Choosing the perfect wedding bouquet is almost as important as picking the perfect gown. There are many different styles of wedding bouquets and which style you choose usually depends on your wedding dress. Wedding bouquets come in many different styles.

The most traditional and formal type of wedding bouquet is the cascade. It is a beautiful water fall like spill of flowers in a hand held base. As the name implies the flowers cascade down like a waterfall. The traditional flowers used in a cascade wedding bouquet are white and are traditionally roses or lilies. The cascade wedding bouquet has the appearance of being loose and free flowing, and should match the dress. The perfect dress for a cascade wedding bouquet is the traditional wedding dress with a long flowing train.

Another traditional wedding bouquet is the classic hand tied bouquet. This option gives the look of fresh picked spring flowers and is usually used in spring weddings. This is a very versatile wedding bouquet and looks great with any type of flowers or wedding dress.

There is typically very little greenery in this type of wedding bouquet. If you are thinking of a Victorian theme for your wedding then the nosegay wedding bouquet would fit in perfect. A tussy mussy is just a silver carrying cone that can replace the bouquet holder.

Two other less traditional wedding bouquets are the arm bouquet and the composite. The arm bouquet is exactly what the name implies, an elegant crescent shaped bouquet designed to be carried in one arm. The composite wedding bouquet is a handmade creation in which several different petals or buds are wired together on to a single stem to give the impression of one giant flower.

The type of wedding dress you wear, the time of year your wedding will be held, and the colors of your wedding will all play a part in the type of wedding bouquet you pick. Picking local and in season flowers for your wedding bouquet will help lower the cost and will guarantee freshness. Silk flowers are also becoming a popular option for wedding bouquets.

Wedding Bouquet - On a Mission Keeping Up With Tradition
Flower bouquets the button hole and centre pieces will always be one of the star attractions at weddings. Flower posy/bouquets denote a blossoming maiden which evidently helps reflect her feelings and emotions. The planning of the wedding bouquet takes just as much careful thought behind getting it right for on the day as that of the wedding gown.
Whatever race/religion, bouquets will still always be seen as a tradition to be kept. The more of natures natural beauties lining church pews/aisles will send out a lingering aromatic fragrance and a vast amount of colour to brighten up your day.

What to take into consideration when choosing your wedding bouquet:
1. By choosing seasonal flowers you will save time and money, if you insist on blooms out of season then you may find they have to be shipped in from another country.
Time is important when you order and receive the flowers, you will want them fresh therefore a stronger sweet smelling scent.
2. If you have silk flowers in mind then better still this way you are guaranteed your particular favourite flower no matter the time of year so no need to put the wedding on hold.
3. If the elegant style of the gown is to stay then make sure to choose pastels instead of strong vibrant colours.
(Depending on the wedding outfit of course)
4. Make sure that your flowers still hold up for late afternoon photo shoots should your wedding service take place in the morning.
5. A preferred method by brides to keep the flowers fresh while not posing in front of a camera or piling on the pounds at the wedding feast, (who cares now you got your man)only joking is to have a bouquet holder close at hand. Make it easy on both yourself and the florist by taking a photo of the style and design of the bouquet, another good idea is to bring along a sample piece of gown fabric so that the wedding coordinator/florist can select the correct shade of flower to compliment the wedding dress. Additional touches to Bouquets include ribbons lace beads or pearls.
6. Say it with flowers and mean it, why not choose a flower that has special meaning? Clusters of flowers more widely known as nose gays can vary in sophistication and will fit any personality. Beauty prevails in the flower cascading bouquet which is seen a lot at traditional weddings.
7. Flowers where the stems are wrapped in ribbons are called Hand-tied bouquets. It is these bouquets that bring a casual aura more often to garden ceremonies. We also have the Contemporary bouquet where flowers are arranged tastefully in a style with no geometric form but still as gorgeous as any other hand held bridal piece, normally used in sophisticated weddings.
8. If your choice is Roses, Lilies, Orchids, Tulips, Stephanotis or Daisies for your bridal bouquet then you have just picked the top flowers that have dominated many a wedding in the past and in the future to come.

