The Big Day’s Bouquet
Finalizing floral and other options for your wedding
Ryan Williams-Jent
From bridal bouquets to charming centerpieces, floral accents and arrangements are a must for many couples saying “I do.” It’s a wedding staple that dates back to ancient ceremonies.
"The origin of the bridal bouquet stems back to Rome when bridal couples would weave greenery and blooms into garlands and crowns scented with roses or orange blossoms, adding herbs to honor the gods and promote fertility and good fortune," 1-800-Flowers.com’s
website reads. “Strands of ivy illustrated the strong bond of matrimony and fidelity, while white blossoms symbolized sweetness and happiness."
Flowers took on new meaning in the Victorian Era, becoming intrinsically tied to emotion.
The Smithsonian Gardens at the Smithsonian’s museums in Washington, D.C., say they became “the language of love.”
All this and more impacted wedding ceremonies, which have become more inclusive than ever. June 2025 marks 10 years of marriage equality in the U.S., and with that, the ability to make weddings whatever we want. So whether you’re into the traditional, the modern or a mixture thereof, here are a few floral tips.
FIRST THINGS FIRST
The first decision you should make may seem like an obvious one. It’s to budget.
Wedding Wire, a website of The Knot Worldwide, which helps couples engage with wedding professionals and provides other services, says couples usually spend around 8% of their budget on flowers, which of course varies depending on what you’re looking to include.
Once you figure out what it is you’re looking to spend, if anything, you can move forward.
FINDING A FLORIST
Deciding if you want to use a professional florist is next, something your budget may have already dictated. You can start your search by seeing how long florists have been in business, how inclusive
they are and by perusing their portfolios, often available on websites or by request.
Brides.com says vendor availability and what flowers are in season are other key things to consider. They recommend asking potential florists if your wedding date is available, how many weddings they schedule on a single day, if they’ve done events at the site(s) of your ceremony, if they’ll be working solo and, for preservation purposes, how far in advance your arrangements will be created.
From there, Brides. com suggests asking how the florist describes their style — “traditional, modern, rustic, organic” — and for recommendations. Florists can discuss color palettes, seasonal favorites and other key items. Payment and other logistics also matter. How florists price their
products, if there are required deposits, what fees exist for deliveries, if there is assistance setting up or breaking down, and when orders should be finalized are all things to consider.
THE FRIEND & FAMILY ZONE
If utilizing a florist isn’t for you, your friends and/or family could be another option. Many couples have DIY weddings, enlisting their wedding party and other loved ones to help bring their vision to life.
Many of the same factors are important, like which flowers are in season and what look you’re going for, but this may be a more costeffective option.
Flower Moxie, an online wholesale shop which launched in 2013 as “the OG DIY floral hookup,” says you can save up to 60% by handling florals yourself.
“A DIY bouquet comes at a cheaper cost than a florist's mostly because you're putting in the work," they say. “A florist can spend up to two hours making a bridal bouquet. When you total up the cost of labor and the other components of a bouquet, you get the higher price tags
… Florists also have a lot of overhead to deal with, which you won't have to pay for if you go wholesale.”
Doing it yourself saves on storage, labor, preparation, production, supplies and transportation, but it’s something you won’t want to consider if you don’t have the “extra” time. Ordering from an online retailer requires you to take shipping and handling into account, so you may want to explore local options.
Floral shops may offer bulk purchases for selfarrangement, something you can discuss with them while shopping around, or you can try wholesale stores in your area. Wedding flowers are available from retailers like Costco, Sam’s Club and others.
A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME?
You can ditch flowers entirely or complement them in unique ways, whether you do it with a florist or friends.
“While it may follow tradition to carry a beautiful bouquet down the aisle on your way to say ‘I do,’ that doesn’t mean it’s your only option,” Brides.com notes. “It’s totally fine to ditch the traditional floral bouquet and opt for something more unique, or better yet,
something that will last longer and serve as a memento for years to come.”
Artificial flowers like those made of silk are available at local retailers or found online in bulk, many of which make convincing replacements. Paper flowers created from pages of your favorite books, lyrics from your favorite songs or other special memories are another way to create something special without worrying about what’s in season.
Succulents also make beautiful bouquets and charming centerpieces. They can be added into your cake for decoration, used for backdrops or even given out as wedding favors.
“Succulents work across any wedding theme, whether you’re planning a party in the desert or on the beach — or going boho or embracing modern minimalism,” Brides. com explains. “These hardy plants also add unique texture to any floral display and can withstand high temperatures, which makes them a great choice for summer events!”
