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.