By Nathalie Fiset


Is it still romantic to send flowers online? The answer is always, "yes". Flowers, especially the romantic ones, are among the great ways to show your partner or your loved ones that you truly care. Girls usually love to receive flowers from their dates. So if you're the type who wants to create a good impression, then better send the one you love with a bunch of fantastic flowers.

Sending flowers online is one of the most popular and fast process of giving flowers to your loved one, even if you're far from them. So if ever your anniversary or her/his birthday slipped from your mind until the last hour, there's no need to worry because there are online florists that can help you with that. With the advent of the Internet, you don't anymore need to drop by at the flower shop in order to choose and pay for your needed flowers. Today, customized flowers are just a click away.

Benefits of sending flowers online

• You can save time. It is one of the advantages that you can get from ordering and sending flowers online. You can save lots of your time because you don't anymore need to go out of your home or your office and hop from one shop to another. Through online shops, you can easily order, pay and send flowers without leaving the comforts of your home. You can also have online tracking if you want to confirm your order. You just need to find the best shop that can send romantic flowers to your loved ones. So if paucity of time does not allow you to go to different flower shops or nursery, just visit the web and take advantage of the flower delivery services online.

• A wide range of choices is presented right in front of you. By visiting the florist's website, you can see the actual pictures of the bouquets, so you don't have to imagine what the flowers will look like. You can also easily compare the products and the deals of different companies.

• Same day delivery. There are online florists that offer same day delivery, so even if you are absentminded or neglectful, you can still catch up by sending flowers right in the day of the occasion.

• International market. Some florists online don't just offer national but also international delivery.

• Hassle-free process. Aside from being speedy, the procedure in sending flowers online is hassle-free and is spreading globally. Most online flower shops have user-friendly services. You can place your order in their online site and they will just give you a reminder call.

Of course, you have to pay the online shop for sending flowers to your loved ones. The good thing is, some florists do not put additional charge for delivering the flowers right at the door step. Also, there are some flower shops that give small gifts like canes, vases and other stuff.

Most florists don't just send flowers. If you think the usual bunch of roses isn't right for the person you will send it to, try a gourmet coffee basket or some chocolates. In the websites of most online florists, you can also find personalized greeting cards and other gift ideas. Online shops offer tremendous variety that the local shop can't surpass. Also, online florists' websites allow you to pick the best bouquet online and they can send your dear ones a romantic bunch of flower that will surely reflect your love and thoughtfulness.

Bear in mind that flowers sent right at your doorstep can bring a feeling of surprise and excitement to anyone, particularly if they are a gift sent by a dear one. Flowers are among the things that can revive a person's spirit. So pack your worries and doubts, if ever you forgot to greet your dear one on their special day - flowers will do that for you.

So during occasions when you need to send your dear one with a bunch of romantic flowers, never fret because the World Wide Web will solve your problems. All that it takes is to have confidence that you can still send magnificent flowers in his/her big day. Send flowers online, it is still romantic this time and in years to come.

By Mirriam Chansa


Weddings can be very expensive but many brides are finding creative ways to save money without compromising on quality. There's nothing to stop you from getting the wedding you've always wanted. You just have to think a little out of the box and more creatively. Here are some ideas to get your juices flowing.

1. Choose or find a venue that is already beautiful and lush with flowers and well kept lawns. There are usually parks or gardens with these characteristics.

2. Plan to use flowers that are readily available and in season. This will save you a lot of money. If you are honest with your florist and ask them to recommend the best value for money inexpensive flowers they can find, they can get you ones that are within your budget. Although it may seem like a good idea at first, holding a wedding during February is not cheap. In February, flower prices are very high due to Valentine's Day.

3. As far as possible, hold your wedding during the festive season i.e. during Christmas or Easter when most Churches are already decorated with beautiful flowers! You just have to find a church with the type of flowers that you like.

4. If you know someone else who is getting married about the same time that you are, you can save even more money by coordinating flowers and splitting the cost.

5. Use the internet to shop around for the best deals on flowers and consider buying from an online florist. Many websites have web only prices which are not available from their stores. You can use a product comparison website to locate suppliers with the cheapest prices without compromising on quality. Many online florists guarantee fresh flowers so you don't have to worry about whether or not the flowers will be fresh when they arrive.

