Weddings come with wedding events like wedding receptions, bridal teas, bridesmaid luncheons, and the desire to decorate beautifully without spending a fortune (after all, the wedding itself is a significant expense for everyone involved).
One great way to cut costs is to DIY your floral designs. Yes, seriously. It's as simple as finding a beautiful container that you can turn into a vase. Then let your creativity flow.
I worked with a floral designer to round up four of this season's trendy decor items that can double as vases when not in use. At the end of the day, a container is a container, and to me, if it can hold water, it can also hold flowers.
Design “failures” tend to occur just as frequently as successes, and this is especially evident in four trend items that are all antique: an oversized glass water jug, a julep cup (Wedgewood, specifically), a champagne bucket, and a flower frog.
These trendy items just couldn't be relegated to the cupboard, so after two trips to the floral section of the grocery store with no luck, I finally contacted my favorite florist, Marija Babic of La Fête in Houston, and asked, “What would actually go with these items?” Eagerly collecting these items, I rushed over to Babic for help.
Oversized Glass Jug: For the oversized pitcher, we chose bright yellow Blooming Forsythia, which will add a pop of color to any space. “This arrangement perfectly captures the vibrant essence of spring's renewal,” says Babic. “The contrast between the delicate golden flowers and the simple elegance of the glass jug creates a stunning centerpiece with a fresh yet timeless beauty.”
Flower frogs: While beautiful, flower frogs can be problematic. Their size restrictions make picking flowers a chore rather than a joyous one. No one wants to play roulette with stem size, but what is guaranteed to always be fit for purpose?
“I chose pink Scabiosa and white Nigella (Love in a Mist) in a simple crystal vase that holds eight stems. Symbolizing love and delicate beauty, these charming flowers fit the vase perfectly, adding a touch of whimsy without stealing the spotlight from the artistic elegance,” Babic points out.
A common mistake is to always choose flowers in bloom – the greenery, seed pods and more delicate flowers are often overlooked, yet still have a clear presence.
Champagne bucket: “I created a whimsical French country feel with orange Buddleja globosa, Nigella (Love in a Mist), and Solomio dianthus arranged in a vintage silver champagne bucket. These flowers radiate vibrant color, delicate beauty, and timeless appeal,” she says.
“While creating this arrangement, I imagined myself preparing an intimate dinner in the French countryside, getting ready to entertain my most beloved family and friends. It's like taking a delightful stroll through a flower-filled meadow, picking flowers to create a casual, yet sophisticated centerpiece, and letting my creative imagination run wild.”
Julep Cups: Texas isn't Kentucky, so locals rarely have a need for delicate julep cups. The beauty of these little treasures is that they're so versatile: They can be used unobtrusively on a nightstand, in a powder bath, or anywhere a delicate placement would be appreciated.
“I arranged pink chrysanthemums, which symbolize joy and brightness, and white Solomio dianthus, which represent pure love and grace, in small Wedgwood cups,” the florist says. “These flowers add a beautiful splash of color and elegance, making them easy to beautify any space.”
Who knows. Maybe DIY bridal flower arranging will spark new passions and opportunities, as it did for Babik.
Babic, a professional in the oil and gas industry by trade, says her “burning passion to create something special and make dreams come true with flowers” led her to start her own company, whose name, La Fête, means “to celebrate” in French.
“It's not just about the flowers and the arrangements, it's about creating delicate masterpieces that capture the spirit of special moments,” she says.
—
Emily Cotton is a Houston-based home and interior design writer.