With the return of leggings, Ray Bans, and blue eyeshadow, I feel a sense of comfort knowing that the 80's have made another appearance in fashion. (Yes, I once wore peg-legged jeans.) It’s amazing to see the way that trends swing back and forth in so many areas of our lives! Car bodies are looking boxy again. Yes, that All American Rejects song is probably a remake. And even wedding styles have a way of making the old seem new again. Keep an eye on the runways this fall and you’ll notice that shiny-satin jewel-toned bridesmaids are back, asymetrical styles and single-strapped gowns get a nod, and a wave of mermaids have come ashore!
Flowers too have a way of riding that pendulum of style, swinging back and forth from small and simple to draping and elaborate! During my studies in the business, my research pegged a pattern, older than my jeans, and I’ve had a blast, embracing the trends, while hiding a knowing smile about what was coming next!
Care to take a little trip through time with me?
At the turn of the 20th Century wedding bouquets were elaborate and large to match the wide skirts and long veils. Brides often wore flowers on their gowns as well as in their hair on top of carrying a bouquet of traditional blooms.
The pendulum swings, and the flowers in the 1920's became a testiment to the changing times. Flappers were in power with short skirts and short hair, which was so shocking to the generation before. Flowers followed suit! This bride holds a few flowers surrounded by fluffy feathers, and most brides of that time settled for a single orchid in thier hair band or a clutch of violets at thier waist.
Swing that trend back again, and you see that in the 1930's, Hollywood was growing and stars were being born. Weddings became public affairs, and the pomp and circumstance had to match the status of those stars! Here you see a trio of bridesmaids holding simple rose bouquets, but notice too that the fabric netting, which more than doubles the size of the arrangements, is a lacy frilly nod to added expense. Their gowns and hats all match too...not something that was previously done for weddings...and which would have been an expensive touch in that day.
Swing, swing, swing, and soon enough, war broke out. Rationing everything was a way of life in the 40's. Not only were sugar, fuel, and silk stockings a luxury, but wedding gowns and all the accessories that went along with them just weren’t as important. When your love is shipping out, possibly never to be seen again, a simple little corsage is bouquet enough.
Swing forward once again, and now that the war is over and the country is booming again, weddings follow along in the 50's. There is more money for fabric so dresses get longer, wider, and have puffy sleeves. Flowers get longer, wider and puffier too! Notice all the extra arrangements around the room...Excess equalled status, and the bigger the wedding, the more important you had to be.
Ride the swing the other direction, and in the 60's and 70's, watch the younger generation change music, war, and the world! Their idea of weddings changed too. Dresses became plain. Hair was straight and natural. And swinging to the total opposite of the structured, large and elaborate bouquets of the 50's, natural country flowers like daisies got gathered up in a handful and sometimes made it into crowns such as this. Peace, love, simplicity, and flower-power, people!
Swing high! Enter the 80's. Lady Di. Need I say more?
Push your feet back hard on that swing and head into the 90's! The end of the 20th Century changed the look of wedding flowers again by shifting to smaller, simpler flowers. Clean balls of a single color with visible stems and minimal accents were all you saw with smaller bows and short ribbons that kept with the trend of clean and simple.
So, here we are in a new century. Swinging back through time with me, kick your feet to the sky on the last swing and tell me if you can you see what's coming now?
Flower arrangements are adding whimsey and flair. Shapes are anything but clean and round, with draping lines, asymetrical shapes, and bursts of blooms. Add in metal wire and crystal beads and jeweled holders, and there's no end to the looks you can create this season! In this modern world when flowers are flown in from growers around the world, no flower is ever really out of season. With advances in dyes and sprays, no color is unavailable. In direct repsonse to the simple flowers of a few years ago, brides now want a touch of something unique and elaborate, there is no limit to the little things you can have peeking through the leaves of a bouquet...It's not just pearls or beads anymore, ladies...but we see bugs, butterflies, and birds or even tropical fish! Smile at a tiny pinwheel, peacock feathers, and party streamers! Let your imagination run wild, and enjoy the details, design and deliciousness of the new flower style!
At the turn of the 20th Century wedding bouquets were elaborate and large to match the wide skirts and long veils. Brides often wore flowers on their gowns as well as in their hair on top of carrying a bouquet of traditional blooms.
The pendulum swings, and the flowers in the 1920's became a testiment to the changing times. Flappers were in power with short skirts and short hair, which was so shocking to the generation before. Flowers followed suit! This bride holds a few flowers surrounded by fluffy feathers, and most brides of that time settled for a single orchid in thier hair band or a clutch of violets at thier waist.
Swing that trend back again, and you see that in the 1930's, Hollywood was growing and stars were being born. Weddings became public affairs, and the pomp and circumstance had to match the status of those stars! Here you see a trio of bridesmaids holding simple rose bouquets, but notice too that the fabric netting, which more than doubles the size of the arrangements, is a lacy frilly nod to added expense. Their gowns and hats all match too...not something that was previously done for weddings...and which would have been an expensive touch in that day.
Swing, swing, swing, and soon enough, war broke out. Rationing everything was a way of life in the 40's. Not only were sugar, fuel, and silk stockings a luxury, but wedding gowns and all the accessories that went along with them just weren’t as important. When your love is shipping out, possibly never to be seen again, a simple little corsage is bouquet enough.
Swing forward once again, and now that the war is over and the country is booming again, weddings follow along in the 50's. There is more money for fabric so dresses get longer, wider, and have puffy sleeves. Flowers get longer, wider and puffier too! Notice all the extra arrangements around the room...Excess equalled status, and the bigger the wedding, the more important you had to be. 
Ride the swing the other direction, and in the 60's and 70's, watch the younger generation change music, war, and the world! Their idea of weddings changed too. Dresses became plain. Hair was straight and natural. And swinging to the total opposite of the structured, large and elaborate bouquets of the 50's, natural country flowers like daisies got gathered up in a handful and sometimes made it into crowns such as this. Peace, love, simplicity, and flower-power, people!
Swing high! Enter the 80's. Lady Di. Need I say more?
Push your feet back hard on that swing and head into the 90's! The end of the 20th Century changed the look of wedding flowers again by shifting to smaller, simpler flowers. Clean balls of a single color with visible stems and minimal accents were all you saw with smaller bows and short ribbons that kept with the trend of clean and simple.
