Inspiration

Inspiration can come from many places. A trip you took to Hawaii as a kid may have left you loving coconuts and hibiscus and wanting to incorporate those into your reception. A piece of fabric at Hobby Lobby or your grandmother's china pattern. Anything and everything can be inspiration. One of our couples this month met at a Starbucks, though neither of them are big coffee fans, and that inspired many things incorporated into their reception.

Since meeting at Starbucks had left both of them changed forever, Bill planned a surprise proposal for Tosha at the same Starbucks. Starbucks gave him special permission to lead Tosha to their special table with a trail of rose petals. As she sat in the chair where she had sat on their first meeting he got down on one knee and asked her to marry him. Another customer in the shop caught the whole thing on video! For the reception they wanted coffee beans in all the vases, at the base of the flowers and encompassing pillar candles. The groom's cake was even a giant Starbucks cup!

Let your life inspire you.

Flower budget

The price of flowers can depend on where the flower is coming from as it may or may not be in season near you as well as how difficult it is to grow, etc. Most brides search the Internet and magazines for photos of bouquets that they love then take the pictures into a florist, unaware of what the cost might be. Here are a few tips on ways you can save on your flower budget:

• Downsize your containers. If you originally had a vase requiring 20 roses to give the right effect, consider choosing a smaller vase that needs only 5 roses. Also if you love peonies or garden roses (we love the "fluffy" look these two have), you'll definitely want a smaller container. These flowers are big and usually don't take much to give the look you want.
• A trend that has been in for the past couple of years is really cost effective: "going green." You can use ferns, ivy, eucalyptus, curly willow sticks, and many other plants that will save you money and give more of that natural look to your centerpieces.
• Try not to get hung up on a certain flower that costs $10 a head or getting attached to the idea of traditional centerpieces with 50 stems each. If your florist is good they'll be able to help you find a flower that's similiar to the one you want but for a lower cost. Daisies are great because they come in lots of colors, are inexpensive, and can be arranged in several different ways.
• Try to limit your centerpieces to have 1-3 flowers each. If your arrangements have more than that, then chances are your florist is having to order more than he or she needs which is going to cost you more. See if they can use the same flowers in your bouquets or in other arrangements used to decorate at the ceremony and/or reception site.
• If you want a variety of flowers you may want to consider using shorter vases instead of tall. They tend to have smaller openings and will require less flowers to make a pretty impression. If you love the look of tall flowers like hydrangeas or gladiolas, tall vases are great and curly willow, feathers, etc. can always be added to fill the space.

At The Hamilton Event Center we include all of your centerpieces so you don't have to worry about contacting an outside florist to bring things in. We have several different sizes of vases for you to choose from, and the flower possibilities are just as varied.

Flowers vs. The Dress

Most likely, as a bride, you've picked out your dress before you've even considered what type of bouquet you're going to carry down the aisle. Here are some tips for helping you determine what size and style of bouquet will look best with your dress.

• If your dress is simpler and less-elaborate such as a column dress or is knee-length with an A-line a smaller bouquet is actually best. Also, if you're petite, a smaller bouquet won't overwhelm you or your dress. If you're a tall bride and your dress has a more intricate bodice a small bouquet will allow for that part of the dress to be shown off.

• If your dress is more formal and longer or a mermaid-style with an elaborate skirt, a medium-sized bouquet is ideal. This allows for more colors and types of flowers to be incorporated than in a small bouquet. 

• Again, if your gown is more simple a larger bouquet looks best. Also if you're taller, plus-sized, or have an apple figure, larger bouquets help make the waist appear smaller and create balance.

When choosing flowers for your bouquet, think of the style of wedding you're wanting. Are you going for vintage, glamour, country chic, eco-friendly? This will help you, and your florist, determine which direction to head in when it comes to flowers. At The Hamilton Event Center we want your wedding and reception to 100% reflect you and your style which is why we allow you to choose the centerpieces and to customize the bouquets so no two weddings are the same.