In Bloom
Pick your dream bouquet, a floral spray so
beautiful, you’ll think twice before tossing it!
By Victoria Bradley
The bouquet is the bride’s ultimate accessory: It speaks volumes about her personality and style. Romantic women still tote roses down the aisle, but flirty femmes are gripping gorgeous Phalaenopsis orchids, and pretty pin-ups are opting for explosions of peonies. We’re partial to Parrot tulips and crazy about calla lilies, but give us gardenias and Gerbera daisies any white wedding day. But wait! With a fistful of fab flowers the day can be hot pink, royal purple, and electric blue, too. Feast your eyes on our floral finds, the region’s most rave-worthy arrangements. They’re almost too perfect to toss, unless your best friend catches it!
REAL WEDDING
Natalie Mihalek & Jeremy Stuck
Photography by Paul Meyer
“I wanted a big puffy look with peonies, but they’re not available in September,” says Natalie of the flowers for her early fall wedding. Instead, April Schwietz of Mocha Rose Floral Designs arranged a knockout bouquet of English garden roses, cymbidium orchids, freesia, astilbe, nerine lilies, ranunculus, and hanging crystals, which Schwietz describes as “soft, lush, and elegant.”
P.S. The bride had two gowns! For the ceremony she wore a Jasmine design from Bridal Beginning. Her more simple — and comfortable! — reception dress was a Mikaella from The Exquisite Bride.
White Ideas: White phalaenopsis orchids and white Esperance roses, wrapped in salvage from the bride’s gown. From the real wedding of Danielle Caprino and Elliot Pecoraro. $150. designspace, 5746 Baum Blvd., Shadyside. 412.363.2120.
Summer Fashion: Garden roses and white peonies, wrapped in fabric from the bride’s mother’s wedding gown. From the real wedding of Parimah Hassouri and Daniel O’Keefe. $125. designspace, 412.363.2120.
Sweet Steph: Stephanotis with Swarovski crystal centers,
Champagne roses, white hydrangea, and ivory roses. $200.
Allison McGeary Florist, 3625 Butler St., Lawrenceville. 412.621.6427.
Bridal Elegance: Stephanotis, phalaenopsis orchids, dendrobium orchids, and trailing ivy. $125. Pete Donati & Sons, 35 Donati Road, Bethel Park. 412.835.4420.
Fall Couture: White and green kale, white lisianthus, assorted berries, fern curls, and hanging amaranthus. $185. Allison McGeary Florist, 412.621.6427.
Wedding Wimsy: Phalaenopsis orchids and bear grass. $250.
Malone Flower Shop, 17 W. Pike St., Canonsburg. 800.281.2282.
Spring Spectacular: Pink peonies and peach Mojelik spray roses and Anna roses, $65.
Pete Donati & Sons, 412.835.4420.
Mozart Mini: Rosaprima roses, Vendella Cream roses, Cherry Brandy
bi-color roses, Mozart mini calla lilies, and full stems of
Mokara orchids. $175 - $325. Karrie Hlista Designs, 724.266.2860.
Bridget’s Medley: Lime green cymbidium orchids, Black Beauty Rosaprima roses, burgundy dahlias, Safari Sunsets pods, Flame calla lilies, and pitcher plant stems. $185 - $325.
Karrie Hlista Designs, 724.266.2860.
Kelly: Purple stock, Ambiance roses, Asiatic lilies, hot pink spray roses, and stephanotis. $140. Oakmont Floral & Design, 516 Allegheny River Blvd., Oakmont. 412.828.5777.
Rainbow Bright: Miracle and Ravel roses, dendrobium orchids, golden freesia, hypericum berries, and mini callas. $200. Malone Flower Shop, 800.281.2282.
Betty Bouquet: Birds of paradise, ginger, dendrobium, cymbidium orchids, and oncidium orchids. $175. Oakmont Floral & Design, 412.828.5777.
Think Pink: Fuchsia cattleya and phalaenopsis orchids. $225.
Mt. Lebanon Floral, 725 Washington Road, Mt. Lebanon. 412.561.2500.
Fresh as a Daisy: Gerbera daisies, hot pink and orange spray roses,
and lily grass accents. $150. Mt. Lebanon Floral, 412.561.2500.
Italian Splendor: Sunflowers. $85. Pete Donati & Sons, 412.835.4420.
Show Stopper: Circus roses, red and orange Parrot tulips, mango calla lilies, red hypericum berries, bupleurum, and butterflies. $195. Mt. Lebanon Floral, 412.561.2500.
Red Alert: Hand-wired burgundy cymbidium orchids, deep wine mini calla lilies, and red James Storeii orchids. $250. Allison McGeary Florist, 412.621.6427.
Fall Fiddlehead: Dark chocolate sunflowers, yellow Finesse garden roses, electric blue hydrangeas, chocolate cosmos, mahogany tie leaves, fiddlehead ferns, and hanging amaranthus. $125 - $250. Karrie Hlista Designs, 724.266.2860.