Flower Crush: Carnations

Flower Crush: Carnations

Not just an old-fashioned floral favorite for fundraisers and FTD!

Carnations have long been the subject of the fickleness of trend. It was said they were popular during the reign of Louis XIV (they were the official flower of court), but though they’ve fallen in and out of favor over the decades, they seem to leave us with a bad taste in our mouths when used traditionally. This is unfortunate considering the flower comes in just about every color on the planet and can withstand the most heinous abuse a florist could stand to inflict upon it.

For most floral designers, carnations are, by every definition except appearance, the ultimate dream flower. Here are a few reasons why!

  • They last a minimum of 7 days, though it’s not uncommon for them to last as long as two weeks.
  • They do well with little to no water for extended periods to time, which makes them a first pick for ambitious projects involving large pieces of floral foam.
  • They’re impervious to more extreme conditions like wintertime or a hot, sunny day.
  • Their heads are bold and allow for a good amount of coverage.
  • Their structure is sturdy and reliable, but somehow yielding in nature, such that you could say, run a bloom over with a delivery van and it would be usable!

You see our point, but what can be done about that one small problem of general overall appearance? Easy! When we want to use carnations we follow two simple rules to keep our creations from looking dated or out of style:

Rule number one: Except in the most rare, elusive circumstances, keep your arrangements mono-botanical. Meaning if you choose carnations, use only carnations!

Rule number two: Keep. Your stems. Hidden!

These rules work in conjunction and are pretty simple to follow. The result is the floral equivalent of modeling clay!

The sculptural ability of carnations is essentially just using the head to fill space. When using floral foam, think of each carnation head as a dab of paint! Sculpt your arrangement to any desired shape or size, and “paint” the surface with carnations. You can use a single color. You can use many shades for an ombré effect. Heck you could even recreate famous works of art! Seriously though folks, you can use carnations to make everything from pomanders to pretty pavé designs on any scale. Just imagine your place cards nestled on a huge bed of carnations! The possibilities are endless!

Carnation Tips Facts:

Season: Year-round

Pairings: These babies work best alone.

Colors: Virtually every color of the rainbow

When to use: For bold, sculptural pieces where the focus is less about the individual flower and more about form overall.

For more carnation creativity, check out our Pinterest board!

We're on Instagram!
Julianne was a dream client. The kind who trusted us to take her vision and translate it into something both tasteful and artful. ✨ A black-and-white floral palette is timeless, but here it felt especially modern and chic. Some of our favorite design moments? The custom black arch, ribbed glass chimneys encasing taper candles, and those statement white trees framing the aisle entrance and later the bar. The perfect details for a wedding at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. 🖤🤍

📍@nmwaspecialevents
📷@maddywilliamsphotography
🎥 @brianschornberg 
🍽️ @corcorancaterers
💐 @petalsedgedc
🍰 @latelierbakes 
🎶 @goldeventgroup @districtstrings
💄 @makeupbyivettb 
🪑 @fabeventsdc 
📋 @glowweddingsandevents
Brentsville Hall was transformed with hundreds of candles lining the aisle for Daryn & Kelsey’s wedding. Black draping swagged from the ceiling and the ceremony backdrop providing the perfect moody winter touch! But that’s not all! Candles brought main character energy to the reception - on tables, in glass globes suspended from floating greenery centerpieces, and casting a romantic glow. 

Looking for something unique for your wedding design? We are all ears! Reach out today via our link in bio!

