor and adornment. Orange blossoms were popular as they represented chastity and honor; roses and snowdrops stood for love and were often chosen. Today, although flowers are most often chosen for color, style and preference rather than for their traditional meanings, they are still an integral part of virtually every wedding – from grand cathedral to courthouse, it is rare to see a bride without a bouquet.

 

At Mission Viejo Florists, we believe in traditions – whether holding onto old ones, or creating new ones! The beauty of getting married in 2016 is that you have so many choices and options available to you, and we have helped hundreds of area couples create the wedding of their dreams. What does your perfect wedding look like? We will help you get there with gorgeous floral arrangements, bridal bouquets and ceremony flowers.

Tall Wedding Centerpieces are Trending for 2016

wedding centerpieces2016 wedding planning is well underway, and the experts are reporting that many of the popular themes from 2015 weddings are still trending. Although the goal of every wedding is romance, this year’s ceremonies seem to especially emphasize a return to traditional romantic nuance. Muted color schemes – such as blush pinks and gray blues – hearken back to the days of old fashioned wedding ceremonies. Enchanting illumination, via candles or a string of Edison bulbs, supplies glowing ambient light.

 

There are also trends in floral options this year – pastels are replacing vibrant blooms, bouquets are not all the same, but complementary; and centerpieces are soaring to new heights. Tall centerpieces are deserving of all the attention given to them this year – their impressive stature makes a beautiful floral statement that is both dazzling and dramatic. And while high centerpieces are all the rage, they are showing up at wedding receptions in a wide variety of designs and styles.

 

There are many ways to create a tall centerpiece all your own. Choosing flowers such as calla lilies or gladiolus will deliver the elegant height; adding decorative branches draped with vintage candles add inventive lighting. A tall glass cylinder with a floral arrangement perched on top can be filled with floating wildflowers or exotics like orchids; metallic candlesticks can support flowers high above the table.

 

Tall centerpieces work well in any setting and with any theme; but they are especially impressive in large spaces, drawing the eye up to the open air – be it vaulted ceiling or blue sky.When it comes to  wedding flowers, the experienced floral designers at Mission Viejo Florist are happy to consult with you to discuss the style that will represent and bring your vision to life.  Whether you follow the trend or decide to go your own way, your bouquets and centerpieces for your 2016 wedding are destined to be stunning when designed by our award winning designers.

Mission Viejo’s Favorite Wedding Flowers of 2015

wedding flowersWith 2016 upon us, we are looking forward to helping many new couples with their wedding flowers. But we couldn’t resist taking just one more look back at two of our favorite couples from the past, and highlight how these couples utilized stunning color palettes and beautiful blooms to create a memorable and striking setting.

 

It all begins with the bride, and these ladies were certainly stunning! Angela’s bouquet featured yellow and orange roses and calla lilies; while Kelly’s lavender roses with purple accents showed off in regal splendor. Both bright palettes were prefect for outdoors, and looked amazing against the white of the wedding gown.

 

wedding flowers wedding flowers

 

Angela and Ryan carried the theme through to their ceremony with coordinating aisle flowers and an amazing grand arch abundantly covered in orange asters and yellow lilies. Kelly and Mike chose a more traditional arrangement, with lavender, purple and magenta blooms set on ornate pillars flanking their ceremony.

wedding flowers
wedding flowers

 

When planning your wedding, come into Mission Viejo Florist for expert advice on designing bouquets, centerpieces, aisle and altar flowers and venue décor. We have the experience and the inspiration you need – be it sophisticated or rustic; contemporary or vintage. Mission Viejo Florist is your best choice for an amazing wedding.

Weddings for the New Year

new year engagementHappy New Year! If you are among the many folks who got engaged over the holidays, the new year means the beginning of planning for your big day – which can be exciting and a little intimidating, all at once. So what are the most popular trends for 2016 weddings?

 

  • Personality Plus – couples are deciding to create a celebration that reflects their personal flair and tastes. Formal affairs are often replaced with comfortable settings and non-traditional locations, which takes a lot of pressure off the planning – and the event.
  • Romance Rules – romantic illumination and soft, vintage floral colors are popular as couples move into 2016. Candlelight and hanging bulbs remain popular lighting elements for weddings this year.
  • Meaningful Menus – couples are choosing to share their heritage through food, with appetizers and family style foods that reflect their cultural background. These foods are often colorful, interesting and spark conversation. If there are traditional drinks that compliment the food, serve to your guests as well.
  • Fun Festivities – cookies and milk or an ice cream sundae station provide desserts that are fun, portable and encourage mingling and conversation.
  • Floral Freedom – the trendiest colors are blush and matte as opposed to the vibrant brights of recent years. Matching centerpieces and bouquets are giving way to eclectic, complementary arrangements that are similar but not uniform, giving a more natural, fresh-picked feel to the room.

 

If you are looking to create a wedding that reflects your style as well as gives off the newest relaxed tones and ambiance, stop into Mission Viejo Florist. Our expert florists are ready to help you with all your bridal bouquet and floral arrangement needs. Congratulations on your new engagement – let’s get to planning!

Winter Weddings- Using Ivory and Grey

winter weddingWhile winter palettes are often more subdued than the other seasons, the soft elegance of winter gives couples an opportunity to utilize one of the more sophisticated color schemes – ivory and gray. Although at first thought this may not seem vibrant enough for a wedding celebration, it is perfect to create an enchanting wintry setting that your guests will not soon forget. Ivory and gray is vintage in feel, and allows brides and grooms to play with metallics from pewter to chrome.

 

There are many ways brides are personalizing this interesting choice of colors for their own event and wedding venue. Silvery gray flowing bridesmaids gowns wrapped in posh faux-fur stoles look luxurious and cozy; while thematic icicle lights line walkways and entrances to accentuate the winter vibe. For bouquets and head pieces, ivory flowers such as hydrangea, roses and spider mums – as well as berries of all kinds – can be airbrushed with a frosty silvery gray tinge, which makes the florals appear snow-kissed and fresh picked from the winter woods. To your classic ivory bouquet, add silver and gray eucalyptus and ivies as accents.

 

In the venue, tree branches spray painted gray and adorned with white glimmering lights creates a snowflake inspired centerpiece (or floor standing display) that also lends romantic illumination. Add pewter candelabras and place settings to complete the look. One of the hottest cake trends this season is an all white cake with silver accessories; the frosted berries or blooms from your floral arrangements can also adorn this cake beautifully.

 

Although Mission Viejo rarely sees snow, you can create a dreamy winter wonderland utilzing elements of ivory and grey. For more ideas for your bouquets, centerpieces, and wedding flowers, come into Mission Viejo Florist to discuss your vision with Nick St. Clair, our wedding and event coordinator.  Let our team help bring to life your perfect winter wedding.