As the sun begins to warm the Lehigh Valley, our team at Rich Mar Florist looks forward to the vibrant energy of summer weddings in Allentown and Bethlehem. Planning an outdoor celebration requires a thoughtful approach to floral design, as high temperatures and bright light can be demanding on delicate petals. Our staff prioritizes blooms with specific “summer-ready” traits, such as high heat tolerance, extended vase life, and the ability to maintain saturated colors even under the direct glare of the afternoon sun. By choosing the right varieties, our designers ensure that your bouquets and centerpieces remain as stunning during the final dance as they were during the processional.
Defining Summer-Ready Blooms and Seasonal Sourcing
When our team selects flowers for a warm-weather ceremony, we look for durability and color saturation that can withstand the elements. Beyond the plants’ physical strength, we emphasize the advantages of seasonal sourcing to deliver the best possible results for our clients. By using locally in-season summer blooms, our staff can ensure greater freshness, as these flowers spend less time in transit and are already acclimated to our regional climate. This approach also offers significant cost savings for couples, allowing us to create lush, full arrangements without the premium price tag associated with out-of-season imports.
Resilient and Radiant: The Best Bloom Choices for Summer
Selecting the right varieties is the most effective way to combat the summer heat while maintaining a beautiful aesthetic. Our designers often recommend specific flowers that are physically built to thrive in outdoor environments.
Dahlias and Zinnias
We love incorporating dahlias and zinnias into summer palettes because they are celebrated for their incredible structural integrity. These flowers offer a wide variety of “pop” colors that stay vivid in the sun and their sturdy stems help them maintain their shape throughout a long day of festivities.
Sunflowers and Lisianthus
Sunflowers and lisianthus are natural champions of the summer season due to their inherent ability to withstand direct sunlight without wilting quickly. Our team finds that these blooms provide a reliable foundation for any outdoor arrangement, offering a mix of rustic charm and sophisticated elegance that remains crisp in any temperature.
Choosing Your Palette
Selecting a color palette involves more than just personal preference when you are dealing with the bright, natural light of summer. Our staff advises choosing colors that look their best in intense sunshine, such as bold corals, bright yellows, and deep fuchsias, which tend to hold their visual impact better than very pale pastels, which might appear washed out in high-noon lighting.
Tailoring Floral Arrangements to Your Venue
The specific setting of your wedding often dictates the best floral strategy to ensure longevity and style. For outdoor ceremonies and garden weddings, our team recommends using hardy greens and heat-resistant focal flowers to frame the altar, creating a natural boundary that remains lush in open-air settings. If you are planning a patio or beach-style reception, we often design breezy, light arrangements that complement the wind’s movement while remaining securely hydrated. Our goal is to match your venue’s vibe with setting-specific designs that prioritize water access for the stems, so the flowers remain vibrant in every corner of your celebration.
Expert Care for Keeping Wedding Flowers Fresh
Maintaining the beauty of your arrangements during a heatwave requires a few professional hydration techniques our team uses for every event. We use specialized methods to ensure stems stay fully saturated from the moment they leave our shop until the end of the night. We also recommend practical placement strategies, such as positioning arrangements in shaded areas whenever possible to avoid scorching during peak afternoon hours. If any blooms show signs of heat stress, our staff can provide quick on-site care tips to revive them and keep the display looking flawless.
Selecting the perfect floral elements is the key to a successful warm-weather ceremony in the Lehigh Valley. Whether you are hosting an event in Allentown or Bethlehem, our local expertise ensures your wedding day is filled with resilient and radiant beauty. You are invited to reach out to our designers today to schedule a consultation at any of our three locations, including our two shops in Allentown and our boutique in Bethlehem, to begin planning your bespoke summer wedding palette.
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