In the lead up to your wedding day, make your florist your new best friend. Your florist with their wealth of experience and knowledge will be able to assist you with your floral bouquets and arrangement decisions, offer expert advice regarding the latest trends, and ideas for complimentary arrangements.

The following tips will help give your flowers more life allowing you to display your flowers for as long as possible.

12 ways to increase the life of your flowers:

1. There are some varieties of cut flowers which last longer than others e.g. carnations tend to last longer than roses. If it is important to you for your flowers to last as long as possible consider this and choose your flowers wisely. Your florist will be able to point you in the right direction.

2. Cutting the stems of the flowers on an angle with sharp scissors allows for the maximum exposure to the clean water aiding absorption.

3. The removal of any bruised or discoloured leaves or petals, and also leaves that are below the waterline of the vase, discourages the growth of bacteria. Damaged flowers or leaves which are soaking in vase water, speeds up the damage to the flowers as the bacteria encourages the break down the flower cells.

4. Choose a clean vase and fill with fresh water for your floral arrangements. The addition of flower food, or sugar to the water provide some nutrients to the plants to extend their shelf life.

5. Consider the vase you use, as glass or plastic vases do not react with flowers, however using a metal vase could reduce the life span of your flowers, as it reacts with some of the chemicals.

6. If you re-cut the flowers stems and change water every 2-3 days you will give yourself the maximum amount of flower life.

7. Choose flowers suitable to the outside temperature at the time of the year of your marriage, for example, orchids tend to deteriorate quickly in cold temperatures, while sunflowers fair well in a hot climates.

8. Keeping the flowers in a cool spot, (between 18 to 22 degrees Celsius), and away from extremes in temperature, will extend their life. The cooler the room the longer your flowers will last, however flowers subjected to very low temperatures causes them to become susceptible to damage. Never put your flowers in a freezer.

9. Air conditioning will cause flowers to dry out quickly so pay particular attention to keeping up the water supply for arrangements in this environment.

10. Keep the flowers away from drafts (e.g. heating or cooling vents, direct drafts, tops of appliances etc), slows the ageing of the flowers keeping them bright and fresh.

11. Keep the flowers out of direct sunlight which has the same effect on flowers as exposure to drafts, so avoiding this will create longevity.

12. Use flowers that are in season for your wedding day bouquets, and other floral arrangements.
Importing flowers increases the time between their harvesting and the display of them, which will reduce their life span; (It should also be noted that out of season flowers increases the price of the flowers, which may put a strain on your budget).

With a little care you flowers will look fresh and bright for longer lasting enjoyment.

A florist like The Flower Shed is your best friend when it comes to choosing your flowers, offering advice for your wedding day arrangement choices, and the after care for your flowers.

For assistance with your options, advice, friendly service, and value for money contact The Flower Shed. http://www.theflowershed.com.au/ Belinda Cook manages the Wedding Planner Directory website, focusing our service on connecting people planning weddings with wedding service providers in their local area. Free tools are available for downloading, examples include budgeting tools, and checklists for planning your wedding; as well as plenty of expert advice, tips, and ideas, to make your wedding day truly special. Wedding Planner Directory helping create lasting and memorable moments to treasure. PO Box 6186 West Footscray VIC 3012 Australia Email: info@weddingplannerdirectory.com.au Web: [http://weddingplannerdirectory.com.au]

Rose is the universal wedding flower, but now, different varieties of flowers are being used during weddings and these include tulips, calla lilies, sunflowers, hyacinth, carnation and other floral varieties. With the wide range of choices available today, most couples find it hard to decide what wedding flowers to choose.

We are all aware that in any kind of wedding, flowers are always great additions. From simple to elegant weddings, the floral designs and themes contribute a lot to the beauty of the setting. As always, flowers stand as a symbol not just to unite but also to protect the union of two persons. Because of this, brides put much importance on what kind of flower to use and how their wedding flowers will look like.

Before selecting the flowers to use, have a checklist on where the wedding flowers will be used. Your list should include the following: o Flowers for church decorations
o Flowers to be used in the reception site
o Boutonnieres for the groom, the parents, groomsmen and ushers
o Bridal bouquet
o Bouquets of the bridesmaids
o Petals for the flower girls
o Flowers for the mothers' corsages
o Flowers to be used in embellishing the cake and the table
o Bouquet to be thrown by the bride

You may also need flowers for:
o The corsages of grandmothers and other important female guests
o The boutonnières of grandfathers and other significant male guests
o Decorating the places where pictorials will be done
o The hair of the bride or the bridesmaids

When you are selecting the kind of flower that you will use in your wedding day, there are some things that you must consider.

1. The wedding flower should reflect your personality and should match your wedding theme. Don't choose a flower because it is what your mother wants or because it is your friend's favorite. You can be open for suggestions but the final decision should come from you. It is your wedding so it isn't about what people want but about what you want.

2. Look through different samples of wedding bouquets and flowers. You have to be familiar with the different flowers, colors and designs so better look at many photographs of wedding flowers. The World Wide Web is a great place where you can find lots of varieties to choose from.

3. As you look through the web pages, consider first the style. This is because there are flowers that may not suit the style that you want.

