Question
I am getting married in September and am currently trying to decide on table arrangements for the reception.
I really like calla lilies and I have seen pictures of arangements inside a 'fishbowl' type of vase. Basically, it looks like one or two lilies and some grass curled inside the bowl with a small tealight candle in the middle. I'm assuming that there is no water in the bowl because of the candle (unless there's a small amount in the bottom?), so how long will the flowers last? Can you recommend the best way to do an arrangement of this sort? We are getting married in Italy and, although the reception doesn't start until late afternoon, I am worried that the flowers may wilt in the heat.
Also, do you know how I might find a good florist in the Siena region of Tuscany? We are from the UK and I am having problems finding florists over in Italy!

Thanks very much,

Julie

Answer
Hi Julie!  Will you be doing the arrangements yourself?  If so, this may make it difficult to use any flowers that aren't in water.  But if you're having a florist provide finished arrangements, you shouldn't have to worry much about wilting.  The majority of wedding flowers aren't in water - corsages, hand-tied bouquets, cake flowers, and many types of table arrangements.  The key is to keep them spritzed with water and refrigerated until it's time to use them.  You will be concerned with much more on your wedding day than keeping flowers fresh.  But a florist will be able to keep the flowers cool and moist until just before they're needed.

I haven't seen callas curled inside a bubble bowl myself.  But I'd imagine that they are just placed in there without water, and then kept spritzed with water until it's time to use them.  One of the beauties of callas is that their stems are trainable.  You start out with a straight stem, and you can curve it as it suits you, by running your hand down the stem several times, curving it slightly.  Each time you run your hand down the stem, the more it will curve.  Then you'll have stems beautifully conformed to the bowl, instead of stems with kinks and buckles like with other flowers.  There aren't too many flowers you can do that with.

Callas hold up pretty well without water (as opposed to roses, tulips, and many other wedding favorites).  The main point to be careful of is to not crease the flower itself, because this will result in a bruise.  Other than that, keep the flowers moist and cool, and they should last fine through the wedding and reception.  Their thick, sort of leathery petal doesn't wilt easily.

I'm afraid I don't have any idea how to contact a florist in Italy.  Perhaps you have seen the following:

http://www.florist-directory.net/

http://www.bloomcentral.com/Italy.html

Bloomcentral.com appears to have a couple of nice choices.  Tuscany Flowers specializes in the Siena region.

Best wishes on your special day!