When choosing your wedding bouquet there are many things to consider. You will want to factor in the size and weight you are comfortable carrying. Different bouquet styles and sizes work better with certain types of dresses.

For example, here is a little wedding flower tip for brides wearing an A-line dress.
Since your dress is textured, your flowers should be, too. Choose blooms with layered petals like roses, peonies, and ranunculus. For a gown in a smooth fabric such as silk-mikado or satin, more graphic flowers like orchids, amaryllis, and tulips are pretty options.

If you are wearing a slim silhouette dress, you may be complimented by a slim, elegant flower like the Calla Lily. A bouquet of mixed Calla Lilies make a spectacular statement, while not distracting too much from the gown and the bride.

Have pictures of your dress, flower ideas, ceremony location and so on with you when you meet with your florist.

A. New York Flowers
Flowers in New York have a wide range of selection and variety. Rose is the popular flower variety, which you can see in a huge selection. It also happens to be the state flower of New York. New York flowers have various florists who provide you with a wide range of floral arrangements. The teams in New York flowers help you to send your message quickly.

New York flowers have a wide range of floral arrangements with huge selection. It varies from a dozen long stem roses, intricate flower arrangements, large bunch of balloons – the list goes on. New York flower providers make it all for you. It gives the maximum enjoyment and satisfaction by providing you the freshest blossom flowers.

The most popular varieties of New York flowers are Natural, Romantic, Traditional, Contemporary, and Expressive. It offers you the New York State flower in large selections, the various shops that you can buy and send, the flower markets, the New York flower districts, the New York flower delivery and the New York Wholesale flowers.

There are many New York Florists that are available in your city. Few of the major florists like the Rochester New York Flowers provide you exquisitely handcrafted floral presentations. New York flowers provide you only farm fresh flowers directly from the grower.

New York flowers enclose a floral preservative with each bouquet, providing your flowers extra life. New York flowers help you to save yourself from holiday stress, by consulting with you about your floral needs for occasions like Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, the holiday season, anniversaries, and birthdays.

B. Wholesale Flowers In New York
New York wholesale flowers are easily available in the New York wholesale market. There are large selections of plants and flowers which come in daily to these wholesale markets. The Chelsea wholesale market is one of the major wholesale flower markets available in New York City.

The pots can be made of ceramic, Mexican pottery or terra-cotta. The Chelsea wholesale market is located on Ninth Avenue at 15th Street.
Other major New York wholesale flowers are available at many different places, like the Seagroatt Floral Co., Inc. in Albany; Mid Island Floral Ltd. in Bayshore; Joel Harvey Distribution, Inc. in Brooklyn; and C.J. Baker Wholesale Florist Inc. in Buffalo.

Agrotropical and Floral International is also one of the main wholesale florists in New York City which give you high quality flowers with a low price. They offer delivery of cut flowers with airline or shipping of your choice. The Chelsea market is a place where you are offered a wide selection of flowers. The service is good and reasonably priced. The cut flowers inside the cooler are well known for quality and low price. Moreover, their arrangements change from time to time; you can always expect something new.

Wholesale and bulk flowers which are offered by these florists are wholesale roses, fresh cut carnations, and other flowers; foliage; and floral supplies. Millions of rare flowers are the best thing you can see in the New York wholesale flower markets.

Once the wedding has been arranged, the wedding flowers chosen and the arrangements decided upon, it’s time to find the source of flowers in the locality.
Flowers from the Farmer’s Market: Many cities have summer farmer's markets where fresh flowers are sold. Purchasing Flowers at a Wholesale Market: flowers should be purchased from the wholesale market whenever possible. Located in large metropolitan areas, they often sell flowers to the public after the wholesale buyers are done. Flowers from Grocery Stores: for smaller weddings one might rely on the floral department of the local grocery store. There one can find flowers in many colors and prices.

Flowers from Mail Order: There are some wonderful mail-order sources for flowers today. But they are accompanied by shipping expenses and worries about the condition of flowers and their timely arrival.

