Destination weddings are very popular, especially in the winter months, and one excellent beach wedding flower choice is the lei. Lei is a Hawaiian word, and the most common use of the term is in reference to a circlet of flowers, usually orchids, that are worn around the neck. For a wedding, the bride may want to consider wearing a lei not only around her neck, but also on her head; that type of lei is called a haku lei. These are typically made from white dendrobiums, baby’s breath and wisps of tropical greenery.  A good quality one will be about two feet in length and handmade.

According to Hawaiian customs, the bride wears white flowers, but there are a variety of accent colors available, and leis and haku leis look great on bridesmaids and flower girls, too. These flowers are also a great way to welcome a guest to a wedding anywhere, anytime of the year, and are said to bring good fortune.

Refrigeration and transportation has become some so efficient that there is usually no problem in ordering even very delicate blooms from tropics and having them shipped to your wedding without damage. These can be ordered for anywhere from $10-$100 per lei, depending on volume and quality of the flowers.

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