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By Ellen Dameron
"Orchids are very ‘now’," says designer Joey Molina of Cana Flowers of Santa Barbara. "They offer a very contemporary, modern look. Most of my brides are daring and know what they want. They bring me pictures showing the styles they like, and the majority have designs with orchids." Once admired predominantly as rare specimens in botanical gardens, the orchid has metamorphosed from a symbol of wealth to a lush flower for everyday use. With modern cultivation techniques, they are now more affordable to produce and distribute, making them a newer option for wedding flowers. And it’s no wonder brides succumb to the blooms’ striking allure. In ancient Greek and Asian civilizations, orchids represented adoration, luxury, beauty, virility and fertility. Certain cultures coveted orchids for their herbal properties (vanilla beans come from the orchid vanilla planifolia), and they were routinely cultivated for flavorings, perfumes and health remedies. Prized as aphrodisiacs, lovers mixed them into potions to enhance attraction, romance and conception. Which orchid is right for you?
"Orchids, diverse in color and fragrance, grow as individual blooms or multiple flowers on a stem. They are surprisingly hardy and hold up well (even without water), which makes them quite wedding-friendly," says Carley Roney, author of The Knot Book of Wedding Flowers. Orchids come in all colors except for black, but are most commonly available in shades of pink, lavender, green, red, yellow, and white, some with dots, stripes or mottling. Since orchids are perennial plants, many varieties live year round in our climate, most blooming seasonally. "My favorites are cymbidiums in lime green, pink or yellow and dendrobiums in bubble gum pink and yellow … the look is nice and exotic," says Molina. "Orchids are not traditional wedding flowers, they offer beauty, uniqueness and longevity, and are affordable." Your florist or local orchid nursery can offer you a glimpse of the many style and color possibilities available during your wedding season. Fortunately for local brides, a number of prominent orchid growers operate nurseries on the South Coast that are well-stocked with plants and cut flowers for sale. Area growers that are open to the public include Gallup & Stribling Orchids (3450 Via Real, Carpinteria, 684-1998, www.americanorchids.com) specializing in cymbidiums; Santa Barbara Orchid Estate (1250 Orchid Drive, Santa Barbara, 967-1284, www.sborchid.com) specializing in outdoor temperature-tolerant varieties of orchids; and Cal-Orchid (1251 Orchid Drive, Santa Barbara, 967-1312, www.calorchid.com) specializing in a large variety of orchids including cattleyas and epidendrums. For a comprehensive look at the many orchid species available and to see how orchids are incorporated into stunning floral arrangements, visit the 60th annual Santa Barbara International Orchid Show (March 4-6 at Earl Warren Showgrounds, www.sborchidshow.com).
Bouquets "Like other scene-stealing elements of your wedding, such as your invitation, your bouquet gives an indication of the style of the celebration. Its blooms should be selected thoughtfully, and its style should echo your own while complementing that of your wedding," says Roney. Cymbidiums and dendrobiums make versatile and beautiful bouquets in monochromatic shades or paired with roses, calla lilies and greenery. The 2005 wedding color forecast calls for shades of chocolate brown, celedon green, coral, cantaloupe orange and pink, which can be found in several varieties from the orchid family.
Accents for wedding attireBecause of their relative hardiness, orchids make a great selection for boutonnieres. Try a single cymbidium or dendrobium bud paired with a little greenery. But don’t ignore the ladies in the wedding party. Instead of a traditional corsage for the bride’s mother, consider the drama of a spray of moth orchids pinned to a dramatic neckline or small, single blooms used as natural "cuff links" for her tailored suit. For an outdoor wedding, the bridesmaids would look stunning in wraps fastened with a small spray of fresh orchids instead of a traditional brooch or hand-held bouquet. Another beautiful choice is a floral corsage of orchids tied to the bride’s handbag, which will be admired by all at the head table.
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Looking
for something unique and radiant for your wedding bouquet? According
to the experts at "The Knot," the popular bride’s
resource on the web (
Today’s
more popular choices of orchids include cymbidium, prized
for their beautiful buds; phalaenopsis (moth orchids) that
feature wide, flat petals; small-blossomed and sweet-scented dendrobium;
and arching, delicate oncidium sprays. 
Centerpieces
and table arrangements
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The Knot Book
of Wedding Flowers by Carley
Roney, 2002, Chronicle Books |
For more information:
The Knot Book of Wedding Flowers, by Carley Roney, 2002, Chronicle Books. Images used with permission of Chronicle Books, LLC, San Francisco, CA, www.ChronicleBooks.com.
Cana Flowers, Joey & Joy Molina, 682-6225.
