Cake decorations that feature candied flowers combine the beauty of real blossoms with the deliciousness of sugary sweets. And the technique is easy.

Sugar-Frosted Flowers & Cup Cakes | Image by Christies Corner

Sugar-Coated Flowers Are in Again

Decorating with sugar-frosted flowers isn’t new. The practice was popular as early as the 18th century. Today, however, interest has been renewed with the popularity of bakery-inspired specialties. And for anyone who already loves flowers, the combination is that much more irresistible.

Flower Choices Are Abundant

Most people’s first impulse with a rose is to sniff it—not to bite it. But roses, along with a wide and abundant variety of flowers, have a delicate flavor that pairs well with a sugary coating. Specifically, edible flowers include: calendula, carnation, chrysanthemum, English daisy, gardenia, gladiolus, hibiscus, hollyhock, honeysuckle, impatien, jasmine, lavender, lemon verbena, lilac, marigold, nasturtium, pansy, primrose, snapdragon and violet.

In purchasing posies, ask your florist for organically grown plants. If your florist doesn’t have pesticide-free flowers in stock, he or she can special-order them from farms that follow chemically free practices. You can also find edible flowers in many specialty grocers’ produce departments or online.

Sugar-Frosted Flowers for Weddings | Image by Crystallized Flower Co

Frosting Flowers Is Easy

The supplies required for creating crystallized concoctions are simple: egg whites, sugar (regular, colored or superfine) and a small paint brush.

Step 1:

Daisies & Roses | Image by Candied Flowers

Dip the brush into the egg whites. Holding the blossom just under the flower head, lightly brush egg white onto each petal and all other parts onto which you want the sugar to adhere. Don’t use too much egg white or the petals will become heavy and droop.

Step 2:

Hold the flower over a plate and sprinkle the sugar on it. Recycle the excess sugar that falls onto the plate as it collects.

Step 3:

Place each blossom onto a flat surface, such as a cookie sheet. Allow the flowers to dry, for overnight or longer, depending on the size of the blossom.

Step 4:

To store, stack the dried blossoms in an air-tight container with sheets of baking parchment between each layer. While stored flowers can last for up to two months, they will taste and look their best if you use them within several days of creation.

Cup-Cakes & Sugar-Frosted Flowers | Image by Crystallized Flower Co

Create a Floral Artwork

Use your sugar-frosted flowers to decorate cakes, cupcakes and other desserts, as well as in high-end cocktails for special occasions such as a Mother’s Day brunch, bridal showers and weddings. And be prepared for requests to make some for your friends, because the unique beauty of these crystal creations is likely to inspire lots of interest.

Written by

Gina Kellogg

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Related posts:

1. Create Your Own Unique Valentine’s Day Flower Arrangement
2. Unique Ideas for a Wedding with No Flowers
3. Organic Flowers: The Greener Way

Spooky spider webs, black flowers, creepy creatures, ghostly ghouls … Yep, it’s time to get your “scare” on and get in the Halloween spirit!

If you are among the many planning Halloween parties – whether you organize an elaborate Halloween horror show – (popular among serious celebrants) or arrange a relaxed gathering with lighthearted Halloween crafts or ghoulish Halloween party games – you can affordably create an ethereal theme.

Creative Homemade Lanterns

We’ve focused on providing some Halloween recipes that will allow you to create budget-friendly holiday fun. These Halloween ideas are easy and mainly require items you already have – no need to spend a lot at that temporary Halloween store at the mall. Other ideas involve affordable items you would likely buy anyway or can reuse for future projects. (And, okay, we do offer up a couple of suggestions for spooky centerpieces that cost a bit more – but these otherworldly options will give your Halloween party theme oomph!)

#1  Halloween Crafts for Candy-Corn-Chic Style

Candy Corn Vase | Photo by Paula Deen

You may have seen a holiday flower arrangement for sale with a candy corn-filled vase and matching mix of orange and yellow blossoms. If you’ve got the budget, call your florist and order one for your party. You’ll free up time to focus on other tasks and ensure you get a professionally designed focal point for your festivities.

If cash is limited, create one of the Halloween flower arrangements yourself. To duplicate the look, use a clear-glass container already hiding in your cupboard. Place a smaller container of about equal height inside your larger clear-glass vase. (The smaller container need not be clear but must be waterproof.) Fill the inside vase with fresh water and flower preservative. Carefully pour candy corn between the two containers to fill the space. Add orange, yellow and white flowers – the colors of the ubiquitous candy corn.

