Weding Flowers - Tulips for Fall Wedding?

Q: I'm getting married in October and am interested in having tulips in my bouquet. Are tulips appropriate for a fall wedding? Are there any concerns I should be aware of with how they'll hold up?
-Linda-

A: Tulips are spring flowers, and not usually associated with Fall weddings. That said, weddings are really all about expressing your personality and style – so if you have your heart set on tulips – I say go for it!

Things to consider:
Realize that out of season blooms tend to be more difficult to find and therefore more expensive – so you should confirm with your florist right away about cost and availability.

Since the wedding is in the fall, you may want to stick away from pastel colored varieties and opt for bolder reds or deeper yellows instead.

Tulips are thirsty flowers – so make sure they have plenty of water if in a vase or that the floristry foam is well-wetted.

Tulips are also very sensitive to temperature. Try to keep them cool for as long as possible before the event, and don’t place the arrangements next to sources of heat – i.e. next to a heater, on the mantle above a fire, or in the direct sunlight.

Get even more ideas and advice for Planning a Fall Wedding at Elegala.com - Elegant Galas Made Simple
-Cori Russell - Style and Etiquette Editor

Find more advice to help you Plan Your Wedding Flowers at Elegala.com, Elegant Galas Made Simple

Are You Turning into Bridezilla? 5 Tips to Avoid the Monster Inside

Let’s face it, most women don’t set out to become difficult and obnoxious when presented with a marriage proposal and the task of planning a wedding. Bridezilla clichés aside, sometimes the stress in coordinating the details brings out the worst in even the most laid back of women. We all swear it won’t happen to us, but sure enough, there we find ourselves – arguing fiercely with our fiancé about the font style on our place cards or bursting into tears when the mother of the groom adds five more people to the expanding guest list.

It’s easy to do – engaged women are inundated with detail-driven messages expounding elusive images of “perfection” and “fairytale.” From custom labels to custom lighting, the list of “must have” wedding essentials grows exponentially. Meanwhile, the billion dollar behemoth that is the wedding industry sits back and cashes in on the mania designed to ensure the flawlessness of a woman’s “big day.”

So while the critics sit back and label us “bridezilla,” the reality is that our sometimes fanatical behavior is somewhat warranted and perpetuated by those around us. Deep inside every bridezilla is just a woman who fell in love and decided to celebrate a lifelong commitment. The problem lies is getting back to her.

Afraid that you fit the bridezilla bill? Here are 5 steps to help you Avoid Bridezilla Behavior and return to the person you were before the madness ensued.

Bridal Party - Other Ways to Honor Friends Beyond the Traditional Bridesmaid Role?

Q: I don't want to have a huge wedding party, but between my fiance and I we have four sisters, and I have a lot of close friends from college and highschool. What are some options to include important people in my life other than asking them to be a bridesmaid?
- Tricia -

A: When it comes to casting your wedding “VIPs” you have plenty of options beyond the traditional roles of bridesmaid or groomsmen. You could designate a few close friends as “honorary attendants.” Since the role isn’t an “official” role – you can make it entail whatever you want. Your honorary attendants can attend all showers and pre-parties; you can designate special seating for them at the front during the ceremony; you can give them a single flower or nosegay to carry at the ceremony to further set them apart (without giving them a full bouquet), and you can list their names in your program.

They’ll essentially have the role of bridesmaid – without standing and wearing matching bridesmaids dresses at the wedding.

Another option is to designate a specific role to each – one can be a reader at the ceremony, one a candle lighter, one a bell ringer, one a guest book attendant, etc.
-Cori Russell - style and etiquette editor