By D. Damore


In planning wedding flowers, one does not always have to follow the rules of tradition. Many flowers can be used when planning wedding bouquets, arrangements and table centerpieces. A wedding planner or florist will most likely be aiding you in your decision for what flowers to use during your special event. However, if you are going it alone, then choosing wedding flowers do not have to be difficult. This is after all, part of the wedding planning that has to be addressed and you may as well select a color scheme of flowers that will be used for your wedding. The flowers are a major part of your wedding color or may even be the main colors that all else will be designed around. Everyone does it different and in their own fashion.

Choosing to Use Real or Silk Flowers for Your Wedding

Many opt to use real flowers for most wedding, but so many more are choosing to use silk flowers for arrangements, centerpieces or even bouquets as well. This allows you to keep them as cherished memories for many years to come. Real flowers do not allow this. Silk flowers can run expensive, but so can real flowers and if you are on a budget, you can still find many flowers of each that are inexpensive, to complete the perfect wedding of your dreams. Choosing to use real or silk flowers for a wedding, it is clearly a preference and either selection can make a most memorable part of planning wedding flowers.

Flowers that are Commonly Used in Weddings

There are many different flowers that can be used for a wedding, but here again it does not call for all traditional wedding flowers to be used. Many are opting to go with more exotic or hybrid breeds of flowers as a memorable and colorful part of their special day. A white wedding party as backdrop for vivid, hot pink or purple bouquets, arrangements or centerpieces is to die for. Plus, your wedding pictures will stand out when they show gorgeous arrangements and gatherings of tropical orange, pink or purple hibiscus.

No longer are you stuck with traditional, boring flowers and colors. Planning wedding flowers do not have to be traditionally followed and fashioned in this way at all, unless you choose to do so. Your wedding flowers can be anything that you want and will only be limited by your imagination. If you find yourself still stumped as to what flower to use, then you may need to ask your wedding planner or florist to help you choose an appropriate flower or flowers. Also, they can help in aiding you with the correct fillers and flowers to be used along side of your main flower pick. This will be a welcome add of help in planning your perfect day.

By Qing Gu


When you want to add a little something extra to your photo wedding invitation, consider some of these ideas!

The Traditional Pose

Tradition doesn't have to equal boring. In fact, a classic pose can have an amazing effect when you take your pictures in an unusual setting. Imagine the carefree joy of dressing up to pose on the playground or the fun of wearing formal attire on the beach! Even casual dress can take on a wonderful, carefree feel with a classic wedding photography, so don't overlook what might seem to be obvious. The results might be extraordinary!

Tell a Story

Setting up your wedding invitation pictures so that they tell a story is an exciting idea that creates and preserves memories all at the same time! If you met in an unusual place or got engaged in a special spot, center your wedding invitation pictures so that the background is visible. For a great example, check out the photo example on the modern monogram invitation. The fountain in the background not only enhances the photo with its beauty, but might hold a special memory or two as well!

Dramatic Silhouettes

For a more dramatic photo wedding invitation, a silhouette is sure to make you smile! These work best against amazing backgrounds, so look for a vibrant sunset or low light situations with just a hint of color in the background. Whether you're standing in a field of flowers or posing against a sweeping skyline, the result will be nothing short of incredible. Take a look at the example in the island love wedding invitation and you'll see just how breathtaking a silhouette can be!

Tint your Photos

Photo tinting is widely available through most photo processing centers, and it's easy to preview before you print. For those reasons, it's well worth the time to play around with different color variations for your photo wedding invitation. In addition to the more traditional black and white or sepia tones, there are grayscale, pink, blue, and green options. All of these options will result in a lightly tinted photo that can completely transform a plain wedding invitation! Whether you tint to match the colors of the invitation or to make it stand out, the result is sure to be pleasing!

Add a Splash of Color

If you use a black and white photo, add color in one or two unexpected places. Make the sky blue, color the flowers yellow, or paint your shoes a bright red. Far from distracting, it can really make your photo wedding invitation pop!

These tips will make the photos for your wedding invitations absolutely spectacular. It's amazing how much impact a single effect can have, but you can't miss the results when you see your finished wedding invitations pictures!

By Pamela Beckwith


Mothers day is very special to everyone who is a mother or who has one. Everyone wants to get their mother that beautiful bouquet of flowers that she always lights up when she sees them. If you want to get the very best pick you really should order them early to save getting the ones that are left as opposed to the bigger better ones.

