It’s prom season and here is a pretty orange wristlet for the girl. Enjoy.

Here are some prom bouquet made for proms a couple weeks ago.  Hope you all have fun at the prom.  Enjoy and take lots of pictures. 

The Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act has expired as of February 12, 2011. The Act was to engage economic development in the Andean countries (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru) and provide them incentive to grow alternative crop as oppose to drug (mainly cocaine) production. What does that have to do with flowers? Those roses you bought for your sweetheart this past Valentine’s day are more than likely from Ecuador. Let’s hope the renewal or extension is happening soon so we won’t see any price spike on your next roses purchase.

High school prom is probably one of the most memorable experience a high school student will encounter. But buying everything like dresses, shoes and other assessories can be expensive. To those who may not be able to afford them, now you have The Bella Project to the rescue.  The Bella Project founded by Amanda Ross, is offering free dresses and accessories to young ladies.  Their next event The Bella Boutique is going to be at the Honolulu Design Center on Saturday, March 13, 10 am- 2 pm.  First come first serve, so show up early.  KGMB Video

Unwrap your bouquet of ribbon, plastic sleeve, and wet paper towel; put it in a vase with some water; you could enjoy your bouquet for another few days.  Better yet, order your bouquet with open stems and no unwraping is required. After the prom, simply place your bouquet in a mid-size vase with some water. Enjoy your prom.  Enjoy your bouquet.

unwraping is easy.

After the bouquet flowers wilted, untie the bouquet, check to see if the flowers are wired (orchids, plumeria, hypericums are usually wired).  Flowers with wire removed can be tossed into your green recycle bin (yard waste bin) for greencycling. Wire can be tossed into your regular waste.  H-power will pick out the metal wire before it goes into the burner.

Here are 2009 first few prom bouquets we’ve created at Sweet Blossoms Hawaii. We wish you all an awesome time at the prom. Enjoy.  More bouquet photos.

More bouquet photos.

    
More photos at PicasaWeb.com

Girls,

After you figured out the dresses, the make up, the hairs, and the accessories, etc, flower selection will be quite easy for you. You can either give your date a maile lei or a boutonniere.

The maile lei will be elegant and simple by itself or you could add some color to by doing a rose twist. The color should compliment your dress color or match you flower bouquet. Make sure it is a Cooke Island maile. The other variety is cheaper for a reason.

If you choose to present your date with a boutonniere, make sure it will match the theme, style and color the bouquet or wristlet your date is getting you. Let your date know if you would prefer a wristlet or bouquet, which mainly depend on what kind of dress you’ll be wearing. Tell him what kind of flowers and what color you like. It could be roses, calla lilies, stargazer lilies, tulips etc. Let him know what kind of dress or what color it is. His florist will be able to help him on choosing the right bouquet. If you want to be specific, send him a picture of the dress to show his florist. Some boy may be shy on asking all this information and you don’t necessary want to be over control, hint him on what kind of boutonniere you’ll be getting him, his florist may know how to compliment that. Some dresses are nice with a wristlet, and some dresses are better with a bouquet. Ask your mom and dad for their opinion. Or bring a picture of the dress to the florist for help.

Some florists may have a “pair special” where both of your flowers are from the same florist. For examples a “maile lei and red rose hand tied bouquet set” or a “white Orchid boutonniere and Orchid mix Spring bouquet set” Your flowers will sure to be coordinated without a glitch. That’s why wedding flowers arrangement are always so together because all the flowers are from the same florist – the bride, the groom, groom’s men, bride’s mate, the parents, etc. Do consider the proper size of the bouquet and wristlet. Make sure it does not overpower your dress and is not too heavy to carry around that night. Already have a bouquet, do consider an upper arm corsage to use at the dance floor. Ask for the price and ask to see if it could be discounted since you will be getting the bouquet from them.

More photos at PicasaWeb.com

Guys

you’ll need to do some investigation on what kind of flower to get their date. Find out early what kind of flowers and what colors your date like. What color and style of dress she will be wearing that night. Be suggestive. she would be impressed when she see that you know the different between a calla lily and a stargazer lily. Cut out pictures of a bouquet or wristlet that will go well with her dress and see if she like that. If it is too embarrassed, ask her friends to ask her. But make sure you let her know what you’ll be getting her a couple week before the prom or dance. She need to know when she order your boutonniere or the roses color in the maile lei.

Something extra specials for you prom date? How about adding butterflies, fancy chiffon ribbons, rhinestones or glitter on the roses? How about a flower accesories for the shoes or a upper arm corsasge?

What’s the different between a hand tied bouquet and a cascading bouquet? Does it mater if the bouquet is in a holder or tied? What about wristlet? How early should I order the flowers? Those are all good questions for teenagers who are preparing for their school prom.

More photos at PicasaWeb.com

Belows are a few popular types. They may have different bouquet names but let’s use the easy names.

Hand-tied bouquet = stems are wrapped with ribbons. More and more people like it because of its casual and natural look.
Cascade Bouquet = arranged on a holder. It has a cascade and more formal look.
Fan Bouquet = arranged on a holder that shape like a fan.
Wand Bouquet = bouquet on a stick with ribbon tail like a magic wand.
Arm Bouquet = presentation bouquet wrapped in cellophane. Similar to what ice skater or pageant winners receive.

Don’t let peer pressure get the best of you. Be yourself and exchange your flowers with confidence. Flowers and lei are exchanged as a gesture of affection at prom night or formal school dance. It is not necessary important what you give your date, but how have you considered your date when you choose your flowers. Is it important to have the bouquet be hand-tied, wand, cascade or arm bouquet? in holder or tied? roses or mix bouquet? Like Wedding bouquet, we suggest to teenage girls to choose something that they like and that will compliment their dresses in color and style. Never color match the flower with the dress, since it would blend right in with your dress and you’ll never see the flowers when you take the prom photos. Use flowers that will contrast your dress instead. For example a White calla lilies hand-tied bouquet would go well with a dark red summer dress; a lavender color roses cascade bouquet will go well with a white long dress. Do use ribbons that will match or compliment the dress. If you are making alteration to the dress, use a piece of the dress to shop for flowers. The florist will have a better chance choosing flowers to compliment your dress.

You should shop around for good prices, but more importantly for good service and product. Most florists have a book of arrangements for you to choose from. And if you want something extra special, bring pictures so your florist know what you’re looking for and price it accordingly. Work with your overall budget rather than picking the cheapest flower shop. Flower may not be the biggest items on the expense list which may include prom dress, shoes, tuxedo rental, limo rental, after prom activities. Imagine a saving in limo rental or shoe accessories budget can increase your flower budget. It’s okay to let your florist know your budget. They are flexible on picking the flower and the arrangement to meet it. They also will let you know if your budget can archive an effective bouquet or wristlet. Unlike a Wedding bouquet, which is used almost the whole day from church ceremony all the way to reception, a prom bouquet is used only for a few hours. So make sure you take a lot of photos, with you date, with your friends and tilt that bouquet forward so it show on the pictures. Don’t just lay it on the table all night. With an open end boquet, you can place it in a vase and enjoy it for a few more days. You can also hang dry the bouquet. Just tie it upside down in a cool and shaded place.

Since multiple prom and dance happen on the same day, order your bouquet early, most florists will turn away customers if they max out on their orders. It may not be okay to buy a bunch of flowers from the supermarket because you have not consider your date.