{Top 10} Roses & Wedding Bouquets = Always in Style + I Blame Pinterst!

Wedding Roses on My Mind

Happy Tuesday! I am a pinning fool these days....hard not to do when there are SO many amazing photos and wedding ideas out there just waiting to be snatched up. Like this random bouquet of exquisite garden roses I found on Facebook (here's our FB fanpage for you to LIKE)...I adore garden roses, or are these cabbage roses, and in half a second flat I am off in a Rose wonderland, perhaps never to reemerge. I blame Pinterest.

Photo via Martha Stewart Weddings

Roses are the most popular and dare I say most romantic wedding flower there is. They are timeless, classic and never go out of style, which got me thinking: how many types of roses are there? Surely there has to been every flavor rose for every flavor bride...the bouquets we see are so varied, personal, and just down right jaw dropping.  With that in mind, here are my Top 10 Favorite Rose Wedding Bouquets simply cause I am in the mood for some pretty.

Cherry brandy roses anchor this vibrant multiflower bouquet! This couple is definitely going for color.

Photo via Brown Bunny Flowers

Pretty blush pink English roses, look like peonies when closed but definitely a rose when they open.

Photo via The Sweetest Occasion

Soft yellows, peaches, and ivories - reminds me of a creamsicle + baby blue ribbon, a perfect combo!

Photo via My Life is Brilliant

Color palette: brown, burgandy, and ivory. The Black Bacarra Rose was a perfect choice! I adore the use of an embellished ribbon to add some light and bling.

Photo via Snapdragon Studio

Chic, sophisticated, understated ivory bouquet.

Photo via One Wed

Peach continues to be one of the hottest wedding colors! Love this peach bouquet with Apple Blossom Amaryllis, Juliet Garden Roses, Peach Hyacinth and Ruffled Peach Lisianthus.

Photo via Wild Flowers Inc.

A romantic clutch of roses, geranium leaves, and passion vine 

Photo via Martha Stewart Wedding

Roses and Succulent bouquet wrapped with jute twine.  Ranunculus, berries, curly willow and billy balls add texture and visual interest. Very California to me!

Photo via Apple Blossoms Floral Designs

This lush bouquet of ivory and blush garden roses is so sweet and romantic! 

Photo via Zest Floral and Event Design

An ideal bouquet to usher in Spring! 

Photo via Posies by Pippa

Rustic hand gathered wildflower bouquets with oddly shaped floral accents MAY be all the rage, and unique non-floral bouquets MAY be topping the popularity chart but roses will always rein supreme when it comes to weddings. Some couples are shying away from roses these days because of the expense but I say, go DIY with your wedding flowers. Purchasing from floral markets or online wholesalers like Global Rose will get you a TON of bang for your buck plus pretty roses.

Oh and FYI: there are over 100 species of roses, in three groups with hundreds of more hybrid variations...oh wait, another site says 150 types in seven groups....and yet another says the Alba Rose has been around since the 1st Century. Well I guess that proves my theory, there are as many varieties of roses as there are wedding themes! Here is a great resource for some of the most popular roses.

What type of rose is your favorite? Would you consider going DIY with your wedding bouquet? For great DIY ideas, check out my Guest Post on Wed Loft blog on How to Reduce You Wedding Flower Cost! You'll be glad you did.


Have a beautiful day,

PS If you want more great bouquet ideas, head over to our Pinterest page for beautiful inspiration.

de Lovely Eye Candy - Succulents in Southern California

As you hopefully know,  de Lovely Affair has relocated to Southern California from Boston.  We'll still give you the same great multicultural wedding inspiration and practical planning ideas, the same DIY projects and Real Wedding Round Ups, just from a sunnier location.

As such, we thought it would be appropriate for our first official post to feature some gorgeous SoCal Real Wedding Eye Candy.  I'm certain this celebration, found over at Elizabeth Ann Designs, won't disappoint. 

Bianca and Matthew - This stunning wedding was held at Sunstone Winery in sunny Santa Ynez, CA and expertly captured by the bride's sister, photographer Jasmine Star, who also served as maid of honor. The couple chose "Love Succulently"*swoon* as their wedding theme, which they pulled off with a perfect combination of vintage and modern elements, lots and lots of succulents and of course, wine themed decor.