The closer that it gets to mothers day, the more the increase in flower orders. The best way to show your appreciation to your mother is to say it by giving her the best flowers. It is the biggest holiday in the season of "fresh" flowers. Planning ahead for this will ensure you get the very best flowers that the flower delivery service you go with has to offer. Especially if you want a certain arrangement and maybe some rare exotic flowers.

Yes, you could buy Mothers Day flowers at your local florist, but they only have your typical options. Finding a place that will work with your wants is a plus. Having them delivered is a nice suggestion too. It will add that element of surprise to it. A Lot of the florists places will not do deliveries on Sundays or holidays, so please bear that in mind. Shopping online is a convenient way to make a suitable purchase from your home or doing it to fit your busy schedule.

Online flower delivery websites are a good way to choose too. They give good illustrated pictures of what the actual arrangement will look like. They also give detailed information on the different arrangements like the price and size. If you do not order these types of special made flower arrangements early, they may not be available for delivery by mothers day. The answer is to buy them ahead of time. Before the rush of inventory runs out. The availability of some of the flowers that you may want may be very limited for seasonal reasons.

So to ensure that your flowers reach their destination on time, you should consider buying Mothers day flowers as early as possible, they must be ordered as soon as you can. You should add a special note to that person to make it seem more personal.

Unique flowers for mothers day are always offered online. They include a delivery service. You can compare all of their options before going with the perfect place. Of course the choice is yours!

By Alexa Peters


If you and your soon to be spouse have decided that winter is the time of year that you would like to get married then you may be concerned as to how much your winter wedding flowers will end up costing you. By getting married during the colder months of the year you may indeed have fewer options then if you were to be getting married in the summertime but you will see that you do have options available by speaking with your local florist. Many times florists are able to import flowers from warmer locations and some even grow flowers themselves under glass.

Knowing this information will no doubt be a great help in planning flowers for a winter wedding.

Timing is extremely important when it comes to flowers and winter weddings. It has become a very popular trend for couples to get married during the Christmas season or New Years. It is however extremely likely that prices for flowers would be at a much higher price then at other times of the year because of the increased demand for them for things such as Christmas wreaths and other holiday decorations. Since red is an enormously popular color during the holiday season roses and other red colored flowers are especially in demand. It is for this very reason that you may be paying much more then you originally thought for red roses for your winter wedding bouquet.

While the prices for winter wedding flower bouquets may run a bit on the high side it is totally possible to find some great bargains. There are many varieties or orchids that would make for some beautifully exotic winter wedding flower arrangements and not cost you an arm and a leg. A tropical themed wedding in the dead of winter would be a lovely break from the cold.

Now while many people think of tulips as a springtime flower they are widely available in the winter months from flower wholesalers. The wonderful thing about tulips is that they come in a wide variety of colors so that you should have no trouble matching them to your wedding theme.

Winter weddings would also be brightened by using lilies or chrysanthemums in the flower arrangements. Both of these incredibly popular flowers are available all year round so you will not have to worry about spending a huge amount of your wedding budget on flowers. If you would like to have your winter wedding flowers with a light and sweet perfume to them, then you cannot go wrong with Oriental lilies.

It would be a very smart idea to meet with a florist as soon as possible after deciding that you are having a winter wedding. This way you can take a look a pictures of winter wedding flowers and winter bridal bouquets and will know as soon as possible what flowers will be available during the time period you are looking to be married in. A good florist will be able to tell you what types of flowers will be available and how to best use them in your wedding.

By Karuna Ravindran

Do you need dried flowers urgently without having to wait for weeks? What if, after waiting for weeks, the flowers you have dried are not as beautiful as they were when fresh, or you find out that they do not work all that well with your project? It could also be possible that by the time the flowers have dried and you realize that they do look beautiful, they are no longer available?

Gone are the days when you have to wait for weeks to dry flowers to be used for your craft projects or even as keepsakes. This could be a real dampener, especially if fresh flowers are likely to be available only for a few weeks. It is also quite likely that some flowers may not look as good dried as when they were fresh.

The Large Microwave Flower Press is just the right gadget for your pressing needs. It can dry a wide range of flowers, fauna and leaves in a few seconds to a few minutes depending on the power of the microwave and the type of flower being pressed. Since each flower has a different texture and different levels of moisture, you will have to use trial and error to achieve the results you desire. Some flowers may get burnt easily and some may require extensive heating in portions where they are thicker and in that case the outer edges may require extra protection to survive the excess heat, One thing good about the Flower Press is that it retains the original color of the flower to the maximum extent possible, which results in beautiful dried flowers.

