Wedding Flowers…The Blossoms to Cherish Forever!

The wedding frenzy has got you in its grip. And why not, it is your wedding and you are going the extra mile to make it a success. The shopping is almost done and you have finally selected a beautiful satin wedding gown that really compliments your personality. Yes, this diamond white dress has certainly cost a packet. But, it was worth it. For you, it was this or nothing for your big day! Now all you need is to order a bridal bouquet and get it home delivered. Hey hold on! Do you have any idea what this thoughtless act of ordering just any bouquet can do to your dress?

Wedding flowers, bridal bouquets included, are as important as any other wedding arrangements, if not more. And it requires the expertise of a good florist, to get the best flowers and arrange them in the most delightful manner to give a touch of class to your wedding.

The blossoming beauties

Flowers are a nature's gift to mankind. Their magnificence and marvelous colors remain unparalleled. Little wonder a woman's beauty has always been compared to them since antiquity. They not only lend color, life and fragrance to the surroundings, but also help make the setting more beautiful and pleasing to the eye. Probably why they are indispensable for any wedding. And with so many colors to choose from, the wedding venue almost becomes a large canvas for you to play out these appealing hues.

And the combinations are just awesome. If you want to create excitement, go for orange peonies, snapdragons, yarrows, pot marigolds, and the like. If you need the overpowering effect of reds, ranging from dark, purplish tints to brighter oranges, get poppies, phloxes, geraniums, rhododendrons, and the like. Or if you want to create a feeling of peace and harmony, go for vibrant pink splashes of bell flower, pink carnations, thrifts, petunias, and the like. The choice is limitless.

The wedding flowers showcase your tastes and standing in society. Be it bouquet for the bride, bride's throwaway, bridesmaids, Maid of Honor and the flower girl; or boutonnieres for the groom, groom's father, bride's father, grandfathers, the Best Man, ushers and the ring bearer; or the corsages for the bride's mother, groom's mother and grandmothers; or even the flower arrangements at the main altar and the reception tables; flowers have the power to transform dull spaces into beautiful personality-filled ones. Despite this, you often neglect and mostly delegate the choice and arrangement of flowers to others for your wedding.

Flowers and trends

It is usually your pocket that dictates what type of flowers you can afford for your wedding. However, it is essential to know the latest trends in order to arrive at a budget. After all, you can't let your style 'wilt' just because of wrong choice of flowers.

Like everything else, wedding flowers too follow fashion trends. Today, individuality rules, rather than convention. The trend of matching the bridesmaids' bouquets with the bridal bouquet, the boutonnieres and the centerpieces is long passé. A bridesmaid can very well hold a starkly contrasting bouquet. The traditional white flowers are also on the way out, being replaced by colored blooms. You even find lavenders and plums adorning bridal parties with bold and powerful arrangements, a distinct departure from the traditionally romantic ones. The choice is only limited by the imagination.

The beautiful bridal bouquets

The bridal bouquets should not only compliment the personal style of the bride, but also blend perfectly with the overall theme and atmosphere of the wedding. It should enhance the beauty of the gown, not overpower it.

To this effect, a traditional all white bridal bouquet is perfect, as it does not draw attention away from the bride and her wedding gown! But, today brides considered it too pallid and want some sprinkling of color that may range from soft pinks and pastels to fuchsia and the ruby reds. The best person to blend your personality with the hues of the bridal bouquet is your florist, who can design a bouquet that is just right for you. Just sample some basic designs:

a. The cascade bouquet: This traditional and formal style is loose and free flowing giving the appearance of a cascade or waterfall, with flowers flowing downward. The cascading effect is achieved by white roses, stephanotis and white or calla lilies mingled with some greenery.

b. The nosegay or round cluster bouquet: This popular, but smaller bouquet is usually created as a tight round cluster in white or pastel pink roses. It can also have a mix of flowers of other varieties. It usually uses very little greenery.

c. The hand-tied or loose-tied bouquet: This less formal bouquet gives the illusion of a 'just picked' bouquet of choicest spring flowers, tied loosely with delicate ribbon or lace. Its appeal lies in the free flowing movement of the flowers.

There can be many more varieties of bouquets depending upon the creativity of your florist.

The befitting boutonnieres

The boutonnieres hold a pride of place in a wedding, as they distinguish the groom, the Best Man, the special family members and the ushers from the rest. These boutonnieres can be simple or intricately designed, depending upon the price. Rose is the most popular flower used, however, even small orchids, stephanotis, freesia or carnations are as good.

It is wise to make the groom's boutonnieres different from other groomsmen, in style, color or type of flower. You can even match the bride's attire with that of the groom by having a white rose for a boutonniere or even a flower from the bride's bouquet.

The wonderful wedding corsages

Like boutonnieres, wedding corsages also make the mothers and grandmothers of both the bride and the groom stand apart. Their price also varies upon the size and type of flowers. Simple is best, if you are on a budget, but if opting for an expensive one, be careful not to make it so elaborate, that it becomes heavy and unwieldy.

In any case, the style in which the corsage is to be worn should be selected beforehand. This enables matching the corsage flowers with the color of the dress. Also, it is better to avoid spoiling the gown by pinning the corsage on it; it should be worn around the wrist or attached to the purse. Remember, whatever be the type of corsage, smaller is better.

The stunning centerpieces and table bouquets

They can add glamour and set the mood for your wedding by simply sitting pretty on the tables. But, before you order by the dozen, have your florist create one sample centerpiece and have him place it on the table on the rehearsal day. This will confirm its suitability and give you a fair idea of the flowers used. Also take care not to have a centerpiece that is taller than a foot, as it is apt to block the view of sitting guests, making them crane their necks to talk to each other.

Table bouquets are generally a mix of three different flowers with a few sprigs of greenery in low vases. Measure the length of the stem against your vase, before cutting the stem, as there is no recovery for one that has been cut too short!

Florist matters

The rates of florists may vary greatly, but so would the standard of wedding flower bouquets and arrangements. Take the following steps to find one:

a. The first indication of a good florist is the décor of his shop. If it is nice and creatively decorated with a good variety of fresh flowers in interesting floral arrangements, then he is your man.

b. The photographs of his previous works will indicate if he possesses a creative eye that meets your aspirations.

c. Find out if he is familiar with the venues of the ceremony and reception. An established local florist would have done the flower arrangements there, hundreds of times.

d. Find out who will actually do the arrangements on the wedding day. It should not happen that the chap you discuss the arrangements with, doesn't turn up on the final day, having 'briefed' another one in his place!

e. Ascertain the delivery and set up times for the flower arrangements. You certainly wouldn't want the flowers to wilt, even before the ceremony begins! This will also be dictated by the season in which the wedding is being held.

f. Always sign a contract, which should specify all floral arrangements, bouquets and any other decorations that the florist is to provide. It should also have the detailed description, color and variety of flowers used. You don't want to end up with carnations and lilies, when you had asked for roses! Ensure that the delivery time and set up time is mentioned clearly.

Your florist can give a fairytale touch to your wedding only if you discuss all your floral requirements in detail. After all, you don't want only the flowers, but his creativity and style too!