CityView Magazine - Fayetteville, NC
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/124109
Photograph by KCC Photography girls to get together the morning of the wedding for a little party. The girls I see now are likely to be running a 5k the morning of the wedding and they want their dress to accentuate their toned bodies." Together with accents in burlap, a coarse plainlywoven fabric traditionally appreciated for its durability, even the most elaborate arrangements seem casual and current. 58 | May/June • 2013 Coming up roses ... or peonies Historically speaking, wedding flowers were as integral to a marriage ceremony as bridesmaids, albeit for a more practical reason. As early as the 15th century, couples married in the spring and summer and brides carried a fragrant bouquet because women only took one bath per year, in May. Much to the relief of grooms everywhere, necessity no longer dictates wedding flowers, but beautiful arrangements remain fundamental to almost every wedding ceremony. A large percentage of a traditional wedding budget, flower selection deserves a considerable amount of a bride's attention and, like clothing designs for the wedding party, style continue to evolve. Pinterest, a seemingly infinite online pinboard, and Internet sites like TheKnot.com help brides everywhere decide what they like before they even visit a florist. Wendy Long of Owen's & Bordeaux Florist on Raeford Road in Fayetteville, reported that in Fayetteville, trends for this year are leaning casual, sentimental and rustic, in stark contrast to a recent past of uniform, tightly bound bouquets and tall, glamorous arrangements. Long said that, due in large part to the overwhelming availability of information on the Internet, brides usually come to Owen's with a folder of styles, colors, designs and, of course, flowers that have caught their eye — some of which are very expensive. Fortunately, even if a particular bouquet is over budget, a florist can work with a bride by swapping rare, expensive stems for similar, more economical choices and maintain the overall desired 'look.' Peonies, garden roses and orchids are always in high demand for bridal and bridesmaid bouquets, but Long says that brides are adding seeded euca-