Tips and Advice: back up boutonniere

Photo by Dave Miyamoto & Company

For some reason, boutonnieres, particularly those on grooms, never seem to make it through a whole wedding day. One more than one occasion, I've had to "rig" a boutonniere to fix it, or to "MacGyver" a new one in a pinch. After several hardy hugs and chummy chest bumps, the delicate petals that once formed a full blossom somehow wind up anywhere but on the boutonniere. The end result: a beautifully wrapped stem, and a partial flower, if you're lucky.

If planning for a wedding, the pre-emptive measure is an easy one: order a second boutonniere. The floral designer can create a replica of the first boutonniere, or can design an entirely different look, while still incorporating the flower(s) of the wedding. When the first one starts to appear a bit shabby, simply swap the worn one for the fresh new one. Always keep your best lapel forward!

The Truth About "Local Flowers"

anthurium, torch ginger, and cymbidium orchid bouquet - photo by Chrissy Lambert Photography

Upon meeting with couples who are just embarking on the planning of their wedding, I often hear that they wish to use "local flowers" for their wedding, drawing on the beauty of the flowers supposedly in abundance here in Hawaii. Such flowers not only represent the location of their wedding, but they also support local growers and give their wedding an island feel.

mixed arrangement with green cymbidium orchids and yellow mokara orchids - photo by Absolutely Loved

Then, upon viewing their inspiration photos, I realize that they often times really mean that they would like tropical flowers, but little do they and many others realize, that the so-desired and exotic tropical flowers, especially those viewed in photos found in magazines and on-line, are often times flown in to Hawai'i. Sure, beautiful tropicals such as torch ginger, monsterra leaves, and bird of paradise adorn the landscaping of resorts and homes, but many of the prized cymbidium and mokara orchids travel thousands of miles to get here and eventually find their way into a bouquet or centerpiece.

monsterra leaf on pew - photo by Taka of La Vie

Even roses, which are grown locally, are in fact, less popular for weddings than those grown in South America, as the imported versions tend to have a higher petal count and are often times larger and hardier...

As for the more delicate flowers grown in Hawai'i, such as plumeria and hibiscus, their fragile composition makes it difficult to incorporate into weddings. They easily brown and/or wilt. A good substitute, if wanting these blooms, is to consider deco clay versions, hand-made, and amazingly life-like.

deco clay hibiscus blossom on favor box with fresh mokara orchids on the napkin

I urge couples to consider flowers that they really want for their wedding as opposed to only looking at locally grown flowers. Chances are, the flowers they are desiring will need to be imported to our islands. For those who truly do want to stick to locally grown flowers, this is certainly a possibility, but understand that there are limitations as to what is available. Having a realistic understanding of locally grown flowers and tropical flowers will help to better define and inform your choices for your wedding. Happy planning!

Grooming for the Groom

Photo by Dave Miyamoto and Company

As standard practice, brides schedule manicures into their wedding preparation regimen. Grooms, however, seldom give thought to their own nails as it relates to their wedding. Little do they realize that wedding day photos often include close-up shots of the groom's hand...holding the bride's hand, exchanging rings, and signing the marriage license.

To put your best foot (er, hand) forward, I suggest that all grooms invest in a manicure for themselves a day or two prior to their wedding. We all want to see pampered fingertips in photos, with clean and evenly trimmed nails, pushed back cuticles, and no hangnails! Even the most macho of grooms can appreciate the pampering treatment of the hand massage that comes with the experience, so gentlemen, mark your calendars, and be sure to treat yourselves to a pre-wedding mani, too!