Metals Still Trending in Wedding Design / Alternative Wedding

This copper bracelet works well as a wrist corsage - the gift that keeps on giving!  I cut and patinaed the base; hand forged the wrist band; and added lots of luscious fire-polished crystals in what I call "Lake Tahoe blues" - that is, several shades of blue, green, yellow, and clear, as well as copper-colored crystals.

Metals have been trending in wedding design, and they are still holding strong.  Especially important this season are the metals which have taken the place of out-of-price-range gold: brass, copper, steel, nobium, and silver and German silver (both fine metals).  They might be finished by a bright polish to show their natural beauty, or may have a natural or other patina added; they might be painted, inked, or etched, to match your wedding colors.

Here are some copper lovelies that I have metalsmithed - I have cut from copper sheet, sanded, hammered, torched, soldered, and smithed especially for weddings.  I'm also showing some examples from other artists of what you might use in your wedding.

This copper and crystal beauty is for the offbeat, individual, and alternative wedding.  It can be used as a copper boutonniere or a copper corsage.  This one has fire polished crystals to match the natural patina on my hammered copper, but you can choose any color crystal you would like.  It has a pin back for easy wearing.

I hand cut the metal for this copper boutonniere, then took careful time to shape it into this slender bloom holder, soldered it and applied a natural patina, and added a pin back.  The silver solder does show, but that just adds to its authenticness and naturalness. 

Etching is another great technique that metalsmiths use to bring out your theme or personality.  The following two photos are by different artists, but both beautifully show the etching technique. I can etch whatever you might like.

Beautiful etching, which could be the basis for a bout or corsage, via Rebecca Ward

Your initial or monogram can be etched as shown, for a bouquet charm.  Or, imagine your initials or monogram on a square or rectangular piece of metal as a bout or corsage base. Via Intheloftdesigns on etsy.

Sola Wood Flower Wedding Bouquets

Sola wood flowers, which are sometimes called balsa wood flowers or tapioca wood flowers, have been very popular for wedding bouquets for my clients.  The sola wood flowers work well in rustic, vintage, romantic and alternative bouquets.  Enjoy my sola wood bouquets as well as sola wood corsages and boutonnieres.  Want one?  I'll custom make yours, just email me!  This posting is for Elizabeth, who loves sola wood flower bouquets and wants to see some different ways sola flowers can be used.  It really depends on my customer...as you can see below, some look vintage, some look rustic, and some look like wildflowers.  Maybe you'd like yours to look icy and cold for your winter Truckee wedding?

This was the sola wood bouquet that started it all.  Danielle was very vintage glam; forest/beach meets elegant glamour.  This sola wood bouquet features lambs ears, skeleton leaves, lavender, a burlap handle, and a black french wire bow.

Another view of Danielle's sola wood bouquet - a better view of the skeleton leaves and glass pearl accents.

Another hybrid sola wood and fresh flower bouquet.  This wedding felt like rustic glamour.  Sola wood flowers with dendrobium orchids, carnations, pompon mums, and rustic berries with some crystal and moss accents.

Sola wood rustic groom's bout.  Simply charming.

This bout is NOT sola wood, but you can see how well it compliments the rustic wedding above.

Also not sola wood, but wouldn't this collage corsage look terrific with a sola wood flower instead of the pompon mum?

A wildflower sola wood bouquet.  This bouquet is a hybrid, combining sola wood flowers (yes! in your colors!) with cool water lavender roses, lisianthus, verbena, agapanthus, dahlia, and lavender mini carns, with a bright green doily handle.

Here is the matching groom bout. Purple sola wood flower with a rhinestone accent, berries, and lavender mini carns.  Just perfect for a Rome Valley Vineyard wedding!

Vintage look sola wood flower bouquet.  This is the one I displayed at Celebrate Coloma Weddings!  This bouquet is completely non-fresh and alternative.  Sola wood flowers combine with dried rosebuds, natural shells, crystal bling, and a real copper flower with faux pearl center.  Movement is added by a truly vintage tulle collar that I've vintaged up.

A closer view of the vintage look sola wood flower bouquet.  Did I mention that the brass and faux pearl flower are vintage?

Even the underside of the bouquet is beautiful with meticulously hand-applied millinery leaves, and the handle is wrapped in an upcycled silk sari material and trim!  Gorgeous!

A corsage to match the vintage look sola wood flower bouquet - a sola wood collage corsage!  What is a collage corsage?  That's what I've named my special corsages that I treat like an art canvas.  This one has old-fashioned script on the background, and features millinery leaves, faux crystal accents, and dried rosebuds.  There is a pin attached to the back for easy pinning.

Wood Flowers and Succulent Bridal Bouquet / Lake Tahoe Placerville Wedding Flowers

Danielle - here is an inspiration board for you for your bouquet.  Mostly wood flowers, with a featured succulent, lambs ears or dusty miller foliage, amethyst skeleton leaves, twigs, black leaf collar, wide black bow, and an organic-look wrapped handle.  Love your style!

Sunflower Bouquet in Foam Holder vs. Hand Tied / Placerville and Coloma Wedding Flowers Florist

This is for Aimee, but really, it's for all brides trying to decide between a bridal bouquet in a foam holder vs. a hand-tied bouquet. The pro photo on the left shows the control a wedding floral designer has in the placement of the blooms in a foam holder; it allows for a more rounded, full bouquet. The handle of the foam holder is disguised in ribbon, or with cut stems to mimic a hand tied, or there are new holders that are transparent and very pretty, or gold or silver toned. The bouquet on the right is hand tied. It is very pretty, but it is a different effect than the foam holder bouquet. The foam holder also has the advantage of keeping the flowers constantly drinking...even during a marathon photo session, which can leave hand tied bouquets wilting if not kept in water frequently. Just remember, FOAM is not a four-letter word :)! Aimee, the bouquet on the left is what your quote is based on; let me know if you'd prefer the hand tied mono floral sunflower bouquet on the right.