FiftyFlowers Blog

The Boutonniere and Corsage Tradition

The use of boutonnieres and corsages is an established tradition for many formal events today including of course weddings. But where did it come from? This tradition dates all the way back to Greek times. The bride and other members of the wedding party would carry fragrant flowers and herbs to ward off evil spirits. Nowadays, flowers are still used for weddings in the form of bouquets, boutonnieres and corsages but without the protective purpose they formerly had.

The boutonnieres, also called buttonholes, consist of one or two focal flowers complemented by some greenery. The buttonhole is traditionally worn by men on the left lapel of the tuxedo or suit, because it’s above the heart. However,  it may be worn on either side as long as the rest of the wedding party follows him.

The groom, best man, groomsmen, ushers, as well as the fathers of both the bride and groom are the main people who should wear a boutonniere in a wedding, however, this list is not limited. You can give one to any other family member or friend such as: grandfathers, a special uncle, a cousin, and even the wedding coordinator or the minister. These boutonnieres can be smaller than the ones used by the main members of the wedding party, and the groom’s should definitely be the most prominent.

The corsage is the female version of a boutonniere. It consists of two or more focal flowers complimented by greenery and/or fillers. There are two kinds of corsages, the pin corsages which are worn on the chest and the wrist corsages , which is a good option if a dress is not adequate for a pin corsage.

Corsages are given to the mothers of the bride and groom, grandmothers, and any other special female family member or friend such us: godmothers, female candle lighters, female ring bearers, and a female wedding coordinator.

Fiftyflowers.com has many beautiful options for boutonnieres and corsages ready to use, and you also make your own with your favorite flowers out of our large selection, the appropriate tools and a little touch of creativity!

Hawaiian Leis, A beautiful complement for your special day!

The lei tradition was born in Hawaii with the arrival of early Polynesian voyagers who took an incredible journey all the way from Tahiti to this wonderful place. They were worn as we wear jewelry today, to beautify and distinguish themselves from others. But as time went by the lei became a symbol of the Islands welcoming visitors from all over the world and turning into a very popular element for all kinds of events including of course weddings!

In old Hawaii, wedding leis were used to symbolize the sacred union of the bride and the groom. The minister leader called Kahu would use the lei to bind the couple’s hands during the ceremony representing their commitment to each other. These leis were made out of flowers, leaves, feather, seeds, and even teeth and bone of certain animals. Flowers leis are the most common lei type today, however, leis made out of non perishable elements are still constructed and sold at very high prices.

Hawaiian leis are a very popular item for weddings today. You don’t need to have a tropical theme to have leis all over the place for your wedding. They can be used in place of or complementing flower bouquets or corsages, and are worn by the bride, groom or any member of the wedding party. Just remember: leis should be a welcomed celebration of one person’s affection to another so never refuse one!

If leis sound like a good option for your wedding, Fiftyflowers.com will love to be part of it offering you our beautiful selection of Hawaiian leis made out of truly fresh flowers especially for you.

Tips for a wonderful Valentine’s Day wedding

Flower, candy, chocolate, greeting cards, and gifts are just a few of the many items that are sent all over the world every February 14^th for a very special holiday, Valentine’s Day; a day to celebrate love in most countries of the world, and also the most popular wedding date.

But where did this holiday come from? The history of Valentine’s Day is surrounded by legends. In one of them Valentine was a priest served in Rome in the times of Emperor Claudius II, who outlawed marriage for young men to keep them as potential soldiers. Valentine continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret and when his actions were discovered Claudius ordered that he be put to death. Another legend suggests that Valentine actually sent the first ‘valentine’ greeting himself during his time in prison for his jailor’s daughter.

For all our romantic brides here are some tips to make that perfect wedding day even more special:

• An Old-fashioned look is always romantic. A classic style dress and tuxedo like in old movies or legendary weddings are a good option. Another option is to use red accents either for the dress itself or maybe for your hair.

• Valentine’s Day is a very popular day to get married so make sure you book your location early. Somewhere small and intimate, perhaps, or a place that embodies romance. Low lighting, lots of candles, beautiful roses, and decorations will give a romantic touch for your wedding.  Splashes of soft pink light flowers will warm up any space.

• For music there are many options. You can go with a more classic four string quartet or if you want to have a DJ you can create a song list full of love songs that you and your groom can relate to.

• Set the tone with your invitations. You can use the classic red and pink colors, hearts and cupids. The most important part would be the message itself that you give to your guests to make it more of a Valentine’s invitation.

