June 26, 2009

Orignally posted on Wedding Aces on February 19, 2009.

Using orchids at weddings is very en vogue! They are available in many colors and are stunning, exotic, and of course, expensive! Not only are they beautiful, showy flowers, but they are available year round, and also quite hardy – able to last through the end of the wedding when the guests have all passed out. And as another plus for those outdoor summer weddings, they are unlikely to wilt in the heat. There are many types of orchids available as cut flowers that can fit within any budget and color scheme!

Dendrobium

magenta dendrobium orchid

One of the most economical orchids are dendrobium orchids. These are the typical magenta flowers that are made into leis you might have noticed on your last vacation to Hawaii. They also come in white, green, light pink, light orange/yellow, and light and dark purple. Per stem, they are usually less than $1 wholesale at the LA Flower District with at least 5-8 blooms per stem. They form a beautiful line that works well for larger arrangements and they can be immersed in water for a modern look. As individual blossoms, they can be used as boutonnieres as well as flowers for each place setting without breaking the bank.

Oncidium and James Story orchids

yellow oncidium orchid

Oncidium and James Story orchids are typically longer than dendrobium orchid stems. Oncidiums usually come in a golden yellow as well as more brown shades. James Story orchids typically come in gold/orange as well as burgundy. As longer stems, these orchids are great for tall, spraying and draping centerpieces. Individual blossoms are not as large as dendrobiums or mokaras, so they are not typically used for boutonnieres or for place setting flowers. But that is not to say they can’t!

Mokara

Burgundy Mokara orchids

Mokaras usually come in gold/orange and burgundy shades similar to James Story orchids. They are shorter in length, but come with many blossoms per stem. The length of the stems and number of open blooms at the ends of each stem make them very amenable to bouquets. Treat them like dendrobiums as each individual blossom can be used in boutonnieres and corsages, or at each place setting on the reception tables.

…Click HERE to read about more orchids – cymbidiums and phalaenopsis – on WeddingAces !