6. Another money saving idea is to arrange your own flowers such as bouquets of simple roses tied together with a ribbon. If you're not confident enough to do it, you can find simple guides online on how to arrange flowers for weddings. You can also just ask a friend or a family member to do it for you.

7. Cheap flowers such as carnations when used in abundance so that the blooms are packed together can be quite striking. Visit some online florist websites and browse their pictures of flowers in the weddings section for some ideas.

8. Avoid imported or exotic flowers unless they are cheaper than the ones that are locally available.

9. Consider renting plants to fill up space.

10. Using very large arrangements can be very expensive so it's a good idea to use as few as possible. You can save even more by limiting the number of people in your wedding so that you don't have to buy many bouquets!

By Erin Love


Flowers play a very important part in a wedding, whether the ceremony is big or small, expensive or inexpensive, at home or at a chosen destination; so, it would be wise for a bride to put her time and energy into choosing the perfect flowers for her wedding. Think about it...have you ever been to a wedding that did not include flowers in some form? Even in a very simple and intimate ceremony, the bride will carry some sort of flower, even if it is a single stem, or she might wear a flower in her hair. And, what would a ceremony be without a boutonniere on the groom's lapel!

As a Certified Wedding Coordinator, I have worked with many florists, and they all agree that a knowledgeable bride ends up being a happy bride. The initial meeting with the florist will go much smoother if you bring with you a list of your favorite flowers and those you definitely want to include in the wedding. You and the florist can then go through the list and choose the flowers that will be available at the time you have scheduled the event. Below are a few more tips and tricks that I have learned along the way. I hope they help you as well:

* Not all flowers can be used year-round, but the most popular ones can! These include roses, orchids, lilies (calla), gerber daisies, chrysanthemums, freesia, iris, alstromeria, and stephanotis.
* Start looking at bridal magazines a year or so in advance if possible. This way you will be able to see an entire year of seasonal bouquets and arrangements. Save pictures of the ones that you are most fond of!
* Consider the place where your flowers will be displayed. For example, if your ceremony site is colorful and beautiful in its own right, you may not need to add more color with flowers. Instead, choose flowers that are more natural and will not distract from the beauty of the site.
* Save money on arrangements at the reception by interspersing tables with flowers on them and tables with candles on them. This also makes for more visual interest.
* Don't worry about having your bridesmaids bouquets match yours or each others, for that matter. Have fun with it! Mix and match! One of my favorite looks right now is having bouquets graduate in color from darkest to lightest. (The lightest being the bride's bouquet.)
* Incorporate elements of your style into the arrangements! For instance, if you love diamonds and ice...add crystals to your arrangement. If you love the outdoors, go with feathers.

The bottom line is that choosing the right flowers for your wedding can be fun! Take as much time choosing your wedding flowers as you did choosing your wedding dress and it will pay off!

By Kimberly Kissel


While the hard and fast rules for using the "right" flower types and colors have long gone by the wayside, flower selection is still key in creating the right atmosphere for a wedding. Couples are encouraged to choose flowers and foliage for their meaningfulness, rather than sticking to rules or tradition. By incorporating your favorite flowers, favorite colors, flowers and foliage that remind you of a special place or time spent together, and even the meanings of different flowers, you add something very personal and special to your wedding day. That being said, there are some varieties of flowers and foliage that create beautiful, seasonal bouquets and arrangements.

Summer offers a wide variety of whites and eye-popping, vibrant colors. Consider hyacinth, sunflowers, geraniums, calla lilies, orchids, dahlias, daisies, carnations, foxglove, chrysanthemum, bachelor buttons, and baby's breath, as well as roses, in a variety of colors. Clematis and climbing roses create dramatic archways.

Autumn gives way to an exciting palette of rich, earthy tones and textures. Consider wrapping flowers and berries in rich shades of orange, rust, maroon, blue, and amber with a variety of branches, leaves and grasses in a contrasting mix of textures.