#2  Green Halloween: A New Holiday Trend

Want to follow the reduce-reuse-recycle theme this Halloween? Have some time to get extra creative? Create some funky flower vases using old soda, beer or wine bottles. Simply paint the exteriors with white, yellow and orange spray paint to duplicate the stacked colors in a candy corn piece. Then fill each vase with a single stem of red gerbera, yellow dahlia, orange aster or another favorite flower. Line them up along a windowsill or ledge, stack them on a stairway or set them together for a centerpiece.

Orange Gerbera Daisies are perfect for Halloween

#3   Pumpkin Crafts: Carve out a Halloween Vase

Pumpkin Basket | Photo by Martha Stewart

Kids and adults alike adore pumpkins. So focus on the unique varieties of gourds available today – smooth, knobby, variegated and more – to create natural vases (which also hold over well as Thanksgiving decorations in American households). Martha Stewart ingeniously carves pumpkins into basket shapes that she fills with burgundy roses, kale and protea. (She recommends choosing a lopsided pumpkin for this Halloween craft. Draw a handle that extends over the top of the pumpkin with the stem in the area you will carve away. Cut along your markings, remove the pumpkin’s interior flesh and seeds, set a waterproof container or floral foam inside, and insert flowers to create your arrangement.)

If you prefer something longer lasting, choose from the variety of manmade pumpkin baskets available and consider using mums instead of fresh flowers.

For a more high-style look, Stewart pares out the interior of a white pumpkin, fills it with white dahlias and places it on a white cake stand. Halloween ooh-la-la!

Here are a few more great Halloween flower arrangement ideas.

Halloween Decoration Ideas With Spookier Themes

If you are planning a party for adults or older kids, opt for some nail-biting accessories. Here are a few suggestions for fearsome fun:

#4  Halloween Party Food? Not! These Posies Are Poisonous!

Poison Bottle Vase | Photo by Oliver Gruener

Want to continue the recycling theme? Create an apothecary of lethal liquids.

Soak the labels off some bottles. Cut a black-paper label for each. Using white chalk, mark an “XXX” on one label to represent poison. On another, draw a skull and crossbones. Write the word “Poison” on the third. You can also download images, size them to fit your bottles and print them. Affix a label and insert an individual flower stem in each. (Choose anemically pale white flowers to complement the deathly theme.)

Then group the bottles for a focal point or line them up to show off each caustic caution.

#5   Black Flowers Create Ghostly Glamour

Black flowers don’t exist in the natural world, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find them. And it doesn’t mean you have to turn to artificial flowers. Instead, use dye or spray paint to create a look that Mother Nature can’t.

Black Roses are perfect for Halloween

Dye: Esprit Growers in California has created “Twilight” black roses. These dyed-black beauties offer an unearthly look that is pure gothic glamour. Call your florist to order some.

Or create your own Black Flowers (choose a light-colored flower, such as white carnations or hydrangeas; add dye or ink to the water; cut stems at an angle and insert into the water; let stand and allow the stems to uptake the color to the flower head). For more specific instructions, read this article: 3 Easy Techniques to Create Black Flowers.

Spray paint: Floral spray paints can give you the Goth look, too. Your craft or hobby store sells colors ranging from flat black to dark blackberry and ghostly gray. (Your florist can also order flower paint from local wholesalers for you.)

#6  Halloween Ideas for Eerie Embellishments

Accessorizing your bouquets is another option for enhancing your haunted-holiday tabletops. Stretch faux cobwebs over a bouquet of red roses; choose a black urn or vase for an air of macabre. Or sprinkle plastic spiders across the top of a bouquet of cream-colored roses for stark drama. Allow rubber snakes to slither among blossoms of orange and crimson chrysanthemums.

Flower Arrangement with Spider Web | Photo by Will Folsom

Halloween Party Ideas for Kids

If you don’t want to build a full-fledged Halloween town that will give little tourists sleepless nights, no worries. You can create a funky-spirited celebration that foregoes the traditional spiders, snakes, bones and blood. Here are some clever ideas to consider:

#7  Crafts for Kids

Kids love to help decorate, so give them the task of making some cute creatures that they can insert into your Halloween bouquets. Gather up a supply of pipe cleaners, wiggly eyes, paint and glue. Then, show the kids how to construct the Halloween crafts. Curl the pipe cleaner bodies or bases around wooden picks or straws and nestle the mini monsters into your flower arrangements.

Spider, Pumpkin & Black Cat Crafts for Kids

#8  Monster Hands Craft for Kids

Want some more Halloween crafts for the kids? Show them how to make gruesome monster hands. Whip up some green gelatin and spoon it into latex surgical gloves. Tie the wrists closed, paint on black fingernails with black marker and let kids place the plastic appendages into flower planters and other containers in your home.

