Winter- and Christmas- Themed Wedding Ideas--
I am planning an evening candlelight wedding with a heavy hors d'oeuvres for the reception. My question is what types of flowers should I use?!
My dress is going to be an off the shoulder or short sleeves, floor length gown. Not a lot of frills, beading, and lacy, just a little. My maid of honor's dress is going to be emerald green off the should floor length gown.
Also what suggestion would you give in regards to decorations and color variations?
Your plans so far sound lovely. Evening weddings with candle-light are always nice, and with a classy color scheme like the emerald, it should be especially pretty.
As for other colors you might use with the green-- it depends a lot on your tastes/preferences, and the effect you want to create. If you haven't read Using Flowers to Define Your Color Scheme , you should look at that for ideas. The specific colors are different, but the strategies and considerations are similar to your situation.
Specifically for *your* colors and situation, I can suggest a couple different ways you might like to go, depending on your preferences and the effect you want to create. Because your maid of honor's gown will be a "non-flower" color, you could really select any color you want as a contrast, for flowers, napkins, accessories, etc.
Depending on your region, you may have somewhat limited choices in fresh flowers for a winter wedding. Check with a florist (or two) for specifics because this varies a LOT between different regions and different florists. However, nationwide, you'll have a good selection of the classic and traditional roses, carnations, orchids, stephanotis, chrysanthemums, and white "filler" flowers. I'll mention other flower varieties you might be interested in below.
Here are some ideas and considerations....
TRADITIONAL/SEASONAL--
Red or burgundy. Green and red are complimentary colors (opposite on the color wheel), so they contrast nicely. With *emerald* green, you would probably be best using a true red, which is bright and strong (and easy to find at that time of year). Not to mention, it gives a nice "Christmas-y" feel, if you like that.
Burgundy is another nice contrast, and it's recently been popular for winter/Christmas-- especially for a more nostalgic feel, but it might be more appropriate with a *hunter* green than with emerald. It would depend on the exact shade of the maid's gown.
For flowers in pure red, besides the obvious roses and carnations, you have options like Gerber daisies, lilies, and cyclamen. Inexpensive potted poinsettias from a grocery store or home center are also a good way to spread a lot of color and festivity around--especially in a drab, dark or unattractive church or reception hall. Some plants have red berries at that time of year which can be useful, too, but as with poinsettias, please use care around food areas or small children, since both can be poisonous!
SOFTER/MORE FEMININE OR ROMANTIC--
White only, or white with pale pink. Green and white, especially a bright green like emerald, and white can give a very clean, subtle effect. And using white gives you much less to worry about with color matching-- anything you can't find in emerald, you can probably find in white! Also, it would lighten up and refresh the potential darkness you can create in a candle-lit room.
Adding in a touch of pale pink would soften and feminize the look a bit, if that interests you. It would also be appropriate from what you've told me about the gown styles you are considering-- simple and feminine. Peach would be another option, but probably would be more appropriate with ivory than with white.
For flowers, there are *many* white options in all sizes, shapes and textures, including primroses, freesias, snowdrops and hellebores. There are also some interesting shrubs, like viburnums, that flower in the winter, if you have a really creative florist. Pale pinks would include daphnes, heathers, and the many of the traditional flowers I first mentioned. Pale peach might be a bit harder to find in winter than in some other seasons.
MORE CONTEMPORARY/STYLIZED--
Blues or purples. With a harmonious green, these colors make a very cool, pulled-together effect. You could use brighter or paler shades, depending on the strength of the effect you want to make. Also, blue has recently been available in Christmas products as a "Christmas" color. A few years ago, I found some beautiful tartan Christmas ribbon which was primarily emerald, electric blue and gold, with a tiny bit of silver and red. It gave a very contemporary and festive, but still "Christmas-y" feel.
Some possible flower choices in blue or purple-- iris, freesia, heather, primrose, statice, some heliotropes and perhaps even African violet. Additional blue or purple could always be added with ribbon or other non-flower items, as below.
One important comment about using green for gowns, etc. You may wish to have the florist *limit* the use of greenery in your arrangements, especially the maid's bouquet-- even though winter offers many very interesting foliage options. Because many times the green of natural (or silk) foliage is not always compatible with green fashion colors, I usually limit the foliage and make sure that the white or colored flowers go all the way to the edges of the bouquet.
This helps the bouquet to stand out from the gown, and reduces the chances of the foliage green clashing with the gown green. (With other colored gowns, and also with white, it often looks nice to *concentrate* greenery at the edges to frame the flowers and contrast with the gowns-- that's why I mention this specifically to you. Your situation is the opposite.)
As for other decoration ideas, I list a number on my site under Winter- and Christmas-themed Weddings [this page, of course], which you'll probably want to visit if you haven't already.
But to paraphrase, you might consider: anything sparkly that matches the beading on your gown (iridescent, pearl, silver, or whatever), floating beads (again to match your gown details), metallic or iridescent ribbons, mirrors, glass vases/bowls, iridescent/metallic glitter or confetti, Christmas ornaments (especially glass balls or other shapes like icicles), and Christmas garlands and bows.