Winter weddings can include many of the same traditional flowers found throughout the seasons... roses, lilies, chrysanthemums, hydrangea, freesia, gardenias, snowball, and the like, at not much higher a cost. Christmas weddings provide the perfect opportunity to exploit the rich reds and greens of the season in a selection of berries, evergreens, poinsettias, and holly branches, as well as holiday ribbons and ornaments for accent. For non-holiday weddings, a variety of cool blues, silvers, whites and greens accented with eucalyptus, pine cones, ivy, fir branches, and wheat stalks truly speak the winter season.

Spring rings anew with soft, gentle pastels. Consider shades of pink, baby blues, peaches, soft yellows and greens. Springtime favorites include roses, tulips, hyacinth, lilac, jonquils, wisteria, sweet pea, daffodils, Gerber daisies, day lilies, and multi-colored calla lilies, as well as sprigs from Dogwood, Crabapple, and other flowering trees nestled in soft to deep shades of green.

Lighting also plays a key role in flower selection and is a detail frequently overlooked by busy brides and grooms. An atmosphere filled with soft lighting or candlelight will set off warm, pastel shades - pinks, lilacs, whites, golds - while a bright, lively atmosphere will only be enhanced by richer, more vibrant pinks, golds, oranges, blues, and reds.

Above all, choose a florist with whom you feel comfortable working, a florist who will work with you in bringing your vision to light. If you tell your florist that you imagine bouquets of hand-tied wildflowers and he presents you with a nosegay of roses and carnations, then find another florist! At the same time, listen to what your florist has to say. A good florist will have a multitude of ideas for flower selection, bouquet arrangements, and display accents, as well as what is in - both in style and in season - and will work with you to give you the most that your budget will allow. She may very well also know what the rules and regulations of your particular church or chapel may be; many churches will require only fresh-cut flowers be placed on the alter, if they are allowed at all.

Begin interviewing florists at least three months prior to your wedding, longer if your wedding will take place during a peak season or holiday. When interviewing florists, be sure to bring pictures of your dress and bridesmaids' dresses, as well as swatches of fabric from both. Don't be afraid to bring clippings from magazines, a list of the flowers you like, and any requirements you may have for individual needs. If orchids make your mother-in-law sneeze, you won't (or shouldn't) want to pin one her shoulder! You may also want to ask your florist about aisle runners, flower girl baskets, unity candles, and other available ceremony and reception accessories, as well as fees for transportation, delivery, set-up, etc... Don't be afraid to ask questions! And always get a written quote, including detailed instructions for payment terms and all associated fees.

By Delora O'Brien

Flowers can be such a beautiful part of any wedding. They adorn empty areas of a room, add a beautiful touch to the center of your guest’s table and accent the bride and her gown. Key word here is accent! One thing that a bride does not want to do is to carry flowers so colorful and unique that you see a bouquet walking a bride down the aisle!

Flowers are an accessory and accessories add, they don’t take away from. Flowers should accent the bride, bridesmaids, grooms, the banquet hall, etc. They should not upstage, but should be complimentary and help make the room feel warm and inviting. Therefore, be very careful with color schemes and types of flowers. And with a good florist, you won’t have to worry about many of the problems that can happen in this area of planning your wedding.

But, choosing a good florist can be a very tricky proposition. I know most people do not like to spend a lot of money on flowers. After all, they are here one minute and gone the next, unless you decide to go with silk flowers, and I’ll get into that in a moment. Always shop for a florist early. The ones that are excellent and not costly will be booked very early. Asking friends and relatives who have gotten married recently for their thoughts on the florist they used is always a good place to start. Ask florists to see their books of arrangements and a list of clients who they’ve done weddings for. Most of all, you have to like your florist and feel comfortable working with them.

After you’ve decided on several florists, you should bring each of them the colors of your wedding party and some pictures that you’ve found of bouquets and centerpieces that you love. Be very clear in asking them if they are able to accomplish what you want and to give you a price for each item, not for the total wedding. Hopefully, this will decide for you who you want to work with.

One last decision is whether you’re going to use fresh, dried or silk flowers. Years ago, anything other than fresh flowers was a no no! Today, anything goes and real-looking silk flowers and unique kinds of dried flowers are becoming very popular, especially if the bride/groom or anyone in your wedding party is allergic to fresh flowers. In that case, you may want to opt for silk. But please, unless you don’t mind having flowers that look fake in person and in photographs, be very careful when picking silk flowers. Choose ones that have the look and feel of the real thing. Nice thing about silk, is that you can keep them forever.

