What's the Theme?
Giving Your Party It's Own Personality
People go to parties to have fun and socialize. What better way to show your creativity, add character to your party and dazzle your guests than through a theme. Following are a few ideas to jump-start your imagination. Your florist can offer additional suggestions.
Consider any of the following themes or party ideas:
Backyard Barbecue
(back)
A backyard barbecue has a special "flavor" of it’s own. The feeling
is usually relaxed, festive and friendly and often includes children and adults.
Flowers can help create the mood, whether relaxing or celebrating, or both. Since
barbecues usually take place in the summer, ask your florist about what varieties
do well in your climate.
Floral Decorating Ideas
Daisies are a great summer flower. Consider using Mason jars filled with bunches
of daisies over checkered tablecloths. Drop a few candles into similar jars
if it is an evening meal. Or ask your florist to make colorful arrangements
in baskets, jars, or bottles.
Special Touches
Decorate pies and cakes with matching flowers and greens. Use bails of hay for
extra seating, to decorate the yard or to make a haystack. Use strands of raffia
for napkin holders.
Suggested Flowers
Daisies, marigolds, roses, lilies, asters, sunflowers, scabiosa and ornamental
grasses.
Perfect
Patio/Garden Party (back)
As people have become more interested
in nature, more outdoor living areas have been incorporated into homes and a relaxed,
casual entertaining style has emerged. The mood can be chic or "gardeny"
but the focus is always on the beauty of nature.
Floral Decorating Ideas
For your next garden or patio party, make use of flowering or green plants in
season. Clay pots fit any decor and can be used for flowering plants, green
plants or as containers for flower arrangements. Topiary designs look great
in clay pots and can be created with ivy or flowers. (Be sure to weight the
bases with sand if there is wind.) Floating candles and flowers in crystal bowls
is another idea that "weathers" the weather. Miniature vases each
showcasing a different type of flower and placed all along the table is a real
conversation starter and you can give one to each guest as they leave. Most
patio parties take place in the summer so roses are in season and a great value.
Small clusters of roses in low containers with a sprinkling of rose petals on
the table among votive candles can create a very elegant mood.
Special Touches
Hang twinkle lights or lanterns from trees or place lights among flowering plants.
Outline the patio with plants and twinkle lights at the ground level to create
a defined space. Floral name cards or a flower on each napkin adds a personal
touch that is as friendly as this style of party.
Suggested Flowers/Plants
Roses, peonies, ranunculus, snapdragons, delphiniums, anemones, lily of the valley,
lisianthus, heather, hydrangea, tulips, alstroemeria, begonias, geraniums, fuschias,
ferns, ivy and impatiens.
Hawaiian
Luau (back)
Summer fun – who doesn’t love a luau? And with the vast variety of tropical
flowers now available on the market it is possible to create decorations that
look like you’re in a Hawaiian paradise.
Floral Decorating Ideas
Ask your florist about a flower lei for each guest. They can usually be special
ordered in advance and make a memorable gift. If leis aren’t available,
provide a flower for each guests’ hair? Since tropical flowers are so exotic,
it is best to choose a style of arrangement that will really show off their
features to guests. Containers might be simple (weighted) pots surrounded by
fruit and vegetables or covered with a Hawaiian print fabric. Or use hollowed
pineapples or coconuts as festive floral containers. If there is a pool, fill
it with inner tubes and display flowers in the centers or put flowers into chair
cup holders. Ask your florist to create fun floral arrangements that will float.
Special Touches
Use tall torches in the ground or small ones placed into potted tropical plants.
Make interesting votive candle holders by carving out fruits, vegetables or
Protea (a hardy tropical flower available at florists). Decorate platters and
trays with flowers or palm fronds, and include the customary flower trim for
cocktails. Ask your florist if they rent props or tropical palms to enhance
your theme.
Suggested Flowers
Anthurium, protea, ginger, heliconia, birds of paradise, torch ginger and orchids.
