Favor Buffets

by: Kelsey O'Conor

Candy buffets are awesome so look at some pictures. I don't think I even need to explain them.




















As you can see, the candy buffet can fit any style or formality. The pink, gold, and chocolate makes the candy buffet more formal. The multicolor candy feels more casual and fun.

I think the most exciting part of having one of these at your wedding may be the candy shopping. I'm not sure I would be able to control of myself.

So, if you think you'd get too excited over choosing candy, what about a more specialized buffet?



S'Mores






More cake






Cookies






Or Even Tomatoes





People love having choices, especially when it comes to food. Having any sort of dessert buffet at your wedding will be very happily received.


Image Credits: Candy: 1, 2, 3, 4, smores, more cake, cookies, tomatoes

Dreaming of Dresses

by: Kelsey O'Conor

I love couture runway shows. They are like moving art shows. Traditionally in a runway show, a designer's final dress is a white wedding gown. Although this isn't always the case, and a designer doesn't always show a white wedding gown at the end, I still picture their white dresses as wedding gowns.

Here are some of the white dresses and final gowns from the 2011 Fall Couture runway shows.



Chanel, Giambattista Valli

I love the ruffled sleeves on the Giambattista Valli gown. I don't think there are enough pretty sleeved wedding dresses out there.



Jean-Paul Gaultier, Christian Dior

I love everything about that Jean-Paul Gaultier gown. So beautiful!



Christian Dior

Christian Dior's full ball gowns are absolutely stunning. I also love the stars on the headpiece.

Wouldn't you want to try one of these beautiful creations on for just one second? I would.

Photo Shoot Prep Advice

by: Kelsey O'Conor

Looking for advice on how to prepare for your engagement photo shoot? Here are some tips, in no particular order, on how to achieve pictures that really represent you as a couple.

1. Props are fun, so choose props that mean something to you. Showcase your interests and hobbies. If you love to cook or bake, create a picnic scene. If you are musicians, take pictures playing together. The opportunities are endless. Props are also a great way to keep your hands busy instead of awkwardly wondering how to place them. Be careful of having too many props, or ones that hold no meaning. If you aren't a big fan of cupcakes, don't hold one just because it looks cute. Finally, don't let the props overwhelm your photos. The pictures should be about you as a couple, not about all the neat things you own.

2. Choose an awesome location. Think about parks, buildings with interesting architecture, inside a used book store, inside a diner, in a wide-open field, walls covered in artwork (murals or graffiti), bridges, beaches, tire swings on trees, or somewhere else that holds meaning to you. If you can't think of a great location in your hometown, travel to another city, maybe even a couple hours away. If you have the time, make the engagement shoot into a story by traveling around a city or park.

3. The clothes you wear should represent you. Show off your personal style- don't change it. Wear what you're comfortable in. If that means killer 4-inch stilettos, wear them. If it means flip flops, that's good too. Coordinate your outfits, but don't make them matchy-matchy. You want them to look good together. You'll be moving around in these clothes for a few hours, so you'll want to be physically comfortable. And think about bringing a second outfit to change things up in the middle of the shoot. The first half might be more traditional, and the second could be more creative. Maybe the first half might be pretty, and the second could be funky. Adding a little variety is a good thing.

4. Be yourselves on camera. When I look through all my photos with my man, half of them are sweet and nice. The other half have him looking nice, and me making silly faces. For your engagement shoot, don't be afraid to be sexy, silly, sweet, sassy, serious, or all of the above. Be gushy. Hug, hold hands, kiss, laugh, look deep into each other's eyes. You want to look back on these pictures and say, this is totally us 1, 5, 10 years from now, and beyond.

5. Make sure you're well groomed. A week or two before, get your hair cut, trimmed, or colored as needed. A couple days before, trim your beard. Pluck your eyebrows (both of you!). Make sure your nails look nice (short/long/polished/plain-doesn't matter how), practice your makeup look, practice your hair style. On the day of the shoot you want to look and feel your best, and having a good hair day will help. You know that when you look at the photos you will notice all those little details that other people probably won't. Do yourself a favor and prevent them by following this advice.