Pressed Dried Flowers can be used in a variety of crafts including Greeting Cards, Scrapbook Pages, pictures, bookmarks and even to decorate candles, soaps, menus etc. The Microwave Flower Press can not only be used by you if you are keen on crafts, it also makes for a unique gift idea for someone you love, who is interested in the arts. It is also a great gift for the young ones as well as the elders in your family.

By Ann Keeler Evans


No matter where you're being married, if there isn't a table behind you for flowers, you may want to find one to put there. You may want candles, flowers or pictures to make the space more beautiful. Instead of a spray of flowers, carefully coordinated with the wedding attendant's dresses, why not use the language of flowers and herbs to enrich your wedding ceremony?

Flowers have ancient meanings associated with them. In the past, lovers used to use flowers to hold conversations with one another when they didn't have as much access as we have to our beloveds. Did you know that Bachelor Buttons mean Hope; Calla Lilies, Magnificent Beauty; and Daffodils, Regard and Constancy? Who knew a bouquet of springy yellow flowers could mean: You are the only one? Those are great Courtship flowers.

But the Orange Rose of Passion, the Red Rose of Love and Desire, the Violet of Devotion, Lavender of Loyalty and Marjoram of Joy? These are flowers to be included in the flowers gracing your Altar Table.

* Find the flowers that have meaning for you and for your relationship and have a bouquet created for the altar table.
* List the meanings for the flowers in your program so everyone can share.
* Gather those meanings as blessings for the marriage on which you are embarking.
* Pledge those characteristics as promises in your wedding vows.

The goal of your wedding ceremony is to create a lifelong marriage based on your wedding vows. Using flowers to cement the important characteristics and promises in your minds (and in your community's) is an effect tool for reinforcing your vows. Use flowers to speak to you of love in your wedding ceremony. Then give one another flowers and emotions throughout your life together. The reminders will continue to work to deepen your rich relationship.

Bottom Line?: Give your relationship the chance it deserves to succeed wildly, against all odds! After all, you deserve it. Your relationship deserves it! If you want in-depth pointers, ideas, information about designing your perfect wedding ceremony, explore my site! And now I'd like to invite you to sign up to receive 2 free templates for creating the wedding vows of your dreams and the marriage of a lifetime: http://annkeelerevans.org/weddings/free

By Krista Qian


Want to make your garden's summer flowers last all year? Ok, the easiest way is to bring your garden flowers indoor and dry them.

* First: Harvesting Flowers

It is best to cut your flowers in the morning hours after the dew has evaporated from the plants. Once cut, group stems into bunches using rubber bands (pure rubber rubber bands work best) and remove them from the sunlight as soon as possible.

There are definite developmental times which are best for cutting flowers for drying. This can be very specific for different plants or even different cultivators of the same plant. In general, it is best to pick immature flowers (ones that are not completely open) since flowers continue to open during the drying process. If you pick a flower at the time that it looks perfect, it will continue to open while drying, leaving you with a flower past that 'perfect stage'. Most people pick flowers too late. For example, have you ever seen a pretty dried rose? If you really look at it, the flower is still fairly closed. Avoid harvesting flowers too mature in development. Such flowers will generally shed upon drying and will not hold up well in arrangements.

We offer specific picking and growing recommendations for each flower we grow. Just click on any dried flower name on any of our lists to obtain a wealth of specific information including pictures!

* Second: Preserving Flowers

With only a few exceptions, we air dry all our flowers. We simple hang flower bunches upside down on wire (over two miles of it is stretched in our circa 1860 barns). The barns offer ideal conditions: 1) darkness; 2) very good airflow; 3) cool updrafts; 4) perfect (usually) humidity levels. Once you have cut your flowers, it is important to remove them from the sunlight as soon as possible. This, along with drying in the dark, is the most important factor in maintaining good color.

Note:

1)How to Hang Flower Bunches

Suspend a 1/2-inch-diameter horizontal pole or pipe from the ceiling. If fastening hooks into your ceiling or walls is not an option, use tripods or two high-backed chairs to support the pole. A bent paper clip makes a perfect hanger for your bunches. Put newspaper or a drop cloth on the floor under the hanging bunches to catch fallen leaves, seeds, and petals. Hang bunches far enough apart to allow good air circulation.

