Bridal Bouquets -

Local and Seasonal Trends
By: Melanie Jeffers Frassinelli

The reception site is booked, the dresses and colors chosen. Now it is time to think about bouquets for the bride and the wedding party. For some, this is a daunting task. But the decisions you have already made have you well on your way to finding floral designs to fit your personality and style. The more information you can give, the better your florist will be able to assist you.

There are two basic forms of bouquets -- hand-tied and arranged within a form attached to a handle.

In the past few years, hand-tied bouquets have become the trend across the country, and the Poconos have followed suit. With this style, the flowers are gathered together into an arrangement and the stems are left long, to serve as the handle of the bouquet. The stems can be left bare or wrapped with ribbon. The arrangement can be held in front of or on the arm of the carrier.

Styles range from elegant to informal, depending upon the flowers used and how the arrangement is designed. The local trend has been a less formal, natural look. Renaissance and country garden themes have been popular.

If you are drawn to beautiful cascades of flowers, an arrangement made in a bouquet holder is right for you. This has a plastic handle for you to hold and the flowers are designed in foam on the front of the holder. While this type of bouquet is appropriate year-round, it is most popular with winter and holiday weddings, which tend to be more formal.

Despite trends, there is no right or wrong style of floral design. What appeals to you is what is important. Look at pictures on your own and then with a florist to determine shapes, styles, flowers and colors that will make your bouquet one of distinction.