• A romantic dinner is a very important part of a Valentine’s day wedding. Aphrodisiacs in the menu are a good option, maybe an oyster bar, seafood, asparagus, almonds, and chocolate covered strawberries and bananas. Or what about a candy / chocolate bar with lots of hearts and cupids?

• Flowers are a symbol of romance so you will want to use lots of them. Roses are the classic flower for Valentine’s Day but they’re also more expensive in February. So you can consider other options such as pink and red tulips, freesias, hydrangeas, carnations, calla lilies, amaryllis, etc.  To give them the holiday touch you can add cupids to flower arrangements or some light pink pins. If flowers are not what you were thinking of for centerpieces you can use some candles and surround them by red rose petals for a more romantic look.

Legend or reality, Valentine’s Day will still be the perfect wedding day for every romantic couple and Fiftyflowers.com would love to be part of your very own Valentine’s wedding.

Winter Weddings

Many brides pick their destination wedding to be held in warmer climates such as Hawaii, Bahamas, Puerto Rico, or the Florida Keys.  Don’t forget that a winter wedding can be just as romantic when exchanging vows with your loved one.  When planning your winter wedding, think about some popular colors during this time of year: icy blue, snow white, red, purple, silver, and burgundy.  These are just some of the many colors that can be incorporated into your winter wedding.

CENTERPIECES – your guests will surely notice beautiful centerpieces such as the Bridal White, Purple and White, and Bridal Table Red and White.  When you order centerpieces at Fiftyflowers.com they arrive pre-made.  Simply cut the stems and place them in water.

BOUTONNIERES AND CORSAGES – these packages are pre-designed as well and put together beautifully for your special day.  There are numerous boutonniere and corsage packages available, so make sure you take a look at some of them like the Classic Rose White Boutonniere and Silver Boutonniere and Corsage Package.

The possibilities are endless at Fiftyflowers.com.  As you are looking at the centerpieces and boutonnieres and corsage packages, don’t forget to look at our DIY Wedding Combos and Wedding Flowers in a Box.  Shop online now or call our friendly customer service representatives at 877 50ROSES to place your order.

Choosing colors for your wedding!

All the preparation involved in planning a wedding can be stressful and overwhelming.  Specifically, choosing the colors of your flowers, decorations, and bridal party can pose a significant challenge.  Whether you are contemplating one, two, or numerous colors for your wedding, FiftyFlowers.com is here to help make your decisions a little easier.

Adobe Kuler is a free internet software that can be very useful to brides in determining their color scheme and/or color palate for their wedding.  This program is broken down into different sections and menus which make browsing the database of color themes a little less painless and trouble-free.  What makes this program so useful to brides is that the color schemes and palates have been compiled and submitted by your community of peers and professionals.  If you are a bride and at a loss when it comes to picking colors for your wedding, go to http://kuler.adobe.com and begin your search with the help of the community by looking at the newest, most popular, and highest rated color themes.

Once you have narrowed down the colors for your wedding, go to FiftyFlowers.com to search by color to find the most beautiful and elegant flowers available only a click away.  If you have any questions or need help determining what color or flower you are interested in for your wedding, remember you can chat live with our friendly customer service representatives or give us a call at 877-50ROSES.

What you did not know about Ecuadorian Roses!

Here are some interesting facts on Premium Ecuadorian roses.

• Ecuador is located on the equator and provides approximately 13 hours a day of sunlight for roses
• Roses are planted in over 3,500 hectares throughout the Andean provinces at an altitude between 2,500 and 3,200 meters above sea level.
• In 2005, a flower show was held in Russia and Ecuadorian roses received a gold metal for quality surpassing countries such as the U.S., Holland, Germany, and Columbia.
• Ecuador is a key element in the flower market accounting for the highest percentage of flowers being exported.  Countries following Ecuador are Europe consisting of 20% of the market, Russia 14%, and various other countries making up 5%.
• The U.S. is the largest country that imports Ecuadorian roses.

Fiftyflowers.com sells an extensive variety of roses in various sizes (stem and bloom) and colors.  We are now approaching fall and will soon be experiencing the even cooler temperatures of the winter months.  Our website has been designed to allow customers to easily search for roses by season, color, or type.  Shop online now for rose colors that complement the fall season such as dark orange roses and peony rose pink piaget or for winter colors like black magic rose and latin lady red and white rose.

