Indian Themed Wedding

 

Love is the only reality and it is not a mere sentiment. It is the ultimate truth that lies at the heart of creation. ~ Rabindranath Tagore
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The golden bloomers, above, were first created to camouflage large glass vases for an Indian themed wedding. Susan and I made them when we teamed up to create the decor for the daughter of dear friends.

Since I've been digging into the archives lately, and bloomers were on my mind, I thought it would be fun to scan up these pictures from the wedding.
Surprisingly, I've used the versatile (fun) silk vase coverings a number of times on different containers. It's basically a shower cap construction– an elastic casing around a big circle, with an added silk band (sari border) hiding the elastic.
Besides the umpteen red roses, the big arrangements at the entrance of the wedding tent include, bells of Ireland, euphorbia, papyrus, rudbeckia, dahlias, various berries, pistache branches etc . . .
Susan and I arranged the pair of bouquets in tandem at her house. I think she did the one on the left. It's enjoyable, and sweetly intimate, to work with another arranger in such a way.

For the round dining tables, we cut saris in half to top long white cloths. Sari trim wrapped the round cylinder vases. Brass bells were favors at each place setting, and napkins were wrapped in Indian bangle bracelets.
Draping the flower stands with magenta silk saris was deja vu for this former fashion designer.
A curtain of white dendrobium orchids hung behind the bride and groom during the ceremony.
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A how-to for the arrangement up at the top is shown here.
   http://www.rosenotes.com/decorating/

Wedding Centerpiece of Roses and Hydrangeas

 

The love we have in our youth is superficial compared to the love that an old man has for his old wife. ~ Will Durant (American writer, historian, and collaborator of his wife, Ariel Durant. 1885-1981)
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While thinking about this post I thought, yes, if I were getting married today all the fleurs would be white. Then mind wandered back to my wedding-- the flowers were white-- and very special.
I was only nineteen when I married artist husband, and the ceremony was in his mom's living room, performed by her minister. Our guests, besides mom, were two friends who were also our 'best men'. It was kind of an elopement, considering my parents didn't know about it. No, I won't go into details- this is a flower story.
I wore a black and white wool checked dress, made by my mom when I was a junior in high school, with a white lace mantilla on my head. I did not even consider flowers.
Late afternoon, on the day of the wedding, I walked home from work, and up the stairs to our flat, and there on the porch was a great swath of white roses, with a wide white satin bow, wrapped in lovely, crinkly cellophane.

Can you image how stunned and thrilled I was?
Who would give me such a gift?
I didn't know the dear person-- he was a friend of our best men, who worked in a florist shop, and he thought I should have a bouquet.

My bouquet roses looked like these.

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In the picture with Annabelle hydrangeas, at the top of the page, are Snowbird roses.
     http://www.rosenotes.com/2010/07/wedding-centerpiece-of-roses-and-hydrangeas.html

Garden Wedding Rose Harvest

 

To harvest pink and lavender wedding flowers from my late summer rose garden required three days of careful gleaning, in the cool of the morning. The short-stemmed lovelies went in my fridge. The long and lanky were guests in the walk-in fridge at Florali. Thanks so much Susan!

Annabelle was also required for duty for the wedding bouquets. Two weeks ago, when I noticed her flopping to the ground, I thought that girl needs propping up if she's going to look good at the wedding. This little garden seat came to the rescue.

Tomorrow-- the bouquets   http://www.rosenotes.com/2010/08/garden-wedding-rose-harvest.html 

Garden Roses Wedding Bouquets

 

An amply laden wedding buffet table allowed little space for a large bouquet. Height was needed, and a vase with a small footprint. A trusty cylinder does the job, and a collar of Annabelle hydrangea allowed a good base to build from. Only about three stems actually reach the bottom of the tall cylinder, but Annabelle, and sheer numbers, keep the other stems up with their perky blooms shining.

PHOTOGRAPHERS & ARRANGERS

This bouquet might look simple– actually once everything is at hand the arranging process is nothing but fun, but the entire process from harvesting, to buckets ready-and-waiting is a pretty big deal. So this photographer, when not arranging "just-for-photos," is too harried to really do justice to a shoot. I did manage to clear the counter and prop up an easy background though. Foamcore (4x4) propped on a stool masks the kitchen chaos. Wonderful side light from a Northern window modeled the fleurs just right.

At the event, the bouquet, was perfect for the space allowed, and I was not happy my camera was at home. Maybe next time.
I should clarify that I'm not in the floral business (I have been). However, I do seize the opportunity, when possible, to play with fleurs at fab events for friends and nonprofits.

http://www.rosenotes.com/2010/08/garden-roses-wedding-bouquets.html