2) How Long to Hang Flowers to Dry

The drying process takes from 10 to 20 days, depending on the plant. When dried, the stems should snap. You must test the flowers for dryness. Dissect one or two, and make sure the flowers'' insides are thoroughly dry.

Some flowers, such as delphiniums, keep their color better if dried quickly near sources of warm air such as a heater. Large, many-flowered blooms such as dill, fluffy grasses, and Queen Anne''s lace, should be dried upright, not hanging upside down.

3) How to Dry Flowers with Silica?

Silica-gel drying is done in shallow, airtight, plastic (or glass) containers or trays. I dry many flowers at once using a 10- by 18-inch airtight plastic container. Yours need not be that big, but make sure that the flowers aren't crowded. Spread the flowers out, face up, on a 1-inch (minimum depth) bed of crystals. Carefully spoon or sprinkle more silica on top until you've completely covered the flowers with at least another inch of crystals. Drying flowers with single-petal structures, such as daisies, facedown is another technique, but my results have been identical using both approaches. To dry flowers facedown, create a small mound for the flower head, place the flower head facedown on it, and add silica over the flower until it is covered. Flowers can be almost touching, and because similar kinds of flowers dry at the same rate, you may wish to group similar blooms in the same container. Seal the container, and don't disturb it for three to four days.

Remove delicate blossoms very carefully. Shake or brush off the crystals lightly with a soft artist's paintbrush. Leaving flowers in desiccant too long makes them very fragile, so remove flowers right away once you've determined that they're dry enough.

4) How to Use Sand to Dry your Flowers?

Sand must be very fine, clean, dry, and preferably salt free. Sifting is recommended to remove coarse grains and foreign particles. Rinsing the sand in water several times to remove any soil is also recommended. Damp sand can be dried in an oven by placing in shallow pans and baking at 250 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes. Be sure to use only flowers in their prime and process them quickly to prevent wilting.

To dry with sand, place an inch or two of sand in a container; scoop away a small amount of sand to form a depression on the surface; place the flower head upright in this depression and press the sand in and around the outside of the flower to support it. Next, scoop a little sand into your hand and allow it to trickle in a fine stream around each petal. Start with the outer petals and work inward row by row, allowing the sand to build up equally on all sides of each petal so its position and shape are not altered. Flowers dried with sand are fragile so be very careful when removing them from the sand. Notice that flowers must be stored in a strong carton to protect the petals from breaking.

5) Using a Microwave Oven to Dry Flowers

The latest and fastest method to dry flowers is to use a combination of silica gel and a microwave oven.

With the use of a microwave, you can now dry your flowers very quickly. Flowers should be gathered at their peak or else they will turn brown. Use any of the drying agents (silica gel, sand, borax) in a container deep enough to cover the bloom. Leave a 1/2 inch stem on the flower, and place it face up on a 1/2 inch layer of drying agent. Carefully sprinkle enough agent to cover the flower, and place it in the microwave along with a small bowl of water. Do not remove the flowers from the agent immediately, but set them aside for several hours. Listed below are some times for drying flowers in a microwave.

By using air drying and other methods also, many flowers can be preserved for year-round enjoyment. Plan now to include some flowers in your garden for drying, and check nearby fields and road sides throughout the summer and fall for more dried plant materials.

* Third: Care of Dried Flowers

Routine dusting can be accomplished using a real feather duster or hair blow dryer on it's lowest setting.

* Last: Storing and Enjoying Dried Flowers

We recommend wrapping the flowers in newspaper and placing them in a cardboard box. Do not store the box containing the dried flowers where it is unusually damp (some basements) or very dry (some attics). Also, a lot of people think you should never store dried flowers outside (it would be way to cold). This is simply not true. Temperatures are not important. In fact, a garage can be an ideal place for storing dried flowers. Actually, if your home is heated by forced air, the preferred place to store dried flowers would be in a outside building away from the dry heat.

In general, dried flowers should remain out of direct sunlight while you enjoy them in their final state. This will minimize fading over time. We also suggest not to place dried flowers in the path of forced air heat registers. This extremely dry air is very hard on dried flower structure (causes shattering).

Suggestion for use of dried flowers would include wreaths, swags, sheaths, bouquets, and sprays. Simply hanging dried flowers in a room can be very appealing. Also, placing clusters of bunches in a basket, as though you just came in from a garden, is most attractive.

