Irish Wedding Information
Wedding Bouquet- Real or Silk?


Depending on the number of attendants, the colors in your wedding, the time of year, and your budgetary constraints, choosing the flowers for your wedding bouquet can be one of the most fun tasks on your wedding schedule. You must have the color scheme and the season of the ceremony chosen before you make an appointment with your florist.

Real or Silk

Most florists offer both real and silk flowers, in an assortment of styles and prices. If you arent pleased with what you see, ask about designing your own wedding bouquet. It is also possible to mix real and silk flowers in the same bouquet. Generally speaking, a silk bouquet obviously lasts longer and retains its freshness, which is nice, especially if you will be displaying it next to your wedding album or on a shelf next to your wedding portrait. Even if your wedding bouquet is silk, the florist should provide you with a smaller, real bouquet for tossing at the reception.

Ribbons and Bows

Not all brides get excited over choosing the wedding bouquet and flowers. If you dont know a pansy from a daffodil, consider choosing a wedding color scheme and asking the florist to use flowers that match and to decorate with lots of ribbons and bows. Ribbons and bows can make or break a bouquet, especially if you are trying to please mothers and mothers-in-law who are looking for large, showy bouquets. In addition, adding ribbons and bows sometimes lowers the cost of a bouquet, because not as many flowers are needed.

Budgetary Constraints

Silk flowers can cost considerably less than real flowers, if you are creative. Silk flower arranging classes are given at almost all craft stores. In addition, many of the stores will actually create the wedding bouquet for you at a far lower price than your florist. If, however, you are ordering both silk and real bouquets, you may choose to stay with the same florist for consistency. Determine how much of the budget is going toward silk bouquets and do some comparison-shopping.

Bring Samples

If you want blue and white silk roses with decorative ribbon in your silk wedding bouquet, ask your florist for samples of the ribbon and other bows or lace, and take them to the arts and crafts store. Ask if they can create such bouquets, and if they can be ready when you need them. Be sure you leave yourself plenty of time prior to the wedding date in case they are not as you anticipated. If things need to be changed or fixed, you need time to have them corrected. Also, make sure everything you are requesting is written down on the order form if they dont do it, and you cant prove they were supposed to, you might find yourself in a frustrating situation.

Another symbol sometimes seen on Celtic wedding rings is that of the Celtic Tree of Life.

Wedding Planner Info
Instead of expensive wedding shoes, consider dressing up your ensemble with a pair of embroidered or textured silk stockings; theyll show when your gown is lifted to retrieve the garter, and will be much more noticeable. The best bet for the bride for a beach wedding would be a light, flowing summer dress a great example would be a simple, yet tasteful elegant linen dress by Calvin Klein. It will relax you, and leave you feeling invigorated and ready to tackle the world, or at least the wedding part of it. If, for instance, your father and his new wife have paid for the reception, and you want to thank them (somewhere) on the program, the back cover is a perfect place. Some are even using Celtic themes and Celtic wedding rings in their ceremonies, as a gentle nod to the romantic ways of old. No matter when your wedding is taking place, it can be a very stressful time for any bride.

Be unique; find a gown that will speak to the guests; one that will tell them who you are.
Styling the brides wedding dress after an authentic design of the Renaissance is a great wedding idea. Comic scenes, nontraditional couplings, and highly stylized sculptures have taken the place of the cute but dull miniature bride and groom. Thinking ahead also provides you with the most options for dates, venues, and vendors, so as soon as youre ready, jump right in. During the actual ceremony, the bride and groom move forward to the unity candle and light the large pillar candle from the flames of the two separate tapers. Getting advice from your mother or best friend is a great thing to do, but remember that you should see your summer wedding dress as the only choice that was worth your time.