#9   A Halloween Idea for Some Spooky Chic

If you want to create a more low-key but ultra-stylish look for your Halloween get-together, add subtle touches of black and orange to your tablescapes. Wrap low, white ceramic vases with wide black ribbon and layer a white, slightly narrower ribbon on top. Add a thinner ribbon in orange on top of the white. Fill the containers with orange roses in low, rounded masses. Placemats and other accessories that pick up hints of orange and black complete the look.

Witch Costume Idea | Photo by Bosela

Once you’ve decided on your Halloween decorations, you have one more chore, of course: Considering all your Halloween costume ideas. You could follow the crowds and choose a trendy Snooki or Lady Gaga Halloween costume. Or you could save that money (for more flowers!) and join the frugalistas with a sense of humor. You know the ones; they never buy costumes. Instead, they create their own cleverly funny Halloween costumes (like the guy in regular clothes with the sign that says, “Nudist on strike”).

Then again, I can probably scare my guests silly simply by not wearing any makeup and adding a witch’s hat.

Hmm… I think that could be among my best Halloween costumes yet! Broooo ha ha!

Written by

Gina B. Kellogg

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Related posts:

1. Extraordinary Halloween Floral Arrangement Ideas
2. 3 Easy Techniques to Create Black Flowers
3. Create Your Own Unique Valentine’s Day Flower Arrangement

For these brides, here are some ideas for non-flower/ flowerless centerpieces and bouquets:

Goldfish & Gerbera Centerpiece

Table Centerpieces: A Fish Focus

For a fin-tastic centerpiece, use Goldfish or Siamese fighting fish (also known as bettas) or any fish that suits your color scheme. Fish are available in a wide selection of bright and exotic colors. But do understand that this choice is not as simple as putting fish in a bowl. For example, with some fish, such as the Siamese fighting fish, you can’t mix more than one in the same container. (Male bettas are beautiful but aggressive. They can mix with other fish but not with each other.)

You can purchase fish from your local pet store or breeder, and then give them to guests as gifts after the wedding. Or you may even be able to “rent” the fish from the retailer and then return them after the wedding.

Floral décor, is completely optional, you can mix your fishbowls with coordinating glassware of floating gerberas or other flowers.

Preparing and Caring for your Fish:

You will need:

1. A bucket, dechlorinating drops, fish food, oxygen tablets and a small fish net.
2. Mix dechlorinating drops with fresh water (follow instructions on the packaging) to remove chlorine from the water, which can kill the fish.
3. Fill each container half full of water from the bag containing each fish and half with the dechlorinated water.
4. Add oxygen tablets to each bowl.
5. Use the net to catch the fish and place them into the fishbowls. (Don’t use your hand to catch the fish or you can damage their fins.)
6. Feed the fish a small amount of food just before the wedding and then again after the wedding.

Betta | Blue Malawi | Red Siamese Fighting Fish

Crystals and Candles

Candelabra with Candles and Beads

If your guest tables will be lavishly furnished with embossed table cloths, runners and gifts, focus on crystals, candles and candelabras rather than elaborate flower arrangements for your table decor. Consider simple dessert dishes as an elegant finishing touch as we did at a recent wedding. You can use any flower of your choice: gerberas, orchids or lilies, for example. Add some ivy, which is a symbol of fidelity, friendship and affection. Or add in some baby’s breath, a sign of sincerity and innocence. By combining flowers with some texture, you create table centerpieces that are not simply beautiful but also meaningful.

TIP: When using lilies such as Casablancas, St. Josephs or Stargazers, remove the stamens from each bloom. Doing so will prolong the life of each flower, can prevent allergies and will eliminate staining of the flower or tablecloth.

Fruity Florals

Fruit Centerpieces | Gerberas & Lemons

The bright colors of fruit beautifully complement wedding color themes today. And they can work well with flowers, if you want an extra dash of color. For example, we placed shiny, juicy-green apples in a cylinder vase with three or four bright-colored gerberas tied with ribbon.

See this article for more Gerbera Centrepiece Ideas

Or use lemons or limes for a citrus-centered theme. (With a pinch of salt and tequila, your guests can use them to get the party started, too!)

Main Table Arrangements: Mirrored & Modern

Mirrored Modern Bridal Table Arrangement

Instead of turning to the long, flat, traditional “coffin-spray” types of floral arrangements for the bridal party’s table, jazz up the décor with a modern feel using mirrored boxes and silver boat dishes. For smaller main tables we combined white roses and baby’s breath with funky orange gerberas in the shiny, sophisticated boxes. For a larger bridal party, with a longer table, we had lacey runners beneath each arrangement rounded off with votives, candles and individual lily blooms.