If you’re looking for something to outlast them all, LEGO offers an ever-expanding Botanical Collection, a unique way to branch out from traditional
florals. The company says “there’s no better way to express your feelings than with these stunning displays to build together and keep forever.”
They offer roses, dried flower centerpieces, chrysanthemums, plum blossom, poinsettias, cacti, bonsai and wreath sets. LEGO notes that there are “new blooms with all of the color and none of the pollen.”
As an added bonus, these sets can also be assembled by the soonto-be spouses with or without the help of a wedding party, creating lasting memories. So long as they’re ages 4-99.
Whatever you decide, make sure the decision complements you as a couple. Be sure to rely on each other and the incredible vendors found in this Wedding Guide.
Marrying Friends
What you need to do so you can officiate a friend’s wedding
Jeremy Williams
Whether attending one in real life or just seeing one in a movie or on TV, most people are familiar with what a traditional wedding looks like.
The bride, in a big white gown, walks down the aisle of a church, and a wedding ceremony commences overseen by a religious leader such as a priest, rabbi or minister.
While tradition can be nice, it can also be stale, dull and boring. That’s why more and more couples are choosing to stir up the usual wedding tropes and make their wedding ceremony a unique, inclusive and fun experience.
According to the wedding planning website The Knot, 51% of couples in 2020 chose to have a friend or family member officiate their wedding, up from 37% in 2015.
Laws on who can marry a couple vary
based on where you live, but in Florida, there is a short list of professionals who can officiate a wedding legally.
Notaries public can perform a ceremony if the couple has a valid marriage license from Florida.
Clerks of the circuit court can also perform ceremonies at their locations as can their deputized employees. As well as judicial officers, Members of the Society of Friends — also known as Quakers — and, of course, ordained clergy.
While it seems like it would require a lot of time and attention to become an ordinated minister, it actually is one of the easiest things you can do thanks to the internet. A quick Google search will turn up various online ministries that will legally ordain you as a clergy member of the church, and it’s usually
free of charge.
Two of the most well known are the American Marriage Ministries and the Universal Life Church.
AMM is a nondenominational church that ordains people online so that they can officiate weddings for friends, family and community. Their free ordination grants full legal authority to conduct marriage ceremonies across the U.S.
ULC is a nondenominational religious organization that follows the same guidelines with millions of members all over the world. Notable celebrity ministers with ULC include Lady Gaga, Ian McKellen and The Rock, to name a few. Ordination with ULC also opens the door for you to start a personal ministry, as well as preside over other religious and spiritual ceremonies.
Regardless of who you get ordinated through, it is a completely legal process that does not require you to hold any kind of spiritual beliefs and is a fun way to be a part of the couple’s wedding party.
Below are four steps you’ll want to follow to make sure everything is ready to go for the “I do’s.”
GET ORDAINED
This is the most important part, and in all honesty the easiest. You just need to fill out the ordination application on the website of your chosen ministry. If you go with AMM, go to TheAMM. org, and if ULC is more your speed, go to ULC. org. Either site you go with look for one of the dozens of buttons that say “Get Ordained,” and it will take you to the online request form.
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The form is short and sweet, no need to answer any questions about your upbringing or faith. You just provide your full legal name, create a password for your account and check the box acknowledging that you are over the age of 18. Click submit and that’s it, you are now ordained. Some states will require you to register with the state; however, Florida is not one of those states.
The only Florida law that you will need to be mindful of is the law that specifically states who can perform a marriage. Under this law, wedding officiants ordained online will fall under the designation of “Minister.”
MAKE IT OFFICIAL
While you are not required to register with any Florida government office as a wedding officiant,
it may not be a bad idea to get a personal record of your official Ministry Credentials. While getting ordained is free of charge, a certificate to prove you were ordained may cost you a small fee. Both AMM and ULC offer certificates on their websites.
To reiterate, it's not required to conduct weddings in Florida, but some venues may ask for proof of your ordination.
BE
PREPARED
The couple has asked you to be their officiant and you are now an ordained online minister, the next step is planning the ceremony. Most likely if the couple has opted to have a friend or family member officiate their wedding, they are looking for a more personalized ceremony. But that doesn’t mean that you don’t need to know the basic terminology.
While there are no
set laws about how a wedding ceremony must be conducted, every ceremony must include a declaration of intent. The declaration of intent is the part of the ceremony where the officiant asks the couple “Do you take so and so to be your spouse…" Outside of that, the ceremony can be whatever the couple wants it to be.
