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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1987-02-04, Page 26PAGE 26. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1987. Today's bridal bouquets are less formal Today’s bridal bouquets are loose and airy, as if the bride had plucked abunch of freshly growing flowers from a nearby garden on her way to the wedding. This trend toward free-flowing bridal bouquets is a reflection of the European and Japanese tradi­ tions of floral arranging. It’s notquantity, but quality that counts in today’s bridal bouquets. The looser floral bouquets, where each flower is important, allow for lots of space in the arrangement and longer stems for an elegant touch. When selecting their bouquets for the bridal party, most brides follow instinct rather than tradi­ tion. It still remains an important consideration, however, totake into account the personality of the bride and bridesmaids, in addition to the cut, style, color and type of gowns everyone will be wearing when selecting the bridal bouquet right for you. Anything goes for today’s bride. Due to the availability of Holland imports year-round, many brides are simply amazed at the great variety, of flowers to choose from, How do you rate as a wedding guest? You may be a well-loved relative or a terrific friend of a couple about to be married, but how do you rate as the perfect wedding guest? Here’s a quick quiz to rate your manners as a guest. Answer first, thencheckbe.’owtosee how you rate. TRUE OR FALSE? 1. Verbal acceptance of a wedding invitation is fine. 2. You don’t have to send a gift if you don’t attend the wedding. 3. You should bring the wedding present to the reception. 4. Ifyou are dating someone, it’s all right to bring him or her to the wedding. 5. A woman invited to a wedding must not wear all black or ail white. 6. The last person to be seated in the church is the mother of the bride. 7. On the receiving line, you “congratulate” the bridegroom and offer “best wishes” to the bride. 8. You shouldn’t leave the reception before the newlyweds do. ANSWERS 1. False. Unless it is a very informal invitation, you are requir­ ed to answer with a brief, handwritten note on a double sheet of fine, white paper. If a response card is enclosed with the invitation, used it instead. 2. True. If you are close to the couple, you will likely want to send a gift, but it’s not required. 3. False. Unless the gift is a cheque,send the present to the home of the bride as soon as apart from the traditional garden­ ias, roses, daisies, carnations and baby’s breath. Today’s bride is also opting for more splashes of color in her bouquets. Itusedtobethatthe bride, strictly following protocol, would select some white or off- white flowers to match her gown and flowers to blend with the bridesmaids’ gowns. Unfortunately, these flowers blended in too well, often fading into the colors of the gown. Nowadays, brides are just as likely to select colors that complement or contrast with their gowns. The year-round Dutch imports, such as iris, freesia, gerbera and alstroemeria, do not fluctuate much in price. But brides with a taste for the exotica are still opting for orchids, also grown year-round in Holland, which are pricier. These include the large, widely- loved cattleya and cymbidium orchids, as well as the small stem orchids, which come in three to four to a stalk. Andfor brides who truly want something out of the ordinary, there are all kinds of exotic flowers available from around the world, possible after you receive the wedding invitation. Cheques, pro­ perly tucked into correct little envelopes, may be handed to the couple at the reception. 4. False. An invitation is only for those specifically mentioned on the invitation, unless it reads “and guest” or “and family.” 5. True. Although the rules can be bent on this, since black is so fashionable right now. In general, judge what you should wear by the formality of the invitat’on. Men can*t go wrong with the classic suit and tie, women can always play it safe in a street length dressy party or cocktail dress. 6. True. This is the signal that the ceremony is about to begin. If you arrive late, stand unobtrusive­ ly at the back unless directed otherwise by an usher. It’s best to try to arrive 10 or 15 minutes early, but accidents do happen. 7. True. You could offend if you reverse them! Other tips for negotiating the receiving line: Introduce yourself to anyone who isn’t certain to know you. Say something brief and pleasant to parents and other family mem­ bers. 8. True. Although this was truer inthedayswhenthe newlyweds always left the reception early, in a shower of rice, to go directly to their honeymoon. These days, some couples stay right until the end of the party, so an alternate rulemightbe: Don’t leave until the wedding cake has been cut and served. Remember to thank the wedding hostess (usually the bride’s mother) when you go. including birds of paradise and calla lilies. Greenery is a must for accentu­ ating the free-flowing design in today’s bridal bouquets. Ivy re­ mains the favorite and is available either in variegated ivy or with a creamy color running through it which co-ordinates well with the bride’s gown. When you mention greenery these days, it can mean greenery in different shapes and sizes, or greenery that is not entirely green at all but with different colors running through it. In addition to the loose, airy bouquets, many brides also enjoy the freshly picked look of a few hand-held flowers. Only brides who have a reception and picture­ taking session closely following the wedding should consider a hand­ held bouquet, since the flowers wilt faster out of water. Although real flowers are more popular than silk flowers, hand­ wrapped silk flowers do offer advantages over the real thing, depending on your needs. Besides not having to worry aboutthe silk flowers wilting or drying up, they also come in a wider range of colors and are available in exotic varieties which do not exist in real life. Many brides bring the bouquets back and have a table arrangement made out of them - this is very popular. A silk flower arrangement can also provide a memento of that special day. Many brides opt for either an entire silk bouquet or a combination of silk and real flowers for their bridesmaids. The following cost-cutting sug­ gestions for your bridal bouquets can save money. Select flowers available year-round in the cheap­ er varieties, like freesia and irises. If yourheartisseton something more exotic, consider alstroemer­ ia, which closely resembles stem orchids but is cheaper in price. Wedding etiquette is on your side when it comes to saving You’re In Luck Clearance Prices on Appliances, just when you need them Oldfield Pro Hardware and Radio Shack Radw Brussels 887-6851 /hael‘ money. For your bouquets, con­ centrate on the bride. That’s the main event: The bridemaids’ bouquets should be less elaborate anyway, to keep from overshadow­ ing the bride on her day. Many of the loose, airy bouquets or hand-held flowers include fewer flowers in the arrangement than before. Using twigs and colored branches can reduce the cost. For decorating the church, you Invitations, Replies, Thank You ’s, Guest Books, Wedding Albums • Plume Pens • Bride's Knife • Cake Doilies, Coloured Foil and Ribbon • Ring Pillows • Garters, Handkerchiefs • Keepsake Bags For the Table [Receptions, showers & parties] NAPKINS, CANDLES, PLACE CARDS, PLATES, TABLECLOTHS. WINETOASTGOBLETS Decorations For church, reception hall and car Streamers, bells, garlands, pom poms, etc. PLUS FULL LINE OF GIFT WRAPS & CARDS ► gnu’ll finis it all GvdU- in our tribal (Comer Sunby s Curb Shoppe 9 ALBERT STREET, CLINTON Open: Monday to Saturday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Friday evenings till 9 p.m. mightbe able to use the flowers that are going to be used for the Sunday service. This is particularly true in summer-time. Or if some­ one’s wedding is before yours, you might be able to strike a deal that allows you to use the other party’s flowers. For the reception, you can use flowers in a vase on each table, which can be just as engaging as more elaborate floral arrange­ ments. We also carry giftware, small appliances - almost everything you need to set up your new home