Caution: if you do store your dried flowers outside, make sure you protect them from small rodents and insects (a few mothballs will work).

Finally, I should to say that drying flowers can be addictive! Before long, wreaths will adorn all your doors, and swags will hang from every wall. And they'll all have come from your own garden. Talk about an extended season! You'll soon see why dried flowers are often called "everlastings".

By Ian Pennington


Ever been invited to a wedding and was asked to be the wedding designer? Well that can be a scare for someone that doesn't know how to make a wedding beautiful. Did you know that most designs out there for weddings are hand crafted by someone or there selves? Living the life of a wedding designer is very profitable. Looking for ideas for Wedding Flowers set ups is easy to find. Looking on the internet there are people from all over that share there idea's.

You should know that there are many people out there looking for people that are experienced in designing weddings. Looking for wedding designers aren't so hard to find. There are business that cover this grounds of wedding design. Wedding designers can cost a lot more then doing it yourself. This type of job interest people out there that have the talent of creating something looking romantic and very full of memories.

Planning a wedding is something that is easier then it looks. Making the bride happy is something your job is and making sure you have the right set up for a wedding is something you need to look into. Designers have to make sure they set the flowers up perfectly. There are idea's you can get for the type of flowers you want at a wedding. Having certain types of flowers in a wedding is something that will be the brides and grooms flowers to remember. So making sure they put the flowers in the right way will help.

Many helpful ideas can be found on the internet or from other designers. There are all kinds of different flowers out there that mean different things. Having roses for a wedding is something to look into. Roses are a sign of love for one another. Looking for a flowers that have the nice colors to give to the wedding is something that is decided between the bride and groom.

Becoming a designer anytime soon? Well there are schools out there that help you with this type of work. Flowers are something that means a lot between the bride and groom. The internet is a very good source of information to look at wedding pictures to get idea's. Getting the flowers for a wedding isn't that hard if you know someone that owns a nursery. Buying flowers by the bulk you can get them a lot cheaper. Depending what type of flower you want it can be costly. Making sure you pay smart is something you must do if you have a wedding budget.

You should know making the wedding the most magical day of your life is something you need to make sure of if you are the groom. Looking back on the days of marriage is something that you and your spouse will be doing years from then.

By Arora Kritarth


The color combination of wedding flowers is very essential and should be chosen wisely, it should be appealing and should suit the entire set up of the wedding.

It is imperative to choose the right wedding flowers, color combination and the wedding florist whom you can trust and have confidence in. You can also select and buy your wedding flowers online or can go ahead hunting yourself and get a good deal from the market. Beautiful, captivating, dazzling flower arrangements can be prepared to entice the guests as they walk into the reception venue. An experienced florist can be a great guide in order to help you select the right shape, size and style of the bouquet and wedding flowers that would suit your style and personality. The chairs in which the bride and groom would be seated can also be beautifully decorated with stunning flower arrangement. You can decorate the church and the reception venue with the same theme and wedding flowers that you have selected. It would in true sense be a world made especially for you to welcome the beautiful journey that you are about to begin with your life partner.

When you start going through the pictures of beautiful wedding flowers and decorations, it becomes very difficult to decide the best flower decoration that would suit your wedding perfectly. You can find lots of wedding flower companies online that can guide you as to what would be the best suitable option for you. If you want you can order wedding flowers from them or can go head hunting by yourself to get a good deal from the wholesalers.

You can find beautiful wedding flowers that can be woven together and turned into captivating centerpieces. These fancy and intricate arrangements will surely imbue your wedding. You can choose different types of wedding flowers like the calla lilies, hydrangea, peonies, sweet peas, tulip etc.

Consult your florist on the kind of wedding flowers that would suit your style and also regarding the range of shapes, sizes and styles of bouquets available. There is so much that can be done with wedding flowers, a good and experienced florist can create dazzling center pieces that would surely make a statement in itself when beautifully placed and decorated on the tables. Many kinds of wedding flowers can be used like fall wedding flowers, silk wedding flowers, spring wedding flowers and the list goes on.

The chairs can also be beautifully decorated for the bride and groom with the flowers that have been pre decided for the wedding. A competent flower designer will have great and brilliant ideas which he can share and discuss with you and show you a proof of what and how he is going to decorate the venue.

