While strolling through the internet late the other night, I saw that a huge discussion has exploded about how weddings in this country are getting over done. We of course have had that discussion or worry here as well. The endless inspiration that brides are bombarded with each and every day may cause a sensory overload or the need to compete. I hope not. Mostly, I’m happy to see that brides are excited, thrilled, inspired, and feeling creative about their big day. Having been married for almost 25 years, to me there is nothing more important than marriage and I am happy to see that this most important day is being so thoughtfully created and designed for each couple.

Last summer, we had the pleasure of having the young floral designer Elodie here from Paris. She was mesmerized and enthralled by the wedding industry in the United States. As a floral designer, it was a great disappointment to her that weddings were no longer hugely celebrated in France. Florals and decor are rarely required for weddings in her country. She also further explained that many young people were choosing not to marry, but simply choosing to live together. This was truly sad news to me, I simply can’t imagine a life where marriage is not celebrated. I am thankful we Americans love to celebrate this one day as perfectly as possible.

Just last week, we had our visit with the Russian designers Olga and Tania, and they too validated that in their country weddings have not been a hugely celebrated event. However many young people like Olga and Tania are starting to follow the American wedding industry. While following my blog these young floral designers were delighted to see the importance of florals in American weddings. They hope to create a wedding floral business that will provide to a growing wedding trend in their country. Both of these girls also share my love of the blog Style Me Pretty and they agreed that young people in their country were catching onto the wedding industry craze due to following all of our wedding blogs. I was amazed to find that these young Russian women were following any of our blogs.

Thankfully, this is not an issue in our country, and our young women and men are encouraged and allowed to have their one big special day. Let’s face it, after a few years of marriage you may need to call upon the memory of that one special day as you look upon a sea of diapers, and a formal dining room that hasn’t seen flowers, china, or a pretty linen in years. We all need that one day. It’s our foundation.

Many fabulously home-based businesses, like my own, have been created to assist you along the way. Where would all these wonderful businesses be without the new-found desire to create a unique and truly inspired wedding day? Etsy alone has over 1,500 shops catering to the wedding industry.

As a designer, it is a blessing to be given the opportunity to help a couple or family create one of the most significant days in their journey. It’s my responsibility to make each detail meaningful and real. An overload of details is awesome if they truly have sentimental value. In the process of creating and designing for your event, hopefully a spark will be lit that awakens your creative side. I’ve seen it happen to many of my brides, and a new wedding professional was born. All of these details do matter. Your guests and your family will truly remember a day that was created and designed specifically for you.

Great grandmothers’ brooch (above) and grandfather’s car (below) was driven cross-country to make it to the wedding. Photographs by Genevieve Leiper.

This tabletop was created for the candy bar, but after the wedding it was redesigned to be the bride and groom’s dinning room table. Photograph by Genevieve Leiper.

Grandmothers rosary tied onto the bouquet. Photography by Kate Headley.

All of these little touches do matter, and if they are chosen perfectly they will matter for years to come!!!

  • Jessica Jones Says: (11.15.2011 | 03:41)

    Very well said! I feel the same way! My wedding floral business is home based as well-and right now I wouldn’t have it any other way. It thrills me to get to know a bride and groom. I take note of every sentimental detail and really focus in on the couple and their journey together. I too feel very blessed to take part in their special day!

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  • Jessica Says: (11.16.2011 | 07:21)

    Thank you, this was very, very well said. My dream is to own my own flower shop once I have finished school. It makes me so sad to read all these posts lately, that are bringing down details in that are making the wedding industry so wonderful, from mason jars to Grandma’s locket! Style Me Pretty is also one of my favorite blogs, and I can’t wait to bring that chic flair to my home town in Canada. I live my life based on life’s litle details as I have always believed that no detail is too small. As long as everything is in moderation, and the marriage of the couple is the main focus of the day, I do not think there is anything wrong with adding the small details. This “wedding overload” business has gone a little too far is you ask me. Thanks again for sharing this.

  • Olga Says: (11.18.2011 | 03:41)

    True to the very last word! And it’s amazing how find all those emotional words which, like bouquet decorate any room, decorate your blog.

    Right after Yura has translated this post, we couldn’t help spending about an hour and once again looked through our wedding party, which happened not so long ago, but still there’s so many emotions again when we recall all the funny moments and speeches. It is really the base of all future family life, and hopefully the way you bigin it is the way you will live it.

    As to the point discussed, of course while looking at tonns of pics from all parts of USA with multiple weddings, one more beautifull than other, you might think that there’s slight overheat about it. But on the second though the wedding like this can be celebrated only once a life, so why not do it to the full extend?

    Here in Russia still we mostly selebrate quite profoundly, if I can say so. usually celebration lasts 2 days and a lot of money is spent, but not on flowers, unfortunatelly. Mostly on food, drink, limo and restaurant. Especially when wedding is orginized by parents. Most of them will think of flower decoration last thing. But since our offer immidiately found a feedback from customers, I believe we can improve it!

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