As you can see, I took a little break blogging for Afloral, but I’m back and ready for more wedding action!  We have tons of new products and ideas at www.afloral.com and are looking forward to a prosperous and exciting 2009 wedding season!  Be sure to check out our new products, videos, and wedding pages — and of course, check back for more blog posts!

LeAnne 

Although the economy is suffering, Afloral.com is preparing for a prosperous 2009 wedding season as brides become more savvy at saving on wedding flowers.

Despite all of the economic struggles in the world today, Afloral.com is looking forward to a prosperous and exciting 2009 spring wedding season. As the cost of living continues to soar, brides are being forced to find less expensive alternatives for their wedding plans. With silk flowers, brides can receive more bang for their buck. At less than a quarter of the price of real flowers, artificial stems are a brilliant way to save money and still have beauty and luxury at your wedding. Also, for a fraction of the cost of a fresh floral bouquet, you can create the same look and no one will be able to tell the difference.

 Silk flowers offer many other benefits on top of their inexpensive pricing. They are of course, long lasting. This appeals to many brides because they can now keep their bouquets forever. They can be bought and arranged months before any event. You no longer need to worry about the freshness of your flowers.

Variety is another wonderful aspect of artificial flowers. You can purchase pretty much any type of bloom at any time of the year, no matter the season. There is also the option to choose from a wide range of colors and sizes that you couldn’t normally get with real flowers.

Last, but certainly not least, silk flowers are allergy free and very easy to maintain. With no watering, no flower preservatives, and no clean-up of fallen petals or leaves, silk flowers are a wonderful way to remain stress-free when it comes to your wedding arrangements.

With the advancements and studies in artificial flowers nowadays, quality silk flowers have been created and designed to look and feel just like the real thing. You can now receive a high quality product at value cost. On top of that, there are now silk flower fragrances available to make your beautiful flowers smell like the real deal. Most popular flowers have their own spray scent, as well as a combination of other scents such as “Spring Garden,” “Fresh Greenery,” and even unique holiday scents.

Now that we’ve covered silk flower benefits, let’s discuss floral trends. Some of the most exotic and bright colors coming into trend for spring of 2009 are royal and turquoise blues, bright yellow, vibrant orange, sweet lavender, bold and lime greens, and the most popular, luminous pinks. With silk flowers, these colors are not only easy to find, but are offered in various flower types. Silk roses and gerbera daisies being highest on the list, are available in just about every color imaginable. Be sure to check out the “Silk Flower By Color” page at to find that perfect color trend for your wedding.

Wearing a wedding tiara on your big day can really make you feel like a queen.  Not only are they gorgeous, but they are affordable as well.   Buy a wedding tiara to attach your veil, or simply wear the tiara by itself.

Plus, wedding tiaras come in so many different sizes and styles.  Buy a gold or silver bridal tiara.  Select one that is accented with crystals, rhinestones, pearls, or colored gemstones.  Have a favorite queen or princess?  You can purchase a tiara that is a replica of that particular woman’s headpiece.  Even invest in a vintage tiara or one made with REAL diamonds.  The choices are endless — and all of them will make you feel dignified, beautiful, and elegant on your wedding day!

Here are some photos of the wedding tiara in action:

Okay, okay, just kidding about that last wedding tiara photo, but I just couldn’t resist!  Is anyone wearing (or have worn) a bridal tiara on their big day?

Happy Thursday!  Okay, for wedding hairstyles Thursday today, we are featuring short hairstyles.  I hadn’t realized that in the past 2 Thursday’s there hasn’t been one photo of a short hair do!  And we all know that there are a lot of brides out there that have short hair!  Thank you Marlene for bringing this to my attention and for the nice comments.  Now, without further ado, here are your short wedding hairstyles:

I came across a few beautiful wedding poems in my searches this week.  Poems can be used for many different things wedding related including vows, invitations,  wedding favors, and anything else you can add text to.  They can be short or long, funny or serious, and everything in between.  Wedding poems can help you find that perfect thing to say to your future bride or groom, even to your guests.   Allow me to share the following beautiful verses with you, and perhaps you will feel inspired to use one — or write your own special wedding poem for your big day.

May All Good Things Be Yours
by Joanna Fuchs

I love you not only for what you are,
But for what I am when I am with you
I love you not only for what you have made of yourself
But for what you are making me
I love you for the part of me that you bring out.
I love you for passing over all my foolish and weak traits,
That you can’t help but to see
I love you for drawing out into the light my beauty,
That no one else had looked quite far enough to din
I love you

From This Day Forward
by Marianne Williamson

From this day forward,
You shall not walk alone.
My heart will be your shelter,
And my arms will be your home.

To Be One With Each Other
by George Elliot

What greater thing is there for two human souls
than to feel that they are joined together to strengthen
each other in all labor, to minister to each other in all sorrow,
to share with each other in all gladness,
to be one with each other in the
silent unspoken memories?

True Love
by Anonymous

True love is a sacred flame
That burns eternally,
And none can dim its special glow
Or change its destiny.
True love speaks in tender tones
And hears with gentle ear,
True love gives with open heart
And true love conquers fear.
True love makes no harsh demands
It neither rules nor binds,
And true love holds with gentle hands
The heart that it entwines.

She Walks in Beauty
by Lord Byron

She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that’s best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
Thus mellow’d to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.

One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impair’d the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o’er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.

And on that cheek, and o’er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet so eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!

The Art of Marriage
by Wilfred A. Peterson

The little things are the big things.
It is never being to old to hold hands.
It is remembering to say “I love you” at least once a day.

It is never going to sleep angry.
It is at no time taking the other for granted;
the courtship should not end with the honeymoon.
It should continue through all the years.

It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.
It it standing together facing the world.
It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family.
It is doing things for each other,
not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice,
but in the spirit of joy.

In speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating
gratitude in thoughtful ways.
It is not expecting the husband to wear a halo
or the wife to have wings of an angel.
It is not looking for perfection in each other.

It is cultivating flexibility, patience,
understanding and a sense of humor.
It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.
It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow.

It is finding room for the things of the spirit.
It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.
It is establishing a relationship in which the independence is equal,
dependence is mutual and the obligation is reciprocal.
It is not only marrying the right partner,
it is being the right partner.

Hopefully you enjoyed at least one of these wedding poems!  Does anyone have a verse they’d like to share?  Either a favorite, or one you have personally written?