It is important to have faith and trust on the florist that you select for your wedding and know that they would make your wedding a successful event as they would have done for their own relatives. The wedding flowers that you choose can be the central theme at the church as well as the reception. Choosing the right flowers would definitely make the place look more beautiful and give you a great feel on the big day. Wedding flowers are a very essential part of anyone's wedding and are treasured traditions of romance. Wedding flower arrangement makes the chosen venue look beautiful, stylish and charismatic.

By Christine Harrell


Flowers from the Philippines are arguably among the most beautiful and vibrant flowers in the world. However, it is often difficult to choose the right flowers from the Philippines while being confident that the flowers you order will be the freshest flowers that a Philippines florist has to offer. While Philippine roses and flowers are exquisite, if you don't work with a florist that specializes in international standard delivery, the product you receive might end up less than desirable.

When you send flowers to the Philippines, there are a few key things that you can do to help ensure that the Philippine gifts are exactly what you had envisioned.

Choosing The Right Philippine Florist

When you cannot physically visit a Philippine florist, it is very difficult to gauge the quality of the flowers that they have to offer. The next best thing to visiting a Philippine florist is to visit a virtual floral boutique by using the Internet. Many top quality Philippine florists have websites where you can view pre-made bouquets showcasing their floral products.

Some sites also offer an online purchasing option where you can order a standard or tailored gift of flowers and then send flowers to the Philippines. When ordering a standard bouquet of flowers, look for sites with large, clear pictures that allow you to determine the type, quality and size of the bouquet.

Check the Philippines Florist's Supplier

Another great way to ensure that the Philippine florist you choose has the freshest flowers in the Philippines is to check their supplier of flowers. A good supplier will have dedicated facilities, a respectable client base, and often will be a member of industry associations such as the International Cut Flower Growers Association (ICFG).

Be Specific

To ensure that your Philippine gifts have the freshest and fullest flowers, and to guarantee that the flowers are the ones you had in mind, it pays to be specific. Look at the color, number, type, and even arrangement of the flowers that you want the florist to use. This will dramatically cut down on miscommunications and errors.

Philippines Roses

Philippines roses warrant a special mention in their own right. Universally loved, roses are often charged at a premium. Sometimes, Philippine florists tout internationally imported roses in their bouquets and can charge double the price. There are two main problems with this - for one, you'll pay extra for the florists import costs and secondly, roses often loose their luster and fragrance during long periods of refrigeration. Make sure that you're not paying for expensive roses just because they are imported! Instead, do some digging to ensure that the florist you buy from gets their roses fresh from the Philippines.

It pays to spend a little extra time researching your florist rather than going for the same old flowers you can find locally. Not only are genuine flowers from the Philippines of superb quality, your loved one will be impressed with your expert knowledge on florals and flattered by your determination to send the best flowers in the world!

By Robert Reno


Follow these florist guidelines and go over them in advance of your wedding day. But before your wedding, you are probably wondering how to choose a florist for a wedding? What is expected of the company you go with? Please read the following article for some insight into asking the right questions.

When you visit the florist of your choice, have the following information: your wedding style, your wedding gown color and style, your bridal attendants colored fabric swatches, the colors of the mothers and grandmothers dresses, and what type of corsage they prefer (pinned to the shoulder, waist, or purse, or carried or worn on the wrist), pictures or diagrams of the ceremony and reception sites and their color schemes, any restrictions concerning the floral decorations or use of candles, an approximate number and types of arrangements you will need, and the length of the aisle you will be using.

How to Choose a Florist for a Wedding

Does the florist offer a wedding package? What is included? Can you make any substitutions?

A skilled wedding florist can stay within your floral budget by selecting flowers that are in season, by controlling the sizes of bouquets and corsages, by inserting more greenery with the flowers, and by utilizing many of the flowers from the ceremony at the reception site.

You might consider renting potted plants, flowers, and trees for decorations.

The bridal bouquet may be very colorful or done entirely with white flowers and greenery using a combination of flowers in a variety of sizes. They style of the bouquet should complement the style of the gown:

- formal gowns: cascade, crescent, or over-arm bouquets

- in formal gowns: nosegay and oval-shaped bouquets or a few flowers wrapped with ribbon.

The style of the bouquet should also complement the brides height - smaller bouquets using more delicate flowers for petite brides, longer and larger bouquets for taller brides.

How to Choose Flowers for a Wedding

Do you want to know how to choose flowers for a wedding? Well first we have to know some great ones to talk about with your florist. Flowers to consider for your wedding are asters, camellias, daisies, freesia, gardenias, irises, lilies, lilies of the valley, orchids, roses, stephanotis, tulips, violets, and others.

