I'm so excited to share today's post with you . . . a while back I was selected by Bridal Guide Magazine as a top wedding blogger and asked to share my favorite bouquets and centerpieces. I sent along a few favorites and I'm happy to announce that my bouquet pick can be seen in the issue currently on newsstands. The Sept/Oct issue of Bridal Guide Magazine features the gorgeous romantic woodland inspired wedding bouquet by Maribel of EightTreeStreet {she also happens to be a pro-vendor my wedding guide**}. The bouquet was designed for a romantic woodland shoot, photographed by Natalie Franke Photography and planned by Lacoya of Hello Love Events.

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One of my favorite features of this bouquet from EightTreeStreet is the moss wrapped bouquet - an unexpected touch that makes this stunning bouquet even more unique. The bouquet features a mix of roses, peonies, peach stock, ferns, scabiosa, and larkspur.

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What's YOUR favorite element in this woodland wedding bouquet?

PS: If you happen to be looking for more moss wedding ideas, like moss table numbers, you will certainly want to check out these handmade moss ideas.

** I'm here to connect vendors with brides ... come see how you can join my vendor guide here

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I'm so excited to have Maribel of EightTreeStreet {a VIP Wedding Business Club Member in my local vendor guide} joining us today to talk about one of my favorite flowers - peonies. I will now let Maribel take over in sharing all the in's and out's of the peony flower . . .

Peonies come in an amazing array of colors and textures, as a garden flower and as a delicate floral decor for your wedding day. You will find peonies in delicate whites, to rich corals and bright cranberry reds. They are a perennial flower that ranges from single blooms to lush large double heads with a wonderful scent and aroma.

Some Fun + Interesting Facts about Peonies:

1. Peonies are flowers that symbolize health, happiness and marriage
2. Peonies only bloom in spring {you can find them at a stem price below $10}
3. Tree peonies are slightly higher in price than regular (herbaceous) peonies.  

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Woodland Flowers : Peony Wedding Bouquet by EightTreeStreet / photo by Natalie Franke Photography

For weddings, some of the popular peony varieties include: Sarah Bernhardt in a light pink, Alexander Fleming in a hot pink hue, coral charm and coral sunset which are beautiful for a spring wedding paired with mint green and peach, red charm peonies with a rich red cranberry color, and white peonies.

For DIY brides, peonies are perfect to for creating a bouquet that has a lot of impact. You don’t need more than a bloom or two to make a bouquet that pops with color and texture.  The huge flower heads with lots of petals lend themselves beautifully to wedding bouquets and centerpieces with a lavish look.

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Pink and White Peony Bridesmaid Bouquet / designed by EightTreeStreet / photo by Terri Baskin Photography

Don't be surprised if your peonies arrive looking like a golf ball if you're buying peonies for your wedding from a local or online wholesale supplier. You can also keep an eye out at places like Whole Foods and your local supermarket - you may just find some beautiful peony bunches for centerpieces at pre-wedding parties or the bridal shower.

What To Do With Your Peonies for DIY Arrangements:

After you get your flowers, you will want to cut the stem at a sharp 45 degree angle and place in proper hydration, in no time the peony will open up into a large bloom. Most of the blooms average 2 to 4 inches in diameter - the perfect size for a lush look. Peonies will change in color during their vase life, and they last about five days. If you are doing a floral centerpiece for a bridal shower or a home party, consider using just one peony bloom in a small vase or mason jar. This will be the perfect floral decor for your tables and you can even group the vases together for a lush look.

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Lush Pink and White Peony Wedding Bouquet / designed by EightTreeStreet / photo by Terri Baskin Photography

So . . . will you be having peonies at your wedding?

A little while back I had been selected to be in a group of "wedding industry professionals and bloggers in the know" and to share my top spring wedding tip. You can see the original post here. My Top Wedding Tip for all those planning a wedding or even a bridal shower during the Spring season is . . .

"Create simple centerpieces for Spring by grouping
several small vases together with single blooms"

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Placing single blooms into individual vases that are similar in style, but varied in height will create a visually stunning display of the flowers. Grouping them in uneven numbers is always best too. Springtime is always a great time to think in terms of simplicity and while you might want to go for the big floral centerpiece, a simple centerpiece can make just as much of a statement. Plus, by going small - you might even be able to send each of the couples at the reception home with their very own flower in a vase after the wedding {a centerpiece and favor in one}

Image Credits:
single hydrangea sprig in a glass vase, dahlias in glass vases, purple blooms in a cluster of vases, fuchsia roses in small glass vases, single rose blooms in Moroccan tea cups

I am in love with the pops of pink in today's featured bridal shoot from Maribel of Eight Tree Street {a member of my vendor guide} and Allison of Allison Hopperstad Photography. Along with this beautiful shoot, I have some great peony wedding invitations to share with you at the end of this post. But, first Maribel shares a bit behind her designs/ideas for this shoot . . .

We love the idea of combining the rustic images of this beautiful working farm with the romance of flowers. For the florals in this Romantic farm styled shoot, we used peonies, the perfect compliment for a spring wedding, and we love these gorgeous hot pink ones. To style the bride with a sweet touch, we included a headpiece of peonies, Faith roses and ferns with small accents of greenery. Model Giovanna was the epitome of spring beauty in her dreamy gown with beaded bodice. With such flowy lines and silhouette, the bouquet we created was one of the things we love . . . a bouquet of texture and pops of color with white and pink peonies, ranunculus and roses wrapped in burlap ribbon. Something sweet and delicate, but still rustic and romantic!

If you are a DIY bride, you can see that a little goes a long way, just a few peony blooms with other rich textures and you have a gorgeous bouquet for your wedding day.

VENDOR CREDITS:
Photography: Allison Hopperstad Photography
Floral: Eight Tree Street
Venue: Belvedere Plantation
Bridal Shop: Formal Envy Bridal
Jewelry Designer: The Funky Tangerine
Make Up: Allison Barlow
Hair: Samantha Wood
Model: Giovanna Castiglia

Shop for Peony Wedding Invitations Below . . .

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Dreamy Peony Wedding Invitations from Wedding Paper Divas

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Rhapsody Foil-Pressed Peony Wedding Invitations from Minted

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Precious Peonies Wedding Invitations from Wedding Paper Divas

Did you know that each flower holds a special meaning? Today marks the start of a new series I'm calling "Wedding Flowers . . . defined" where I share with you a gorgeous wedding flower and it's meaning. Today, I'm starting this series with the breathtakingly gorgeous ranunculus flower. Did you know that ranunculus blooms symbolize radiant charm? These flowers are in season from early spring to early summer and feature layer upon layer of delicate petals. The bouquets featured below are available from The Bouqs and would be absolutely gorgeous as centerpieces for any wedding event or even as the bouquet itself. PS: The Bouqs offers free shipping ship direct from eco-friendly, sustainable farms on a Volcano or from sustainable farms to you. Each arrangement is $40, with the option to add more flowers for just $10 or $30 more.

Want to surprise a newly engaged couple with flowers? You might like this Custom Heart & Initials Vase which was inspired by the romanticism of tree carvings.