Modern Bridal Table Arrangement

A Buttoned-Up Bridal Bouquet

Bridal Bouquet with Buttons

Bridal Bouquet with Buttons

A bridal bouquet with no flowers? At one wedding, our bride refused to have flowers in her bouquet. We tried to convince her to add just a few, but she didn’t bite. We did, however, persuade her to include some roses in the bridesmaid’s bouquet. The result turned out to be something quite special and unique that used a mix of fantastical buttons and crystals. This could be a project you can start long before your wedding day, collecting buttons, beads and other trinkets far in advance. Then, like our bride, you will easily be incorporating the “something old” tradition into your wedding; for this bride, that came in the form of using some buttons which came from her granny. No matter what unusual items you include, you’ll definitely create a bouquet you can keep forever.

Buttons & Roses Bridal Bouquet

In considering the suggestions here, always keep in mind that your wedding day is your day. No matter whether you want flowers or not or whether your ideas might be a little off the wall, all you need is a wedding florist with vision that will help make your dreams or ideas a reality.

Please share your thoughts and ideas with us in the comments below. And stay tuned for our next article…

Written by

Lizé Williams

PS: If you enjoyed this article, help spread the word by clicking the “Like”, “Tweet”, “+1” buttons or sharing it using the share icons below. Want to read more articles like this? Then Subscribe to our Updates, and get our articles directly to your inbox or RSS reader.

Related posts:

1. The Ultimate Wedding Flower Guide
2. Wedding Flowers: Gerbera Daisy – The New Rose
3. Artificial Flowers: The Year-Round Wedding Option

Specifically, 81 percent of seniors who participated in a study by Rutgers University (Newark, N.J., U.S.A.) reported a reduction in depression following the receipt of flowers. Forty percent of seniors reported broadening their social contacts beyond their normal social circle of family and close friends. And 72 percent of the seniors who received flowers scored very high on memory tests in comparison with seniors who did not receive flowers.

Did you need any better reasons to send flowers than that?

Save money when you send a loved one flowers.

Sending Flowers with Wire Services

If your Grandma lives across the country from you, you may immediately turn to a wire service to handle the task. When you use these services, you typically visit the company’s website, scroll among images of various flower arrangements, make your selection and pay online. From there, the service sends the order to a florist affiliated with that wire service in the city where you want the flowers delivered. (If you call your local florist to request a long-distance flower order, that shop will usually rely on a wire service to do the same thing.)

Because florists can’t maintain a full inventory of every available flower, they will often have to substitute varieties within an arrangement when fulfilling an order they receive via a wire service. Most websites include a disclaimer that informs the customer that substitutions are a possibility, including variances in containers. As a result, the final arrangement delivered to a loved one may not look exactly like the one shown on the website image.

Another aspect of using a wire service is the possibility that you may pay extra fees—not so in all parts of the world but prevalent in certain countries. To make a profit, these wire services charge fees to cover the costs affiliated with maintaining the network, creating the website, marketing flowers in ad campaigns and other related costs of business. Typically, those fees get added to the price of the flower arrangement. In some cases, these fees can be substantial.

Finding a Local Florist

Ten or 15 years ago, that process made sense. After all, trying to locate the name of a florist near Grandma’s home wasn’t an easy task. But today, the Internet has simplified that undertaking. Using Google maps or another search engine, you can now type in Grandma’s address and then simply search for florists nearby. Voila! The search engine provides a map showing local florists, including phone numbers and, often, even direct links to the retailers’ websites. You can then contact the florist directly. You’ll benefit in multiple ways. For one, you can talk to the florist and describe the type of arrangement you want to send, and the florist can verify what flowers and containers are available to meet your desires. In addition, you’ll save on the fees you would have otherwise paid for the convenience of using a wire service.

Finding a Local Florist with Google Maps

How to Find a Reliable Florist

Concerned that choosing a “random” florist will result in an arrangement that doesn’t meet your standards? Here’s another tip: Search for a funeral business near Grandma’s home. Then call that number and ask the funeral director to recommend a nearby florist. Funeral homes develop close relationships with florists and are familiar with who provides the best service and quality. You can rest assured you’ll be referred to someone who will deliver a flower arrangement that will bring a smile to Grandma’s face—and keep her smiling for days afterward.

You can also use a reliable online florist directory that lists recommended florists in your area. We’ve started building a directory of recommended florists in South Africa, and may extend this service to other countries in the near future.

For more information on finding a florist online and ordering flowers safely, read this article.