4. Keep in mind that large bouquets are quite heavy so the bride with small body frame should not choose a big bouquet.

5. After deciding on the style, you can now determine the kind of flowers and colors to choose.

6. You can base your choice of flowers on their meanings. Among the popular flowers used in today's weddings are:
o Red roses - they stand for true love
o White roses - they symbolize purity and innocence; they also mean "I am worthy of you"
o Calla lily - it represents beauty
o White carnation - it is a symbol of fascination and woman's love
o Red tulips - they signify the avowal of love
o White lily - it means purity and heavenly
o Babies' breath - this flower signifies purity of the heart
o Hyacinth - it stands for loveliness
o Blue Violet - it is a sign of faithfulness
o Daisy - it symbolizes innocence
o Iris - this flower stands for affection and warmth
o Ivy - it denotes fidelity and eternal love

7. For those who prefer fragrant flowers, then you can go for hyacinth, gardenias, tuber roses and star-gazer lilies. The fragrance of such flowers will surely be heavenly.

8. Choose the flowers that will suit your budget. If you are on a tight budget, you can just make your own bouquets.

Choosing the wedding flower that is right for you is really important. Some of the main choices that you are going to make are the types of wedding flowers and their arrangements, the color of the flowers and the greenery choices and whether to employ silk or real flowers.

Remember that the wedding flowers are among the magnificent and significant parts of any wedding. At first, you may find it hard to decide what wedding flowers to choose, but in the end the hardships will be paid off once you discovered how the wedding flowers that you chose add color and splendor to your big day.

For more information on flowers and their special meanings please visit: [http://flowersforsomeonespecial.com/] and http://www.drnathaliefiset.com

The wedding flowers set the tone of the wedding. Flowers are always been the symbol for happiness and joy. By adding flowers to your wedding, you are expressing happiness, joy, style, and taste. Flowers come in different shapes and colors. So, there are many ways to express thru flowers.

A variety of flowers may be abundant on a particular season (summer, fall, winter, and spring). Thus, the flower theme may be different for each season. Typically, the roses and lilies are the wedding flower of choice. However, more variety of flowers appears in a contemporary wedding. Here are a few popular wedding flowers with their description.

Roses

This flower is the most popular garden flower. Rose is coin from Latin word Rosa. Each color has special meaning. For example, red means love, white means purity or innocence, yellow means friendship, and orange means desire and enthusiasm. Roses can also have many meaning on how you give the rose. For example, three roses mean I love you, and ninety nine roses mean lots of love. The rose petals are a favorite for wedding tosses.

Calla Lilies

The flower is from the Greek word "Kallos". It means beauty. The beautiful arrow shaped flower provides an incomparable elegance to the wedding. The flower is also called Water Arum, Bog Arum, Wild Calla, and Water Dragon. The lilies bloom between June and July.

Casa Blanca Lilies

This flower has the most romantic flower name. The wedding roles of the flowers are to provide the classic beauty and romance of wedding. Meanwhile, the natural fragrance lifts the height and drama of the wedding.

Carnations

It is the national flower of Spain. The flower vibrates with pinkish-hued natural color. Now, the florists manage to cultivate red, white, yellow, and green flowers. The name of the flower is believed to come from "coronation", or "corone". And, the Greek used the flower as a crown flower garland.

Daffodils

It is a flower with central trumpet crown. The crown sits around flower petals. The natural color is gold yellow. Nowadays, breeders developed several rows to resemble a golden yellow ball, compressed crown to resemble bottle soda cap, or frilled petal to resemble daisy petals.

Dahlias

It is the national flower of Mexico. The name of the flower is from Swedish 18th century botanist called Anders Dahl. The flower is brightly and stunningly colored with many pointy flower petals.

Daisies

The flower brightens the wedding. The most popular is the Shanty Daisy. It has a yellow center which is surrounded with white petals.

Stephanotis

It is cluster of flowers which is waxy, scented, and star-shaped. After a few days, the flowers fade to yellow. You will often see the flower in bridal corsages, bouquets, and decorations. And, the flower emits a long lasting sweet scent. So, the bridal corsages and bouquets add a distinct style of the wedding dresses of the bride, maid of honor, and bridesmaids.

Tulips

The flower grows in cold climate areas. The bell shaped flower come in vibrant red, yellow, white, and yellow. Popular in Netherlands, North America, and Australia, they made a festival out of the flower.

You have now spent hundreds or thousands of dollars on flowers for your wedding day. You wouldn't want all of those beautiful flowers to die, so why not preserve them and use them around your home?

You can preserve flowers in a couple of different ways. I will explain the following:
* Professional preservation
* Pressing
* Air drying
* Silica gel

Professional Preservation

Using a professional to preserve your flowers is the most efficient and reliable way to keep your flowers. Professionals usually use the freeze-dry method, also known as lyophilization, which takes approximately four weeks.

Each flower must be placed separately in the freezer. Therefore, the first step to the freeze-drying process is to clip each flower individually. The stems should be about one inch tall. After each flower is clipped, it is placed in the freezer. This freezer will be set at a temperature of about twenty degrees Fahrenheit below zero. All of the moisture is than removed from the flowers using a vacuum. After they are dried, the flowers are gradually restored to room temperature.

A professional should be consulted about two months before the wedding in order to guarantee they will have the time and the room to preserve your flowers. When choosing a professional, you should talk to them regarding the following steps in the freeze-drying process. Without all of these steps, you might be disappointed in the long run.

