We have some exciting news to share with you about our wedding plans.
Not a specific wedding, mind you, but rather the new wedding styles and flowers that we’re working to offer brides and grooms.
If you’ve followed this blog, you know about the extra effort – namely, regular trips to South America – we make to ensure the highest-quality flowers for our customers.
Similarly, earlier this year we sent several Royer’s representatives to a wedding design conference offered by floral wholesaler Florabundance Inc. The event, called “Inspirational Design Days,” took place on Dos Pueblos Ranch, overlooking the Pacific Ocean near Santa Barbara, Calif.
Cheryl Brill, Royer’s vice president of retail operations, was joined on the trip by Holly Newpower and Jennifer Stout, Royer’s store managers at Camp Hill and Shillington, respectively.
The experience gave them an opportunity to work with beautiful product that they typically don’t handle, Cheryl said, and to design in a natural, unconstructed way without concern for budgets, costs or recipes.
The participants designed wedding bouquets; beachside ceremony decorations; and a 30-foot-long centerpiece comprising mossy birch branches, strands of ivy gathered in the adjoining woods, and small vintage vases filled with groupings of garden roses, tulips, cut hyacinths, clematis, accented with candelabra and votive candles.
It was akin to a spa day for florists – or what Cheryl called a “guiltless playground.”
As a next step, we’re training our wedding consultants on the flowers and styles exhibited at the Florabundance seminar. We’re also redesigning the wedding content on royers.com.
Our intent is to provide more options for our wedding-planning customers.
“We must serve our more traditional customers as we always have,” Cheryl said, “while still keeping abreast of the newest trends in the industry. Inspirational Design Days was a great opportunity to do just that.”
Category: Weddings
‘Wow!’ factor: bridal event honors Royer’s
The Premier Bridal Event 2013 took place on Jan. 20, but Royer’s brought the warmth and colors of summer to the Eden Resort in Lancaster.
In fact, Royer’s display – decorated for a summer wedding – recently garnered a “Wow! Award” from the event’s sponsor, Weddings Year Round Bridal Magazine.
For the display, which occupied most of the ballroom, we decorated a gazebo, archway, altar, centerpieces, cake. Royer’s worked closely with Eagle Rental of Stevens, Pa., which provided the hardscapes that we decorated.
Meanwhile, Royer’s also brought home a Public Choice Award from the bridal show. Our Valentine’s Day-themed centerpiece took first place in the Lancaster/Lebanon/Berks Division.
Below, you’ll find pictures of our Valentine’s Day centerpiece, of our wedding display, and of Cheryl Brill, Royer’s vice president of retail operations, with our awards.
For more information about how Royer’s can help make your wedding day truly memorable with flowers that complement your décor, click here.
Flower tips for any wedding budget
When it comes to weddings, tears of joy are one thing; crying over a broken budget is quite another.
Barry Spengler of Royer’s Flowers participated in Fox 43’s wedding week in February. He shared with host Courtney Laydon tips on colors and textures that can work with any sized budget.
“What I love about this is a lot of people think flowers and they think, oh my goodness, it’s going to be so expensive,” Courtney said. “But it doesn’t have to be, right?”
“If you have a little budget, that’s fine,” Barry said. “If you have a big budget, that’s fine.”
Tips for Choosing Your Wedding Flowers
After your dress, your wedding flowers are one of the biggest style decisions you will make for your ceremony. Your flowers can do so much to set the tone for your wedding, from making it feel casual or formal to dictating the color scheme that is used for your table settings and cake. For most brides, the real trouble with wedding flowers is that there are so many options that it is nearly impossible to narrow down the choices. If you can’t decide which flowers to order for your ceremony, these tips will help:
Consider Your Budget
There are beautiful blooms to be had for every wedding budget, but it’s helpful to have your bottom line in mind when you shop for wedding flowers. Knowing what you can spend will let you rule in and rule out certain types of flowers. It will also get you thinking about the sizes of the arrangements you need, which will influence the types of flowers you should choose.
View Your Options
A little inspiration from other weddings will help you decide what kinds of arrangements you like and which ones won’t work for your wedding. Plus, wedding flowers can be so much more than a simple bouquet. Seeing what florists have done for other weddings may open your mind to opportunities you didn’t even know existed.
Think Seasonal
One way to approach your wedding design is to embrace the season. Flowers in fall colors like orange, yellow, and red can be beautiful at an autumn wedding, while pinks and purples are great for spring nuptials. You can also build your arrangements using flowers that are in bloom during the time of year you’re holding your wedding. Not only is this idea a nice design trick, but it will also help you save money, since flowers in season are less expensive.
At Royers Flowers & Gifts, we can help you choose the perfect wedding flowers from our extensive collection. Call us at (717) 273-2683 for advice on building wedding flower arrangements and to place an order.
How to Plan for Ordering Wedding Flowers
The perfect wedding day often belies the months of preparation and decision-making that go into making it that way. Wedding flowers are no exception. Planning a wedding requires picking out a bridal bouquet, boutonnières, centerpieces, and more. However, florists can make this process all the easier for the happy couple. No matter your personal taste or budget, a florist can make your special day memorable with beautiful wedding flowers. When selecting a florist for your nuptials, be sure to ask yourself the following questions ahead of time.