What Girl Doesn't Love Her Shoes?

by: Kelsey O'Conor

I was doing a little shopping on ASOS (again) and I kept noticing shoes that would look great peeping out from under a wedding dress. Check out my finds:






Gold T-Bar Shoes, White Peep Toes, Lace Boots






Coral Feather Peep Toes, Sparkly Silver Bow Shoes, Pink Suede Shoes

Music to Dance to

by: Kelsey O'Conor

It's getting later. Your oldest and youngest relatives are starting to head home. You want to crank up to volume on your party and dance til you can't anymore. Here are five songs that are both fun to dance to and are relationship-friendly. No blatant womanizing, no mentioning breakups, none of that bad stuff that doesn't have a place at your wedding.

1. "Dynamite" - Taio Cruz



I wanna celebrate and live my life,
Saying AYO! baby, let’s go!
Dynamite is a simple song, celebrating going out to clubs and dancing. But catchy as heck and fun to dance to.

Don't play:"Break Your Heart"

2. "Fire Burning" - Sean Kingston



Shawty got that super thing
Hotter than the sun in the south in Spain
Got me soon as I walked through the door
Fire Burning is a very dance-able song about an amazing girl that a guy finds sexy.


3. "Down" - Jay Sean



So come on and fly with me
As we make our great escape
So why don't we run away

4. "Club Can't Handle Me" -Flo Rida




Watchin you im watchin you we go all out
The club can’t even handle me right now

5. "Everytime We Touch" -Cascada




'Cause everytime we touch, I get this feeling
And everytime we kiss, I swear I could fly
Can't you feel my heart beat fast?

Table Numbers to Match

by: Kelsey O'Conor

The cool thing about table numbers, is that you can display them any way you want. Numbers can be painted on bricks, painted on books, printed on paper, painted on buckets, or framed. They can be vintage, glam, handmade, rustic... the possibilities are endless.

Here are some of my favorite table numbers. Some of them you might have to purchase, others can be handmade. Most of them can be customized to your colors or theme.



I love these first two images for their dramatic use of light. The first is made of beautiful paper cut numbers in a simple acrylic frame. You can get the beautiful numbers here on etsy or can make them yourself.

The second image is a cool DIY project that has dramatic results. Find all kinds of pretty paper at Paper Mojo. I love this one and this one.

Printing a number in an elegant font and putting in a frame is another great idea. These numbers were placed in expensive-looking frames, but were only 3 bucks. Shop around, and you'll be able to find the perfect frames to fit your own budget.



Table numbers are a great way to showcase your interests as a couple, or continue the theme of your wedding.

Wine lovers can display table numbers on bottle of wine, like this first image shows. Print out numbers on nice paper and use double-sided table to stick them over the existing labels. I think it would be fun to go shopping for wine, picking out fun bottles to coordinate with your wedding colors. A white wine with a teal top wrapper would be fun in the summer. A rosé would look pretty in a pink wedding.

This couple used a little easel and pretty orange numbers printed on nice paper. Isn't this adorable!?

For couples who love to read, the third image shows off the couple's love of books. Paint fancy numbers onto books for this easy table number DIY.



This last set of images are of a bit more traditional style.

The first is a number painted on a tile, set against a vase of flowers. The second is a bold number, spray-painted gold. The third uses the technique of quilling to create a romantic, curly number. Table numbers don't have to be fancy, and often the simple numbers look the best.

Table numbers can be the least expensive element of your wedding. There are so many simple DIY projects out there, ranging from simple (print out a number, stick it in a frame) to more complicated (cutting number silhouettes out of paper). The best part about DIYing table numbers? It's so easy to count how many you've done!

Beyond the Registry: Personalized Wedding Gifts for Any Couple

by: Kelsey O'Conor

If you are looking for something unique and special to give as a gift, look no further than Etsy. Another great thing about Etsy is the fact that most shop owners are willing to customize their products for you. Whether it's the color, the size, or the wording, you are buying something completely one of a kind.

If you're looking for a personalized wedding gift, here are a few items on Etsy that you might like. Check it out:

Custom Heart Tree Print Pillow Cover from cozyblue.

How cute is this!? Have your initials "carved" into this hand-printed tree pillow cover. I want to put it on a big comfy chair and curl up next to it reading a book. This seller also has more tree-themed items, including really neat prints.