* You want them to pre-treat and re-hydrate the flowers before freeze-drying them. If this is not done, the color of the flowers may fade and they may not look at natural.
* You may want to ask if they photograph each bouquet so they will reassemble them correctly. Remember that in order to freeze dry them, each flower is set in the freezer separately.
* After the freeze-drying process, you want them to post-treat them. During the post-treatment, they will dip each flower into a solution that will create a transparent layer. This layer will protect the flowers from things such as light and humidity.

You may have to ship the flowers to the preservationist. In order to do this safely, the flowers should be laid in a large plastic bag. In order to keep the flowers fresh, you should blow air into the bag, twist the bag shut and put it into the refrigerator. You will not want the shipment of these flowers to take more than two days.

Pressing

If you do not have the budget to have your flowers professionally preserved and you do not have too many flowers, you can press them yourself. If your flowers naturally have flat faces such as pansies, petunias, violas and daisies, they will press very easily. If you have full flowers such as roses, each petal should be pressed separately and should be put back together when the flower is completely dried.

In order to begin this process, you must purchase or make a flower press. These can be found at your favorite craft store or made with two boards and some weights. First, take a flower and place it between two pieces of blotting paper and put this in a flower press. Leave them for about two weeks so they will be able to dry completely.

Air Drying

Air Drying is one of the more simple ways to preserve flowers. First, separate the flowers into small bundles, take the leaves off and tie the stems together. You want to find a warm, dark room and hang the bundles upside down. It will take approximately two to three weeks to dry completely.

These flowers will be stiff. Some colors, such as yellow and blue, will keep their shade but other colors, such as pink, will fade. Expect some flowers such as roses and peonies to shrink a little during the air drying process.

Silica Gel

In order to begin the silica gel preservation, you must purchase about three pounds of the gel from your local garden center or craft store for every twelve average-sized flowers.

First, find an air tight container and fill the bottom inch with the silica gel. Remove the leaves of your flowers and cut the stems to about one-half inch long and place them upright in the gel. You will then pour more gel into the perimeter of the container without touching the flowers. After this is complete, you want to tap on the container so that the gel will cover the flowers. You do not want to pour directly onto the flowers because it will weigh the flowers down. You may repeat this step as much as you need to in order for the flowers to be completely covered. When each flower is coated, you should pour another inch of silica gel on top. The container should be sealed and left for about a week to dry. This method is perfect for flowers that are more full such as roses.

When using any of the above methods, you should always keep the preserved flowers out direct sunlight and humidity. This will make certain that the quality of the flowers will stay over time.

Flower options for your wedding, Bar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah, quinceniera or sweet 16, event and - or special celebration

Congratulations! You are engaged!

You are now on your wonderful yet often frustrating journey from engagement to wedding.

It is a journey that will take you through many avenues and some forks in the road where you'll have to stop, consider and choose a path.

The road we'll take together is the one leading to the "fork in the road" to wedding flowers selection.

Like most brides and grooms, Bar-Bat Mitzvah parents, the parents of a quinceniera or sweet 16, event organizers for a work place or for a special occasion you are probably not a flowers mavens. Yet, all of a sudden you need to consider not only what flowers to use at your wedding, special celebration or event, but also what arrangements, for which designations and whether to use fresh or silk - satin flowers. This is quite a feat.

Hopefully this article will shed some light and help you decide how to proceed.

Today, you can select to proceed to the Fresh Flower road or you may opt for the Silk Flowers road.

Before you decide, however you must weigh the benefits and drawbacks you will encounter on either road traveled.

About Fresh Flowers

Traditionally, fresh flowers dominated the wedding and celebration receptions because the scent of fresh flowers fill the air with sweetness and empower the emotions.
However, fresh flowers are extremely expensive yet fade and wilt after just a few days.

Before you decide, you may wish to consider the following
# You may host guests who are allergic to fresh flowers. They may spend your wedding sneezing and with red, itchy eyes.

# You must order fresh flowers long before the wedding date. Yet, by their nature, you cannot see them until the florist brings them to your wedding site. Once done, with no time to spare, whether you like them or not, you are stuck with the bouquets, flower arrangements, and other floral accessories as created by the florist.

# Fresh flowers do not last long. They fade and wilt. If you want them to become keepsakes, you must have them preserved. Preserving them necessitates getting them to a reliable flower preserver and this is often a costly process.

# Fresh flowers are seasonal. So, if you are willing to go with flowers that are available at the season of your wedding you may pay less than if you opt for more exotic flowers that are out of season.

# Many flowers that grow in greenhouses or imported from other parts of the world can be available to you out of season. However, they are often very expensive.

Brides and grooms like to know the meanings of the flowers they choose. So we added the ones we know. Additionally the need to know which flowers are seasonal for their wedding date.

Following is a list of seasonal flowers and some of their meanings.

AUTUMN

Calla Lily: Magnificent beauty. Associated with the sixth wedding anniversary.

Chrysanthemum: Cheerfulness, optimism, rest, truth. Is the birth flower for November.

Chrysanthemum, red: I love

Chrysanthemum, white: Truth, loyal love

Dahlia: Instability. Associated with the fourteenth wedding anniversary

Daisy: Innocence, loyal love, associated with the fifth wedding anniversary.

