Wedding flowers are an essential part of your wedding, and especially your wedding bouquet. When taking photos, they can make or break the final effect as well as what you remember about your day. This is not a place to scrimp on the budget.
Matching Flowers
Traditionally the bride carries white and her bouquet is larger than that of her attendants. The groom also wears a matching boutineer to his bride’s flowers. The next in line, the maid or matron of honor, is next in size, but usually will carry a color to match the wedding colors, other than white. If the wedding colors are pink and white the maid of honor would carry mainly pink, and could have a touch of white. The same with the bridesmaids. The groomsmen should match their counter parts with colors. That is the traditional way, with the bridesmaids bouquets being the smallest of the group.
Which Flowers are in Season
Flower type is only dependent on the bride, and what she likes, though some flowers are seasonal and can cost more at various times of the year.
YEAR-ROUND: Calla lily, Carnation, Chrysanthemum, Daisy, Freesia, Gardenia, Gladiolus, Iris, Lily, Lisianthus, Orchid, Ranunculus, Rose, Snapdragon, Stephanotis.
SPRING: Anemone, Bells of Ireland, Daffodil, Dogwood, Forsythia, Hellebore, Hyacinth, Hydrangea, Lilac, Lily-of-the-valley, Peony, Ranunculus, Tulip, Vibrunum, Wax Flower,
SUMMER: Dahlia, Delphinium, Jasmine, Larkspur, Marigold, Peony, Scabiosa, Violet, Zinnia
FALL: Autumn leaves, Dahlia, Ornamental Peppers, Seasonal berries, Sunflower.
While these flowers may be in season at these times of the year, it does not mean they are condusive to a bridal bouquet. The gardenia for instance, may be great as a corsage, but would not work well in a bouquet. A bride can make any choice but if on a budget, it is better to find out what flowers she is interested in and if they are readily available at the time of the wedding, or if she will have to pay premium prices to get them at that time. The best thing to do is to check with your local florist.
Another consideration is whether or not the flowers you want are the type that can be used in a bouquet. Some flowers are gorgeous in the garden as a plant. But if you cut the bloom, they do not hold up well and would not make it through the wedding. You want flowers that look well at the end of the ceremony for the pictures. Again, this is where your florist can advise you.
Type of Bouquet
The other thing that can make a difference in what flowers are used is the type of bouquet the bride wants. A bouquet can be in a holder, which supplies water to the flowers, or a bouquet can be stem wrapped. Both styles are beautiful, but certain flowers hold up better without water than others. If you want delicate flowers in your bouquet, you should probably use a holder. Again, check with your local florist about that.
Plan Ahead
As the bride, you want a beautiful display of flowers to accent your dress and the wedding party. Give your florist the time to do it up right for you. The earlier you meet with your florist wedding consultant, the better. The more time she/he has to work with you, the better. The florist can check on availability, pricing, etc. Then if there are any concerns, such as flowers being out of season, the florist can help you make decisions about whether to stay with that flower, or to use another.
Reception Flowers
Traditional arrangements at a wedding reception are centerpieces, normally made up of flowers that are either the same as in the wedding party, or that are the same color scheme. One reason to use different flowers, but the same color, would be the cost. Typically the bride uses roses in a traditional wedding, which can be quite costly when having twenty tables at the reception.
Using different flowers but in the same color scheme, can save on the budget. Think about using gerberas. They look like huge, elegant daisys, and make a strong statement. Gerberas are available year round, come in various colors, and are more cost effective than roses.
Bottom line: work with your florist and you will be very happy with the results!
