Orchestrating Flowers

"Right I'll see what I can do. Okay we have our base so lets take it to Connie's. Oh wait do you want the cake table the gift table and the card holder table to be the same or different?"

"Different maybe a base of light blue and a gathered overlay that incorporates the chocolate brown and the light blue."

"Right. Ceremony ideas?"

Beth said "White chair covers rows alternating light blue and dark brown sparkle organza sashes."

"Aisle runner?"

"Yes." Beth said.

"I'll transfigure one to match the blue liner of the invitation." Sirius said.

"Good idea. Um, I want to hear your ideas for the ceremony decor."

"Well a lot depends on if we're on the boat or in the garden. If we're in the garden your pillar idea would probably be best, but on the boat I was thinking maybe a carpet and maybe some light blue organza draping of the windows for the ceremony..." Sirius said.

"With some small flower arrangements suspended at the window joints, hmm definitely has possibilities. Simple but elegant. Candelabra?" Bonnie showed them some pictures.

"One, the seven candle for both locations," Beth answered.

"Okay that gives me what I need for arrangements. Let's head to Connie's."

When they got to Connie's she showed them three ideas if flower centerpieces done in silks. They immediately vetoed the low centerpiece, but weren't sure if they liked the tall candelabra arrangement better or the tall vase. So they setup the table with the place setting. Beth looked at it

"I don't know, it needs something."

"Maybe it we used a mirror?" Sirius said.

When they put a mirror under it, it was obvious that they preferred the vase to the candelabra but it still needed something. "Maybe some lights and some hints of blue." Beth said."I saw some blue votive holders at a store with little half inch fleur de lis in a pattern maybe if we put those around the vase."

Sirius nodded.

Harry thought the time for one of his ideas had come, "What if we put butterflies blue ones on monofilament strands and had them in the bouquet of the centerpieces. The monofilament would be almost invisible and would be inclined to add a bit of movement as air currents go by too."

"Live butterflies?"Connie asked.

"Of course not but something, probably paper," Harry replied.

"Could work. Another touch of whimsy." Sirius said.

"Another thing I notice, in the vase you you use crystals to weight the bottom and thats fine but what if in half the vases you used seashells as weights." Harry said, bringing out the second of his ideas. He smiled inwardly at the smiles that suggestion brought forth from Beth and Sirius.

"Seashells huh? Connie said. She and Bonnie exchanged looks.

Bonnie started talking, "Okay the rest of what we'll need for the ceremony I'd like seven urns , a piece for a seven candle candelabra, and six small arrangements to hang for sure maybe more. Oh Beth Sirius I showed you the chair covers and sashes what if we put an orchid in the center of the rosette on the chair sashes?"

"Sounds elegant." Sirius said.

"Great, Connie that going to translate to between one hundred and twenty five and two hundred and forty orchids. When will you need a count?"

"Ten days before."

"Okay. That makes our RSVP date February two. Sirius we'll have to get those out today. Back to what we need. Bride's bouquet, maid of honor bouquet, two bride's maids, two flower girls, one mother corsage, one grandmother type corsage, two helper corsages one of which requires a wrist band for sure. One father, one grandfather, officiant, groom, best man, two groomsman, ushers, speaking of which you guys probably need to get a few, and ring bearer.

"We can pull my younger brothers for usher duty." Beth said. "Which would mean four boutonnieres heck probably should make that six that will get my other brothers."

"I think I'd like to get Andy a corsage as well. She and Nymph are my only family.

"So one more grandmother type corsage?" Connie asked. Sirius nodded. "Okay. What about the reception?"

We'll need an urn for the card table, flowers for the cake table and possibly the cake, between seventeen and twenty two vases. And the bridal party table, cocktail tables.."

"In other words a lot of flowers.," Sirius summed it up, "total budget for flowers is $35,000."

"I think that won't be a problem Mr. Black. Bonnie can you get me swatches so I can match the ribbons used as ties."

"Sure no problem.

"I can get the monofilament but you'll have to supply the butterflies. I should be able to get seashells too."

"Okay we're done here so, back to my office." On the way back to her office Bonnie said. "We'll listen to the demos and look over the playlists for you two to choose the band fortunately you only have to choose between three. We'll go over favors and then Sirius and I will see about the invitations."

Forty-five minutes later band and favors chosen. Harry had been glancing through a cake topper catalog and saw a motorcycle get away bride and groom cake topper, he unobtrusively marked the page with a note that Bonnie should include it in the cake design and put the catalog on Bonnie's desk. Beth and Harry left for their movie and Sirius got busy with his wand.