Freesia

gladiolus: Strength of character, splendid beauty, is the birth flower for August.

Gypsophila

Hydrangea

Iris: Wisdom, faith, hope, valor, is associated with the twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.

Lily: Purity, modesty, Chinese emblem for mother, associated with the twentieth wedding anniversary.

Micklemas

Morning Glory

Orchid: Love, beauty, refinement, Chinese symbol for many children, long life is associated with twenty-eighth wedding anniversary

Rose, cabbage: Ambassador of love

Rose, red: Love

Rose, pink Grace, beauty

Rose, yellow: Friendship

WINTER

Calla Lily: Magnificent beauty. Associated with the sixth wedding anniversary.

Carnation: Fascination, distinction, divine love, is the birth flower for January.

Carnation, pink: A woman's love, I'll never forget you, mother's love

carnation, red: my heart aches for you, fascination

Carnation, white: Innocence, faithfulness, sweet and lovely, pure love, ardent love, good luck. And motherhood

Chrysanthemum: Cheerfulness, optimism, rest, truth. Is the birth flower for November.

Chrysanthemum, red: I love

Chrysanthemum, white: Truth, loyal love

Forsythia

Freesia

Gentian

Gypsophila

Holly Berries:

Iris: Wisdom, faith, hope, valor, is associated with the twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.

Lily: Purity, modesty, Chinese emblem for mother, associated with the twentieth wedding anniversary.

Orchid: Love, beauty, refinement, Chinese symbol for many children, long life is associated with twenty-eighth wedding anniversary

Peony: happy life, happy marriage, good health, prosperity. Associated with the twelfth
Rose, cabbage: Ambassador of love

Rose, red: Love

Rose, pink:Grace, beauty

Rose, yellow : Friendship

wedding anniversary: Cheerfulness, optimism, rest, truth. Is the birth flower for November

Snowdrop

Stephanotis:

Winter Jasmine

SPRING

Amaryllis: Pride

Apple Bossums: Good fortune

Azalea

Bluebell: Constancy

Broom: Humility
Calla Lily: Magnificent beauty. Associated with the sixth wedding anniversary.
Camellia
Carnation: Fascination, distinction, divine love, is the birth flower for January.

Carnation, pink: A woman's love, I'll never forget you, mother's love

carnation, red: my heart aches for you, fascination

Carnation, white: Innocence, faithfulness, sweet and lovely, pure love, ardent love, good luck. And motherhood
Cherry Blossom

Chrysanthemum: Cheerfulness, optimism, rest, truth. Is the birth flower for November.

Chrysanthemum, red: I love

Chrysanthemum, white: Truth, loyal love

Clematis

Cocus: Cheerfulness

Dffodil: new beginnings, yet, associated with the tenth wedding anniversary is the birth flower for March.

Dffodil, bunch: Joy, happiness.

Daisy: Innocence, loyal love, associated with the fifth wedding anniversary.

Forsythia

Freesia

Heather: wishes will come true.

Honeysuckle: Bonds of love

Iris: Wisdom, faith, hope, valor, is associated with the twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.
Jasmine: Grace

Lilac

Lily: Purity, modesty, Chinese emblem for mother, associated with the twentieth wedding anniversary.

Mimosa

Orchid: Love, beauty, refinement, Chinese symbol for many children, long life is associated with twenty-eighth wedding anniversary

Polyanthus

Primrose: I can't live without you

Rhododendron

Rose, cabbage: Ambassador of love

Rose, red: Love

Rose, pink Grace, beauty

Rose, yellow: Friendship

Stephanotis

Tulip, red : My perfect lover, Reclamation of love

Waxflower

SUMMER

Aster: Variety, elegance, daintiness.

Azalea

Calla Lily: Magnificent beauty. Associated with the sixth wedding anniversary.

Carnation: Fascination, distinction, divine love, is the birth flower for January.

Carnation, pink: A woman's love, I'll never forget you, mother's love

carnation, red: my heart aches for you, fascination

Carnation, white: Innocence, faithfulness, sweet and lovely, pure love, ardent love, good luck. And motherhood

Chrysanthemum: Cheerfulness, optimism, rest, truth. Is the birth flower for November.

Chrysanthemum, red: I love

Chrysanthemum, white: Truth, loyal love

Cornflower: Delicate

Daisy: Innocence, loyal love, associated with the fifth wedding anniversary.

Delphinium

Freesia

Fuschia

Gardenia : Ecstasy

Gladiolus: Strength of character, splendid beauty, is the birth flower for August.

Heather : Admiration, wishes will come true.

hollyhock: Ambition, fruitfulness, is associated with the thirteenth wedding anniversary.

Iris: Wisdom, faith, hope, valor, is associated with the twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.
Jasmine: Grace

Larkspur

Lilac

Lily: Purity, modesty, Chinese emblem for mother, associated with the twentieth wedding anniversary.