Flowers from Local Florists: This is a great source for flowers, although they may be somewhat more expensive than other outlets. One will also have the option to order things like garlands, arches, altar arrangements, corsages, and other specialty flowers.

Greens: one should not forget to order large quantities of greenery. It will fill in centerpieces, add a background to large altar arrangements, and act as a collar around bridal bouquets. The best flower care tips can be accumulated from the vendor who sold the flowers.

A. Spring Wedding Flowers
Spring is the most appropriate time for weddings. After the harsh winter months, the grass is greener, the flowers are blooming and warm wind is blowing. Popular spring colors are lavenders, baby blues, soft greens and pale yellows. Tulips and daffodils are the most popular choices for spring. Daffodils’ sunny colors blend with all color combinations.
Other choices are sweet peas, magnolias, lilies, primroses, daisies, roses (pale colors), strawberry (fruit and leaves), lily of the valley, iris, pansy and hyacinth.
Flowering trees offer more spring wedding flower choices. Crabapple and dogwood deck their branches with flowers. Even trees like apple, peach and orange have very dainty blossoms that bring a unique seasonal touch to any wedding.

Budding trees and the knowledge that winter is over is the essential essence of spring. You may also consider silk wedding flowers for decking out your wedding. Silk wedding flowers are just as convincingly real as real flowers themselves. Silk wedding flowers range in price from lows to highs, but compared to the expense of real flowers, there's no noticable difference.
Also consider buying your spring wedding flowers wholesale. Especially for large weddings, wholesale spring wedding flowers are a great value.

B. Silk Wedding Flowers
Everyone certainly wishes the floral arrangements of his/her wedding could last a lifetime. Silk flowers, on the other hand, are beautiful, durable, and last for a long time.
These days, you can get silk wedding flowers for the entire bridal party including bridal bouquets, handsome boutonnieres, cute flower-girl baskets, amazing altar arrangements, and reception table centrepieces made from the highest-quality, realistic silk flowers and accessories.

Roses and carnations are almost always a part of bridal bouquets; the remaining flowers are usually flowers that you would like to choose to fit your corsage or bouquet or anything else that would require a floral arrangement. Silk carnations, roses, open roses, pink and white roses, and magnolias look very good on a bride. If you want handsome corsages or boutonnieres, there are tea roses with carnations and ribbons in various mix-and-match versions with stunning looks.

Silk wedding flowers also sometimes come in a preset, completely ready, appropriately themed floral arrangement. All you need to do is pick a themed floral arrangement that matches your feelings and likes (for example, romantic roses – wherein all floral arrangements will be made using beautiful roses). And, as mentioned before, silk floral arrangements for your wedding also symbolize longevity, happiness, joy, and the everlasting beauty of the person you are going to marry.

Set up a tripod, clip on camera, then snap, snap it's in the bag, camera, chip.. whatever? Finding the perfect clump of subjects (mostly the easy part), stopping suddenly or rather screeching to a halt (sometimes interesting along a busy highway)...parking and gathering up the necessary gear (easy) - then my least favourite part, lugging everything over hill and dale. Tripod, camera bag with several lenses which never seem to get any lighter and then fun, fun, fun...It seems, seemed a short distance across three fences to where the wild, gorgeous yellow number (nothing exotic - a simple daisy but a beauty!), nods in the gentle breeze..Have you ever tried to climb over a fence with tripod in hand and weighty camera bag over shoulder? In theory perfect but as is often the case when I'm out ready to shoot I have tripod ready, camera clipped in, slung over right shoulder legs extended, spread ready to go (the fact that I look like a giraffe with ungainly neck protrusions goes unnoticed) and my camera bag is old, slightly smelly and large!. So, how do I climb through the first fence, let alone the second or third in pursuit of the perfect daisy without a lot of folding of legs pushing and shoving, and unclipping of my precious digital genius first? Result? The air rapidly turns blue around my head and expletives neither original nor inventive start erupting unbidden from my person. Leave tripod and bag in the SUV, take the necessary, and hope that the ravages of the previous night haven't wrought havoc with traditionally rock steady hands. So then leaping like a gazelle over fences one, two and three, I stride toward the perfect clump of yellow. It's late in the season, so all the white daisies are pretty much done - rich, golden yellow it is.