Finally, please remember that this is your day. The last thing you want is to be upstaged by flowers. And it can happen very easily if attention isn’t given to coordinating the colors and textures of your flowers with you, the bride. Keep them subtle and they will be beautiful and compliment you whether you are walking down the aisle or dancing with your future mate. Remember, sometimes less is more.

By L Hayes


Flowers are a lovely accessory in any wedding. An accessory is exactly what they should be. A bridal party should not look like a walking floral arrangement. Flowers should be in harmony with the overall feeling of your nuptials, whether it's formal or informal, traditional or contemporary, indoors or outdoors. Here are a few tips on how to make sure you are the center of attention on your wedding day, not your flowers.

How to Choose a Florist

The first rule in choosing a florist? Book early.

Get opinions from friends and relatives and visit a few bridal florists whose work you've admired. On the initial visit, just browse through the shop and through photographs of previous work. Talk with the florist to see if he or she has the expertise to do the type of designs you want, within your budget. Discuss the type of wedding you plan to have and possible locations. Select a florist you feel comfortable working with.

Once you have decided on the colors for the bridal party and have firmly set the location, time and type of wedding, bring to the florist swatches of fabric, a list of your favorite flowers and pictures of the look you want.

Be open-minded. Florists have a good idea of what will look good, what's possible and what's affordable.

Fresh, Dried or Silk

Time was when only fresh flowers were acceptable for weddings. Now, real-looking silk and fresh-looking dried flowers are becoming more and more popular with brides for a variety of reasons.

If someone in the bridal party is allergic to flowers, you should use silk.

Some brides who wear snow white dresses think they need snow white roses in their bouquets, but there aren't really any pure white roses. Natural-colored roses look more real and don't blend into the gown.

If you use silk flowers, you can use the bridal bouquet that will actually be in the wedding if you have your portrait taken ahead of time.

For some brides, nothing but the freshness of cut flowers will do. You miss the fragrance if you don't use real flowers. For many brides, the flowers seem less if they're not fresh.

Aside from the overall feeling of the wedding, the flowers should blend with not only the bride's dress but also her complexion and hair and eye colors.

Consider how the flowers will look in the photos. It's the memories and photos that will last.

It's not necessary for the bride and bridesmaids to carry the same flowers, but the flower types should coordinate. Create a connection between the bride, groom and also the parents.

Imagine standing at the back of the church on your wedding day. Describe what you see. Is it formal, pastels, daytime, bright colors? When your fiance sends you flowers, what type does he send you?

The quality of silk flowers will make the difference between a natural or fake looking bouquet. Good silk flowers look real in photographs. Quality silk flowers will hold their shape; the stems will be hand-wrapped with no plastic stems showing.

To stay within your budget, give the most attention to the bride's flowers; keep the others simple. A single long-stemmed rose, possible with sheer ribbon, is very elegant and a popular European choice for bridesmaids.

Before you start making definite decisions, check to see if your church has any regulations or restrictions regarding the use of flowers. The types of arrangements should be determined by the size and lighting of the church, the season, and the colors of your wedding.

Finally, while every bride seeks to enhance their wedding decor with flowers, keep in mind that you are the center of attention on your big day.

By George Lockett


Your senses come alive when you walk into a flower shop. You feel you are connecting to all your senses and experiencing the wonder of Nature.

First you may notice the fragrances as you walk through the door. On one level within you, it may feel like an orchestra playing, as your nose becomes a way of blending the different fragrances from the flowers: their pollens and pheromones reaching out through the air to you, with their love and attention, to attract you and share their beingness with you.

Your eyes are automatically drawn to the flowers you most resonate and harmonize with, and which correspond to the predominant colours in your aura at that time. You may notice that you are drawn to different flowers each day depending on how you are feeling, your emotions and your mood at that time.

The colours bring healing and harmony, even when they are very diverse and powerful. You may find yourself automatically arranging flowers of different species, sizes, shapes, textures and colours to create a portrait in which each flower adds to the total picture and creates something greater than the individual parts.