Lupin

Marigold

Orchid: Love, beauty, refinement, Chinese symbol for many children, long life is associated with twenty-eighth wedding anniversary

Peony: happy life, happy marriage, good health, prosperity. Associated with the twelfth wedding anniversary: Cheerfulness, optimism, rest, truth. Is the birth flower for November

Rhododendron

Rose, cabbage: Ambassador of love

Rose, red: Love

Rose, pink Grace, beauty

Rose, yellow: Friendship

Stock

Sweatpea

Sweet William

ABOUT SILK FLOWERS - SATIN FLOWERS

Today Silk and satin flowers are becoming more and more popular. With craftsmanship and high quality materials such as silk and satin, and the many applications creative brides and grooms find for them, many couples prefer the artificial flowers for their weddings. Let's find out why.
# If you order your silk flowers from a professional, they will most probably look realistic. Some look so realistic in fact that unless you touch them you can not tell the difference. However, even if you spray them to emit the scent of the flower, the scent will evaporate after a while.
# When you choose silk flowers, you are not depended on the season and can get the flowers you want, in the colors you want, no matter how exotic and pay much less than fresh flowers.
# Silk or satin flowers will not fade, and will not wilt. Therefore, they become a lifetime keepsake without the trouble and expense of having them preserved. Your bouquet will always look the same as it did the day you walked down the aisle. If they get dusty, you can clean the dust off to restore their color and beauty.
# Silk flowers are not allergenic and will cause no one to go through your wedding sneezing and with red, itchy eyes.
# You can have peace of mind and be worry free when you order silk flowers because you can not only order them long before the wedding You are not stuck with the bouquets, flower arrangements, and other floral accessories as created by the designer. You can examine them and you can have corrections and changes made in plenty of time and go to your wedding knowing that your flowers are just as you want them.

Some brides feel that silk flowers are "not the real" thing and even when they look too real to be distinguished, when you touch them they just don't "feel" like real flowers. Other brides prefer silk flowers. The choice is yours. With some information at hand, choose the road you wish to travel and whether it is Real Flowers or Silk Flowers, have a pleasant trip, beautiful wedding and a happy, blessed life together.

Copyrights © 2007 All Rights Reserved To Nily Glaser of A-wedding Day

Nily Glaser, the CEO of A-wedding Day at: http://www.a-weddingday.com She writes important articles, and has presented workshops for wedding professionals all over the USA.

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 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 Jeanette Shinn



Choosing a florist begins before you ever enter the florist's shop. Take a moment and consider your first impression. Remember, you are hiring a florist professional for their attention to detail and their ability to create an atmosphere that invites you in. If their shop doesn’t invite you in or seems extreme in relation to your personal style, most probably the wedding flowers they provide you won’t be satisfactory to you either. There are always exceptions, but the chances are that this rule will prove true in your case. 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.

Though it can be difficult to do, try not to get your heart too set on a particular type of wedding flowers (the possible exception to this might be your basic red rose). 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. Either way you won’t be happy with the flower’s performance if you take it into a situation for which it is not suited.

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.

By Nadia Mikkelsen



A way to a woman’s heart is through flowers. Yes men, it can be that simple. Flowers can represent so many different emotions and it will make your special someone so very happy. It says I love you without having to say it.

Not only are emotions such as sight and smell affected, but it also shows you have a caring side, a softer side.

If you want to show your romantic side, ask your special someone what are her favorite colors, favorite flowers, and favorite plants. And most important, be sure to ask if she has allergies to any type of plant or flower.

A floral arrangement can be made special for your loved one. Visit your local florist for ideas and suggestions. A beautiful floral arrangement can be made with her favorite colors, flowers, and plants. The arrangement can be wrapped in beautiful paper, or arranged in a special vase.

Most large grocery stores are in the floral business. When shopping for that romantic dinner, stop by the floral department. You will find so many different floral arrangements. If you cannot find the perfect arrangement, you can ask the department florist to create something unique for the occasion.

Flowers can also be ordered by the click of a button. Today most people own a computer and have access to the internet. You can shop for ideas and tips before making your final selection. You can shop from the comfort of your own home or office. In fact most flower sales are made on the internet.

You will find arrangements for all sorts of occasions and price budgets. You will have pictures to choose from along with the price range.

Flowers are not only for romance, but also for making others feel good when it is needed. They can help to raise a person’s spirits when they are down. It has been proven that flowers can help the sick feel well. The colors and smell will heighten emotions in all of us.

Flowers can also make the perfect gift for any holiday. For those that have everything, it can be difficult to find the right gift. Flowers will make any holiday special.

Be sure to ask your florist how to properly care for your arrangement. Flower food is usually included in your arrangement or can be purchased separately. With the proper care, your flowers can look just as beautiful two days later as the day they were purchased.

Today it is becoming more popular for flowers to be purchased for men as well. So men do not be so surprised when you receive flowers from your special someone or even an admirer. It shows that women can be just as romantic as men if not more.

Flowers can also be used to brighten the home or office. Flowers offer so many different fragrances to make your home and office smell and feel fresh. When planning a special party, your florist can create the mood you wish to express to your guests.

In fact it is safe to say that flowers just maybe the world’s most perfect gift.

By Patrick Simons



One would think a photographer with over six hundred flower pictures in his catalog would actually know something about flowers. Alas, this is not the case with me. I recognize common blooms, but I'm completely lost when it comes to anything exotic. I've thought a great deal about what it is that keeps me photographing flowers. After researching this article, I concluded people are attracted to flowers for many of the same reasons birds, butterflies, and moths are. It's all about seduction.

