5. Hydrangeas

5. Hydrangeas

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With its big bushy head and intense shades of pink, blue, burgundy, and purple, it's no wonder that the hydrangea represented "vanity" in the Victorian language of flowers. One of the most popular varieties changes in color as it grows from bubble-gum pink to sky blue, depending on the acid level of the soil.

photo by ROBIN PROCTOR

 A stem or two of this moderately priced, scentless shrub flower helps fill out arrangements and bouquets, and a few sprigs make a charming boutonniere. You'll find the hydrangea in white and shades of green, pink, burgundy, and blue.

4. Lily of the Valley

4. Lily of the Valley

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With bell-shape florets dangling from a thin stem, the lily of the valley is sometimes called "the ladder to heaven." The fresh, perfumed scent from its tiny flowers is unmistakable. In Norse mythology, the flower is linked to Ostara, the goddess of springtime, and while most plentiful during this season, it remains available -- and very expensive -- most of the year.

photo by TANJA LIPPERT PHOTOGRAPHY

So while a fistful of lily of the valley might be your dream, a more affordable alternative may be to use just a few stems to infuse a bouquet or centerpiece with its wonderful fragrance. Most people know of the white variety, but lily of the valley also comes in a very rare rosy-pink.

3. Calla Lily

3. Calla Lily

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Also known as the arum lily, this elegant, trumpet-shaped blossom originated in Africa and symbolizes "magnificent beauty" in the language of flowers.

photo by SHIPRA PANOSIAN

The calla lily's distinctive form has been depicted in Art Nouveau and Art Deco works, in addition to twentieth-century photography. Two types are commonly available: a large-headed variety with a long, smooth stem and suitable for tall arrangements or presentation-style bouquets, and a miniature version ideal for nosegays and boutonnieres. Creamy ivory is the most popular color, but calla lilies also come in yellow, orange, mauve-pink, and dark purple.

2. Tulip

2. Tulip

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Although it's most often associated with the Netherlands, this flower is actually a native of Persia. Representing "consuming love" and "happy years," the tulip can be a meaningful wedding choice. The flowers are grown in a wide range of colors, including white and cream; pastels like pink, yellow, and peach; and vibrant hues like magenta, red, and purple. Available during much of the year, the most common tulips are very affordable, though rare varieties can be expensive. 

photo by JESSICA MILLER PHOTOGRAPHY

The versatile tulip can enhance both elegant wedding settings and more casual venues, and work well in almost any permutation -- from bouquets to boutonnieres to table arrangements. Three main varieties are commonly used: Dutch tulips (typically seen at neighborhood florist shops and in gardens), French tulips (expensive and elegant, with extra-long stems and large tapered blooms), and parrot tulips (noted for their ruffled, striped petals in intense colors).

1. Rose

1. Rose

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Long considered a symbol of beauty and love, the rose figures into many myths and fairy tales. Romantic writers and poets have used the flower as a metaphor for emotion, beauty, passion, and true love throughout the ages. An all-star in the world of weddings, the rose is far from boring, particularly when it comes to color -- the rose is available in solid colors and bicolor varieties, and there are striped roses and tipped roses as well. 

photo by VANESSA PREZIOSE PHOTOGRAPHY

More than three thousand varieties of roses are grown commercially, many available year-round and that are surprisingly affordable. And though roses are associated with luxurious fragrance, not every rose is scented. Three main types are likely candidates for your wedding flowers: hybrid tea roses (the classic, uniformly-shaped commercial roses generally seen at your local florist), spray roses (a rose with five to ten small heads on each stem and a "natural, garden-grown" look), and garden roses (expensive, old-fashioned varieties with bushy, open heads and delicious scents).

January Beach Wedding

January Beach Wedding

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Summer is perfect for a beach wedding!  And there are so many wonderful beaches in Tasmania. For this January wedding the bride wanted colourful flowers.  

Warm neutral coloured dresses meant that I could play with as much colour in the bouquets as I liked!  

Red and orange Banksias (B. Ericifolia and Occidentalis) teamed up with red and orange Leucospermums (L. Scarlet Ribbons and Fountain). Pink Ice Proteas and Brunia Albiflora were also used.  I added pops of yellow with Helichrysm, and pops of purple with Hebe.  Leucadendron Pisa with lime green bracts and silvery cones, were great to add too.

The bride's bouquet had a wonderful orange Calla lily as a focal point and lots of Tasmanian Myrtle beech foliage.  

Bright and beautiful on the beach.

The bridesmaids bouquets each had a rich yellow Calla lily.

I loved playing with the bright colours. 

Calla Lilies are such beautiful summer flowers.

And always such a treat to see some photos of the bouquet where it was made to be! 

Corsages for the mums had yellow Helichrysm, purple Hebe, and the pearly white cones of the Pisa Leucadendron, backed with Myrtle Beech foliage.  

A similar recipe for the groom included some blue Risdon Peppermint foliage.

The colourful bouquets stand out in the natural beauty of the beach location.  It was lovely to be involved, as always.  

Beach Wedding - Seven Reasons

Beach Wedding - Seven Reasons

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I am sure that you don't need any convincing, but just in case you have your doubts, lets look at some of the pro's and cons of beach weddings.

Seaside Wedding
1. The seaside is certainly one of the most beautiful and romantic venues for a ceremony and/or reception. You have one of the most spectacular settings that nature can offer.

2. If chosen right, they can be very secluded and intimate, and therefore all the more special. Oh, don't forget to choose a new beach wedding dress.

3. It is the definitive "relaxed" and informal wedding. If you cannot stand the idea of a stiff and formal event, then this is definitely for you. This is exactly why it has become trendy to wed on the beach. More couples opt for the relaxed feel of a wedding on the beach as opposed to the often very formal traditional church ceremony.

4. When you are not so restricted by tradition you are free to personalize your special day with elements true to yourselves.

5. Your seaside wedding or beach themed celebration can range from absolutely informal to semi-formal all the while retaining the carefree and fun ambiance that made you fall in love with the idea in the first place. Want a totally chilled BBQ? No problem. How about a classy cocktail party? Totally appropriate! All up to you. So, maybe, such simple elegant wedding dress can help.

 

6. More economical. They can often work out to be more economical since they are often also destination weddings. This means that fewer guests will be able to come and therefore it will cost you less in the end.

7. By having your wedding on a gorgeous stretch of shoreline in an exotic location it makes this important step in your life so much more memorable, not only for you, but also for your guests.

I am sure you have had a walk on the beach when the sun was just starting the set. You soaked up the magic and romance of this twilight moment with the sound of sea and the gulls in the background and a light breeze lifting your hair. If this is what you would call a perfect moment, then there is no better place for you to exchange your vows with the one you love than on a beautiful beach.

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