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Tips On How To Personalize Your Wedding
By Robbi Ernst, III of
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2. Flowers and Decoration:

a). The staff of June Wedding, Inc. (JWI) planned many weddings at The Hamlin Mansion in San Francisco. But one stands out in memory: The ceremony was to take place ina large round room, the very center of the mansion. Leading off from the central room were five rooms with doors that opened into them. In these rooms the guests would have a formal sitdown dinner after the ceremony and cocktail reception in the center room. At one of our meetings with the florist (Laura Little of Floramor Studios 415 864 0145) I listened carefully and took notes as the bride selected the colors and types of flowers to be used in the bouquets and centerpieces. Her flowers of choice were wonderful shades of purple, violet and lavender. Upon returning to the JWI Salon on Post Street in downtown San Francisco, I called the caterer (Laurence Whiting, owner of Now We're Cooking! 415 255
6355) and suggested that instead of the serving staff bringing out the
salads and placing them on the table after the guests were seated, that instead we have the salads in place before the guests came into the room AND that the chef put radicchio in the salad (for those on a more restricted budget purple cabbage works just as well). The doors to the dining rooms were opened to drum rolls and trumpets playing Vivaldi's Trumpet Fanfare. The sight was all but overwhelming and quite dramatic. The attention of the guests was drawn to the dining rooms. The tables looked like fabulous bouquets. Today all professional caterers use flowers that not only enhance the dining tables or serving trays but are also edible. And, it doesn't add a penny to the cost! Now, mind you, be tasteful! Use the flowers to accentuate a dish, not to overwhelm it. After all, you don't want your guests going away talking about how they ate your bridal bouquet.

b). Speaking of bouquets, have you considered saving this once (well,
maybe twice) in a life time floral arrangement that is so special to you on your wedding day? Do at least think about it. One of the nation's experts in proper floral preservation is Sentimental Reasons (owners Sue Abbott and Casey O'Connor, Las Vegas, Nevada 800 896 5765). They have clients internationally. Your bouquet can be shipped overnight to them. The bouquet and boutonniere are taken apart, freeze dried and then reassembled as originally designed in a framed format or recreated into a beautiful centerpiece.

c). Personalizing your wedding means making certain that your loved ones (your parents and wedding party) are not forgotten. Remember, they've been your esprit de corps in your months of planning. Have floral arrangements in their hotel rooms or at their home the day before the wedding. For a special affect, have the florist use the same flowers that will be in the wedding bouquets and arrangements. Don't forget to enclose a "love note"; remember, we are "personalizing" your wedding.

d). We are talking to the bride AND the groom! A romantic thing for the groom to do is have arrangements of flowers sent to the bride's home, the parents' homes AND, if you really want your bride to know you are a classey gentleman, have flowers in the honeymoon suite awaiting your arrival. Add a bottle of champagne, wine or non-alcoholic wine (the same brand as served at the wedding)and you're promised a wonderful feeling. To keep that romance going, write down the names and colors of the flowers and file it. On your anniversaries, pull out that list and call your favorite florist. Too, the new bride or wife can order a fresh boutonniere to be present in your room on the honeymoon and all of your anniversaries to come. I once had a bride who had a passion for gardenias. Fortunately she was sensible and recognized that gardenias have a powerful fragrance. One should consider twice before using them in abundance as centerpieces for the dinner tables. Actually one should avoid any floral fragrance that is going to compete with the aromas and flavors of the food. The bride flew her wedding party into San Francisco and hosted them at the world famous Pan Pacific Hotel(Sue Robbins 415 771 8600). The bride and groom ordered gardenias floating in shallow water filled clear glass containers and sent to the rooms of the parents and the wedding party. Later, I called the florist and ordered similar gardenia arrangements to be placed on the couple's nightstand of their honeymoon suite in Bora Bora.

e). Is your wedding or reception taking place in the town hall, the local Elks' Lodge or Knights of Columbus Hall? Not to worry. Cover those pictured covered walls with hanging drapes of fabric from ceiling to floor. Use a color that compliments your wedding flowers and attendants' dresses. Later the fabric can be sewn into table clothes and given as gifts. For an even more dramatic flare, uplight the walls...."wash" them in color.

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