Just as in the animal kingdom, seduction is part of reproduction. Every species, whether plant or animal, tries to perpetuate its own kind. This is the most fundamental aspect of nature. Every species has the inherent right to exist. The endless cycle of birth, seduction, reproduction, and death provide we humans with our own survival. Without flowers, there is no food.

In addition to things like apples that begin as blooms, we eat actual flowers. Although you may not realize it, cauliflower, broccoli, and artichokes are all edible flowers. Flowers have been used as medicine for as long as there have been people. Even today, some flowers, roots, and leaves have pharmaceutical applications. Flowers have long been used to create perfumes, paints, dyes, and inks.

Flowers seduce, using a variety of methods. Each flower has a specific design that encourages the transfer of pollen. Form, color, scent, mimicry, and high calorie nectar are examples. Entomophilous flowers commonly have glands called nectaries that attract insects, bats, birds or other animals to transfer pollen from one flower to the next. Anemophilous flowers spread polen via the wind. Anyone who has seen a maple tree casting 'helicopters' to the wind, has seen this happen. Cleistogamous flowers are self pollinating. Self pollination increases the chance of producing seeds, but has a limiting effect on genetic variation.

Flowers have been used as decoration for thousands of years, as gestures of love or friendship, and served as the inspiration for artists and writers. Flowers are a common theme in romantic poetry, and the visual arts abound with flower images. The impressionists took flower pictures to an entirely new level. Flowers have great symbolic meaning in many cultures, often being identified with the feminine. Western culture associates flowers with weddings, funerals, and other special occasions.

The effect of flowers on people is well documented. Flowers can impact happiness in ways that are both dramatic and immediate. Flowers have long-term positive effects on mood and tend to make people fell less depressed, anxious and agitated. The presence of flowers can trigger happy emotions and have an effect on social behavior that goes far beyond what was once believed.

The preceding paragraphs delve into the 'why' of flowers. Lets turn our attention to taking good flower photos. Although its not always true, certain aspects of a particular bloom tend to stand out. Your eye will be automatically drawn to it. This is that seduction thing at work. This is where the focal point of your photo belongs. If it's a nice calm day, and the flower isn't bobbing and weaving, I like to go with maximum depth of field. Maximum depth usually means longer exposure times, so movement must be considered.

Some blooms look better very close. In this case, you may wish to use the micro setting on your lens if you have one. If the micro setting isn't an option, use a short zoom lens. This will allow you to get in tight on an individual bloom. The 28-85mm zoom is my personal favorite, but I have tried every lens in the bag. I've even used my 500mm on a tripod. The effects will differ with every lens. Years ago, I often used a 200mm telephoto mounted on a bellows. This unusal arrangement allowed me to get in tight on a flower, while standing a few feet away. This effect can also be achieved by using an extension tube with a longer lens, and it's a great way to photograph butterfly's.

Regardless of what you're photographing, remember there are no absolute rules. Go with what works. It's almost always a good idea to avoid subjects that are strongly back lit. Some back lighting may be acceptable or even desirable. Too much back light will give a washed out look to the shot. Take shots at different distances, using different depth of field settings. Walk around the subject and look at it from all angles. I have a theory that nearly anything can make a good picture given the right perspective and lighting. This is especially true for flowers.

Strong back lighting can be overcome, by inserting a backdrop. A backdrop can be just about anything that will look good in the picture. A piece of matte black paper, or matting material, can produce dramatic results. A black background can effectively separate a particular flower from it's surroundings. A translucent white backdrop can soften and diffuse the light. Experiment with different combinations, that's how you learn.

If the subject is only slightly, and acceptably backlit, try using a flash to fill in the center. The built in flash on most SLR's is adjustable and nearly all detachable flashes can be adjusted. Add just enough light to fill in the middle. Bracketing is still a good idea. First, take a shot using the setting you think is correct.

Take at least two more shots using both more and less depth of field. I like to go up and down a full f-stop, in one half f-stop increments. If you have the option of shooting in the RAW format, I strongly encourage you to do so. With RAW, parameters are not fixed as they are with the more common JPEG format. The range of adjustment possible in RAW is far greater than with JPEG. Convert your finished result to JPEG for posterity.

The soft diffused light of a cloudy day, is a great for photographing flowers. Shadows are softer, and some colors become more vivid. After a rain, with the blooms dripping wet, is even better. Using the flash when it's cloudy can produce great results. The opposite condition is around noon on the longest days of the year. In my experience, this is the worst time for about any kind of outdoor photography. At mid-day the sun is at it's most vertical, and natural light is at its harshest. This is an especially bad problem when trying to capture subtle hues of a flower. Under exposure helps, and using an overhead screen works. In early summer or late spring, it's best to shoot just after sunrise, and just before sunset.

Watch the insects. Butterfly's and bees know exactly what they want. Let them be your guide. Let your eye be drawn where the flower wants it to go and remember the three basic rules - composition, composition and composition.

By Ashley Moran



As you plan your wedding, you should remember that the flowers can be the first impression that you make on your guest. Your flowers should be a representation of your personal taste and represent the style of you wedding.

Bouquets are no longer just the traditional white rose nosegay ties with white streamers. Today's market provides you with an unending variety of color and style. What was once considered "seasonal" flowers are oftentimes available year round. Today's bride may choose to have a hand-tied bouquet of wildflowers or a cascading bouquet for the longer, more elegant line.