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Seller nella designs makes these prints with thumbprints in the shape of a heart, and these crossword prints with your wedding date inside a puzzle. You can even choose the color and size of the print. I really love the papaya and ocean colors.

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My favorite on this list are these personalized framed names by A Wondering Eye made up of photographs of different sign letters. I can easily see it hanging on the wall of an apartment filled with vintage furniture and cozy cushions.

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If you love quotes, maybe you want to display one along with a wedding photo, this personalized frame by Your Picture Story is a great way to do just that. You can display your vows, an inside joke, a quotation by a famous person, a line from a book, or even a poem.

Here are my personal favorite quotations about love:


"Love has no desire but to fulfill itself. To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night. To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving." -Kahlil Gibran

Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward together in the same direction." -Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Wind, Sand and Stars

"Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same." -Emily Brontë



If you come across any amazing Etsy finds, please send me a comment. I love spending afternoons looking at all the pretty, creative, personal things.

Every Day to Wedding Day - #1

by: Kelsey O'Conor

This is my first installment of Everyday to Wedding Day, where I take fashion that you wear every day and translate it into something that you can wear on your wedding day. I believe in being yourself, especially on your big day. If you're never seen without a braid in your hair, if you always wear at least one green thing everyday, if you love your white high-top chucks, why should your wedding day be any different? Crank it up a notch. Transform the fashion thing that makes you you into something wedding-worthy.


For this very first post, I chose three hairstyles.




The first is a simple everyday ponytail. Check out how Reese Witherspoon turned the ponytail into something chic and classy. (And how gorgeous are those earrings?!)




If you wear your hair up, with crazy bits and pieces everywhere, glam it up with lots of braids and little bit of volume.



You don't have to change a messy bun too much to make it a wedding-worthy messy bun.

Don't Let Pests Ruin your Outdoor Wedding Festivities!

by: Kelsey O'Conor

This is an important public service announcement:

If you are having an outdoor wedding in the summer. DO NOT FORGET THE CITRONELLA CANDLES. Or bug spray. Or even mosquito nets if you must.




This is my grandpa eating his bug repellant fan at an outdoor party. No bug bites for him!

I was at an outdoor engagement party a month ago and I walked away with so many bug bites, I couldn't even talk about it until now. The party was fun, the food was great, and I got to see friends I hadn't seen in ages, but it could easily have been improved if I hadn't been slapping at my ankles trying to keep the little biting bugs away from me.





1+2 - Crate&Barrel, 3 - Old Time Pottery , 4 - Ace Hardware, 5 - Lowes

Make sure you shop around. There are some really cute citronella candle options. If you don't like any of the decorative ones, you can easily find some simple white citronella tea lights. Place the tea lights into a holder that fits your vision for your table scape.




No need to get these citronella lanterns. Unless you want to make your camping-themed wedding even more authentic.

Bridesmaid Jewelry Ideas

by: Kelsey O'Conor

You may be at that point where you're trying to figure out what to give your bridesmaids. These are your sisters and best friends who have been there for you before, during, and will be there after the wedding. You tell them everything, they tell you everything, and you'd be lost without them.

Bridesmaids gifts are a traditional way to say thank you. A lot of brides give jewelry that they can wear in the wedding. But you can also do something a bit more personal. Each of your girls is different. She has her own goals, her own sense of style, and you have your own inside jokes. Celebrate their differences with jewelry that reflects each individual bridesmaid. It may be a piece that she can wear in the wedding, but it might not. Either way, having something unique will make her feel special and loved by you. Which she is.

Here are a few of my favorite websites to get unique and beautiful jewelry.

The first is Amrita Singh. Amrita Singh jewelry is culturally diverse. Her bangles are to die for, her rings make me swoon, and her necklaces certainly make a statement. There's so much to choose from that I'm certain there's something for everybody. If you're on a budget, her sale items are priced as low as $20 and are just as beautiful as the rest of her items.

1. The Vanessa Earring is a silk thread wrapped hoop earring that comes is a variety of bold colors.

2. The Chloe Ring is so sweet. It also comes in a variety of colors.

3. If you want to get something for your bridesmaids to wear at the wedding, Amrita Singh has plenty of unique pieces to offer. This Makik Necklace could be a good choice.