Halloween and Thanksgiving ~ Flowers for holidays

The end of the year is filled with various events spent with family and friends.  Are you decorating for Halloween?  If so,

make sure you look at some of our extravagant flowers to decorate the outside or inside of your house such as Burgundy and Yellow Novelty Flower, Bronze Football Mum Flower, Hocus Pocus Rose, or Protea Fresh Tropical Flower.  Carnations, daisies and greens are also very popular this time of the year. These flowers will surely add a unique touch to your Halloween theme.

Thanksgiving is special time of year spent with family and friends.  Whether you are sitting around the table eating turkey and stuffing or watching football, the time spent with people you love is priceless.  We have beautiful fall centerpieces that would look great on your dining room table, coffee table, or placed throughout your home.  Take a look at our Fall In Love Fresh Table Arrangements, Hocus Pocus Fresh Table Arrangements, and Falling Leaves Fresh Cut Centerpieces.  These arrangements have vibrant fall colors and will emit that “fall feeling”.

Fiftyflowers.com has an enormous selection of flowers for weddings, holidays, and special occasions.  Our customer service is always available to assist you in choosing flo0wers that best suit your needs.  Shop online now or call us at 877 50ROSES.

Featured flowers ~ Shop now!

We have over 50 varieties of classic and modern hydrangea flowers available for your event or special day.  Whether you are a classic diva or you prefer a more modern theme, check out our hydrangeas today.

If you are having a beach or modern style wedding, orchids are perfect for a late summer or fall wedding.  Please look at these orchids which will surely be a beautiful addition to any arrangement: Phalaenopsis, Cymbidium (and Minis), and Dendrobiums.

Tulips are a great addition to classic, glamorous, or modern events.  At Fiftyflowers.com, we have tulips available in a variety of colors and varieties like French, novelty, or standard.  Place your order today for beautiful tulips and, remember, free FedEx delivery is included.

Lastly, don’t forget to check out our selection of roses available in over 200 varieties.  Whether you are looking for roses that are romantic, classic, or beach casual, you will no doubt enjoy browsing through our extensive collection.

Shop now at FiftyFlowers.com.

September ~ Hot Selling Flowers

Fiftyflowers.com is continually offering the best prices along with an extensive variety to our customer’s year around.  This month we are offering 15% off select flowers that will surely enhance any arrangement or bouquet that you are creating for your special day.

Red Tinted Sunflowers – A fresh red flower, this Sunflower has a disk-shaped center surrounded by many ray like petals. Known for following the sun across the sky, the sunflower has come to mean “adoration” and “loyalty.” A perfect flower for outdoor events, this unique red Sunflower would add an informal touch to any wedding bouquet, table centerpiece or flower arrangement

Novelty Gerberas Farm Mix Flower – Bulk Farm Mix Gerbera Daisy Flowers have colorful daisy heads that are nearly flawless in form. Our Gerberas are known for their award winning premium quality and long lasting vase life. Mixed Color Gerbera Daisies are bold and beautiful fresh flowers that would adorn any table centerpiece, wedding bouquet or flower arrangement.

Anastasia White Rose – A fresh white rose, Anastasia has crystal white blooms with a high petal count. This stunning white rose has an exceptionally large head that opens into a lovely semi u-shaped bloom and would add a special touch to a wedding bouquet, table centerpiece or flower arrangement.

Lily of the Valley Flower – Bulk Lily of the Valley flowers are beautiful bell-shaped flowers with a sweet scent. Its small white blooms are extremely fragile and delicately rest upon broad basal leaves. A very popular wedding flower, the white Lily of the Valley would add an elegant touch to any table centerpiece, wedding bouquet, or flower arrangement.

Shop online now at Fiftyflowers.com to take advantage of 15% off these select flowers.

Gorgeous Rainbow Roses!

Can you think of a more vibrant way to add color to your wedding, company get together, or school function than Rainbow Roses? Have you ever looked at a rainbow and stood there in awe at its beauty? Warm colors such as red/oranges stimulate your body into action while cooler colors such as blue/violet are very soothing and calming.

Colors fuel all kinds of emotions that can lift your spirit or create an environment that is serene and peaceful.

Blue – spirituality and peace
Yellow – wisdom and clarity
Red – strength, energy, and security
Orange – creativity and sense of balance
Green – harmony and health

At Fiftyflowers.com, you can purchase fresh flowers in rainbow colors. Even better, you can choose your own colors. We offer packages of 50, 75, 125, 150, and 200, with the option to select up to 5 colors on each rose. These flowers represent a unique statement. Customizing the shade of your rose is a fun way to put a little “you” on each flower. Place your order online now at Fiftyflowers.com.