Choosing a florist will be one of the biggest decisions you will make in planning for your wedding. If you are using a wedding coordinator, perhaps he/she could offer suggestions of florists that they have worked with in the past. The final decision will, of course, belong to you and your fiancé. Your flowers will be an integral part of your wedding budget, so shop wisely. Make notes and jot down questions that you will present to each florist so that you can compare them once you are ready to make your final decision. Compare the same number of flowers at each florist. Remember that creativity and years of experience are not always the defining factor in the price quoted. You will want to see pictures of their work and references from former clients. Reputation is a very important criterion in selecting a florist.

The color of your bridesmaids' dresses will greatly influence the color scheme of your wedding. Take a color swatch of the material with you to assure that the flowers you choose will be a complement to your color scheme. You also want to keep in mind that your flowers will be a great way to make your wedding photos pop! However, it is still perfectly acceptable to choose the pure white flowers if this is what you want.

If you will use fresh flowers, remember to ask the florist for instructions on handling the bouquet. You want to make sure that delicate flowers are not bruised before the ceremony. Also ask if they need to be kept in a cooler or refrigerator until time for pictures. You might also want to ask about preserving your bouquet after your wedding. Your florist should be able to guide you in the process that would best prepare your bouquet to be preserved. Remember that the fresher the flowers are to begin with, the better the finished bouquet will be.

After you have chosen your florist, ask about the requirements to reserve your date and time. With such a large decision made, you will have more time to relax and enjoy the days leading up to your big event.

By Sarah Bogle


Following a period of strikingly matched wedding flowers, modern brides have began incorporating the concept of more variety. As more members of the bridal party wear more individualized attire, so the trend has followed with specific blooms to coordinate. Thus, the newest trend in wedding flowers varies their design in favor of a mixed, not matched, feeling.

But how how do you pull off the trend without your bridal flowers looking less than dazzling? Place your faith in your florist or wedding consultant to help guide you through the selection process. The key is to keep one aspect of all floral pieces -- bouquets, centerpieces, boutonnieres, etc. -- uniform with one central element. Your unifying element could be a color, texture, shape, or specific type of flower. Then you can start building variety by adding an assortment of different flowers, colors, or accents (bows, ribbons, embellishments).

For inspiration, look through home and style magazines with party tables capes. Notice that all the serving pieces, utensils, glasses, plates, flowers, and fabrics may not be the same. But they do have one unifying key element that harmonizes with everything else. Bookmark the styles you like and show copies to your wedding planner and florist. They will key in to your preferred mix-not-match style, and help you incorporate it into dazzling wedding flowers. Also show your team pictures of what you do not like. The more clues provided to your team about your personal style, the more the likelihood for a successful floral concept for your wedding.

Here are my top four tips for exquisite mix-not-match wedding flowers:

1. Choose the bulk of your flowers (if not all) from blooms that will be in season. If your key unifying element is delayed or unavailable, your whole theme could be affected. By picking flowers that are in season, there won't be any mad scrambling for replacements at the last minute. This is especially crucial in smaller markets, where vendors can be less eager to fly in out of season blooms from other countries.
2. Too much variety can spoil the effect. If all the bridal bouquet flowers are different, keep hand tied ribbons the same. If all boutonniere flowers are different, keep the same ribbons or greenery (or vice versa). Work with your florist and wedding consultant to find the unifying element in each aspect of your wedding flower selections.
3. Take clues from your wedding party apparel. If your bridesmaids are all wearing the same color (all aqua, all yellow, or all pink), play with multicolored bouquets or hand tied ribbons. If they are wearing different colored pastels (one in green, one in blue, one in pink, etc.), keep the bouquet flowers in a monochromatic color palette for a unifying element. Then kick up the variety with different accent flowers (no more than 20% of the bouquet), hand tied ribbons, or jewel embellishments.
4. Contrast is your friend, not your foe. Contrast can be a very useful element. If too many items (backdrops, linens, dresses, flowers, etc.) are the same color or saturation, they cannot be individually appreciated. This is especially important to consider if you will be photographing your wedding in black and white. Without contrast, your pictures will appear dull and flat. With contrast, your photographs will showcase depth and detail.

By J. E. Williams

A quick guide to planning your wedding flowers
You've set the special day, and there is so much to do to get ready. The excitement is consuming you to the point that you just want to burst, and there are so many preparations that you barely know where to start! So just relax for a minute, take a deep breath, and read this quick and easy guide to help reduce stress and help ensure a picture-perfect day with these easy tips from design professionals.

First Things First

One of the first things you need to do in planning your wedding is to select the dresses. You can call your florist up to a year in advance, but you usually won't need to meet with him or her until you know what you and your bridesmaids will be wearing. The bride and bridesmaids gowns will be the key to the wedding, and everything will need to revolve around them.

Once you've selected the gowns, get a few pictures to bring in. Next, pick up two or three of the top bridal magazines, and look through them. Clip pictures of any floral presentations that particularly appeal to you. These will help your floral consultant understand the styles, colors, and flower types you like best and design something that will fit your tastes.