Make a Personal Delivery

Live close enough to take flowers to Grandma personally? Consider creating an arrangement in a fun, cheerful and reusable cupcake vase. You simply place individual stems of flowers in holes located on the top of the cupcake-shaped holder to create the floral frosting. Available on Amazon, the vases are available in a variety of colors—pink, yellow, white, turquoise and chocolate brown.

A reusable cupcake vase makes it easy to create a portable gift – Photo courtesy of Joster International

More Information:

Get the Research. Want details on the research proving flowers’ effects on seniors? Check out information published by the Society of American Florists: “Flowers & Seniors Study”

As always, we would love to hear you. What has your experience with using wire services been, or do you prefer searching for a local florist. Let us know in the comments below.

PS: If you enjoyed this article, help spread the word by clicking the “Like”, “Tweet”, “+1” buttons or sharing it using the share icons below. Want to read more articles like this? Then Subscribe to our Updates, and get our articles directly to your inbox or RSS reader.

Related posts:

1. Send Flowers for Mothers Day — Without the Hidden Fees
2. Is Your Florist Selling Fresh Flowers?
3. Valentine’s Day Aftermath: Don’t Give Up After a Bad Bouquet

Moms don’t expect much from us, yet they are always ready to give us the world, and have likely been doing this for most of our lives. Well Mothers Day, which falls on the second Sunday of May each year, is the perfect opportunity to treat your mother to something very special to show her just how much she is appreciated.

This year Mother’s Day falls on the 13^th of May and to help get your creative juices flowing, we have put together a list of great Mothers Day gift ideas which we hope will inspire you on your quest to spoil your mom.

#1  Send Her Flowers

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A classic Mothers Day gift is the gift of flowers. You can’t go wrong by sending her favourite flowers whether roses, carnations or lilies in a beautifully arranged flower basket, vase or terracotta pot, especially if you can’t be with her on this special day. Here are some excellent flower ideas: Stylish Ideas for Mother’s Day Flowers.

Florist Chronicles recommends: Mothers Day Flowers

#2  For the Creative Mom

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If your mother enjoys arts and crafts like beading, card making and scrapbooking, show her you’re interested by joining her for a class or take her shopping for beads, special paper and scrapbooking materials. Spending quality time together doing something she loves will mean the world to her.

#3  Picnic in the Park

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Plan a well organised picnic in the park or botanical gardens. Pack her favourite food and snacks. She will love the fresh air and time she gets to spend with you. Alternatively, take her out to her favourite restaurant.

Florist Chronicles recommends: Picnic Menu Ideas

#5  Mother’s Day Weekend Away

If you live in another town or city, buy her an aeroplane ticket to visit you, or surprise her by organizing for you and all your brothers and sisters to spend Mother’s Day weekend with her.

Florist Chronicles recommends: Student Flights

#4  Pamper Hamper or Gift Set

Buy her a gorgeous pamper gift hamper with luscious, aromatic, soothing bath products to enable her to relax and unwind.

Florist Chronicles recommends: Mothers Day Gift Hampers

#6  Midlands Meander

Spoil your mother with a trip through the Midlands meander if you live in Durban or near Pietermaritzburg in South Africa. Stop at the little stalls along the way, and be sure to visit the Howick Waterfall and take her somewhere for lunch, tea, cakes or scones etc.

Florist Chronicles recommends: Midlands Meander

#7  Make a Scrapbook or Photo Album

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Collect recent pictures from all your moms’ children and grandchildren and compile a lovely photo album or scrapbook with all the pictures and any other tit bits you can put together.

Florist Chronicles recommends: Scrapbooking Ideas

#8  A Mother’s Day at the Spa

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A lovely way to spoil your mother is to treat her to a day of pampering at the Spa. To make it even more meaningful, clean her house or give her bedroom a make-over, buy new linen, bedside tables, lamps, add nice photo frames with pictures of all her children or hang her favourite art on the wall while she is away.

Florist Chronicles recommends: Mangwanani African Spa

#9  Mothers Day Cruise

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If you can afford it, and want to treat your mother to the holiday of a lifetime, book her on a luxury cruise to an exotic destination. Many tour operators put great Mothers Day cruise packages together, so do a search on the internet for Mothers Day Specials in your area. If you are in South Africa, we definitely recommend a cruise on the MSC Melody from Durban with stopovers in Madagascar, Reunion, Mauritius and then back to Durban. Bookings are now open for the 2011/12 season and you can grab a special 40% early booking discount!

Florist Chronicles recommends: MSC Melody

#10  Give the Gift of Time

Finally, one of the most meaningful gifts you can give your mother is the gift of time. Just simply do something with your mom that you never have the time to do or have been avoiding because it doesn’t interest you or seems like too much effort. Life is short; we must appreciate every opportunity we get to spend with the people we love.