Something to keep in mind, especially if this is your first marriage, it does not need to be complicated. The ceremony is essentially a verbal version of the marriage license. The couple are declaring in front of their closest family and friends their intent to enter into a marital contract.
If the couple wants a more traditional ceremony, you should become familiar with the parts involved with that kind of ceremony: the procession, invocation, declaration of intent, vows, rings, pronouncement and recession.
Whether you perform a traditional ceremony or something more personal, it is imperative that you write out a ceremony script, go over it with the couple and rehearse it several times,
both with the couple and on your own.
THE BIG DAY
As the officiant, you will have two main duties on the day of the wedding: lead the ceremony and complete the marriage license.
Prior to the wedding day, the couple will go to the county clerk's office and apply for a marriage license. You will need to confirm with them before the ceremony on the day that they have it.
Once you have the license in hand, verify it is valid. Florida requires couples to wait three days after receiving their license before getting married and the couple must get married within 60 days of the license’s issue date.
The next step is filling out your portion as the officiant on the license and then signing it along with the couple. In Florida, no witnesses are required to sign a marriage license. Once complete you will have 10 days to return it back to the county clerk's office. In Florida, it's returned by the person who performs the marriage.
And that is it! You are not only an ordained minister but you are now one with a wedding under your belt. Now go out and repeat these steps as needed.
Creating your own personalized cocktail menu Drink Up!
Gabrielle Giles
Creating the perfect wedding is a challenge. There is a lot that goes into it but when planning for your special day, the small details matter the most. Personal touches or additions can make the largest difference for couples and their guests, from table settings to food selection, but one area that you can customize in a fun and exciting way is a special cocktail menu.
John Michael Catering and Weddings knows a thing or two about adding personal touches to all aspects of a wedding. They have been doing just that in Central Florida for nearly 30 years.
Owner Michael Thomas and sales coordinator Giselle Grande sat down with us to talk about various ways you can bring your personal tastes and experiences into the dinks you serve at your wedding.
The first thing you’ll want to do is do your
research, says Grande, who has been with John Michael's for the past eight years and has an extensive career in hospitality and bartending. Know what rules your venue has when it comes to having a bar.
“Note any restrictions with your venue like will they even allow you to serve alcohol,” says Thomas. “We're very much yes people here, so we do try and cater to our clients and what they're looking for exactly. But some venues may not be able to do that.”
You will also want to find out how you will be getting the bar supplies. Some caterers only offer food services, while others will provide food and bar. Make sure you know who is responsible for what.
“Do you want to ask the caterer to provide those things for you? Will you provide them yourself? These are the kinds of questions you want to answer before
starting on a menu,” Grande says.
Once you know what the venue will allow and how the bar is being set up, it is time to decide what you want to serve. This is where you work out if you want to have just beer and wine, or if you want to include spirits. Maybe you don’t want alcohol at all and you want to focus on a craft mocktail menu. It’s your special day so it should be whatever you want.
As you decide on what kinds of drinks you want to offer your guests, you will also want to set your spending at this point. How much of the wedding budget do you want to spend on the bar? Will it be an open bar or cash bar?
Now comes the fun part. What do you want your drinks to say about you?
“There are a lot of questions you’ll need to answer now. Do you want just fruity cocktails? Is it
something seasonal? Is it something that's important to us? Is it the city that we met in?” Grande asked.
“Variety is also key,” Grande adds. “You’ll want to have several options for your guests.” Also keep that budget in mind. If you are on limited costs, you may consider using one or two types of alcohol and creating several drinks from that same base. Variety should also factor into your guest’s dietary needs. Keeping that in mind, think nonalcoholic, gluten-free, vegan and sugar-free options.
Most importantly, Grande says be creative and have fun.
“Use this opportunity to share stories through the menu,” she says. Thomas adds, “follow your heart and don’t be afraid to do what you want. This is your day.”
For more information on John Michael Catering and Weddings, visit JohnMichaelEvents.com.
The Sound of Love
Making the right music for your
wedding
For many, music is the fabric of romantic relationships, playing an integral role in how these connections develop and grow. Shared love of musical artists, meaningful lyrics that tug at the heartstrings, songs that play at just the right time during memorable moments — they all bring couples closer together.
So, it’s no surprise that music plays such an important role during engagements and weddings. It’s something Watermark has examined at length since marriage equality became law of the land through Wedding Bells, celebrating LGBTQ+ love throughout Central Florida and Tampa Bay.
