Wedding Flowers: Tips for Brides
General thoughts about Wedding Flowers
Wedding flowers can be a large portion of the cost of
putting on a wedding, but don't let this discourage you. Don't
underestimate the importance of having flowers at your wedding.
Flowers at a wedding denote celebration, congratulation,
fertility, and prosperity. They contribute to the atmosphere of
love and embody the beauty and promise of joining two lives
together.
Orange blossoms have traditionally been associated with
weddings, but there are many other flowers popular today:
" roses " spider mums " carnations " orchids " lilacs " daisies
" asters " bells of Ireland " lilies " stephanotis " baby's
breath
For the best results, do some research about the types of
flowers that will be in season when your wedding is to take
place. Prices can be higher and blooms more difficult to find if
the wedding flowers you pick are rare, exotic, or
out-of-season.
The bride's flowers should complement the style of her gown or
dress, as well as her personality and the style and theme of the
wedding. Be sure that the scale of the flowers at the site
meshes with the scale of the location (be in contact with the
administrators of the site to make sure your flowers will be
accepted in the space). Also, if the other decorations or
background are dark, or if it is a winter wedding, consider
contrasting with bright or light-coloured flowers.
The bride's flowers should also conform to the proportions of
the bride (for example, a tall bride might want to use a
cascading bouquet). There are a few kinds of bridal bouquets:
" cascade: flows downwards and may have a blossom or two
suspended below by its own stem or a ribbon " presentation: held
in the crook of the arm like a sceptre " round cluster: may have
a ruff of lace or tulle behind it; a favourite is a tight
cluster of roses or roses & peonies. " loose-tied: arranged as
if just picked from the garden or a field & tied with silk or
ribbons and lace. If you carry one of these, have a vase or
bucket of ice for it on the head table at the reception.
Some brides opt to have an additional toss bouquet with less
expensive or common flowers so they can keep their own bouquet
as a memento.
The bride should have the largest or most elaborate bouquet
followed by that of the maid or matron of honour and then the
other attendants. Both mothers' corsages should be the same or
at least similar in size and elaboration. The groom's
boutonniere should be distinctive, though similar to the style
of flowers used throughout the wedding decoration. One option is
to echo one of the flowers in the bride's bouquet.
Decorative flowers can be accented with bowls of water,
goldfish, candles, colourful seasonal fruit, glass balls or
marbles. The bride doesn't have to limit herself to a
traditional bouquet. She can carry a prayer book, a candle, or
other special item with a single flower instead.
Ideas for wedding flowers on a tight budget
" Solicit donations: You may be able to ask friends & neighbours
for flowers from their gardens. " Borrow: Nurseries will
sometimes loan a certain number of plants free of charge. " Take
from nature: In spring or summer, keep your eyes open for fields
of wildflowers. " Take your opportunity: Choose a time of year
when the church, temple, or synagogue is already decorated for a
holiday. " DIY: Learn how to do your own corsages and flower
arrangements; use bridal magazines for ideas. " Mix it up: Use
artificial silk flowers for some of the decorations and spend
your flower budget on fresh flowers where it counts the most. "
Procrastinate: Some wholesalers or florists can give you a deal
on last-minute flowers. " Share: Share decorative flowers with
another bride who's marrying at about the same time as you. "
Rent: Some wedding halls have their own decorations, which can
be rented. " Re-use: Transport flowers from the ceremony
location to the reception site. " Go out: Pick a garden wedding
site, saving the flower expense for the reception hall and
bouquets.