Bianca says of their theme: “My full name means white flower, which represents love. Matt is reminiscent of a succulent: layered, intricate, understated, and enduring. The theme was a natural manifestation of who we are. To accent our day, we had eclectic vintage pieces throughout the ceremony and reception representing timeless love and enduring faith. Mixed with modern decor elements, the event played off the design elements of our ceremony and reception location.”

On a personal note, I am absolutely smitten with succulents and the many, many ways they can be used in weddings. (Check out our post on using mini succulents as wedding favors!)  Lucky for me, Southern California is overflowing with them. Heavenly Blooms incorporated succulents into every part of this celebration and along with their choice of color, texture, and floral boldness, expertly brought the wedding theme to life.  Enjoy!

Congratulations Bianca and Matthew! Thank you again to Elizabeth Ann Designs and photographer Jasmine Star for letting us share this gorgeousness! 

Go Succulents!!

PS - Join us over at Facebook for more fabulous conversations!

Mini Succulents: Perfect eco-friendly wedding favors, gifts, centerpieces

Growing up, my dad had succulents in the yard of his California home. And he always watered them, which at 10 years old always struck me as odd. Since then, I have had a secret love affair with these strange, wonderful little plants.  So I thought I would share a fabulous idea for incorporating succulents into your wedding as part of our Mexican Inspiration Wedding week. And while, they are not necessarily from Mexico per se, they do a evoke a sense of desert, dry air, abundant sun that can be found down South. 

 

Photo Source: left Martha Stewart Weddings | right Yes Please Blog

Mini succulents in aged terracotta pots are eco-friendly, super chic, and make the perfect favor or gift for your wedding guests, centerpiece or a simple, sweet decor piece. The endurance of the succulent plant is unequaled and will leave guests with a lasting and easy-to-care-for reminder of your wedding -- all they need is good drainage and sun.

Source: My One Sweet Day 

You'll need:

• Succulents - Go for a variety of different types to add some visual interest. Mini succulents are sold at gardening centers all over the place and are usually reasonably priced.
• Containers - Mini terracotta pots, small tin pails, or even recycled containers (a great DIY project for using peanut cans) - I found my containers at Family Dollar actually but Home Depot or your local gardening center (my preference to support local businesses) or craft store will do.  Obviously, make sure the size will fit your plant.
• Succulent appropriate potting soil 
• Embellishments - ribbon, note cards, sticks, moss

Source: Santa Barbara Chic

Source: My Ten Tho Wedding

This is a super simple project and a great way to get friends and family members involved in wedding prep.  Try to do this about a week or so ahead of your wedding date, enough time to let the plants take hold in their new home. Make a few extra just in case.

• Fill your container with potting soil.
• Transplant succulent to pot - Make sure to water them three times that first day and then once every following day. It sounds like a lot of water for succulents, but they need it when they’re this small.  Keep in an area that allows for drainage, never let them stay in standing water.
• Add embellishments: Print or write out your message on card stock, fold around stick and glue or tape together, stick in the pot. Add a ribbon in your wedding color around the rim.  You can attach your message to the ribbon or even directly on the container as seen below. Add moss to the top to finish out the look or leave the soil as is.         

I so {heart} this! Source: Elizabeth Anne Design

Source: The Knot

 Mason jelly jars are a great choice! Source: Wedding Chicks

If you decide to go with terracotta - my favorite choice, here is a technique for adding that aged look.  It is best to do about a month in advance so give yourself a little time.  
Key ingredient: Yogurt! You will also need a foam brush.

• Stir yogurt for smooth consistency.
• Brush yogurt on your pot in generous amounts. It yields more dramatic results when applied to dry pot. For a subtler look, soak the pots in water for 15 minutes first.  For a more natural look, brush on unevenly
• Set aside in a shaded place until pot achieves the desired look, at least 1 month.

FYI: The yogurt method attract ants (if outside) and will smell bad for the first few days. Place the pot in a location where this will not create a problem. 


Sources: About.com | Martha Stewart Wedding

There you have it, enjoy the project!  Have a deLicious day!