Miguel Fuller, radio host and one half of “The Miguel and Holly Show” that aired on Hot 101.5 in the Tampa Bay area for nearly seven years, proposed to his now husband during “Headphone Karaoke.” In this segment, Fuller
Tiffany Razzano
and his co-hosts sang songs without music.
On their big day, music was a highlight for KC Borjal Perry and Alex Perry, including when Alex danced to “Let’s Have a Kiki” by Scissor Sisters with his mom, and KC danced with his to Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance.” And in a unique spin, rather than a traditional bouquet toss, they held a “lip sync for your life” contest where their guests lip synced songs by the Spice Girls and the newlyweds picked a winner.
And in 2022, artists Perry Devick and Summer Hue hosted an art show opening at Chad Mize’s gallery that doubled as their wedding.
Rather than hire a DJ, the couple created their own playlist of “swamp witch vibes” and handled the music on their own.
When it comes to music at your wedding, there are several options: you can hire
a DJ, find a live band to play music or create your own playlist, something you can do together or with friends and family. It’s up to each couple to decide which works best for them.
For Hue, it was about control over the music and also experiencing some anxiety after witnessing a DJ malfunction at a friend’s wedding. The DJ failed to time the music as planned when the couple walked down the aisle.
“He literally ruined the moment,” she said.
Still, there are plenty of LGBTQ+-friendly and professional DJs throughout Central Florida and Tampa Bay to consider for your big day. Hiring a DJ is cost effective, compared to hiring a live band, and also gives you one less thing to worry about.
If you do choose a DJ for your wedding, here are tips to keep in mind: • Start your search for a DJ early.
• Meet with potential DJs in person and get a feel for their personality.
• Review references from other LGBTQ+ couples they’ve worked with and read reviews.
• Request samples of their work.
• Check out their music catalogue to make sure it matches your vibe.
• Ask if you can work with them on creating a playlist for the day.
• Ask them what they bring and what will be needed from the venue.
• Consider lighting and special effects they might offer.
• Ask if they also act as an emcee in addition to handling the music.
• Ensure they have the required insurance for your venue.
• Ask about their policy for song requests from guests.
• Review the cancellation policy.
• Get everything in writing.
Now, let the music play!
LGBTQ+ Friendly Vendors
BAR SERVICES:
COOL BREEZE BARTENDING
407-921-6234
CoolBreezeBartending.com
CATERING:
JOHN MICHAEL CATERING AND WEDDINGS
407-894-6671
JohnMichaelEvents.com
CEREMONY & RECEPTION
LOCATIONS:
1885 EVENTS AT ROLLINS COLLEGE 1885events@rollins.edu 1885Events.com
ART AND HISTORY MUSEUMS - MAITLAND
407-539-2181
ArtAndHistory.org
CELEBRATION GARDENS
407-960-2853
OrlandoCelebrationGardens.com
KING OF PEACE MCC
727-323-5857
ChurchStPetersburg.org
MAXWELL C. KING CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
321-422-5823
KingCenter.com/About/VenueRental
MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS –ST PETERSBURG
727-896-2667
MFAStPete.org/About/Rent-TheMuseum
ORANGE COUNTY REGIONAL HISTORY CENTER
407-836-8500
TheHistoryCenter.org
ORLANDO SCIENCE CENTER 407-514-2290
OSC.org/Weddings
THE CAPEN HOUSE AT THE POLASEK 407-636-9317 CapenHouse.com
THE JAMES MUSEUM 727-892-4200
TheJamesMuseum.org/Host-AnEvent
WALT DISNEY WORLD SWAN AND DOLPHIN 407-934-183 SwanDolphin.com/Weddings
COUPLES THERAPY:
HOPE & SERENITY HEALTH SERVICES, LLC 407-308-0345
HopeSerenityHealth.com
FLORIST:
LEE FORREST DESIGN
407-770-0440
LeeForrestDesign.com
INVITATIONS:
UNIQUELY INVITING 863-866-7016
UniquelyInviting.com
JEWELERs:
GOLD AND DIAMOND SOURCE 727-573-9351
GoldAndDiamond.com
MONARCH JEWELRY AND ART 407-677-8354
MonarchJewelryAndArt.com
PHOTOGRAPHY:
DYLAN TODD PHOTOGRAPHY 727-310-1212
DylanToddPhotography.com
TRAVEL AND TOURISM:
ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT/MCO 407-825-2001
OrlandoAirports.net
WEDDING PLANNING:
RED MESA EVENTS 727-202-8026
RedMesaEvents.com
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