Budding News for Brides

Brides need not worry about matchmaking when it comes to wedding flowers. From the bridal bouquets to the boutonnières, wedding flower trends include diversity of choice, boldness of color and distinctiveness of design, according to a leading expert.

Floral and interior designer Rebecca Cole is author of Flower Power, co-host of Discovery Channel's Surprise by Design and a regular contributor to the Today show. She describes leading trends.

“Wedding flowers follow fashion trends,” Cole said, “and today, individuality, rather than convention is in style. No longer do the bridesmaids' bouquets need to match the bridal bouquet, the boutonnières and centerpieces.” In some cases, each bridesmaid may have a different bouquet, according to Cole.


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Capture Romantic Fantasies With Unique Wedding Ideas

You've dreamed of this day ever since you were a little girl, your wedding day. You've imagined wearing a magnificent gown and being the glowing bride carrying a beautiful flower bouquet. You've dreamed of the music, the lighting, the bridesmaids dresses, and of course, walking down the aisle toward the groom, the man of your dreams. Your wedding day is a day of dreams coming true and celebrating your love for each other. It should be a dream day wedding that you remember forever. Why not make it truly memorable by going above and beyond with one of these unique wedding ideas inspired by nature?

White Dove Releases
Every wedding ceremony deserves a special and delightfully unique gesture that expresses the couple's adoration in a way that words cannot. Releasing white doves at the end of your wedding ceremony or as you leave for the honeymoon is a beautiful way to symbolize the purity of your love, adoration, and commitment to each other. It can be a surprise ending to the ceremony, a special moment of celebration during the reception, or a sweet way to commemorate your new beginning with each other as you leave for your honeymoon. Imagine the childlike excitement of your guests as they ooh and aah while watching the alluring creatures in flight. White dove releases are especially appropriate for outdoor or garden weddings. Just make sure you get the proper instructions from the vendor on how to best care for these elegant birds so your day will go off without a hitch, except you getting hitched, of course! Click here for "White Dove Release" resources in Indianapolis.

Horse Drawn Carriage Rides
What could be more princess-like than arriving at your ceremony in a horse drawn carriage? It’s the stuff little girls’ dreams are made of. We all remember watching Lady Diana arrive in a regal carriage as she arrived at Buckingham Palace to marry Prince Charles and become the beloved Princess Diana. Every bride wants to feel like a princess on her big day. By using a horse drawn carriage for you and your wedding party to arrive in or to carry you and your prince away to your honeymoon, you will only add to the romance of the day. So, if you are planning a Cinderella wedding with a beautiful, billowy ball gown, glowing candlelight and flower petals strewn everywhere, you will feel like royalty as you wave to your family and friends in your horse drawn carriage. Click here for "Horse Drawn Carriage Ride" resources in Indianapolis

Hot Air Balloon Rides
Looking for an uplifting way to arrive at or depart from your wedding? A hot air balloon ride is the way to go for an exhilarating beginning or ending to your wedding. Or, if you’re planning a small wedding, why not exchange vows and the wedding kiss in the hot air balloon? This idea is not for the faint of heart, but certainly for the young at heart. You can celebrate the most special day of your lives by having your ceremony where your heart is on cloud nine.
Click here for "Hot Air Balloon Ride" resources in Indianapolis

Wedding on the Beach
What wedding ceremony couldn’t be improved by an ocean sunset? Many couples are using this wedding theme for that romantic yet casual approach to matrimony. If you live near a beach, take advantage of the natural décor; if not, check out the wedding packages many beaches and islands are offering these days. There's nothing more romantic than declaring your love for each other as a brilliant orange sun sets into a deep blue ocean, hearing the waves lapping on the shore. If your wedding party or family is small, this is a great way to incorporate a vacation into your wedding. As a consideration, you’ll want to assess the cost-effectiveness of this type of wedding especially for your family and friends. You want your loved ones to enjoy your special day without being distracted by expenses and travel arrangements. If you don't live near a beach, a great alternative is to opt for a lakefront wedding. This can be much less expensive and just as romantic.
Click here for "Weddings On the Beach" resources.