Selecting the perfect specimen is next. Perfection with clarity - nature's form, sublime in its attention to detail or organic soft colour merging into more colour with shadowy bits - a bit of both perhaps. The magic of digital, the freedom of digital - the ability to try everything because one can! Sure, one can always argue that it leads to lack of direction, lack of planning but one can also argue in return that it extends one's vision, increases one's output and ability to see the world from different perspectives. I relish the challenge!

Back to the world of yellow! Perfection...mmmm. Unable to settle on which of the perfect choices is THE perfect choice I decide to shoot anyway, putting pen to paper or rather index finger to shutter button in order to get the creative juices flowing. As always seems to happen, I relax into it and my mind opens up to the possibilities: depth of field, front edge of a petal in focus back edge out and vice versa but mostly my mind is consumed by warm yellow. Kneeling on the ground head down intensely focused - the butt in the air angle would not be an attractive sight for any passing observer but I don't need to worry about such considerations as this mild obsession most often leads to splendid isolation.

A bit of advice - bracket everything (1 either side in ½ stops or thirds if you have the choice), shoot at the highest resolution you can achieve with whichever model of digital genius you possess and take at least half a dozen shots per chosen angle. Give yourself the best chance of capturing the one you really wanted - the perfect image, beautiful enough to grace your wall, a wall anywhere. Digital genius is defined by trigger finger generosity or put another way - repetition is the basis of professionalism. Get the shot! The satisfaction is immense.

Don't end up taking twenty splendid black and white shots of a gorgeous yellow daisy - do the greyscale thing in Photoshop! Slow down, check the first few brackets. Little things but in my twenty years as a photographer these little things become mortifyingly large things if ignored!

So perfection captured, 0 and 1's secured in the land of Flash wizardry it's back across the three fences leaping not quite so enthusiastically now, the gazelle's knees are a little creaky from kneeling on the damp ground - back to the ever patient, ever reliable SUV. Gear stowed, key in the ignition, we're off ...A glow of anticipation washes over me!

Download and backup!!! Forget at your peril.
So a gorgeous yellow daisy mesmerises me, swaying elegantly in the light afternoon breeze, bathed in the warm light. Mmmm...emotions gently bubble to the surface, excitement foremost, followed by the deep satisfaction that I've been able to make time to return to this spot to revisit my yellow daisy. I've already shot her once...but...now another chance to create another feel, another image worthy of my wall.

As before I dispense with my tripod. An odd decision? Perhaps... but here's my thinking on the subject. A tripod slows the process down (a good thing), it allows for greater reflection on composition and it creates the freedom necessary to style the shot without losing the angle of view one has chosen. It also has the added benefit of helping to steady the camera considerably so that camera shake is avoided. Easing swiftly on to my preference...

Shooting fashion was my world for a number of years and even though I used a tripod a lot in the studio, more often than not on location I preferred to hand hold my monster of a medium format camera (GX680). Good stuff! And oddly now that I'm shooting my mostly inanimate gorgeous yellow daisy and the like, I feel incredibly fettered when using a tripod. Discipline is in your approach and consistency of approach rather than just the tools.

There is another factor in the mix - DIGITAL...A little rant last time, a repeat now...Freedom! To me digital spells freedom - access, creativity, lack of stress about mundane matters like money i.e. cost per frame "wasted". I urge you as a budding or even a relatively experienced photographer to shoot lots - life is too short to stuff a mushroom (if you get that you get my point), and shoot at the highest res possible. Be disciplined, shoot smart. It's the little things...you try explaining to a client that you forgot the charged batteries at the studio or even worse, a whispered aside to assistant "Herm where's the film?" Checklists rule okay!

So to the gorgeous yellow number...Another decision, another choice. Shoot the natural view or create an instant outdoor studio background with flags, fills and scrim. I like the deep orange fuzzy card in the background with my model languishing, exotically garbed in yellow organza, in the foreground. Daisy perfection!