Flower arrangements (bouquets or centerpieces) may be made with silk or dried flowers, as well as fresh. If you decide to have a going-away corsage, it can be made as part of your bridal bouquet. The florists call this a break-away bouquet. Have the florist make a small bouquet for tossing at the reception; particularly of you want to preserve your bridal bouquet.

To identify the honor attendant, her bouquet can be a different color or larger than the other attendants. The flower girl can carry petals or flowers in a basket or a miniature bouquet. The grooms boutonnières is usually taken from the flowers in the brides bouquet and is different from all the other boutonnières.

Extra corsages and boutonnières could be provided for the soloists, instrumentalists, officiant, if he isn't wearing a robe, guest book and gift attendants, wedding, hostess, cake server and hospitality committee, and any other special people. Flowers are not necessary for those who charge a fee.

Have the florist pin the individual names to the corsages, bouquets, and boutonnières for easy dispersal at the ceremony site. To aid your wedding coordinator, have a family member or close friend available to identify those people other than the bridal party who are to receive flowers at your wedding.

Keep the flowers refrigerated until the last possible moment. The individual bouquets may be inserted into water-filled tubes. Remove the bouquets and pay them dry before carrying.

If you are not using spring-loaded candles, freeze the candles ahead of time to prevent or lessen their dripping. Then prelight them to ensure easy lighting during the ceremony. Do not use spring-loaded candles in the unity candelabra.

If the aisle runner is to extend up the altar steps, be certain it is firmly secured to prevent slippage.

The decorations for a military wedding may include the American flag and the colors of the brides and or grooms military unity. Consult with the ceremony site for permission to use these.

Boutonnières are not worn with military uniforms.

It is best at large weddings to have a guest book that can have its pages easily removed. By placing the pages at opposite ends of the table, you create two areas for signing. A floral table spray placed in the middle of the table could be used for decoration.

If you are having only one place for your guests to register, then a small arrangement - perhaps two or three flowers, baby's breath, greenery , and a bow - could be used for the guest book stand.

Stanchions placed outdoors and decorated with bows and greenery could be used to direct those guests unfamiliar with either the ceremony or reception sites. If your reception is a stand up affair, only a few arrangements and garlands for the serving, punch, and cake tables will be needed. If the reception is a sit-down dinner, you will need to plan centerpieces for each table in addition to any other decoration you might desire.

The bridal attendants bouquet can be used as decorations by placing them around the cake or on the brides table. To fully unitize your flowers, designate someone to transfer them from the ceremony site to the reception. The floral baskets from your ceremony could be positioned at either end of the receiving line, beside the cake table, or behind the brides table. Any floral pew arrangements could also be used as decorations at the reception. Have the florist fix them for easy transfer.

Also as a final reminder, it is nice to order flowers to be sent to your parents homes one or two days after the wedding as a special thank-you gift.

Another nice gesture is to send flowers to your bridal shower and party hostesses. Tell the florist the kind, date, time, and place of each event.

By Cassandra Mallett


Using silk flowers for your wedding is one idea that you will be glad that you went with. Thought of as a social faux pas in the past, silk flowers are now becoming the choice of many brides not just those worried about cost. Many brides are choosing to use silk flowers in their weddings because it cuts back on the stress and worry before the final days. This is especially true if you are doing your flowers yourself.

When you are thinking of silk flowers on your wedding day, do not think of the ratty flowers at the dollar stores with the misshapen petals or the thread coming undone. Think about high quality silk flowers that truly mimic the look of fresh flowers. These silk flowers have been put together with the care and the study of the real flower to make them look as realistic as possible. Silk wedding flowers give you the beauty of flowers on your wedding day without the fuss.

Where to Find Quality Silk Flowers

The DIYers already know that one of the best places to find beautiful silk flowers is at your local craft or hobby story. Because there are those who dabble in flower arranging, these stores offer a variety of flowers. Some stores even offer classes on arranging flowers or have someone who can make custom arrangements for you. Also, if you are like me, you want to feel and touch the flowers to actually see the quality of what you are getting. You can study them to see how well they can go with your look.

Your local florist is another place where you can get beautiful silk wedding flowers. Many people may want arrangements done for a number of events or their personal space where they don't want the flowers to die in a few days. Because the florist has the best connections and the expertise on flower arrangements, they are a great resource in finding fabulous silk flowers for your wedding day.

