Carolyn Burke STL Blog

Flowers at the wedding ceremony add beauty, fragrance and color. When choosing flowers consider the color scheme, decor of your ceremony site . Select a few dramatic showpieces that will complement the existing decor. Decoration should be determined by the size and style of the building, the  formality of the wedding and the preference of the bride, the cost and the regulation of the site. Example of a formal decor For a church wedding, the purpose of having flowers in the main altar is to direct the guest visual attention toward the front of the church. The flowers in the ceremony site can be elaborate or as simple as you want. In a candlelight ceremony, the stands maybe decorated with flowers and greenery for a nice effect.  For the aisle pews , a cluster of flowers, a cascade of flowers or greenery and ribbons are all popular choices. If your ceremony site is outside you can decorate the arch or the gazebo or other structure serving as an altar with flowers and ...

Spink Pavilion Missouri Botanical Garden 4344 Shaw Boulevard 63110 314-961-7588 www.cateringstlouis.com   The Spink Pavilion at the Missouri Botanical Garden was renovated in 2010. This historic building has floor-to-ceiling glass windows that allow up to 120 guests to experience the Garden’s spectacular beauty. Renting the venue includes a permanent awning, restrooms, a bride’s room, and reception area. Need Someone to Perform the Ceremony? Go To CarolynBurkeSTL Short, Sweet and Simple

As a Wedding Officiant , I often show up to weddings and see the wedding party with their flowers pinned in so many ways.  The last time I witnessed this the groom and the groomsmen had theirs pinned on top of the POCKET on their tuxedo jacket - OH NO !! Here are a few TIPS for how to wear the boutonniere or corsage. Carolyn Burke Pinning the Boutonniere The easiest way to remember which side to pin these special flowers is to remember the saying, "Over Your Heart" This saying goes for both men and women where the flowers are either pinned on the left side or placed on the left wrist.  If the guest or family member is wearing a suit versus a tuxedo, you will notice the BUTTON HOLE on the left lapel.  This is another sign to show which side to pin the flower on. Boutonniere on a Shirt is Usually a NO-NO Large Flowers Look Tacky As far as other things to remember - if the men are not wearing a JACKET, they should not be wearing a boutonniere on thei...

I am starting to see CARNATION flowers come back into the scene in bouquets and corsages. Hurray !! Carnation + Rose Bridal Bouquet I had never seen carnations grouped together before without any other flowers to steal their thunder. They were always used as a filler and almost always paired with baby’s breath. Who knew that they had such power in numbers? Not only do they look fabulous ‘en masse’, they’re inexpensive, hearty and they last a long time. What more could one ask from such a sweet and humble flower? To stretch the budget and give today's brides the lush, full look they desire, I recommend mixing roses with carnations.  Be sure to have the carnations FLUFFED OUT by hand to realize the flower's true fullness potential.  In fact, so popular are these humble blooms, roses are being bred to look more like carnations! Check out IntimateWeddings.com for more ideas and convincing.

Silk Versus Real Flowers It may seem an easy decision choosing whether to have silk or real flowers for your wedding is more difficult than it appears. Both have their advantages and disadvantages - it's just a matter of deciding which of those attributes works best for your wedding. Ultimately choosing silk or real flowers comes down to cost, durability, appearance and convenience. To help make the decision easier here are the advantages of both silk and real flowers. Silk Flower Advantages:   Look fresh all day long (won’t wilt or turn brown) Last forever (make a great keepsake) Less expensive than real flowers Non-allergenic Can be received weeks ahead of the wedding Don’t attract insects Don’t need to be refrigerated Can be easily transported Always in season (large, readily available variety) Lighter to carry than real flowers Real Flower Advantages:  The heavenly scent Exquisite detail  Soft and delicate to the touch More vendors to...

When selecting your bouquet, be aware of the size and weight of the flowers.  If your ceremony is long, holding a large, heavy bouquet can be difficult. Here's what happened to one bride: Halfway through her Catholic ceremony , the weight of her bouquet took a toll on her arms and throughout the wedding video you can see her arms and her flowers shaking because of the weight! Also, your Maid/Matron of Honor holds TWO bouquets during part or most of the ceremony while the rings and vows are exchanged and other rituals that the couple chooses. Will The Flowers Hold Up? Be sure to talk with your florist about the timetable for your wedding day and where and when you'll be taking photographs. For instance, if you are taking pictures several hours before the ceremony and taking them outside in the middle of the summer... you'll want to choose flowers that can stand up to the heat and wind and still look beautiful all the way through to the ceremony and reception. To...

It may seem an easy decision choosing whether to have silk or real flowers for your wedding is more difficult than it appears.  Both have their advantages and disadvantages - it's just a matter of deciding which of those attributes works best for your wedding.  Ultimately choosing silk or real flowers comes down to cost, durability, appearance and convenience.  To help make the decision easier here are the advantages of both silk and real flowers. Can you tell the difference ?? Silk Flower Advantages:   Look fresh all day long (won’t wilt or turn brown) Last forever (make a great keepsake) Less expensive than real flowers Non-allergenic Can be received weeks ahead of the wedding Don’t attract insects Don’t need to be refrigerated Can be easily transported Always in season (large, readily available variety) Lighter to carry than real flowers Real Flower Advantages:  The heavenly scent Exquisite detail  Soft and delicate to t...

Flowers at the wedding ceremony add beauty, fragrance and color. When choosing flowers consider the color scheme, decor of your ceremony site. Select a few dramatic showpieces that will complement the existing decor. Decoration should be determine by the size and style of the building, the formality of the wedding and the preference of the bride, the cost and the regulation of the site. For a church wedding, the purpose of having flowers in the main altar is to direct the guest visual attention toward the front of the church. The flowers in the ceremony site can be elaborate or as simple as you want. In a candlelight ceremony, the stands maybe decorated with flowers and greenery for a nice effect.  For the aisle pews, a cluster of flowers, a cascade of flowers or greenery and ribbons are all popular choices. If your ceremony site is outside you can decorate the arch or the gazebo or other structure serving as an altar with flowers and greenery. To save money, dec...

When you meet with your florist, you should discuss the overall theme and mood you want to create for your wedding. Here are some things you should bring with you... Bring swatches of material if you have them. Bring pictures of magazine clippings of floral arrangements and bouquets that you like and some that you don't.  This will really help your florist better understand your tastes. Is your florist familiar with your location?  If your florist is unfamiliar with your reception or ceremony location, ask if they can visit the sites OR bring them lots of pictures to show the inside. Your florist will make recommendations for the type and size ($$$) of floral arrangements and centerpieces. It is difficult to make those determinations without having seen the room and knowing about its size and decor. HINT: Ask the event manager of your reception site if you can take a peek at how the place looks during an upcoming wedding. Bring your camera for ideas. It will help yo...

The task of pinning and placing the corsage and boutonnière for family members and the wedding party may seem trivial and not important. The thought is usually not on your mind and it sometimes falls into the hands of someone who is inexperienced or it goes un-noticed. TIMING is everything!   Carolyn Burke makes sure to have this task completed before the photographer starts taking pictures or the processional begins. Below are some TIPS for choosing corsages and boutonnières. Corsages are meant to designate special female family members. Typically, the mothers and grandmothers of both the bride and the groom wear corsages over their left breast (over their heart). However, you may also give corsages to special friends or those participating in your wedding ceremony, such as your readers, soloist or musician. Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing your corsages. The price of corsages can range anywhere from $25 to $100 or more, depending on the size and type...