Now for some forward planning...don't ever restrict your ability to shoot by not planning ahead. I grabbed a series of different colored cards before I left, A4 sheets as the work is close and my subjects mostly small, and I cut a slit down the vertical centre line to 1/3 into the page, then carved out a small round hole (a keyhole in effect),a perfect fit around the stem of most flowers, without doing any real damage. Don't worry about the slit, Photoshop will clean that up! For the purists out there sorry if that's cheating in your book, but hey if you've got it, use it, is my feeling.

I also stuck a bit of foil, white card and black card in for good measure. A tiny mobile studio - flag and fill! The foil can be well used to create pattern or glitter on an otherwise dull surface, the white card to fill in the shadow areas and the black card to define edges on white/light subjects. On really bright, sunny days it's worth adding a sheet of scrim to the mix to soften the light over the subject. Diffuse light created by a cloudy day or by a decent piece of scrim is so much easier to work with - color saturation is deep and satisfying without huge loss in shadows or highlights. Be prepared!

It can be awesome to work in direct sun - huge drama, brilliant glitter. Give yourself a break - luxuriate in choice. Never loose site of the point...GET THE SHOT...the shot that's beautiful enough to grace the wall...any wall!

Picture a constant supply of beautiful cut flowers for your home, or fresh cut flowers for friends, and special occasions. Beautiful flowers at your disposal are possible by planting a well-stocked flower garden.

To begin your flower garden, select a sunny area, as a flower garden usually requires 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight each day. The raised flowerbed is then accessible from all sides.

Fall Bulb Planting
In order to have a constant supply of flowers available, consider when each flower blooms. For instance, plant Daffodils and Tulip bulbs in the fall for the earliest spring flower. A couple of other early spring flowers to consider for fall planting are: Giant flowering onion, grows 3-4 feet tall, with large purple flowers, and blooms early spring to mid-summer, and Crocus's bloom in early spring, though there are varieties that bloom through autumn.

Spring Planting
Gladiolus bulbs can be planted in early spring for beautiful blooms from early summer through the first frost. Continue to plant the gladiolus bulbs every two weeks and you will have cut flowers until the first frost.

Annuals such as snapdragons, cosmos, zinnias, etc., are also planted in early spring after the last frost. With a little bit of planning and a little bit of work, your home can have beautiful cut flowers all summer long.

Butterfly House in the Flower Garden
Whenever you decide to look for a butterfly house for your flower garden, you first have to determine what it is you actually want. A search for butterfly houses will yield two different types. There is the type of butterfly house that contains butterflies and their nectar plants. These type of butterfly houses are actually structures created for the specific reason of providing a safe and enclosed space in which to study the butterflies.

It can vary from a playpen-size for individual study to a medium-sized net-drapped area to large green house-like structure for scientists' study. If you find this a delightful prospect to walk in a large "cage" with hundreds of butterflies surrounding you, consult your local museums and zoos for information. As part of your children's, or your own, education, you may wish to raise some butterflies from caterpillar in a small butterfly house. Live butterfly kits are readily available and come with all you need to raise the caterpillar to a butterfly, usually a Painted Lady. You may also wish to create your own butterfly house of this type in your own flower garden. This can be done by means of mosquito netting drapped over an easily portable structure such as a light weight greenhouse structure or some type of tall stakes. Just surround whatever flowers are providing the nectar source at the present time. Don't forget the small puddles as water sources for the butterflies, too.

The second type of butterfly house is actually a hibernation box. The front of the box has half inch slots through which the butterflies can enter the house. This allows the butterflies a good gripping surface.

Place the box near some host plants for the type of butterflies in your area. This will provide incentive for the butterflies to lay eggs on the host plants in your flower garden in the spring.
The top of the butterfly house may be opened so you may observe the hibernating butterflies and record the numbers and types of your hibernating guests. If you are very lucky, on a warm winter's day, one of your guest may actually step out of the butterfly house. If this occurs, sugar water or home-grown flowers may keep it occupied until the day starts to cool.

