Flower Feature

The Orchid: Love, beauty, luxury and strength.

You'll find that as you're planning your destination wedding you have two choices for your flowers.  You can go through the resort (they typically use a vendor of their choice)  or you can hire a florist separately.

if you choose to get your flowers through a resort, they will send you a whole bunch of pictures of bouquets and centerpieces that are included in your package. If you don't like them...don't stress out...you can always customize your bouquet by sending the wedding coordinator a picture of what you want.  I highly encourage every bride to check out The Knot- they have many many pictures of gorgeous bouquets.  If you want the bouquet customized but you don't want to pay an extra charge...keep the flowers the same as the ones you see in the pictures - typically roses and lilies do not cost extra.

If you choose an outside vendor for your florist, you'll want to request pictures of past weddings they've done and pick the vendor that best suits your style and budget.  Since you'll be communicating from afar and not able to sit down for consultations, it might be best to also send them pictures of bouquets you find in magazines or online.  Make sure you check on a flower's availability before you get your heart set on it.  A lot of brides love peonies and hydrangeas...but be warned, they are extremely difficult to get in many locations - especially Mexico...so adjust your expectations.

I've read a lot about what flowers are easiest to get where...and it seems there is a common theme.  Just about every tropical locale you're looking at for a destination wedding lists orchids as being one of the best flowers for that location.  It just so happens that the orchid is my favorite flower.  I don't kid myself though, no orchid would survive in my house.  I once attempted to grow herbs on the back deck and my basil grew so out of control I was afraid it was going to come alive and attack me in the middle of the night...the rest of the herbs turned brown and grew mold.  I digress...

I thought I'd feature my favorite flower in today's post of course include lots of pictures so without further ado I will stop chatting and start showing you amazing real destination brides bouquets:

I think both of these bouquets exude romance.  The first bouquet comes from St. John, Trunk Bay.  It is a beautifully simple combination of purple roses and purple orchids.  The second is from Bermuda and also a combination of roses and orchids, but this time in a soft white:

Ross Oscar King Photography

These next to use one of my favorite color combinations - white and green.  The first is a beautiful bouquet from a wedding on the western coast of Mexico.  The bouquet uses both white and green orchids.
The second is from a wedding in the Dominican and this bride chose an ultra tropical combination of green orchids and white lilies.

Photo Credit: Elizabeth Medina

Photo Credit Elisabeth Millay

This next bouquet is from a wedding in Costa Rica.  I love the pop of orange and the bright yellow orchids with the green and white. It's like a bridge between muted and romantic and playful and bright.

Photo Credit: Comfort Studios

And now for the super bright yummy color combinations that exude playfulness and happiness.  I just love love love these amazing colors.  If I were getting married on a tropical beach I'd go for bright beautiful roses and orchids...oh wait...I did...and I DID :)

My bouquet was a mix of orange calla lilies, orange and pink roses and green orchids:

Photo Credit - Elizabeth Medina

Here's another, words cannot do this justice, so just feast with your eyes:

Photo Credit Elizabeth Medina

Just remember, you do not have to choose a pre-set bouquet from your hotel or resort...look around online, check out local photographer's blogs and find one that really sings to you - whether it's muted and romantic or bright and playful.