File:Florists' review (microform) (1912) (16501723060).jpg

Title: Florists' review (microform)
Identifier: 5205536_36_1 (find matches)
Year: 1912 (1910s)
Authors:
Subjects: Floriculture
Publisher: Chicago : Florists' Pub. Co
Contributing Library: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

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O ONE, except the parson, participates in more wed- dings than the florist. This is not a charge of polygamy against him, but a statement of fact. He is not always, of course, one of the con- tracting parties. Solo- mon was, so far as is known, the only man who was a con- tracting party at every wedding he at- tended; that accounts for his record. But though the florist's participation is personally, though not pecuniarily, disinterested, he gains thereby a fund of knowledge that places him in the position of matrimonial mentor during the month of June. In the month when the jar labeled "becomes a benedict" is so frequently disturbed from its dusty place in the cannery, the florist has a wearying time, not so much of selling flowers as of giving advice. To Nat Goodwin, DeWolf Hopper, et al., one month, connubially considered, is quite like another, but the contracting parties at June weddings are usually com- mitting their "first of- fense." So the June bride is in need of a coach, and though it would seem that the groom, particularly as a member of a bridal party, should have more to do with such a vehicle than a florist, the latter is it. Dismounting. If the reader is not now hors de combat, from the equine allusions just above, he will come down to earth gently. For, when the bridegroom is romantically reviewing the benedictine —put down your glass!— bliss that he fancies awaits him, the florist's practical head is much needed to en- sure the success of the ceremony. One of the problems that are most often carried to the florist for solution is that of the manner of car- rying the flowers by the various members of the bridal party. The bride's bouquet, as the adornment of the most important person in the parade, comes first. Most of the difficulty arises from the fact that this feature is purchased by the bridegroom. He is just learn- ing, by premonitory perplexities, the truth of the old song that "when a man's married, his trouble begins." He goes to the florist with a heroic heart and a plump pocketbook, to make this feature of his day of days some- thing that will do full justice to the occasion. Wise is the florist who points out to him the superiority of quality to size, of merit to show. For he shall win the esteem of the bride. It is the sad fact that too few flo-
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How the Bride Should Bear Her Bouquet. lists take this wiser course. Many pre- fer the easier way, to try to satisfy the bridegroom that he got his money's worth by means of large size and big show. Naturally the heavy bouquet is a burden to the delicate girl who nerv- ously paces the path to the altar. Con- sequently, one bride holds it bravely in her two hands as if she were a stand- ard-bearer; another slings it over her arm upside down, and still another packs it up under her armpit as if it were a pound of steak from market. Then some younger sister or girl friend, seeing the ludicrous effect, decides to carry only a prayerbook at her wed- ding, and the florist is the loser. It is easy to see the cor- rect way from the illustra- tion on this page. The bride, if she has the strength, or the groom has bought the bouquet of a wise florist, carries it gracefully over her left arm. The ribbons are at the front—but, let us hope, not of the fighting variety —and the flowers droop forward. In this position, the bouquet shows to its best advantage, and yet does not hide the beauty of the bride or that of her gown, on which—the latter, that is—she has lavished many hours of preparation. The Part of Art. The florist should remem- ber that, while his part of the arrangements may be the most important con- tribution to the beauty of the wedding scene, the flowers, neither those borne by the bride and maids nor those in the decorations, should be so prominent as to spoil the effect of the whole. The retailer who caters to the best class of trade will tell you, if he has studied the matter, that the high prices he receives are not for his flowers so much as for his art. The bridesmaids, if they carry bouquets, hold them loosely over the arm in the same fashion as the bride, bearing them on the left and right side alternately. Should they have baskets

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