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Well we hope you enjoyed this article, and that we were able to inspire you with these ideas for Mothers Day. Just remember, the perfect Mothers Day gift that will mean the most to your mom probably isn’t the most expensive or elaborate one. Think along the lines of doing something that you can’t or don’t normally do for her or with her. Not only will you be spending precious quality time with her, but you will also be creating memories that will last forever…

As we always say, “THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX!”

Hey, we’d love to hear your own Mothers Day ideas, so please share them with us in the comments box below, or come back after Mothers Day and tell us what you ended up doing. If you are a Mom, what would the perfect Mothers Day be for you?

PS: If you enjoyed this article, help spread the word by clicking the “Like”, “Tweet”, “+1” buttons or sharing it using the share icons below. Want to read more articles like this? Then Subscribe, and get our articles directly to your inbox or RSS reader.

Related posts:

1. 14 Great Valentines Day Ideas
2. How to Give Stylishly Chic Mother’s Day Flowers
3. Send Flowers for Mothers Day — Without the Hidden Fees

Note: We’ve recently updated and expanded this guide. You’ll find the latest version here.

Brides Bouquet

The Wedding Party

Brides Bouquet and flowers for your hair.

Bridesmaid Bouquet and flowers for their hair.

Flower girl – A clip with flowers for her hair, pomanders (a ball of flowers to carry) or a basket with flowers.

Corsages – For the bride and grooms mothers and grandmothers (optional) – these are usually roses or mini carnations pinned to the shoulder or made up as a wrist corsage.

Button holes – For the Groom, Best men, Page boy, Bride and grooms Father and Grandfather (optional), Master of Ceremonies, Driver – usually a single rose or small flower of your choice pinned to the lapel or shoulder.

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The Church or Chapel

Flowers on Pews in the Church

Outdoors Wedding Ceremony

1 or 2 large flower arrangements in front of the church or chapel, or at the entrance – these can be moved and used at the reception venue as well.

Flowers for the pews – Normally just one flower on every second pew or chair, or scattered rose petals down the aisle.

Flowers for the registry table.

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The Wedding Reception

Table Centrepieces – Decide whether you would like vases, special dishes/containers, bird cages, candelabra or lanterns. If it’s an evening wedding you might need candles, or flowers and candles. The number of centrepieces will depend on how many guests you are inviting and how many tables there will be.

Main Table Arrangement – This is traditionally a long flat flower arrangement in the middle to the front of the table.

A flower at the back of every second chair.

Overlays, Runners and Chair Tie backs in any colour to match your colour scheme, are also items to consider, as most venues only supply white tablecloths, chair covers and napkins.

Table Centrepiece, Overlay & Chair Tie backs

Overlays – A square piece of material – this can be scrunched up in the middle of the table with the centrepiece on top or laid out flat over the white table cloth.

Runners – A long rectangular strip of material that runs across the table and down both sides.

Chair Tie Backs – Long strips of material tied around the back of the chairs.

Flowers for the Wedding Cake.

Fresh Rose Petals for decoration on the guest tables, down the aisle (if permitted) or as confetti.

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Recommended Wedding Flowers
 

Readily Available
Roses, Lilies (St. Joseph, Casablanca, Stargazer), Gerbera Daisies or Barberton Daisy – always in season.

Seasonal Flowers
Check with your wedding florist first for availability to avoid disappointment – Tulips, Peonies, Calla or Arum lilies, Orchids, Hydrangea and Frangipani.

For a more detailed list of available flowers, their colours and meanings, see this article on choosing the right colour flowers for your wedding.

Frangipani

Pink and White Peonies

Casablanca Lily

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We hope these ideas will help you plan the perfect flowers for your wedding, and that it will make communicating with your local wedding florist a little easier. If you are looking for flowers for a wedding in Durban, South Africa, please visit our website: Wedding Flowers in Durban.

If you would like a printable PDF version of this guide to take with you, let us know in the comments below and we will gladly send you a copy.

We also highly recommend the book “The Knot Book of Wedding Flowers” which you can get here.

Written by

Lizé Williams
inMotion Flowers

Update:
Thank you Dries Vandewoude from Terra Unica for suggesting that we add a “thank-you-parents” bouquet to our list. When the bride or groom give their speech at dinner or in the church, it’s quite common in various parts of the world to thank the parents with a bouquet of flowers for all they’ve done for them throughout their lives…

Related posts:

1. Make Gorgeous Flower Choices for Your Wedding
2. Unique Ideas for a Wedding with No Flowers
3. Wedding Flowers: Gerbera Daisy – The New Rose

Once a year, on the 14^th of February, we are treated to a very special day – a day full of romance, red roses, hearts, and the opportunity to express our undying love to our partners… BUT… there’s nothing like breaking tradition to add a bit of surprise and delight to your relationship! So to nudge you in the right direction, and get you thinking “out of the box”, we have put together this list of unique Valentines Day ideas to inspire you and awaken the romantic in you.

