Tara Carlson of Sweet Peas Floral recommends honing in on the bridal bouquet first, then the rest of the florals such as boutonniers, bridesmaids bouquets, decorative florals and more. Photo: Rachel Graff Photography
There’s nothing quite like a wedding—elegant music dancing through the air, decadent menu items appearing atop fine china and loved ones embracing warmly. Moreover, the soft petals and aromatic scent of wedding florals can seamlessly pull together the colors and details of the event.
Tara Carlson was 15 years old, working in a small flower shop in Newport, when she was struck by the industry and fell hard for flowers. Carlson has since invested in her knowledge and built upon her experience, purchasing Sweet Peas Floral in Woodbury in 2006. Now a decorated winner of the Best of Woodbury Readers’ Choice Poll, Sweet Peas continues to rise in the floral industry.
In an ever-changing and evolving industry, it’s important for couples to consider their priorities when planning their wedding. With florals specifically, it can be easy to go all out with Instagram-worthy archways and centerpieces, but Carlson encourages brides to narrow in. “Focus on personal flowers and bouquets, because they’ll be in your pictures forever,” Carlson says. Once decided on the bridal bouquet, everything else follows suit. At Sweet Peas, brides may come in with a Pinterest board full of ideas and inspiration, but with fully custom florals, couples can start from scratch to build the bouquet of their dreams.
Photo: Celisia Stanton Photography
Take Into Consideration …
When it comes to making a masterpiece, there are a handful of considerations, including colors, favorite flowers, style (aka the shape of the bouquet) and textures.
A traditional cascade bouquet is very formed and focused on the flowers themselves, whereas a hand-tied bouquet is a bit more wild, natural and focused on greenery.
Textures can range based on the preferences of the bride and groom, but Carlson has arranged bouquets with unlikely items, such as feathers. One bride had hoped for white peacock feathers, so Carlson took matters into her own hands and found an albino peacock in Oregon. She worked with the owner to ship feathers for the bouquet. Other unique additions Carlson has used include broaches, globe thistles, ribbon roses and succulents.
It’s important to remember each type of flower has a blooming season, as well, which impacts availability and cost. “Almost everyone wants peonies,” Carlson says. “They start around Mother’s Day and bloom through the end of July.” After the blooming season is over, Carlson can sometimes order peonies from Alaska because the bloom time is longer but at a price. Lily of the valley (although considered invasive here) continues to be popular, but, with a limited two-week growing season, coming wholesale from Holland can get quite pricey.
Regardless of the time of year, Carlson advises couples to give themselves enough time to plan. “Floral planning has to be in-person, so you can see the flowers, feel them, smell them,” Carlson says. “The experience is so worth it.”
By the Seasons
Spring: Pastels and soft colors are welcome, especially baby blue, soft blush and peach for a true springtime feel. Popular flowers include: delphinium, peonies and ranunculus.
Summer: Outdoor weddings increase in frequency, and the summer heat lasts well into the evening. Choose sturdy flowers with a tolerance for the warmth: rose, sunflower and hydrangea, and add in greenery like eucalyptus to keep things fresh.
Fall: Autumn brings a sense of neutrality as the colors shift outside. The majority of weddings will lean into neutrals like cream, blush, Champagne and taupe. Added textures like feathers and pampas grass accompany these fall favorites: dahlia, chrysanthemum and lisianthus.
Winter: The blank slate of winter offers a palette to play with, and many brides choose to mix and match traditional holiday icons, such as evergreens, velvet ribbon and baby’s breath.
Sweet Peas Floral
783 Radio Drive; 651.730.9115
Facebook: Sweet Pea’s Floral
Instagram: @sweetpeasfloralmn
Pinterest: Sweet Pea’s Floral
X: @SweetPeasFloral