Choosing a Wedding Florist

Before calling florists, ask friends and relatives if they have any recommendations. The best wedding florists typically do lots of weddings. So, it's likely you know people who have used their services or seen their work. Then, call or visit a few of the best florists. Confirm that they serve the locations where your ceremony and reception will be held, and inquire about setting up a consultation. You may also want to ask if they have pictures of their work. Quality wedding florists are seasoned professionals who will guide you through the process and help you select what's right for you. The important thing is to get to know your floral designer, discuss options, look at specific flowers and colors together, and make sure you're comfortable. This is your special day, so you need to make sure you have someone experienced, reliable, and creative to help you plan your special day.

Timing

If possible, you should have the dresses picked out and a meeting scheduled with your florist about six months prior to the wedding. Remember, you don't want another bridal party or parties to beat you to your florist of choice for a particular date, so earlier is better. If you have an indecisive personality or just want moral support, bring a mother or bridesmaid along for input. Two heads are sometimes better than one, but avoid having too many cooks spoil the soup.

Meeting with Your Florist

Wedding flowers can be anywhere from a few hundred dollars for an intimate nuptial to tens of thousands of dollars for an impressive ceremony and reception. A lot depends on the location, number of guests, and how you want your wedding to be remembered. Be upfront with your florist about your wishes and your approximate budget. Show the designer your pictures of the dresses or fabric swatches and any magazine photos that you like. Ask about color variations, as well as which flowers will be in season and consequently the best value. You should also consider the vitality of the flowers, so that you will have great looking pieces that won't fade over the course of the day. Listen to your florist's suggestions. If you did your research and picked a good one, he or she will know from experience how to bring your desires to reality.

Enhancing Your Special Day

When considering wedding flowers the key elements are the bridal bouquet, selections for the bridal party and parents, decorations for the church or ceremony, and centerpieces for the reception. Consider table coverings woven completely of flowers for the guest card table, and discuss ways you might use some pieces at both the ceremony and reception. Many florists will even provide the transportation services. To make the celebration extra special, you may want to consider small accent pieces for doorways, pews, cake, alter, and even the car. Single flowers placed at each table setting are an exquisite touch, and encouraging guests to take home the centerpieces will make your wedding especially memorable. Many florists can also provide plants, votive candles, candelabra, linens, and other decorations, often on a rental basis to save you money.

Anything Is Possible

No matter what you see in magazines or at other ceremonies, remember that almost anything is possible when it comes to wedding flowers. The two wedding flower designers interviewed for this article are both good examples. One is an expert on Hindu weddings, creating gorgeous canopies of flowers under which the couple is married, and the other has incorporated feathers, twigs, candles, and even street signs into his designs. But more importantly, both have mastered the art of working with each bride to create something special just for her. So, whether you're looking for traditional or contemporary, lavish or understated, your qualified, professional florist is there to make that day go perfect. After all, you only get married once.

By Jeanette Shinn


Choosing a florist begins before you ever enter the florist's shop. Take a moment and consider your first impression. Remember, you are hiring a florist professional for their attention to detail and their ability to create an atmosphere that invites you in. If their shop doesn’t invite you in or seems extreme in relation to your personal style, most probably the wedding flowers they provide you won’t be satisfactory to you either. There are always exceptions, but the chances are that this rule will prove true in your case. 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.

Though it can be difficult to do, try not to get your heart too set on a particular type of wedding flowers (the possible exception to this might be your basic red rose). 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. Either way you won’t be happy with the flower’s performance if you take it into a situation for which it is not suited.

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.

By Jeanette Shinn



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. Go to weddings, if you can get an invitation, and dream. 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. This will help them understand your vision for your floral arrangement.

The second step is like the first: Don’t even think of going to a florist without swatches of the material from your dress, the bridesmaid’s dresses, and any other fabric that might affect the wedding color scheme (this is true of your cake decorator too). This is most especially true of your dress. 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. A professional florist will know how to set it off so that the wedding flowers draw the attention to you in just the right way.

Once you have done your homework it is time to start actually looking for a florist to provide your wedding flowers. As in every other discipline, your first move should be to talk to people who have recently gotten married and get referrals from them. There is no shame in learning from the success and failures of others and doing so will generally save you a lot of grief. 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. But part of their ability to perform depends on you communicating what you want and providing pictures and swatches. It’s your wedding; make sure it goes right by taking the time to prepare before you go shopping for those wedding flowers.

By Tenley McDonald

The selection process of your wedding flowers will usually begin with a discussion of the Bride’s bouquet. You will have a choice of several basic styles. These are cascade, crescent, contemporary, nosegay, hand tied bouquet and arm or presentation style. 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.

It is important that you are upfront with your florist about your budget. 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. Not because the florist's want to charge you more, but due to the fact that the wholesalers charge more during these busy holidays based on growing and demand.

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.

A very important detail is to make sure your florist knows exactly when and where your flowers will need to be delivered. They will also need to know ahead of time if you will need them to set up the flowers. If you have someone else handling set up, make sure your florist knows who they are and how to reach them. You will probably want your flowers to arrive at least an hour before you need them. Make sure you have somewhere safe and cool to keep them until you use them. 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! I have heard many sad stories about bride's trying "do-it-yourself" flowers or having a friend design them, only to end up with bouquets falling apart minutes before the wedding! Don't risk it! 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! You want them to be beautiful. They compliment you, your wedding party, your wedding photos and provide an elegant atmosphere for you and your guests on your special day!