Designers work to create perfect atmosphere

Walk into Garrison Designs and Florists to talk about your wedding and you might get a little more than you bargained for -- in a good way.

Co-owner Gary Harrison, who has a master's degree in psychology, uses his training to get inside the heads of his brides.

"The first thing we have them do is fill out a questionnaire. From that, we get our design evaluation," Harrison explained. "That, combined with your suggestions and pictures, helps us create your dream wedding; then, we can tweak it based on your budget."

Harrison bills his business as a one-stop wedding shop, offering wedding planners for the entire process, abundant rental equipment ranging from candelabras to chair covers and design he likens to creating a theater set.

"Wedding trends change not only yearly, but seasonally. We're seeing a shift to weddings in September, October and November, and I think that's because most of the decorating colors for homes are muted tones and people gravitate toward that. We see a lot of reds, oranges, browns and neutrals," he said.

In the spring, Harrison said, pastels are traditionally still a favorite, along with Tiffany blue with chocolate brown and metallics. Some brides, he explained, are opting for all white, white and silver or white and black. Others are playing their weddings up with a theme, such as a Hollywood premiere-inspired soiree he participated in last year.

"People are really trying to leave their mark and make things a unique occasion," he said.

Fresh flowers are still tops for planning purposes.

"Fresh is always best because for most true florists, artificial flowers are considered permanent botanicals and they can often be more expensive," Harrison said. "Before I'd go with cheaper artificial flowers, I'd find a less expensive fresh flower I could use."

A good way to save on floral costs is by avoiding "in-demand" flowers, such as red roses at Valentine's Day, and investing more in the bridal bouquet while attendants carry a single stem.

"One stem can still be just as pretty as a bouquet," Harrison said.

Nationally, brides are trending toward the cascading bouquet and flashes of purple and other hot colors.

"If you're working with a tight budget, I recommend spending your money on your reception. People are going to be there a couple of hours, compared to a wedding they're just at for about 30 minutes. It makes a more lasting impression," Harrison said.

The staff at Garrison Designs includes six full-time designers and up to 15 more who assist in wedding creation during busy seasons. They all take part in continuing education programming and visit design shows in Atlanta and New York to see the latest trends.

"We work with any size and any budget. You don't have to spend thousands to have a beautiful wedding," Harrison said. "We want to make sure we're designing what you want, so that ultimately it looks like an expression of you, not of us."

Courtesy of Metro Creative Connection

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