My Second favorite place to get jewelry is JewelMint. JewelMint is a membership service, so make sure you read the terms of service so you know how it all works. Basically, you take a style quiz and they will pick out a few pieces based on your style. You then have the option to buy one, or any other piece on the website, for only 29.99, including free shipping. The jewelry is fresh and unique. I've already received my Mumbai Bracelet in the mail and I couldn't be happier.

4. The Astoria Necklace is great for your traditional bridesmaid who wants to be bold. The gold color and the rectangle shape make it a little bit conservative, but the large size makes it bold.

5. This set of four pairs of earrings is called Tailor-Made Earrings. How cute are the little tiny scissors? And the zipper pulls are so unique.


So I hope this gave a few ideas for thanking the most important women in your life. To me, giving different, personal gifts to each girl is a great way to say thank you. If the gift is meant to be worn for the wedding, you can still personalize it. Having the girls wear mismatched jewelry and the same dress can look beautiful, and shows that you love them each as individuals. Your wedding is a day to celebrate love, including your love for your girls.

Poses of a dress...

by: Kelsey O'Conor





Source

I come across a lot of pictures of wedding dresses. They're always beautiful, romantic, and often fun. There's always a sense of anticipation for the day to come, and the memories that are going to be made in this dress. Most of these pictures feature dresses hanging on a door, or a mirror, or in front of a window. But some are hanging on a tree outside.

When I see one of these tree pictures, I like to imagine how it got to be floating up there in the wind. In my mind I picture the bridesmaids holding down a bride in her bridal undies while the photographer snatches the dress, runs down a hill, hangs it on a tree, snaps a picture, then runs it back up. There's always a hill.

Pictures of rings also get my mind churning. But that's for another post.






This one is quite mysterious. How did that dress get there?
source

For Those Who Love the Water...

by: Kelsey O'Conor

To counterbalance my love of the desert, I present nautical inspiration!

With this heatwave hitting us, I'm dreaming of days in the ocean and evening sitting in a hammock enjoying a cool ocean breeze, reading a good book.



The compasses and maps make me think ocean adventure, navigating the high seas. In blue heels? Yes please!



I love the something blue ribbon hiding in the layers of a dress. It's a little secret just for you on your wedding day. Or keep it a secret for you and your man in the form of a pretty blue garter.



This whale chalkboard is adorable! And so are all the crab themed cards on this dessert table.


Top: 1+5,2, 3

Middle: 1+3, 2, 4, 5

Bottom:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Southwest Inspirations

by: Kelsey O'Conor

As I've said before, I'm in love with the Southwest. And by southwest I mean anything remotely having to do with Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Central and South American, southwestern Native American tribes and their art, and even the ancient Aztec and Inca tribes and art. Whew, that's a lot! It is a combination of the landscape, the food, and the art, that gets me inspired. Check out these inspiration pictures, inspired the sand of the desert mixed with the bright colors of the culture.


I took ideas from Cinco de Mayo, my favorite holiday! The bright tissue paper decorations, like those in the fourth picture, are an easy project to DIY.



I just can't get over how gorgeous this cake is! I love the soft grey horizontal lines and tiny flowers.



Succulents and cacti everywhere! Use these mini plants as combination escort cards and favors. Plant cacti in pots of varying sizes and use them as centerpieces. Just be careful when you're planting.

I know this isn't a style for everyone. I can't name one friend who would be excited about cacti and chimichangas as much as I am. But isn't it fun to look? It goes to show that you can really do anything when it comes to your own wedding. Don't be afraid to do something unexpected, use non-traditional flowers (like ones that poke), or take inspiration from somewhere out of the ordinary.

Desert Inspiration Photo Credits

Top: 1+3, 2, 4 5, 6,

Middle: 1, 2,

Bottom: 1+3 2, 4

Romantic Sandals For Girls Who Love Flats

by: Kelsey O'Conor



I was shopping at ASOS where I stumbled upon these very romantic sandals. Not a fan of high heels? Having a romantic, sweet wedding? These are so cute!

Must-Have Music Standards

by: Kelsey O'Conor

If you're looking for good music that everyone can enjoy, look no further than 50s and 60s and the romantic standards that came with them.