Some time ago, one could only send flowers to loved ones or a friend if they lived in the same town as you. Now the World Wide Web has changed that. You can send flowers to a person who lives across the world.

By logging on to special sites that execute orders for flowers, you can send flowers to a loved one to await him in his hotel room while on a trip, send a bouquet with a special message to a celebration like a wedding, and send flowers for Valentine’s Day and so on. You can specify the kind of flowers, the arrangement, and the day as well as time you want the flowers delivered. Online sites provide great convenience, and payment can be made online from secure gateways.

Select a reputable online florist from the many available by checking their credentials. They should offer a guarantee for delivery on the date specified, and use an encryption system for processing credit card payments online. They must have a phone number, preferably toll-free, that you can call in an emergency. A good online florist will offer state-of-the-art customer service and will respond to customers immediately.

Most established florists are not one-man shows but a huge network of florists in different places. Select an online florist that has considerable experience, established and proven credentials, good service and a huge selection of flowers at competitive prices. Just as we apply certain security measures when we shop online, so also one must use online florist services with caution.

A. Online Flower Shops
Since the World Wide Web has changed how we live, even florists have become “virtual” shops. Now, from the security of your home or office, you can log on to an online florist or florist directory and order fresh flowers, a dried arrangement, a potted plant, or a customized arrangement to be sent to any corner of the world. Leading florists in the US have online sites and computerized sending systems which ensure that your order is delivered when and how you want it. Many of these online florists have a professional network of 30,000 or more affiliate florists located in urban cities, towns, and villages within the US and different countries of the world. When you place the order you can specify which flowers you want, what kind of arrangement, the colors, as well as packaging. There are innovative florists who send not just flowers or potted plants but fruit, wine, teddy bears, chocolates, or balloons for delivery. They will even make a mixture of a basket that contains flowers, fruit, wine, gay ribbons, and balloons.

A specialty of some online florists is sending flowers direct from growers. Online directories like Google and Yahoo give you many options to choose from, as they list different online florists from different parts of the world.

Then there are groups of flower growers, brokers, shippers, and online shopping sites who have reached a business understanding to ship boxes of fresh flowers by overnight air. These are generally a few days fresher and less expensive than flowers one orders from professional florists. A less popular category of online florists are sites run by agents, middlemen, resellers, and catalogue companies. In many instances, these are people with little or no experience with the world of flowers.
As a consumer it is up to you to do your homework and log on to a reliable online florist.

B. Order Flowers Online
As a customer you first need to do your homework and find out which site is safe and uses up-to-date security measures to protect your privacy and credit card.
Next, you must ensure that the online florist stocks what you like, has priced it reasonably, and offers guarantees on the product. Some sites are so confident about the flowers that they offer a 21-day guarantee.

Check whether the site delivers to the place you want to send flowers to. Read through the site’s terms and conditions. Weigh the pros and cons and go through their credentials and customer feedback. Check around and find out if there are any complaints registered against them.

On your side, keep handy the name, address, and contact number of the recipient. If you have any questions, ask customer service before placing the order. Be sure to specify any alternatives – for example, if red roses are bad or unavailable, the florist can use yellow roses instead. Give the online florist an e-mail address or contact number where you can be reached in case any problems arise, or if they need clarifications on your order. Check inventory as well as shipping arrangements.
Fill out the order form accurately. Click ‘send’ and be sure the flowers, arrangement, potted plant, or basket will reach its destination.

C. Online Flower Deliveries
Online florists are innovative and have flowers that can be delivered the same day, or flowers that are sent by the Fed Ex or UPS. If you choose to send flowers by Fed Ex then the flowers will be received by the recipient on the next working day, while flowers delivered by UPS will reach within 5-7 working days.

The other option used by online florists is to create a network of florists who are reliable. The florists are experts and only use flowers of the highest quality. Flowers are shipped carefully packed in bud form, and meant to last for a week. Many sites like http://www.flora2000.com/flowers.asp deliver throughout the US and to 150 countries worldwide.