When we create pictures through flower arranging we are sensitive to the flowers' energies, giving each one just the right amount of space, so that each flower's aura reaches out to those alongside; we create a sense of peace within the arrangement.

You may notice when you bring your selection of flowers home from the shop, the way the quality of the atmosphere in the room subtly changes. The room feels more alive just with the flowers' presence. They make the room smell nice and give off a different quality of scent than you would get from an air freshener.

When we look at flowers and are sensitive to their energies we can see the aura or energy field of the flowers. This field of energy is what the flower uses as its blueprint, so that it knows where to unfold each petal to create perfect harmony and symmetry within its form.

The colourless sap containing all the nutrients is the flower's only building material; and yet it can build a hard stem, a sharp thorn, or a soft, gentle rose petal from this one clear liquid. What marvels flowers hold for us when we take the time to really look and appreciate their beauty and wonders.

Flowers bring us close to Nature and to the cycles of the Seasons. They help to reconnect us to our Source and ground us to the Earth.

Flowers help to remind us of our own spiritual Nature as we see their yearly Life cycle of being born, growing to maturity and ripeness; reproducing, and then the gentle decline. Yet the Life force lives on to be born again and grow in future years.

Flowers remind us that we are truly Spiritual Angels looking out from our physical bodies.

Our true Nature is a part of the eternal Continuum, which exists as our Source energy like the colourless sap of the rose – That which cannot be seen or touched – just pure Spirit from which our aura and energy field arise and which helps to hold each particle, atom, molecule and cell that forms the blueprint for the organs of the body which combine to co-ordinate the whole of us.

When we are connected to our Source energy within that field of love in our heart, we feel at peace with ourselves and at peace and in harmony with the universe around us. We are like a flower in a bigger arrangement, which is Life itself, flowing and growing just like a flower following its Nature and Life cycle.

Receiving love from flowers reminds us in so many ways of what is important in Life – and that is to love our Selves, our own Nature, and to radiate our Nature to all around us. It is the diversity of Life that creates the beauty in the arrangement of the family of nations around the world and their cultural differences; just like an arrangement of flowers finding peace and harmony within the contrast of colours.

By Yolanda Nash



When you are choosing the flowers for your wedding you need to take some things into account. Choosing your flowers can be a very tedious task if you are not prepared. Below I have listed some tips to make choosing your wedding flowers a little easier.

Your asking yourself if you should choose live flowers or artificial flowers. You should first do some comparison shopping at your local florists. Live flowers can be more expensive at other times as artificial flowers usually will remain the same price year round. When you get a good idea of what each has to offer such as price, appeal and quality then figure out your budget. When you find the florist that has the flowers that fit your budget and you really like them then go with it.

Choosing the date of your wedding is critical when choosing the flowers for your wedding. The date of the wedding will determine the cost of your flowers. Such as if you have your wedding in certain seasons, holidays or near Valentine's day. So take a look at the prices around at your local florists and find the perfect date for your wedding.

Go to your local paint store and pick you up some paint cards that are similar to the colors that you are having in your wedding. This way you will have several shades and tints of your colors and you can use it as a quick reference when choosing flowers and other items.

Make sure you call and make an appointment with the florist. This will ensure that the florist will be able to focus on your needs without interruption.

Ask your florist any question you are not sure about? Make sure you have in your contract that you want to use the same flowers at the ceremony and reception. Make sure they will deliver the flowers from the ceremony to the reception. When having this in your contract you will save money because you will not have to buy double the flowers or rent them twice.

Ask your florist if you can bring a camera with you when meeting with them. If you are allowed to bring a camera you can take pictures of the different ideas, styles and you can carry these with you and ask others of their honest opinions.

Just remember what ever wedding flowers you choose remember it is you and your partners wedding day enjoy it.

By Steve Whiting



When choosing flowers for your wedding it is important to take into account the theme of your wedding and the style and colour of your dress.

The most important flowers are the brides’ bouquet and this should be the where you start in choosing the style and colour and what flowers you want. Styles vary from long and trailing to simple posies, hand ties or wired stems. Some brides may like to have a style that was similar to their mother or grandmothers or may choose a particular flower for sentimental reasons .Today there is a vast array of flowers available and even if a flower is out of season they can often be transported from abroad, but this however will increase the cost.

