Wedding Flowers and Arrangements--Best
Advice from the Experts
Now that you are planning your wedding, you've got
to choose bouquets, boutonnieres, centerpieces, church
arrangements, and a stunning corsage for one of the
most important people who will attend the ceremony--your
mother. Somehow, you'll have to make the arrangements
for all this, and at a cost that will likely be between
10 and 15 percent of your overall wedding budget.
If you're like most brides-to-be, just thinking about
how to manage all of the details required to successfully
deck-out the church, reception areas, and the wedding
party with the perfect flowers is enough to make you
dizzy. So our first words of advice are "Relax, and
follow these tips from well-seasoned floral experts."
First Things First
1. Opt for a Pro--Even the savviest bride-to-be should
hire a florist. Given the attention to details and pace
on your wedding day, you won't want to be worried about
wiring each stem for your bouquet when you should be
getting dressed and posing for photos. And don't let
money be an obstacle. A truly good florist should be
able to work within your budget.
2. Picture Perfect--Just as a hairstylist invariably
will ask for a picture of what you have in mind, so
will a good florist. Be prepared. Flip through bridal
magazines, surf the Internet, and peruse books for flowers
and different arrangements that appeal to you. Gather
as many images as you can, and take them along when
you first visit the florist.
3. Color Coordinate--If you're unable to find inspiring
floral designs even after all that browsing, begin with
a color scheme. You may want to start with the color
of the bridesmaids' dresses and choose coordinating
hues, says St. Louis floral designer Dale Rohman.
4. Checking It Twice--Before meeting with your florist,
carefully make a list of every flower need. Include
the obvious (your bouquet and his boutonniere) as well
as the nice touches (garland for the staircase).
Visit the Shop
5. Judge by Appearances--Florists are like home decorators;
they are paid to pay attention to details and to create
inviting as well as interesting spaces. If the shop
seems noticeably out-of-date or hopelessly disorganized
and strikes you as unimpressive, look for a different
florist.
6. Use the B-word--The cost of your flower arrangements
will quickly add up, so don't let it overwhelm your
budget. If you are really trying to keep expenses low,
downsize. Instead of ordering bouquets for your bridesmaids,
have them carry one stunning bloom--a long-stem calla
lily, for example.
7. Be Open to Different Ideas--When you meet with
your florist, let her know what kind of flowers you
like, as well as those you don't like. But keep an open
mind, suggests New York floral designer Kimberly Wise.
"Give us the parameters to work within--a color, for
example--then let us be the experts." After you and
your florist have made all of the necessary selections,
look over the proposal carefully before signing, just
to make sure that you are both on the same wavelength.
Designer's Sense
8. Setting the Scene--The flowers you select will
go a long way toward setting the mood for your wedding
day. Choose blossoms that match the setting and formality,
or informality, of your event. For example, daisies
or pansies would be far too casual for a white tie and
tails wedding. On the other hand, lush garnet roses
are too formal for a beach ceremony. Get the idea.
9. Season Sensations--Spring and summer weddings lend
themselves to pale colors, citrus tones and, as the
weather warms up, bright, vibrant beach-ball colors.
If you are planning a fall wedding, begin thinking in
terms of rich, earthy colors, such as amber, burgundy,
and rust. Winter brides can create an unforgettable,
sparkling effect with evergreens, silver, crystal--and,
of course, a wonderland of white.
10. Worth a Thousand Words--You may be dresses in white
when you walk down the isle, but which white? Wedding
gowns come in many shades of pale, from pure white to
ecru, so don't just describe you wedding dress. To ensure
that your flowers will work well with your dress, take
along a swatch of the fabric when you first meet with
your florist.
11. Stay in Proportion--The size of the bouquet you
choose should be in proportion to your size. If you
are petite, have your florist design a bouquet that
complements, rather than overpowers, your size. After
all, you don't want your bouquet to be the center of
attention. Conversely, if you are a tall woman, you
may want to opt for something robust.
Memorable Bouquets
12. Mother-of-the-Bride--Well, she may be making you
a little crazy right now, but she'll settle down again
once all the excitement is over. In the meantime, consider
honoring her love and devotion throughout the years
by looking to her wedding bouquet for inspiration. Maybe
you'll want to carry some of the same kinds of flowers
she did.
13. History and Traditions--If there was ever a time
to blend the past with the present, this is it. Devote
a little time to reading up on wedding traditions--perhaps
in different cultures, especially if that will lend
something particularly appropriate to the ceremony.
Did you know that during the Middle Ages, brides carried
fragrant herbs to ward off evil spirits or that Queen
Victoria adorned herself with orange blossoms?
14. One Memento, Please--Would you prefer to keep your
wedding bouquet as a memento, rather than toss it away?
Have your florist design a "toss bouquet" to throw to
those eagerly awaiting maidens. It will be smaller and
less expensive, as well as easier to lob.
© 2005 Bachcroft Publishing. All Rights Reserved.
About the Author
Jean Bachcroft is a former public relations director,
founder of Bachcroft Labels, and the publisher and editor-in-chief
of Town and Country Shopping Bargains Magazine.
For designer wedding, holiday, and year-round mailing
and return address labels, visit Bachcroft
Mailing and Return Address Labels.
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