Last but not least is the internet. The internet has many sites that not only offer silks, but packages with them arranged as well. You can get the flowers you want arranged at quite a reasonable price. Silk wedding flowers can even be found on eBay. However, always make sure you find a reputable company that has a reputation of providing quality service. Many sites do show pictures of their arrangements and offer testimonials. If this does not assure you, buy a test bouquet to see if the quality is what you are looking for.

The Advantages of Silk Wedding Flowers

1. They can be done in advance. Although real flowers are very beautiful and breathtaking, they must be done right before the wedding in order to not wilt. If you are a bride on a budget and taking this task on yourself, you may find yourself overwhelmed and stressed during a time that should be fun and relaxing. With silk arrangements, you can arrange them ahead of time which can reduce the stress of the last few days leading up to your wedding. On the day of your wedding, they will still be even more beautiful than the day you bought them.

2. Submerged, they look real. One of the big trends in weddings now is the submerged flower. What is so good about this trend is that you can submerge a silk flower in water and no one will be able to tell if it is real or not. If the flower is submerged in water, all people will see is a beautiful arrangement. No one will actually put their hand in the water to see if the flower is real. Also, being that you need less flowers when doing submerged or floating centerpieces, this saves on money.

3. Allergies are not aggravated. You, your hubby to be, or any of your guests may have certain allergies when it comes to flowers. To avoid the inevitable sneezing, runny noses, or red eyes, silk wedding flowers are a great way to have that floral beauty and happy guests. This is also a plus if you are having an outdoor wedding and are afraid of attracting insects.

4. Life-lasting keepsake. The fabulous thing about using silk flowers for your wedding is that you can have a keepsake. You can bring a centerpiece home as well as your bouquet and save on floral preservation costs. They can become a decoration for your home and a reminder of the start of your married life.

5. Great as favors. Many of your guests may fall in love with the wedding centerpieces that you have on the tables. A great favor would be to send the centerpieces home with those flower-loving guests. Your guests get great arrangements to beautify their space as well as a reminder of your wedding day.

6. Sturdy flowers. Because real flowers are more delicate, cold or heat can cause them to wilt quickly. If you are having an outdoor ceremony, the flowers may not be able to stand the heat. What if you forget to put them in water to keep them looking fresh? Well, with silks, this is not a problem. They don't need water and can stand any weather conditions.

7. Less expensive. Now this is always argued because quality silk flowers can cost as much as live ones. This is true; however, if you need a particular flower in December that can only be found in France, the cost can rise. You can use silk flowers instead and have incredible savings. Also, when submerging flowers, because you generally use less, you can use silks instead of the real ones which can run cheaper. You can also save money with silks by checking out sales on the internet and in stores.

How to Spice Up Your Silk Wedding Flowers

If you are using silk flowers for your wedding day, there are many ways that you can spice them up to make them even more unique which gives a personal touch to your day.

Scent. We love the smell of real flowers, so how can we replicate a fragrant smell with silks. Spraying the perfume of your choice on the flowers is a great way. This way, the flowers have a wonderful smell that can add spice to your reception. Although, you want to make sure the smell is something that will not aggravate guests. I would suggest a real clean, light scent.

Jewels. Instead of having a plain bouquet of flowers, add jewels to liven it up. You can get crystals glued to the petals of the flowers. This adds more pizzazz and personality to an already beautiful arrangement. Plus, you don't have to worry about damaging the flowers because they are sturdy enough to be handled.

Feathers. Feathers can add flavor to any floral arrangement. Adding feathers to a silk bridal bouquet gives an extra flair that makes it stand out. Beautiful peacock feathers in a silk centerpiece arrangement helps add a certain level of exquisiteness.

How to Care for Silks

Although one of the advantages of silk flowers is that they need little tending and care, here are a few tips to make sure your silk flowers for your wedding day are in perfect condition.

• To clean silk flowers you can wash them or clean them by hand, but this is not the most recommended way because it can become a bit messy and time consuming.

• A great way to keep silks looking their best is to use an ozone safe aerosol spray. This can keep them looking clean and fresh.

• If any of the greenery is wrinkled, you can steam iron the leaves. Just make sure the temperature is on the lowest steam setting. Test a corner before steaming out the wrinkles.

• Many stores that carry silk flowers also carry silk flower cleaners that can keep silk flowers looking great.