1. "Ain't That a Kick in the Head" by Dean Martin





My head keeps spinning;
I go to sleep and keep grinning;
If this is just the beginning,
My life's gonna be beautiful.

This song perfectly captures what you're groom is feeling. How in the world did he get such a beautiful, amazing woman like you to fall in love with him? (Easy peasy, he's just as handsome and wonderful himself.)

2. "Fly Me to the Moon (In Other Words)" by Frank Sinatra




Fill my heart with song
And let me sing for ever more
You are all I long for
All I worship and adore

3. "Come Fly With Me" by Frank Sinatra




Once I get you up there where the air is rarified
We'll just glide, starry-eyed
Once I get you up there I'll be holding you so near
You may hear angels cheer 'cause we're together

This song is perfect for a couple who loves travel. Or planes (like I do). It's subject is not as much about romance, so it might not be a fitting first dance song, but it's one that I love and would be a must-have at my wedding.

4. "Cheek to Cheek" by Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald




Heaven, I’m in heaven
And my heart beats so that I can hardly speak
And I seem to find the happiness I seek
When we’re out together dancing cheek to cheek

What better male/female duo is there than the magical pair of Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald? This song is so sweet and simple that I can see every single couple, from your grandparents who just celebrated their 50th anniversary, to your cute little nieces and nephews, out on the dance floor smiling and enjoying themselves dancing.

5. "Embraceable You" by Nat King Cole




I love all the many charms about you
Above all, I want my arms about you

This one is much more slow and dreamy than the rest on my list. That's why I love it.

There are so many different versions of the songs on this list, and the standards in general. If you find a song you love, you can probably find a version of it that fits you as a couple perfectly. There's also covers of these songs by today's artists and not just Harry Connick, Jr. (but you should totally check out the When Harry Met Sally soundtrack - and the movie of course- because his covers are wonderful)

Things That Inspire Me

by Kelsey O'Conor



The Southwest. I love the colors, the textures, and the designs that are associated with the Southwest. How cute would little cacti look as decoration instead of the regular succulents? And Tex-Mex food is just about the greatest cuisine ever.




Frilly sleeves. To me, no shirt or dress is complete without a ruffle or embellishment on the shoulders.

Waterfall French Braids. This half up/half down hairstyle is so sweet and simple. It works well with a veil, flowers, or other simple headpiece. Check out this video on how to do this hairstyle yourself.




Crazy shoes. Sparkly shoes would make me feel magical all day.

Long tables. Long tables look so elegant, but also make you feel like one big family at the same time. I love the idea of having many different small flower arrangements along the table.





Sources: cacti,shoes, dress, braid, table

Which side is the right side?

by: Kelsey O'Conor

Gene Higa Photography

We are often asked which side the bride should stand on as she walks down the aisle. Well here is your answer and the reason behind it:

Traditionally, the bride stands on the left, the groom on the right. (Although the Jewish wedding tradition reverses this.) Weddings used to be a lot more like the ones you watch on daytime TV, with dastardly ex-suitors and other thugs sometimes rushing the altar. And of course, some wedding crashers were heroes, just trying to rescue a captured bride. Whatever the reason for the interference, the groom needed to keep his right hand free so he could grab his sword, thus the bride stood clear and to the left.

If you want to watch a cute movie about kidnapped brides, chases on horseback, and a whirlwind romance, check out The Abduction Club (2002).

What's Your Style?

by: Kelsey O'Conor

Before you can pick flowers, bridesmaid dresses, and create all your DIY projects, you need to choose a color scheme or theme. Having one will keep all the colors in your wedding from clashing. It's more than just the dresses and the flowers that follow the color scheme. It's also the cake, the invitations, the napkins on the table, the escort cards, everything. There are so many beautiful color combinations out there, so here are a few tips on where you can come up with your own.

Coral reefs and their fishy inhabitants can be great inspiration for a color scheme with vibrant pinks, purples, oranges, and blues.

1. What is you favorite thing found in nature? I love fish and the ocean, so I created the above color scheme based around the little fish and softer tones of the corals and blues. I would add a soft, creamy off-white as the neutral. While all the colors would show up in my flower arrangements, I would focus on only two colors for things like my stationary, bridesmaids' dresses, and other details. You could draw inspiration from a red bird in the dark green leaves of an evergreen tree for a winter wedding, or purple wildflowers in a golden field for a springtime wedding.

