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It's probably just me, but when I think wedding flowers, I think hydrangeas. Maybe it's because they come in some wedding worthy colors or maybe because each stem is like a small bouquet on its own, but there's just something about hydrangeas that make me think they're perfect for weddings!
So when my daughter's theatre class did a play that revolved around a wedding reception and I was asked to help do the decorations, I quickly started experimenting with hydrangea bouquets and flower arrangements, which I though were wedding worthy. About two or three arrangements in, however, I realized I was in way over my head, and I needed a lot of help!
Since I've always loved collecting books on flowers and flower arrangements, I didn't hesitate to look for a book specifically for wedding flowers, and that's when I found The Knot Book of Wedding Flowers . Knowing that many flower arrangements in the book could probably be used outside of a wedding celebration anyway, I decided to buy myself a copy!
The first thing I loved about the book was the photographs! There are over 150 beautiful photos of bouquets and flower arrangements in the volume! I was so inspired just looking at all the photos! These photos also quickly showed me that wedding flowers go beyond hydrangeas (which I of course knew in the back of my head) and it showed me how going beyond hydrangeas can provide some fantastic results!
After the photos, I really appreciate that the book is quite organized when it comes to presenting flowers. It contains a glossary of the most common wedding flowers. It also gives the symbolic meaning behind flowers and when specific flowers are in season. At first I didn't think this was a big deal till I realized how nice it is or would be to have seasonal flowers at a wedding because the color schemes (something the book also discusses) just go better if you tie it in with the season. Apart from all this, the book also discusses various shapes and styles of bouquets, different arrangements for centerpieces, and gentleman's boutonnières. The book also features some do-it-yourself instructions on how to create some simple arrangements and bouquets.
Well, I wasn't planning a wedding, and really only needed a few props for the play, so for what I needed it for, the book was perfect! With the help of some of the other moms and this book, we were able to create five flower arrangements for the set, six bouquets for the girls who were playing the bride and bridesmaids, and seven boutonnières for the males in the cast. We did such a good job that we even got a special mention at the end of the show!
Even if I didn't need it for its intended purpose, I can imagine that any bride on a budget will also benefit from reading The Knot Book of Wedding Flowers since it gives them a lot of helpful hints and shows them how they can do certain things for themselves. At the very least, it will put brides a step ahead when it comes to discussing arrangements with their florist since they are likely to already know what they want after reading through this book.
Personally, however, I would hire a professional to do my wedding flowers. Though a lot of creative people can probably produce some amazing arrangements using this book, if I were getting married all over again, I'd prefer to let someone else worry about my flowers. Besides, I'd like my flowers to be a bit wacky, and this book features more simple and elegant designs. Plus, using this book also means you will have to find the flowers you're looking for. Again, I'd rather have a florist worry about that! I'm getting married after all, and don't need the extra wrinkles!
The Knot Book of Wedding Flowers is a book I would recommend to everyone who likes flowers and flower arrangements. It's a great inspirational guide for brides and their mothers, and a great tool to show florists too! For simple do-it-yourself weddings, it's probably the best book to invest in, especially if you have creative friends!
Don't just take my word for it. Get your own sneak peek into The Knot Book of Wedding Flowers and discover why it's a great resource for anyone to have!
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