Bridal boquets with Lilacs????

jandm5711

Ok so i'm getting married in May 2011 so i have some time but here's what i want:

I want the bridal party to have real flowers but all the centerpieces and decorations can be fake. I know for sure that i want Lilacs in my boquet and maybe even the bridesmaids. My problem, is that i don't know what else to have in the boquet! Any suggestions are appreciated.

Oh i should also mention that each of the girls will be wearing a different pastel color. Lilac, blue, green, yellow, pink. Thank you!!

equinedreamer

I was planning on doing this, I am using silk flowers though because I read lilacs can wilt pretty quickly. Anyway my idea was to combine soft white, purple, and pink lilacs with white roses and different colored day lilies. The lilacs I chose because the are one of my favorite scents and the sight brings back happy memories, lilies because they are hands down my favorite flower, and white roses to honor my parents because that was their wedding flower.

Sue-n-Kevin

I LOVE LILACS!!!

However, here's my perspective (a bit off topic). I have lived in a house for over 15 years with multiple lilac bushes........ I even planted some of my own in white. Until this year, they always bloomed around Mother's Day. However, with the warm weather we had in the metro Detroit area during April, this year they bloomed the last week in April, all of them (except for the white ones and Lil Kim pinkish lilacs, which bloom a bit later).

Because lilacs bloom on a schedule, on bushes, they are not for the most part a "hothouse flower" that floral growers can "time" to bloom at certain times (at least as I understand it). Lilly of the valley are the same way (my other fave garden flower).........this year my huge lilly of the valley plot bloomed 2 weeks early also. That's why florists get $5 a stem for lilly of the valley, and I had hundreds (which I offered to local brides, both of whom lost out because their weddings were after they bloomed).

Having said that, if you are counting on a local source in Chicago, I wish you the best of luck. I peeked at your bio and see you are getting married 5/7/11. Historically, weatherwise, that should be when lilacs are blooming.

I pick my lilacs every year, and have no problem making them last, with long stems in a tall vase for over a week. They drink a LOT of water. If your timing works out for your wedding & when they bloom, or you have a florist supplying them, keep them in water up to the moment of the wedding, and have vases on the head table for your bouquets.

For flowers that will mix well in a bouquet (your original question), I'd probably just go with white, like calla lillies, white roses, or a mix of colors for everyone that match the dresses. You will need to make sure that the "other flowers" you choose have longish stems, so they don't get lost in the fluffiness of the lilacs.

Good luck.

jandm5711

Thank you so much everyone! you have been most helpful! Lilacs are just beautiful and they are my favorite. My Great-Grandfather planted 5 lilac bushes just before he died and so as a child, i enjoyed them greatly and always thought of him. This way, he can also be at my wedding. They have such a special meaning to me. Thanks again and good luck on each of your weddings!

Jaytee501

I had lilacs in my centerpieces & LOVED them, though they were not in full bloom, they were beautiful & as they are special to you, I say GO FOR IT!

I also had lavender/"coolwater' roses, purple lisianthus, pink peonies... (oh, and I was May as well)

Sooo many flower choices available pretty much anywhere in May & in so many colors. Hydrangea, hyacinth & tulips could aslo look pretty with the lilacs.

Some pics I loved of bouquets with lilacs:
http://australiaentertains.com.au/wp-content/lilac%20bouquet.jpg

http://deansflowers.ns.ca/images/W21-3320.jpg

http://www.kaboodle.com/hi/img/2/0/0/31/a/AAAAAlqRdMkAAAAAADGuDg.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UnHZfyOYACc/SfhfjcNNRvI/AAAAAAAAH4c/bCYD2BEeUc0/s400/English+country+garden+wedding+bouquet.JPG

http://media.theknot.com/ImageStage/Objects/0003/0042144/large_image.jpg

http://www.momentsincolor.com/images/WeddingBouquest043.jpg

http://media.photobucket.com/image/lilacs%20bouquet%20wedding/amerika206/bridal_bouquet_blue_purple.jpg

and this, described as "This spring mix boasts lavender tulips, roses, lilacs, green vibernum all gathered in a hand bouquet with luscious amounts of seeded eucalyptus" : (just figured sometimes it's helpful, being able to easily ID the flowers in a photo!)
http://www.wedding-flowers-and-reception-ideas.com/images/lilac-wedding-bouquet-0001.jpg

Good luck!