Flowers for Surprise Weddings

Want to get married surrounded by friends and family without all the pre-wedding craziness that usually surrounds traditional ceremonies? Then consider a surprise wedding.

We had back-to-back weekends with surprise weddings this month and for couples who want a simple, fun and more stress-free event, they're a great choice.

The first couple invited guests to a Chinese New Years Party at the bride's home.

The residence was festooned with flowers, linens and decor in red and gold with arrangements strategic placed in the buffet areas and in the space later to be used for the ceremony. The couple wanted to be married in front of the fireplace hearth, but didn't like the thought of having the large plasma TV above it in the background. 

 Solution? The bride created a red fringed banner featuring the Chinese good luck symbol and hung it to cover the screen. Two recessed areas were filled with up-lit vases of bamboo, orchids, anthuriums, tropical leaves and hand-woven golden birds to create a simple yet stunning setting.

Table centerpieces were created in wok-style dishes and featured ginger, orchids, anthuriums, bamboo and gold-highlighted lotus pods.

Near the end of the cocktail hour, the groom gathered their guests in front of the fire place setting and announced, "We're getting married."  Greeted with smiles and polite applause, he finished, "Right now!" and the room erupted with loud clapping. The bride, carrying a petite clutch of green cymbidium orchids accented with a gold fan, and her two granddaughter flower girls appeared and the ceremony took place to the delight of all.

Our second surprise wedding took on a more classic look and was held at the Los Coyotes Country Club. The event was originally scheduled to be an engagement party with a small group of approximately 50 friends and family members. Just 9 days before the event, the couple decided the night would be the perfect time to get married. Bride and groom tipped off their kids in advance of the event, but the other guests arrived to be surprised with the good news.

The bride carried a petite cascading clutch of 'Casa Blanca' lilies, 'Message' roses and dendrobium orchids wrapped in ivory satin and pale gold ribbons.  For centerpieces, the couple chose low, causally elegant designs featuring 'Friendship' roses, raspberry lilies, dendrobium orchids and berries and we added a light dusting of rose petals to accent the ivory linens and creamy gold chair cover sashes.

The ceremony area, facing the golf course, featured two tall designs of garden flowers in white, cream, raspberry and crimson. 

For both weddings, the brides mentioned that the only gifts they really wanted were to have the people they cared most about be in attendance as they married the men of their dreams.  No doubt, these two marriage ceremonies will be unforgettable to their guests.  They are to us.

We wish both couples a lifetime of health and happiness and are thankful they chose Avante Gardens to add to the beauty of their special days.       

Comment Notification

If you would like to receive an email when updates are made to this post, please register here

Subscribe to this post's comments using RSS