2. Combine your and your fiance's favorite colors, add a neutral to tie them together, and call it your color scheme. Just be wary of this method, because if your favorite color is red, and his is green, you're looking at a Christmas colored wedding. Blue and orange is pretty, as long as it's not too Syracuse Orangemen. If your colors seem too gaudy, or connect to strongly to a holiday or sports team, try softening the colors, or changing blue to teal, and see what you come up with.

Films with strong styling, like the red and blue motif of The Aviator are great inspiration for movie buffs.

3. If you two are movie buffs, look to classic (color) films for inspiration. Think of your favorite settings, costumes, and cinematography. You can take the movie inspiration as far as you want, from just the colors, to making the film your theme. When you make a particular film your theme, make sure that the movie's ending is a happy one. As beautiful as Casablanca is, (spoiler alert!) they don't end up together. For my color scheme above, I chose The Avaiator for it's beautiful sky blues and bright reds throughout the film.

Look for inspiration for a western wedding in cowboy boots.

4. Fashion and art are really great places to look for color inspiration. Certain colors become trendy each season, and you'll see them repeated throughout designers' collections. If you have a favorite designer, look up their latest collection, winter, fall, spring, summer, resort, couture, or ready-to-wear. Check out recent fashion weeks, or look through their online stores. The same goes for art, whether it's paintings by Van Gogh or colorful trash sculptures by a local artist. Artists know how to use color to convey an emotion so they're experts on color schemes. Above, I based an all-red color scheme on a really great pair of boots. (And hey, if you have a color scheme based on a particular pair of shoes, you have a perfect excuse to buy them!)

5. My final tip is to look back on all the daydreams you've had about your wedding since you were a kid. What have you always dreamed about? Even if what you wanted isn't what you're having, you still have little bits and pieces. Was your favorite childhood color combo orange and yellow? That's perfect! Were you a little bookworm who pictured getting married in a library if you could? Well incorporate the rich colors of book jackets and sturdy wooden shelves.

Anything can be your color inspiration. You can't go wrong with colors that make you happy.

Check out Colour Lovers to play around with color palettes and patterns, and my profile more color ideas.

Coming soon: a follow up post about coming up with ideas for specific themes.

Summer Flower Ideas

by Kelsey O'Conor

Flowers play a big role in wedding planning. There are bouquets, boutonnieres, ceremony decorations, reception centerpieces, and possibly other decorations as well. If you aren't sure where to start in your search for the perfect flowers to have at your wedding, start with seasonal, local flowers. They're going to be easy to find, and much cheaper that out-of-season flowers.

What's in bloom in July? It's hard to go wrong with these beautiful flowers:

Baby's Breath

Baby's breath is a light an airy flower. Baby's breath is usually used as a filler flower, but you can let it shine through as your main flower. I think it looks beautiful on its own or used generously in an arrangement with other flowers.

Daisies

What a friendly flower. Meg Ryan in You've Got Mail certainly agrees. This little bloom is a ray of sunshine that is perfect for a garden themed wedding. Place daisies in vintage glass bottles for rustic centerpieces.



Sunflowers

This bold bloom is perfect for bringing sunshine to your big day. You can't help but feel happy when looking at sunflowers. They look best on their own, with minimal additional flowers in the bouquet. Sunflowers come in different sizes, so feel free to mix and match to create fun centerpieces.



Scabiosa

Scabiosa come in two ways: flower or pod. The flower itself comes in many colors, including white, pinks, and purples. The scabiosa pod is often used as a filler flower, peeking out of a rustic bouquet, but also looks great on its own in a boutonniere.



Tuberose

Tuberoses are small white flowers that look lovely in a boutonniere or bouquet. It's simplicity makes it versatile, so you can go rustic or elegant with it. The tuberose is a very fragrant flower, so make sure you don't mind the scent because it will be with you all day.


These are just six of many July flowers. Ask your florist what's in season near you and use those in your wedding.

image credits: baby's breath bouquet/centerpiece; daisies centerpiece/bouquet; sunflowers bouquet/arrangements; scabisoa bouquet/boutonniere; tuberose bouquet/boutonniere