What kind of flowers do I want?
Wedding flowers come in all styles and shades, so it’s up to each bride and groom to select the arrangement that best reflects their individuality. Do you want the classic elegance of calla lilies? Are you throwing a whimsical affair better suited for gerbera daises? Whatever your personal flair, floristscan help you select the wedding flowers that will show it off.
How will I be using my floral arrangements?
The most common use for wedding flowers is the bridal bouquet. Many times, the bridesmaid flowers will mirror that of the bride, as will the groom and groomsmen’s boutonnières. Other floral arrangements to consider are the altar flowers, chair decorations, and the reception centerpieces. Florists can make sure that all floral pieces are accounted for and elegantly assembled so that they present a coherent vision for your wedding. Instead of trying to take care of all floral arrangement details yourself, let an experienced florist do it for you.
What is my budget?
Wedding experts advise brides and grooms to set aside eight percent of their total wedding budget for the floral arrangements, and florists can make sure that budget doesn’t balloon out of control. Once you inform your florist of your budget, you can plan together how to hit that target. Florists can determine which floral pieces are essential and which can be simplified. Florists can also help with choosing alternate arrangements that may be less expensive than your original selections.
If you’re planning a wedding, Royer’s Flowers & Gifts can provide beautiful and affordable floral arrangements for your special day. Our 17 south central Pennsylvania locations offer a wide selection of wedding flowers for every budget. To speak with one of our experienced florists, please call (717) 769-1413.
Find More Excellent Wedding Flower Ideas At These Excellent Websites
Whether you’d like more DIY floral tips or you’d like to learn more about working with your local florist, you’re sure to find the following resources informative and helpful. Call Royer’s Flowers and Gifts at (717) 769-1413 for all of your floral needs.
• Gardenias are a wedding flower favorite but do require special care. Check out this article to learn what to expect when designing with gardenias.
• This article will walk you through creating wedding centerpieces, step by step.
• Read this article from TLC for tips on working with and talking to your florist.
• Check out this guide from the Flower Shop Network for some pointers on ordering flowers and how using a local florist works to your benefit.
• This article from FTD gives you fresh flower care tips for various types of flowers.
Do-it-Yourself Fun for the Bridal Party: Create Your Own Wedding Flower Arrangements
Wedding flowers are right up there with the dress and the cake on the list of the most important aspects of your wedding day. If you are a hands-on type of person and would love to be able to say that you made your own wedding flowers and they were beautiful, then enrolling in a do-it-yourself program with your local florist may be just what you’re looking for.
While you’ll have an expert designer on hand to help you along the way, these tips can be helpful as you prepare for your day of floral fun:
- Find pictures of designs you like. When you initially speak to your florist about your wedding flowers, you’ll go over which types and style of flowers you want. Keep a flower journal filled with your favorite designs and bring it with you to your do-it-yourself session to have as a point of reference.
- Don’t be afraid to get creative. Your wedding flowers do not have to look exactly like those you find in bridal magazines. If you like an idea, then run with it. Just be sure that you tell your florist well ahead of time about the specific types of flowers you want so that those flowers will be available for use when the time comes.
- Ask for help. Some flowers can bruise easily, such as gardenias and orchids, and require special care when designing. If you think you want to incorporate these flowers into your wedding design, make sure to ask for professional assistance. In addition, don’t be afraid to ask for a helping hand if your design isn’t coming together the way you want it to. Your florist knows all of the special tips and tricks for achieving different looks.
Whether you’d like to try your hand at creating your own wedding flowers or you’d rather let the pros do their thing, there’s an option for you at Royer’s Flowers and Gifts. Give us a call at (717) 769-1413 to learn about our do-it-yourself package or to schedule a wedding consultation.
7 Modern Bridal Bouquet Ideas
Wedding flowers are an essential part to your special day, with the bridal bouquet being the most important. Your bouquet can be virtually anything you want it to be, and many contemporary styles are both creative and beautiful.
Check out this video for seven breathtaking designs for wedding flowers. From monochromatic calla lilies to whimsical wheat designs, you’re sure to find inspiration for your wedding.
If you are planning your wedding, contact us at Royer’s Flowers and Gifts for the perfect wedding flowers. We also create flowers for special occasions, holidays, or just because. Visit our website or give us a call at (717) 769-1413 today.
How to Hand-Tie a Calla Bridal Bouquet
There is nothing like the image of a bride walking down the aisle with a beautiful, stunning bridal bouquet held in her hands. No matter what type of flowers you imagine for your bridal bouquet, you want it to look perfect.
In this video, learn how to create a stunning bridal bouquet. Be sure to use fully hydrated blossoms for your bouquet. Then, take each stem and mold and manipulate it to enhance the face of the flower. Next, gather your flowers together, shake them slightly to put them in a rounded form, make last minute adjustments, and then tie the bunch together. To learn more, watch the full video clip.
If you would prefer a professional to create your perfect bridal bouquet, contact Royer’s Flowers and Gifts. We can design beautiful wedding flower displays for your special day. Give us a call at (717) 769-1413 to learn more or to place your order.