68
January 25 • 2018
jn
PHOTO BY FIRST COMES LOVE PHOTO (FIRSTCOMESLOVEPHOTO.COM)
PHOTO BY FIRST COMES LOVE PHOTO (FIRSTCOMESLOVEPHOTO.COM)
“Eucalyptus and lavender are my favorite fragrances,
and the protea flower in its many forms is an ancient sym-
bol of courage and transformation. Olive branches symbol-
ize peace, new beginnings. I was very fortunate to work
with a florist who understood my vision, listened to what I
wanted and executed flawlessly.”
Fisher, who grows many indoor plants, worked closely
with Breath of Spring Florist in Bloomfield Hills. Inserted
among the greenery that adorned the outdoor ceremony
and indoor reception were white orchids for accents.
Justine Aronson, another September bride, grew up in
Michigan and moved to California in pursuit of a classical
singing career. She clocked considerable travel to exact
the details of her Chicago wedding to Richard Valitutto
after searching Pinterest for basic ideas, hiring a wedding
planner and choosing a florist.
“I like hydrangeas, and I carried them in my bouquet
with the centerpieces being different versions of the
bouquet,” says Aronson, who chose a pastel palette in
the bridesmaids’ dresses and flowers. “There were lots of
white and cream colors with foliage. I knew the concept I
wanted, and the florist helped bring that to fruition.”
Aronson had greenery on the chuppah for a natural
look as the bridesmaids wore different dresses and car-
ried an anemone variety that showed a subtle blue center
with white petals. Flowers in general had different tex-
tures just as the dresses had different colors and textures.
David McKnight, founder and owner of Emerald City
Designs in Farmington Hills, advises that the use of tex-
tured flowers puts wedding planners in style this year.
He also finds that peonies and dahlias are very popu-
lar. Delicate blooms — sweet pea, scabiosa, lisianthus,
astilbe — also are popular.
For couples wanting a deeper meaning in their floral
choices, they can often look to symbols. Some symbols
are associated with hues, and roses make for a prime
example.
“While a red rose symbolizes passion, a white rose
means purity,” McKnight explains. “A pink rose signifies
joy and admiration. Hydrangeas represent understanding
while lilies reflect on purity. Ranunculi speak for radi-
ance.”
The chuppah, according to McKnight, can have floral
designs that bring about a soft and romantic effect or
become more dramatic with lush blooms and blossoms.
The most distinctive chuppah Emerald City Designs cre-
ated was for a wedding at the Fox Theatre, where guests
viewed 4,200 blossoms, including hydrangeas and roses,
with greenery for a one-of-a-kind effect.
“Clients should be conscious of what is in season and
what will hold up in the season of a wedding,” McKnight
says. “For example, hydrangeas in bridal bouquets during
the summer months may not hold up as well as roses.”
There are so many floral options, McKnight adds, so
clients should not feel limited. •
PHOTO BY FIRST COMES LOVE PHOTO (FIRSTCOMESLOVEPHOTO.COM)
continued from page 66
PHOTO BY ABBY ROSE PHOTO
bridal 2018
OPPONING PAGE: Roses, the
classic wedding flower, can
make every bouquet look
beautiful, elegant and fresh.
CLOCKWISE: Hydrangeas
were the centerpiece of
Justine Aronson’s bouquet.
Natural and woodsy was the
theme for Lindsay and Josh
Fisher’s flowers, including the
chuppah, which dripped with
greenery accented with white
orchids.
The bridesmaids at Fisher’s
wedding, with help from
Breath of Spring in Bloomfield
Hills, carried proteas,
lavender, seeded eucalyptus
and blue thistle.
Josh Fisher’s groomsmen
wore boutonnieres of seeded
eucalyptus, lavender and blue
thistle.
Roses, hydrangea, spray roses
and greenery accents were
among the 4,200 blossoms
adorning a chuppah, created
by David C. McKnight of
Emerald City Designs in
Farmington Hills, at the Fox
Theatre.