Most online florists display pictures of the products being offered and give options for the size of the bouquet or arrangement, containers, colors of flowers, type of wrapping, customized arrangements, delivery, and a special card or message sent by you.

If you have any doubts, check with customer service either over the telephone or online. Many online florists have become market-savvy and have created a ‘brand image’ for themselves. Like perfumes with a signature line, online florists are fast becoming unique, recognized brands.

The selection process of your wedding flowers will usually begin with a discussion of the Bride’s bouquet. You can better prepare for your first meeting with your florist if you bring the following;
• A list of those in your wedding party that will need flowers.
• A list of what flowers you will want at the ceremony.
• A list of what flowers will be needed at the reception, including table count, size and shape.
• Color/fabric swatches and pictures of your dress and bridesmaids dresses, if you have them.
• Feel free to also bring pictures of flowers that you like.

Your florist will also have pictures of flowers, bouquets and arrangements to help determine exactly what will create the wedding of your dreams. If your wedding has a "theme", let your florist know before the consultation, as they can prepare suggestions to fit the style of your wedding. After style, the next thing to consider is if there are any specific flowers you want.
Keep in mind that some flowers are not in season year round. The flowers that will give the best presentation are those in their season prime. Make sure you let your florist know if your ceremony and/or reception will be held outdoors. Certain flowers do not hold up in hot/humid conditions. Consider color, shape, and fragrance when selecting your bouquet flowers. A note of advice on color choice, avoid all white flowers, they do not photograph well.

Not just for your bouquet but for all of your flowers. Be realistic. You may want a $200 bridal bouquet, but if you only have $400 for a flower budget, you will not have enough left for 3 bridesmaids bouquets, 2 corsages, 3 boutonnieres and 15 centerpieces for your reception. Choose similar flowers to be used throughout your wedding. Using 20 different kinds of flowers will quickly increase the cost. Your florist can balance your needs with your budget. They can offer alternatives. Exotic flowers such as Orchids are very pretty, but they are more expensive. Consider more affordable flowers if you are on a budget. Don’t plan your wedding near big flower holidays, such as Valentine’s Day, Easter and Mother’s Day. If you do, expect to pay more for your flowers. Once you have chosen your Bouquet you have selected the “center” of your wedding flowers. The other pieces can be used to incorporate your bouquet flowers throughout your entire wedding. The following is an example list of the flowers you may need for your “Special Day”...
• Bride’s Bouquet
• Toss Bouquet for Bride to Throw
• Maid of Honor Bouquet
• Bridesmaids Bouquets
• Grooms Boutonniere
• Boutonnieres for Best Man and other male attendants in the wedding
• Boutonnieres for Father of Bride and Groom
• Corsages for Mothers/Grandmothers and/or Guests of Honor
• Boutonniere for Ring Bearer
• Flower Basket (with petals?) or small bouquet for flower girl*
• Ceremony Arrangements (can serve double duty at your reception perhaps at your buffet)
• Vase at Guest Book Table
• Centerpieces for Reception Tables (make sure you get an accurate count)
• Centerpiece for Head Table (usually larger than other centerpieces)
• Flowers or Petals for Cake Table (Flowers for Cake if necessary)

*If you are considering petals for the aisle at your ceremony, make sure your accomodations allow them. Also remember that roses with color petals will stain the carpet if stepped on. White petals are recommended for carpeted areas.

Always leave your florist a phone number of someone you trust (preferrably with a cel phone) that can handle any last minute decisions regarding your flowers.
Finally, when it comes to your wedding flowers, don't skimp! Experienced florists process and design your wedding flowers for optimum presentation and performance. Your flowers are one of the most important elements of your wedding! Congratulations!

A. Wedding Flowers: Meeting with Florists
Choosing a florist begins before you ever enter the florist's shop. Do you really want to gamble on your wedding flowers just because your cousin Freda insisted that you had to use this particular florist?