Collect pictures and ideas and have sample swatches of the bridal party’s dresses available for the florist to see .A florist should have portfolio of their work so that you can see for yourself what they can do. They should be able to advise you on choice of flowers, styles and weight of the bouquet and what is suitable for the bridesmaids. Some designs can be quite heavy to hold .Different bouquets suite different style of dresses and different sizes of people. Colour too is an important aspect and if the right colour is chosen it will compliment a dress.

Some brides like to keep their posies afterwards and this can sometimes influence the choice of flower as some preserve better than others .If this is not within your budget then you may wish to choose silk flowers or a combination of both .For example a bouquet that contains silk roses that you will be able to keep as a memento long after your wedding day but have fresh freesias for the perfume. Your florist should be able to suggest which to choose and also some one who can preserve flowers .These are then often arranged into a picture frame.

In Victorian times many flowers had different meanings associated with them, lilies were for purity, lily of the valley meant happiness, and roses were for love. Of this tradition only myrtle and orange blossom have really managed to survive. If a sprig of myrtle is placed in a bouquet it symbolizes a happy marriage as myrtle represented purity and fertility as it was sacred to Venus. Orange blossom was also used as an alternative to myrtle as it also represented happiness and loveliness.

Make sure the florist knows exactly your requirements. Traditionally flowers are placed at the entrance to the church /venue and the entrance to the reception. Some couples choose to have smaller arrangements around the church and on the pew ends whilst others may have the pew ends decorated with ribbons. At the reception arrangements can be place on all the guests tables with one larger one on the top table although not so large that they take up to much room and are so high that guests cannot see one another across the table! Couples often like to have a thank you posy for the mothers or for any one else who has helped them .Fresh flowers can also be used to decorate the cake.

Obviously cost is an important factor. However if on a tight budget it is often better to make sure the brides bouquet is the one of your choice and have just a few large arrangements elsewhere rather than trying to decorate everywhere. Less is more.

Check that the florists knows the venues, if not, they may wish to visit it beforehand to see where flowers can be placed and check with the church about the flower procedure. It may be they have there own containers that should be used or there may be flowers already in place from a previous service. One important thing to think about is where to keep the flowers once they have been delivered to your house. The flowers should be kept somewhere cool, shady and out of the way of inquisitive hands and pets. Cats will investigate and want to play with the foliage and dogs have been known in excitement to jump on a bouquet and flatten it!

By Andree Lapare


What is the biggest stress women face while planning their wedding?

According to a survey done last year, the biggest challenge (read stress) women face when planning their wedding is the fear of going over their budget. No matter if they are planning a small wedding, or a big bash, brides-to-be know how easy it is to get carried away adding little extras, or how last minute changes or substitutions that can break the bank.

Reports vary on the average cost of getting married today, but the amount seems to fall between $20,000 and $30,000. The typical budget allocated for flowers is approximately $1,700, a forty five percent jump from five years ago. Problems arise because of last-minute flower substitutions due to weather or transportation issues, which may be more expensive. Women find themselves making last-minute decisions about changes to their arrangements, often without seeing what the revised bouquets will look like. This adds more stress to the final preparations; for that amount of money, any suitable alternative that can provide both quality and peace of mind should be considered.

Buying silk flowers hasn’t been a solution, especially for women with more sophisticated tastes who haven’t been impressed by either the quality of silk flowers or the designs that they’ve seen. Today however, manufacturers -- with the help of new technology -- are producing premium, high-end silk flowers that are botanically correct and present a true alternative to fresh flowers. An ever widening selection of flowers is being produced, from traditional English roses and calla lilies, to amazing tropical orchids that feel real to the touch. The only way guests know the arrangements are silk is if they are told.

Brides can take their time to discuss their preferences, ideas (such as forwarding photos of bouquets that have caught their eye), and budget with a designer and help them create the perfect arrangements. A good designer wants their customers to be happy with their designs and offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Because they know how important flowers are to a wedding, they are happy to send pictures of the designs before shipping if requested, and provide the bride with any other information she needs. The floral arrangements can then be safely put away, and brought out for the big day with pride.