Vintage wedding flowers
Interview with Marian, by Elizabeth
We're excited to catch up with Marian LeBrun, founder and head floral designer at Savage Rose. She has fabulous advice on a popular topic, vintage-style wedding flowers.
Editor's disclosure: Shiny Orb, a shopping site for inexpensive bridesmaid dresses, receives no form of compensation from this vendor.
Are having vintage or embellished flowers at a wedding a growing trend?
Yes! Brides today are very in tune with vintage inspired fashion trends and understand how this style can translate so beautifully into wedding flowers. I see many modern brides requesting embellishments to their flowers, such as a sentimental broche added to a bouquet or ivory feathers sprinkled throughout a centerpiece. Vintage style in wedding flowers just works. It feels whimsy, classic, personal, and most of all - romantic.
My inspiration is always the bride I am designing for and her unique style. I am also very inspired by the bride's gown. This is because I view the bouquets not only as a floral design but as an important accessory that must compliment the woman holding it, much like a necklace or handbag. The bouquet should complete the look and overall fashion of a wedding ceremony. And of course, I am inspired by the flowers themselves. Some blooms are just meant to be in a vintage style bouquet, like Curly Tulips, Garden Roses, Peonies and Ranunculus - just to name a few!
What makes them vintage style? What kind of materials do you use?
Vintage style in wedding flowers today is the combination of classic and modern, romantic and whimsical, elegant and homespun.
Unlike uber modern wedding flowers, vintage bouquets have a sense of warmth,softness and personalization. Traditionally, vintage style bouquets incorporate soft hues, sparse amounts of greenery and a mix of flowers such as freesia, lisianthus, roses and lavender. Today floral designers have updated this look by using pops of color and delicate greens to emphasize a garden look, as well as vintage textiles in the ribbons used such as polka dots or pinstripes. Materials I typically use in vintage style bouquets are unique and textural ribbons, antique lace, vintage jewels, velvet string, delicate feathers and soft blooms such as Peonies, Poppies and Garden Roses.
If a bride wants embellished flowers, how much more would it cost?
It ranges depending on what the bride wishes to embellish her flowers with. If the bride provides the embellishment from her personal collection, such as a sentimental pendant or a personal trinket, this would cost nothing for Savage Rose to incorporate into the design. To buy an item from Savage Rose's collection of Vintage Touches can range from $18 - $200 depending on the amount used.
What are your recommendations or advice for a bride who may be thinking about a one-of-a-kind embellished bouquet?
My advice is to do what your heart tells you. Your bouquet becomes a very important and intimate part of your wedding. It's what you hold close to your heart throughout the ceremony and in photographs. It's what you smell as you take a deep breath walking down the aisle. The bouquet is what completes the wedding look, it's what says "I am the bride today". So my advice is to get as personal and one-of-a-kind with your bouquet as you wish! Make your bouquet you. Ask your floral designer to somehow incorporate your favorite flower or favorite color. If you have a sentimental necklace, locket, broche, jewel - ask your florist how they can add this to your wedding bouquet. If you want to smell the fragrance of gardenia or casablanca lilies at the altar, tell your floral designer! The Bride's bouquet is very important and should make you smile throughout your wedding. Photo captions: (1) Vintage Wedding Bouquet - Embellished with Vintage Pendant & Satin Ribbons {Dahlia, Peony, Parrot Tulip, Lilac, Rose, Seeded Eucalyptus} (2) Vintage Summer Bouquet - Wrapped In Ivory Satin {Parrot Tulip, Rose, Peony, Anemone, Ranunculus, Queen Anne's Lace,Garden Roses, Star of Bethlehem} (3) Vintage Bridal Bouquet - Embellished with Vintage Lace and Satin, Charm Necklace, White Feather {Vendella Rose, Ivory Rose, Lamb's Ear, Cream Garden Roses, Curly Tulips, Freesia} (4) Savage Rose Vintage Bouquet - Embellished with Vintage Handmade Feather, Vintage Blue Ribbon, Pearls {Rose, Ranunculus, Lilac, Parrot Tulip, Cala Lily} Marian LeBrun is the founder and head floral designer at Savage Rose, a private floral design studio specializing in weddings and events throughout the Bay Area and beyond.