Show the florist the wedding flower pictures and the swatches of your wedding dress material (and any other prominent materials from your wedding i.e. bridesmaids dresses). Talk. Make sure the florist grasps the concept that you have in mind for your wedding flowers and understand your budget and any other constraints that you are operating under (i.e. facility rules, etc.), and then let them go to work. Resist the urge to micromanage. In most cases at least one of the florists you visit can make your ideas for wedding flower combinations come to life in a manner that you never dreamed of. At the same time, however, go over every detail of the proposal (including set up time and schedule – which will vary greatly depending on how much there is to set up for your wedding flowers and how many other weddings the florist has that same day) carefully before you sign the agreement to provide your wedding flowers. Get several proposals for your wedding flower needs before you decide. It’s your wedding so be sure that you are getting the best wedding flowers for your budget.

Flowers are beautiful but being living things they can be temperamental. Some flowers, such as gardenias and lilies are famous for triggering allergic reactions. If you have someone in your wedding party with bad allergies it might be wise to steer clear of flowers like these. Likewise, hollow stemmed flowers, such as the daffodils can drip sap on your wedding dress. Yes, this is a problem that can be overcome, but you need to be aware and prepared so your wedding flowers don’t ruin your wedding dress. Other flowers, most notably the lilies will drop a yellow pollen stain on your gown if you don’t have the wedding flower professional remove the stamens before you carry them down the aisle.

Two last notes about your wedding flowers. First, remember that not all flowers fare equally well in all types of weather. Some flowers wilt quickly in warm weather while other flowers actually turn black in colder temperatures. Finally, remember that despite the advances in horticulture around the world, flowers (even wedding flowers) are still seasonal. Sure, if your pockets are deep enough, you might be able to have the florist import them from the other side of the globe but that will be expensive and even at that, there are some flowers that just won’t be available to join your wedding flowers in celebrating your marriage unless it’s just the right season somewhere.

B. Wedding Flowers: Defining Your Expectations
The wedding flowers that decorate the church will go a long way toward setting the mood for your wedding. Done right, a selection of well placed wedding flowers can give your event the sense of joy, expectation, solemnity, or pageantry you and your intended anticipate for your wedding. Done poorly… well, your wedding flowers will set the wrong mood for your wedding at best. At worst, your wedding flowers will make it appear that your wedding happened in a tacky looking facility or several decades earlier (actually, it can get worse, but we won’t talk about that – The point is to make sure we stay on the top of the scale with our wedding flowers, not the bottom).

The success of your wedding flower arrangements and decorations depends on your florist’s attention to detail, sense of style, flair, expertise, and the connection that the two of you achieve. Don’t assume that because a particular florist is highly respected you will get the wedding flower arrangement of your dreams. If there is no meeting of your minds, if you don’t feel like they are grasping what you are trying to communicate about your wedding flowers, theme, or both, keep looking. In most cases your wedding flowers will be more to your liking with your second choice that fully understands the theme and mood you are trying to set than with the reputed best florist in the city who isn’t listening or just isn’t managing to understand what you want from your wedding flowers.

Finding the right wedding flower specialist is easy if you begin your search prepared and know what to look for and what to stay away from: Being prepared means doing some dreaming about your wedding flowers. Doodle. Search bridal magazines. Look at wedding flower schemes in books and dream. Go to bridal shows. Collect pictures of wedding flower arrangements that you think will fit into the theme that you want to design your wedding flowers around. In short, have a pretty clear idea of what you want in your wedding flowers before you ever start visiting florists and bring the pictures with you. White wedding dresses come in a wide variety of shades of white, so to ensure that the wedding flowers will properly accent your dress bring a swatch. Once you have done your homework it is time to start actually looking for a florist to provide your wedding flowers. In the process, no doubt, you will discover that while most any florist can provide wedding flowers, some are more skilled, gifted, and experienced than others. Your goal is to identify these people and choose one of them to take the stress of your wedding flower needs off your hands.

Remember, wedding flowers work or don’t work on the florist’s attention to detail, creativity, and their ability to match your style. It’s your wedding; make sure it goes right by taking the time to prepare before you go shopping for those wedding flowers.