Florists enjoy knowing their job is to help a bride select the floral backdrop for her big day, informing them of the latest trends and knowing traditional selections that are always beautiful.
"All of our weddings are individually planned," said Nancy Rondel, owner of A.R. Pontius Flower Shop on Main Street in Harbor Springs, a nearly 90-year-old business. "We're a combination of the old-fashioned, time-honored florist and the most up-to-date selections."
Some things don't change with brides and their flower choices: They're looking for the biggest and prettiest blooms, and often prefer the meaning and look of roses in particular.
Brides also love peonies, zinnias, gladiolas, dahlias and lilacs, she offered.
"Those are some of the more traditional ones and we're finding a lot of brides really like those very much," Rondel said. "Really big old-fashioned pinks and whites, real full and lush, are popular."
Modern spins on those traditional varieties are popular, too, such as gerbera daisies and calla lilies. More brides are also opting for the look of tropical flowers, which can be ordered and flown in at extra expense.
"We're really seeing brides all over the place right now," said Rondel.
Some brides know exactly the species they're looking for when it comes to wedding-day flowers and others aren't sure; Rondel said she meets with them several times and offers catalogs and photos of various types to help the process.
"I tell them to find things you like, even if it's only the color you want, get a folder together that you can share with me and bring it in," she advised, "so I can really understand and visualize what it is you want me to do."
Rondel will offer a quote range and then "will never go over that top number. Once I promise them that's what it's going to cost, I will come within that range."
Once the flowers are determined, brides don't need to worry about them again. "I'll touch base again the week before to confirm the numbers. We can get this done ahead of time so the bride doesn't have to worry about it."
And they can rest assured that the blooms have been carefully selected by Rondel and her staff, mainly from local sources but depending on the time of year, from out-state or around the world if necessary.
"I'm not a mass-production florist at all," she added. "We really gear ourselves to the unique."
Sydney Fish, owner of Upsy-Daisy in Boyne City, is looking forward to her first foray as a florist during wedding season. She recently opened her flower shop and is working with her first of surely many brides.
She said she welcomes brides to come in with photos, magazine clippings and other ideas of bouquets they prefer and they can work from there on shape and variety based on their budget.
Heading into the season, she expects calla lilies and gerbera daisies to be bouquet staples. And she's currently planning her own fall wedding flowers as well.
"We're definitely leaning toward fall colors, and I'd like to incorporate other things like mini-pumpkins, gourds and crab apples," said Fish. "It's something I'd like to offer other brides too. We can cater to whatever people want. We want people to be able to come in and say, ‘It's a little different, can you do that?' We want to be creative."