📍 @brentsvillehall 
📷 @bakerture 
💐 @petalsedgedc 
📋 @boxwoodandbloomevents 

#fallweddingdesign #winterweddingdesign #weddingcandles
#weddingceremonydesign #winterwedding #dceventflorist
#floristsofinstagram #halloweenwedding #virginiaweddingflorist
#washingtondcwedding #dcweddingflorist #virginiaweddingflorist
#washingtonianweddings #alexandriaflorist
We're Pinteresting!
  • The Army and Navy Club's dark wood lined ballroom was the perfect complement to the classic white and blush color scheme of the spring wedding's floral palette including peonies, ranunculus, and campanula. Petal's Edge is the Washington DC area's best wedding florist & corporate event floral design company, specializing in unique wedding flowers, event design, decor, bridal bouquets, floral installations & tablescapes for weddings in DC, Northern Virginia & Maryland.
  • A vintage Palm Springs theme for The Scout Guide launch party at Hotel AKA. Petal's Edge is Washington, DC's best wedding florist & corporate event floral design company. Specializes in wedding flowers, event design, decor, bridal bouquets, floral installations, floral walls, backdrops, arches, Chuppahs, boutonnieres, floral centerpieces, tablescapes & more for weddings receptions & wedding ceremonies in Washington, DC, N. Virginia, Alexandria, Arlington, VA, Maryland.
  • Classic luxury for Hay Adams wedding. White roses. Phalaenopsis orchids. Crystal candelabra. Petal's Edge is Washington DC's best wedding florist & corporate event floral design company. Specializes in wedding flowers, event design, decor, bridal bouquets, floral installations, floral walls, backdrops, arches, Chuppahs, boutonnieres, floral centerpieces, tablescapes & more for weddings receptions & wedding ceremonies in Washington, DC, N. Virginia, Alexandria, Arlington, VA, MD.
  • Gallery O on H Street with its indoor and outdoor event spaces and a multi-level tent courtyard was the perfect setting for an urban garden vibe with a bold floral palette in shades of coral and peach, bright yellows, and lush greens. Petal's Edge is the Washington DC area's best wedding florist & corporate event floral design company, specializing in unique wedding flowers, event design, decor, bridal bouquets, floral installations & tablescapes for weddings in DC, Northern Virginia & Maryland.
  • Not everyone gets a do-over, but Caitlin & Sean'a small 2020 fete was followed by a summer celebration at River Farm, a fabulous floral arch, whimsical flowers skirting the cocktail tables, centerpieces to accompany the metro theme. Petal's Edge is the Washington DC area's best wedding florist & corporate event floral design company, specializing in unique wedding flowers, event design, decor, bridal bouquets, floral installations & tablescapes for weddings in DC, Northern Virginia & Maryland.
  • Modern black & white wedding, St. Francis Hall DC, light curtain, white flowers, speakeasy lounge. Petal's Edge is Washington DC's best wedding florist & corporate event floral design company. Specializes in wedding flowers, event design, decor, bridal bouquets, floral installations, floral walls, backdrops, arches, Chuppahs, boutonnieres, floral centerpieces, tablescapes & more for weddings receptions & wedding ceremonies in Washington, DC, N. Virginia, Alexandria, Arlington, VA, Maryland.
  • Summer hotel wedding with pops of color. Olive tall centerpieces. Cascade bouquet. Smilax installation. Petal's Edge is Washington DC's best wedding florist & corporate event floral design company. Specializes in wedding flowers, event design, decor, bridal bouquets, floral installations, floral walls, backdrops, arches, Chuppahs, boutonnieres, floral centerpieces, tablescapes & more for weddings receptions & wedding ceremonies in Washington, DC, N. Virginia, Alexandria, Arlington, VA, Maryland.
  • Rustic spring wedding at St. Francis Hall featured soft neutral hues and lush greenery. Smilax and candle strewn aisle. Spirea accented elevated arrangements. Peonies. Garden roses. Petal's Edge is the Washington DC area's best wedding florist & corporate event floral design company, specializing in unique wedding flowers, event design, decor, bridal bouquets, floral installations & tablescapes for weddings in DC, Northern Virginia & Maryland.
  • White Lotus Mediterranean wedding theme. Citrus accents. Flower color blocking. Aisle flowers. Arch. Petal's Edge is Washington DC's best wedding florist & corporate event floral design company. Specializes in wedding flowers, event design, decor, bridal bouquets, floral installations, floral walls, backdrops, arches, Chuppahs, boutonnieres, floral centerpieces, tablescapes & more for weddings receptions & wedding ceremonies in Washington, DC, N. Virginia, Alexandria, Arlington, VA, Maryland.
Join Our Mailing List!
Categories

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *