Flower Power: the not-so-secret succulent.

A very unique succulent boutonniere - perfect for a groom who's flower-averse

Yep – every so often our fascinating and compelling content will indeed be about floral design.  Today we’re talking about succulents, something we’ve alluded to probably in a few photo descriptions, and perhaps tweets or Facebook updates.  Succulents have been popping up in floral design lately.  What is a succulent?  By Wikipedia’s definition, they are “water retaining plants adapted to arid climates or soil conditions.”  That refers to a lot of plants – we’re talking about the pretty kind.  You probably know them more by sight than by name.
Aeonium arboreum baby Pink-flowered aeonium Succulent spiral Succulent Succulent

The succulent "bloom" in the center of the bouquet on the left blends seamlessly with the flowers, yet adds visual interest and texture

Traditionally, one might not think of them as a decorative element, but that’s where we come in.  Combined with other blooms, succulents in a bouquet subtly evoke the desert at a Palm Springs destination wedding.  A centerpiece composed of a grouping of small succulent varietals adds a unique texture and depth to a tablescape that soothes the eye at a corporate event with a modern and spare decor scheme.  Succulents lining a pathway, or included with other outdoor accent pieces are not only elegant, but as their counterparts in nature do, they tolerate the desert sun without danger of wilting or discoloration.  Elegant, low maintenance home decorating is also a snap. Pick three small succulents you like, and place them in matching containers down the center of your dining table. Widen the space between them, and place a votive candle in the gaps.  Boom!  Instant casual elegance.  You’ll be seeing them in more than desert settings now that you know what to look for.  Succulents aren’t a secret anymore.

A succulent centerpiece at the Korakia Pensione in Palm Springs, CA

Succulent photos by Joey Martoni, Mariane Perdomo,  Duff Axsom, Benjamin Chun and Robyn Jay. Bridal photos by Mellany Miller and Cheryl McPherson

All you need is…cake?

funny wedding photos - All You Need is Cake
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Wedinator put up this excellent example of a cake that was a lot of fun for the bakery – and is actually really cool – but will suck all of the energy and focus of any picture, (and any cake-cutting ceremony for that matter, and what couple wants the cake to outshine them)? If you’re going for a kitschy cake, embrace the Southern tradition of a Groom’s Cake: a cake that is generally a contrast in flavor to the wedding cake, and frequently (though not always*) created in a theme or shape related to the groom’s hobbies or interests. This could be a golf ball shaped cake, or a college pennant, even a car.  A nice cheesecake or flourless chocolate also works well if the groom has a passion for something that’s not represented in the wedding cake.  Even Prince William and Kate Middleton were inspired by the traditions of the Colonies, and had a groom’s cake at their recent wedding. Whatever it is, if it looks like a greeting card exploded all over it, keep it far away from your cake table.  Let the bride and groom be the main attraction – not the pastry.  Once the cute feeding each other part is done, and the photos are taken, cut that beauty up and let them eat cake!

*One of our brides, whose groom had a passion for chocolate chip cookies, arranged for platters of fresh baked cookies as a groom’s dessert.  He was thrilled – and they were spared the cost of an elaborate cake in the shape of a fishing boat.

R2-D2 Groom's Cake
Image by The Uncommon Cakery via Flickr

Father of the Bride

Cover of "Father of the Bride (15th Anniv...
Cover via Amazon

As you may have seen, the house used in the 80s version of ‘Father of the Bride’ is for sale.  So we pose the question: does the 21st Century wedding Dad fit the Hollywood mold? Are there battalions of Steve Martins stumbling their way through the planning process, and clutching their chests at the costs? Or have fathers, and weddings, not to mention the world, changed? OK, so it’s a rhetorical question. Of course, things have changed. But that Martin Short wedding planner character* Franck, like diamonds, is forever.

These days, a father’s role in his daughter or son’s wedding is determined less by convention than by the choices of the couple.  If they’ve decided to fund the entire affair on their own, all Dad needs to do is show up on time wearing what he’s asked. Planning wise, suggestions are just that. Suggestions.

We’re always impressed, on the other hand, with Fathers who hand their sons and daughters a contribution towards a wedding, and trust that the couple will be good stewards of their money.  We’ve never met one such couple who wanted anything but to make their parents proud. As one groom put it ” We want them to see we made good choices with the resources they gave us.”

Bride/Groom: Your Dad loves you, and he’s showing that love by helping create one of the most special occasions you’ll ever plan. Let him speak, and listen closely. If he objects to the zombie shooters, go gin-and-tonic and run wild with another element -like funky favors. It’s about mutual respect. Give and take. Good skills to hone for your married life.

Some things don’t change.  There is still chest clutching, and colorful event planners still amuse people all over the country*. Ultimately, Dads love their kids, and really only care about one thing at the wedding: that it be the start of a happily married life. Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there. Especially to the wonderful Fathers and Grandfather of a certain 2010 Bride who know who they are.

*Franck Eggelhoffer is based on a celebrity florist/event designer currently working in West Hollywood.  If you ever meet him, you’ll know because Mr. Short is dead-on. Franck appears about 2 minutes into this clip. Also note that SVU’s favorite criminal profiler did time in the events industry. Fabolos!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKFtRedJxTw&w=425&h=349]