16
thePeorian.com
ACCESSORIES A PLACE FOR COLOR
Accessories and flowers are
often the tools used for adding
color to a ceremony, said Valeri
Wilson, senior floral designer at
LeFleur in Washington. “We see
a lot of bold colors and textures,
deep and dramatic, whether its
in garden style or whimsical
bouquets,” she said.
Some brides like to add bling
or feathers or broaches to add
color, often having those items
incorporated into their floral
arrangements, Wilson said.
“
Elegance is coming back in
flowers. I like that because I
can be more creative with my
styling,” she said.
Brides also are asking more for
variety in floral arrangements for
receptions, including centerpieces
on the tables, said Lynnette
Hacker, owner of Georgette’s
Flowers in Peoria.
“
We give them at least three
different arrangements that way,
which I love because we can
be creative and it isn’t cookie-
cutter,” she said.
To find inspiration for what
they want, more brides are
turning to the fairly new website
Pinterest, which is an online pin
board of varied interests that
enables its members to share
ideas, O’Shea said.
“
Pinterest has changed our
industry considerably,” she said.
“
It has become more or less an
inspiration board for brides to
be. They read it like they used to
read the bride magazines to get
ideas on everything,” she said.
With each client she will start a
Pinterest board and she and the
client can share ideas by pinning
things they see or read on the
Internet to that board. “They can
see my ideas and I can see theirs
and that can save a lot of time
and headache,” she said.
Kress at Cloud Nine said
magazines and the Internet have
made a difference in her business,
as well — to a degree, at least.
“
Brides typically have flipped
through magazines or have
looked on the internet, but until
a bride physically tries a dress
on, anything can happen. Most
of the time, when a bride selects
her gown, it is something that
she never thought to try on. That
is the best part of our job,” she
said.