Butterfly Releases
Planning a wedding, whether it involves 50 or 500 people, can be a stressful time. You want your guests to remember your wedding as a day filled with happiness and enchantment. One unique effect can be achieved through a live butterfly release. As a beautiful and environmentally sound alternative to blowing bubbles, throwing rice or birdseed, or releasing balloons, a butterfly release will make your day memorable! Can you imagine the magnificence of dozens of colorful butterflies winging their way skyward as a grand finale to your wedding ceremony? The release of nature's prettiest creatures is a symbolic way to celebrate any number of occasions, including weddings, proms, parties, and quinceaneras. Butterflies have always been thought of as bringing good luck to people and everyone loves butterflies.
One way to involve your guests is to have a "butterfly attendant" hand out the envelopes in which the butterflies are temporarily kept. When the signal is given, each person opens their envelopes and the butterflies fly out to create a magnificent display. Some butterflies, especially monarchs, may alight on your guests. When released, they have a slow and graceful flight. They are actually "social butterflies"!

On a smaller scale, butterflies can be used as table centerpieces, enclosed in elegant see-through "cages" where they flutter about until time for their release. Guests are always enchanted by this distinctive and unusual display of beauty.

Butterflies are carefully raised by farmers who then package them in small Styrofoam coolers before shipping them overnight to your door. Since they are cold-blooded, they are resting and dormant while in the cooler. Exposure to warm temperatures will make them active and ready to fly. They must be released outdoors during daylight and during months where the temperatures are high enough for them to fly ~ above 60 degrees. Care of the butterflies is minimal; you just keep the container cool for a night by refreezing and replacing the cold pack that comes with each shipment. Very few butterflies expire before their release and usually one or more "extras" are included in your order. Most butterfly farmers hold permits to ship several species across state lines. The butterflies you release will be indigenous to your state and will probably live for a few weeks, finding each other after they are released, mating and helping to repopulate the species. A butterfly farmer will help you choose the butterflies that are right for your state, your budget, and your special occasion. Click here for "Butterfly Release" resources in Indianapolis

These are just a few unique wedding ideas and themes. However, these ideas are also appropriate for other special occasions such as wedding anniversaries, significant birthdays, a child’s first birthday, groundbreaking ceremonies, and funerals. They can add that special touch to make these and other life celebrations ones to remember forever.

Your wedding day is a once-in-a-lifetime memory in the making. Make a unique and lasting impression by using the beauty of nature butterflies, doves, horses, the skies, and the ocean to achieve the wedding above and beyond your sweetest dreams.

Who Pays for What?

There are no longer any hard and fast rules as to "Who Pays for What", but a general guideline follows as to the traditional breakdown.

Bride & Her Family's Expenses

Bridal consultant or secretarial services
Invitations, announcements, postage
Wedding dress and accessories
Floral or other decorations for ceremony and reception
Bridal bouquet, bridesmaids flowers, corsages, etc.
Photography - formal and candid videotape
Music for ceremony and reception
Transportation of bridal part to ceremony and to reception
All reception expenses
Bride's gifts to her attendants
Bride's gift to groom
Groom's wedding ring
Fee for services performed by sexton
A traffic officer, if necessary
Accommodations for bride's attendants, if required
Bridesmaids' luncheon, if one is given by the bride
Rental of awning for ceremony entrance and carpet for aisle
Transportation and lodging expenses for pastor or rabbi if from another area and if invited to officiate by the bride's family

Groom & His Family's Expenses

Bride's engagement and wedding rings
Groom's gift to his bride
Groom's gifts to his attendants
Boutonnieres for the groom's attendants
Ties and gloves for the groom's attendants, if not part of their clothing rental package
The bride's bouquet in areas where local custom requires it
The bride's going-away corsage
The minister's or rabbi's fee or donation Expenses of the honeymoon
All expenses of the rehearsal dinner, if one is held
Bachelor dinner, if he wishes to give one
Accommodations for the groom's attendants, if required
Corsages for immediate members of both families unless the bride has included them in her florist's order
Transportation and lodging expenses for groom's parents
Transportation and lodging expenses for pastor or rabbi if from another area and if invited to officiate by the groom's family

Bridesmaids & Honor Attendants' Expenses

Apparel and all accessories
Transportation to and from the location of the wedding
A contribution to a gift from all the bridesmaids to the bride
An individual gift to the couple
A shower and/or luncheon for the bride, if given

Best Men & Ushers' Expenses

Responsible for their own transportation and lodging

Out-of-Town Guests' Expenses

Rental of wedding attire
Transportation to and from the location of the wedding
A contribution to a gift from all the groom's attendants to the groom
An individual gift to the couple
A bachelor dinner, if given by the groom's attendants