The perfect flowers and colors to make your wedding enchanted
What better way to turn your dream wedding into a reality than with a stunning tablescape of fresh flowers? Drawing inspiration from the rich colors of autumn and crisp beauty of the winter is what Philip Sammut, owner of Pedestals Florist in Garden City Park does best this time of year.
“It’s been Pedestals from day one and I’ve been doing this for the past 22 years,” said Sammut, who worked for a florist and delivered flowers in high school. “After I graduated college, I took all the money I saved and opened up my first shop, working hard to eventually grow the business to multiple locations in Westchester, Queens and Long Island.”
Flowers are attainable all year round, so if a bride is getting married in the fall and wants a summery pink lily, it is possible. But for the brides who want their weddings to soak up as much of the autumn and winter season as possible, there are many ways to create magic.
“In fall, you have the rich, luscious colors of orange, yellow, purple and deep red, so orchids, roses, dahlias, hydrangeas and even sunflowers can all be autumnal flowers,” said Sammut, who added that clients also bring in acorns or pressed leaves to add. “It’s also about how you light your environment and how your tablescape represents the season as well. Accent with different types of greenery, votive candles, a burlap runner, gold chargers and tie your napkin with rope or a sprig of pine or a berry.”
Sammut has also worked with apples and gourds to truly epitomize all that autumn has to offer. As for winter, he recommends grays, icy blues and every shade of white to let the centerpiece shine.
“White garden roses and hydrangeas are gorgeous in the winter, but you can also do a calla lily or a flowering pear blossom,” he said. “In the winter, you’re getting a lot more of the flowering branches, the amaryllis and your French tulips start coming back as well.”
Sammut likes to use snowberries for a pop of color and dusty miller, which is a grayish blue green plant for winter arrangements.
“I love using mirrors, crystal and clear glass with crisp, clean edges,” he said for wintry accents. “White birch branches and candles embedded in fake snow on the table really evoke a winter theme.”
Pedestals imports different flowers from all over the world including orchids from Hawaii and Thailand, hydrangeas from Ecuador and calla lilies from California and South America, where Sammut said 60 percent of his flowers come from because the country is becoming advanced in the growth of flowers.
“Flowers are natural so I prefer to keep them in their own element,” said Sammut, meaning that he does not spray paint or add glitter as he believes that’s what accent pieces are for. “We ask a client what they envision, but I also offer them many options in lighter and softer tones to choose from.”
Since roses come in many different colors and textures, Sammut recommends that brides stick within the rose family to be consistent. He also suggests to look at flowers one year in advance in the actual season of your wedding if possible, as that will allow you to best envision the day.
“The most important thing it is to be comfortable with your florist. Ask as many questions as you want and ask to see samples,” said Sammut, who recommends that brides do their homework and bring in images. “If you’re creative, you can make anything beautiful because flowers are beautiful in their own way.”
(Photos by Pedestals Florist, Garden City Park)