If you don’t like any of these ideas, that’s perfectly fine, but hopefully they will at least inspire you to conjure up your own creative Valentines Day gift. We just want you to have a really special Valentines Day this year… So here goes…

#1  Propose to her on the London Eye

Photograph by User:Diliff

Lift her right off her feet by popping the big question while gazing across London on the largest observation wheel in the world. To ensure the experience is truly special, hire a private pod with Champagne and truffles. Friends of ours actually did this recently, and well, what can we say – it was a HUGE success…

If London is out of your reach, choose a place that both you and your partner love.  Perhaps where you had your first date or kiss, or even the spot where you both like to enjoy your favourite sunset.

Florist Chronicles recommends: The London Eye

#2  Romantic Hot Air Balloon Trip

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If you are looking for a romantic, yet thrilling way to spend Valentine’s Day, I can wholeheartedly recommend hot air ballooning. Words cannot describe the feeling of gently lifting off the ground in complete silence, except for the occasional burst of flame from the burner. If you can afford to do so, take the romantic package for two and make sure you have Champagne and your partner’s favourite treats on board. While not the cheapest way to spend Valentine’s Day, this one is a guaranteed winner if neither of you has done this before.

Florist Chronicles recommends: Hot Air Ballooning

#3  Give Her a Real Bear

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If you or your partner have a soft spot for endangered animals, and you want to make a difference, while at the same time being different, you can adopt an endangered animal such as a Panda or a Polar Bear. You can of course adopt other endangered animals, but I think you get why the bear might be most appropriate in this case…  What better way to break away from the predictable teddy bear gift, while still doing something positive for our fragile planet at the same time?

Florist Chronicles recommends: Adopt a Polar Bear

#4  Bouquet of Flowers

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Well, we wouldn’t be a very good florist website if we didn’t include flowers in this list somewhere, so while not the most original or unique Valentines Day gift, it still has the potential to bring plenty of joy and appreciation. Besides, there are many ways to be creative and different when giving flowers. Instead of just getting her a bouquet of red roses, you could buy or make up a special Valentines arrangement consisting of red roses, a cute teddy bear, a heart shaped balloon and chocolates. Perhaps even add a bottle of Champagne so you can celebrate. If you can’t think of anything creative yourself, ask your florist to help you.

Tip:
Red roses and red flowers in general are very expensive around Valentines Day, so if your budget is tight, consider buying her other flowers such as Lilies, Carnations or Gerbera Daisies instead. You could say you were just trying to be different…

Florist Chronicles recommends: Valentines Day Flowers

#5  Horse Riding on the Beach

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Getting back to the romantic side of things, horse riding on the beach at sunset is a sure-fire way to win her heart, while enjoying an exciting outdoor adventure.  You could make the experience even more special by incorporating it with a well thought out picnic, provided you can get the operator to accommodate your special wishes. You could plan it so that the two of you are sipping Champagne on a picnic blanket watching the sun set… Nuf said…

Florist Chronicles recommends: Horse Riding on the Beach

#6  Cookie Jar or Heart Shaped Balloons with Messages

If you are on a tight budget and you can’t splash out on expensive gifts, no problem, try this… Fill a cookie jar with a selection of your most secret desires, little love notes or gift coupons. Alternatively, you can put your messages or coupons together with an assortment of love candies inside heart shaped balloons… Then blow the balloons up and tie them together with a ribbon. Make the love notes meaningful and special by telling your partner how much they mean to you and how you feel about them. Use gift coupons as a fun, interactive way to make each other’s dreams and fantasies come true. Your gift coupons could contain special surprises like a sensual full body massage, a romantic candlelit bubble bath, kisses from head to toe, a meal at your favourite restaurant etc. You can take turns plucking a coupon out of the jar or popping a balloon, and then fulfilling what the coupon says…

#7  Romantic Weekend Away at Oribi Gorge

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Definitely not for the faint hearted, but if you are looking for a more adventurous way to spend Valentine’s Day, and want to give the gift of exhilarating experience, take your partner on a romantic weekend to Oribi Gorge near Port Shepstone in South Africa. There are a number of exciting adventures on offer, like a zip-line, abseiling, white water rafting, horse riding and hiking / MTB trails.

