It’s Thursday, and that means another great segment of Ask a PWG Wedding Pro! For this weeks wedding blog post, the editors at PerfectWeddingGuide.com spoke with Ashley Hotka, owner and designer of Good Earth Floral Design Studio, to provide some insight for brides on the inner workings of wedding florals.
Good Earth, which is located in the metro Kansas City area, is a unique and eco-friendly company that strives to create a personally-stylized and relaxed experience for their clients. Here, Ashley addresses reader’s planning questions, provides insight on current trends and wedding tips, and shares some fantastic photos of some of Good Earth’s past earth-friendly and original designs.
1. What are some industry trends you’re seeing with brides’ floral and decor options for 2010 weddings?
This year some of the hottest color trends are deep purples, teal, and a yellow and gray combo. One surprising color scheme that has so much charm is red and aqua. Love it! But, I think the most important thing is bringing you and your groom’s personalities into your wedding day. Forget what’s popular and let your wedding day be a fun reflection of you as a couple.
2. Peacock feathers are really popular for spring and summer weddings this year. How can I find ways to incorporate the trend in my wedding centerpieces without looking tacky or overwhelming?– Kristy M., Atlanta
This is a very fun, avant-garde look. Make sure you get good quality feathers, not discount feathers from the local hobby store. Use them as an accent, not as the main feature, in tall dramatic centerpieces or a vintage inspired hair clip or broach with feathers and little bling. (Peacock floral arrangement photos courtesy of Lana Pelham-Faulkner from Fairbanks Florist).
3. I’m incorporating a “green” theme into my wedding reception decor. Do you have any tips on using earth-friendly products for my ceremony and wedding flowers? — Tabitha W., Kansas City
As an environmentally friendly florist, I know there are endless easy and simple ways you can make your wedding a little greener. For example, we use locally grown or Veriflora certified blooms whenever possible. You can transport your altar arrangements and ceremony flowers to the reception to be reused as buffet pieces or head table decor. Ask your caterer to use organic or locally grown ingredients and have a vegetarian option. Print on recycled stationary. Have a wedding website you can direct guests to for directions, lodging information, and updates on the happy couple!
You can also request a CD version of your photos from your photographer so you can share your photos on the site after the ceremony. This will cut down on the amount of paper in your invites and also give your guest a much more personal experience of your wedding.
4. In looking online for wedding flowers suppliers, I see there are a number of floral distributors who sell pre-made bouquets. You simply select an arrangement of your choice and they ship the order to you. Are there any drawbacks to this option? – Dalilah P. — Hartford, CT
This is a very high stress, low quality option that I do not recommend to anyone looking to enjoy a relaxed wedding day experience. To ensure beautiful arrangements and bouquets have your flowers designed locally, by a creative designer you trust and uses only fresh, high quality blooms. You should expect your florist get to know you and your fiance’s wedding style and work with you to come up with unique designs and arrangements that are delivered and set up for you. You should be thrilled with your flowers and be able to sit back and enjoy your wedding day. From a DIY experience on my own wedding day, I truly believe this is the one time you should never settle.
To learn more about Good Earth Floral Design Studio, check out their vendor profile on PerfectWeddingGuide.com or follow their blog at GoodEarthFlowers.com. Also, if you have a question you would like to see answered in an upcoming Ask a PWG Wedding Pro wedding blog segment, email us at profiles [at] pwg [dot] com!