French Country Dinner (back)
Fine gourmet cooking and entertaining has become a beloved pastime in the homes
of many Americans. And who can think of gourmet cooking without thinking of France?
An ideal complement to a gourmet meal is flower designs inspired by the European
culture that inspired the meal. Creating the ambiance of a French Country table
at your next feast begins by taking a "stroll through the Provence"
and into your nearest flower shop.
Floral Decorating Ideas
Designs that are fragrant, simple, bountiful and earthy are key elements. Strands
of rye grass in white or blue-washed pots tied with a French ribbon are simple
and graceful decor for a serving counter or sideboard. Bundles of fresh or dried
herbs like oregano or rosemary can be casually placed on the table, on serving
platters or as a garnish to foods. Galvanized metal buckets could hold plants
or flowers.
Special Touches
Cover small pots of fresh herbs with French print fabric and tie with French
ribbons for accent pieces (or place card holders) next to a bountiful floral
centerpiece in bright colors to match the fabric.
Suggested Flowers
Rye grass, delphinium, roses, spray roses, iris, sunflowers, flowering branches,
dahlias, french tulips, hydrangea, solidaster, heather, and herbs such as rosemary
and lavender.
Mexican Fiesta (back)
Everyone loves a fiesta. The word conjures up images of swirling, vivid colors
amidst music and laughter. Bright, bold and fun are all part of a fiesta and the
flower decor that will enhance the event.
Floral Decorating Ideas
For a lively centerpiece, try mixing colorful Gerbera daisies in Mexican "bubble"
glass or painted pottery. Make a flower punch float for the Sangria bowl using
a mixture of bright blooms (see Details
That Make a Difference section under "Party Panache"). Suspend
or display piñatas that have been opened on the top and have flowers
arranged inside. Or place flower arrangements or plants in sombreros for a fun
conversation piece.
Special Touches
Create food displays using Mexican rugs or blankets as tablecloths. Scatter
piñata candy and/or flower petals on the tables around centerpieces or
candles. Decorate Margarita glasses with a cocktail pick piercing a small bloom
and a lime. A tray of these made up in advance also looks great as a decoration
for the drink station. Ole!
Suggested Flowers
Vivid colors can be found in many flower varieties: gerbera daisies, gladiolas,
snapdragons, roses, carnations, chrysanthemums, various tropical flowers, ranunculus
and lilies.
Wine at Nine (back)
The casual yet elegant get together is an earmark of the 90’s as young professionals
moved towards a later evening "happy hour" at their homes and the homes
of friends. This is a perfect opportunity to showcase your style and sophistication
through your choice of wines and flowers.
Floral Decorating Ideas
To make an elegant presentation for wines, create your wine cooler (similar
to punch float - see Details That
Make a Difference section under "Party Panache") with flowers
to hold each bottle of chilled wine. Ask your florist to design flowers in a
champagne bucket or in a cluster of wine bottles. Decorate passing trays with
flowers. When serving champagne, pierce a flower blossom and several berries
with a cocktail pick and lay it across the top of the champagne glass. Create
an interesting and elegant effect for mingling guests by placing groups of flowers
and candles around the room. For each "group," try using varied heights
of clear or colored glass in several shapes and sizes and use a different variety
of flowers in each one (bowls, mini vases, tall vases, etc.). Taper, votive
or pillar candles can be mixed in the group, preferably on levels to enhance
the reflection. Ceramic, marble or fabric-covered wine coolers also make decorative
flower vases. (If using terra-cotta, line the inside with a plastic bag to hold
the water.) Floating candles and fragrant blooms in a crystal bowl make a simple
yet elegant centerpiece.
Special Touches
Decorate food serving trays with mini grape wreaths (lying flat) as "holders"
for serving bowls or plates on a larger table.
Suggested Flowers
A few interesting conversation starters might include cosmos, roses, lilies,
anthuriums, orchids, freesia, lisianthus, callas, ranunculus, tulips, iris and
gerbera daisies.
Click
here to print this page
Previous Page
| ©2001 SAF All Rights Reserved | (Home) |