But the ultimate prize is to conquer the highest gorge swing in the world! In the words of the operator themselves, you will hurl yourself (or simply step) off the edge of a waterfall to swing into the gaping depths of the gorge – 165m (55 Storeys). Unbelievable! And yes, I can vouch for that, having done this exact swing on Valentine’s Day two years ago.  By doing this swing, you will be giving your partner an experience they will never forget, with a feeling of total euphoria and accomplishment that will linger for a long time. But a word of caution…be very sure that your partner will be up for the challenge.  Naturally anyone, no matter how brave, will be nervous to do something like this, but do not expect your partner to follow through with it. Be ready with a fall back plan such as horse riding, hiking or mountain biking.

Tip
Pay a few bucks extra and have a video made of the jump including the before and after moments. This way you guys will be able to show off to friends and family, and it makes for a great memento.

Florist Chronicles recommends: Oribi Gorge Swing

#8  Bloukrans Bungee Jump

Photograph courtesy of Mama’s Minutia

If the highest gorge swing in the world isn’t enough to get the adrenalin pumping through your veins, and you both enjoy living life on the edge (or should I say off the edge), then why not try the highest bungee jump in the world? At 216m, in one of the most scenic parts of South Africa, the garden route, the king of all bungee jumps will surely not disappoint. And to top it off, you will either be staying in Plettenberg Bay or Knysna, both of which can make for a very romantic weekend.

Florist Chronicles recommends: Bloukrans Bungee Jump

#9  Romantic Dinner at Home

Photograph by Kim Thunder

If your budget restricts you from going out to a fancy restaurant, you could treat your partner to a romantic candlelit dinner for two at home. You should both dress to the nines, taking great care in your appearance. Then instead of going out to an expensive restaurant, create a romantic table setting with candles and cook a fabulous meal. Start or finish the evening off with a candlelit bath, soothing music and Champagne. You can even offer your partner a sensual massage afterwards to really make them feel special.

#10  Winter Holiday in the Snow

Photograph by Kim Thunder

If you live near the mountains in a winter region or you can afford an overseas trip, then a snowed in weekend in a log cabin, cuddling in front of a wood fireplace, is the perfect way to kindle the romance in your relationship. Skiing, snowboarding or tobogganing during the day time will add an element of excitement and fun to your already perfectly romantic holiday.

Florist Chronicles recommends: Winter Holiday

#11  Day of Shopping

Every girl loves to shop, and most guys hate it, so a nice way to treat your girlfriend or wife would be to indulge her with a full day’s shopping. Go with her and let her try on clothes to her heart’s content. Have her model them for you and pick out the perfect evening ensemble. Then take her out on the town so she can show off her new outfit and feel great about herself.

#12  Gift Basket with her Favourite Treats

Another nice idea that won’t cost you an arm and a leg, but will demonstrate how in sync you are with your partners tastes, is to buy or make her a gourmet gift basket containing all her favourite treats and snacks. Top it off with a card containing a beautifully handwritten message and perhaps even a lovely bouquet of flowers.

Florist Chronicles recommends: Gift Baskets

#13  Wine Tasting

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If your partner has an appreciation for the finer things in life, such as good wine, then wine tasting along the wine route would be a nice way to spend Valentines Day together. You get to walk through beautiful vineyards, visit gorgeous colonial farm houses, and drink and be merry together. What more could one ask for?

Tip:
Don’t drive yourselves. Instead, plan ahead and arrange alternative transport. This way you can both let your hair down together with no worries whatsoever…

Florist Chronicles recommends: The Wine Route

#14  Day at a Luxury Spa for Two

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Our list of great Valentines Day ideas would never be complete without listing one of the most relaxing and indulgent ways of spending Valentines Day together. Instead of just giving your partner a gift certificate to go to the spa alone though, make sure you book a half day or full day package for both of you. This way you get to be pampered and spoiled in each other’s company. Most spas will have special Valentines Day pamper packages, which should ensure you get a touch of romance thrown in, but make sure you book well in advance, as demand will be high.

Florist Chronicles recommends: Mangwanani African Spa

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Well there you have it… We hope you enjoyed this article, and that you found one or two gems to try out this Valentines Day. Remember, it isn’t about the size of the gift or how expensive it is. The most valuable gift you can give someone in this fast paced world we live in is the gift of time. Be creative and do something thoughtful that you normally wouldn’t take the time to do, and make sure that whatever you choose to do, you do it together as a couple.

THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX!

Hey, we’d love to hear about your own creative ideas, so please share them with us in the comments box below, or come back after Valentines Day and tell us what you ended up doing and how it went.

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