When the leaves fall and the chill rolls in, the blooming season officially ends, making it difficult to achieve that kaleidoscope of color in your bouquet. However, that doesn't mean there aren't options. We spoke to a few florists for their take on achieving the ideal cold-weather bouquet.
A Sentimental Touch
Zoie Ragousis, the owner of Flowers by Zoie in Mechanicsville, gets creative with winter bouquets, using crystal pins to add a nice touch of sparkle. (Photo by Ash Daniel)
Zoie Ragousis, the owner of Flowers by Zoie (592-8431, flowersbyzoie.com)
in Mechanicsville, says many different types of greenery are popular for winter bouquets, citing pine, cedar and berries. She notes a new trend: using different types of greenery with a focal flower. She says whites and rich purple are popular winter color choices. Ragousis gets creative with winter bouquets, using crystal pins to add a nice touch of sparkle. An extra element that she likes to provide for brides is some sort of personal memento added to the bouquet. “Brides will incorporate heirlooms like a piece of their mom’s wedding dress or their grandmother’s handkerchief and wrap it into the bouquet,” she says. “A brooch or locket can also be wrapped around the flowers. I love doing that and it looks so special [and] that’s something borrowed.”
DIY and Homegrown Hydrangeas
Steve Papoulakos, president of Vogue Flowers, says hydrangeas are a popular option and are available year-round. (Illustration by Doug Thompson)
At Vogue Flower Market (353-9600, vogueflowers.com), company president Steve Papoulakos says that when it comes to winter wedding bouquets you really can use any flower you want, you just may need to factor in additional costs. “It’s always spring somewhere,” Papoulakos says. He says hydrangeas are a popular option and are available year-round. “In the winter we use more of the antique, classic colors — greens and whites are very popular,” he says. “We grow hydrangeas right here on our farm in Hanover.” In fact, Papoulakos conducts his own hydrangea-growing experiments utilizing the soil and crossbreeding to obtain a rainbow of colors. For DIY brides, Vogue offers a design space and refrigeration. For $50, brides can come in and create their own centerpieces and bouquets.
Freshly Foraged
Winter bouquets tend to have "a lot less flowers and they’re a lot more natural and free as if you’ve foraged it," says Shari Hoyle, owner of Flowers Make Scents. (Illustration by Doug Thompson)
At Flowers Make Scents (897-6100, flowersmakescents.net), owner Shari Hoyle says they buy from four local farms during the summer, but during the winter, those flowers have to be imported. However, the shop still makes an effort to offer some homegrown flora. “Having something local in the bouquet, we can get evergreens — they’re popular,” she says. “We’re running around asking, ‘Can we buy [the evergreen branches] or take [them],’ repurposing [them] for winter weddings, because that’s what makes it feel like that time of year.” Hoyle has also utilized pinecones. She says winter bouquets tend to have "a lot less flowers and they’re a lot more natural and free as if you’ve foraged it. [However] I like there to be some kind of happy balance, because not everyone wants to look like they are having a farm wedding.”
