Wedding Flowers
Whether the décor features elaborate professional designs from a florist, or simple hand-wrapped bouquets in store-bought vases, nature's beauty of Wedding Flowers makes a wedding seem complete. Wedding Flowers for the ceremony, reception, bridal party, table centerpieces – it can get very expensive, when you consider they look their best for only a short time.
Considerations for chossing Wedding Flowers
Before considering what wedding flowers and how many, a bride needs to look at a number of factors:
Find the right florist. Do you want someone who shows you the way, all the way? Someone who expects you to tell them exactly what you want, step by step? Someone who is a compromise between the extremes? Do they have a portfolio of work? References you can contact?
Know your budget and stick with it. Figure about 5 to 10 percent of the budget for wedding flowers. And let your florist know the budget beforehand. Don't be oversold.
Know your vision: what is your style and taste? Bring samples of your colors and photos of the wedding venue to the meeting with the florist. You need to have your dress and his tuxedo or suit already chosen as well.
How many people are attending the wedding? This will affect the number of table centerpieces, ceremony flower arrangements, number and type of wedding flowers for the bridal party.
Get everything in writing!
Best Seasonal Wedding Flowers
One of the best ways for brides to keep wedding flower costs in check is to stay seasonal. Roses are lovely at any time of year, but they are incredibly expensive in winter and around Valentine's Day. Tulips and gardenias must-haves, but getting married in the summer? Think again, as these are not the hardiest of blooms in a hot, humid climate. Love lily of the valley? Peak season outside of greenhouses is the month of May, period.
Here are some of the best wedding flowers, by season:
Spring: anemone, Bells of Ireland, lilac, narcissus, hyacinth, peony, sweet pea
Summer: Freesia, iris, larkspur, Asiatic lily, chrysanthemums, snapdragons
Fall: Aster, dahlia, marigold, zinnia
Winter: Amaryllis, Casa Blanca Lily, tulips, camellias, holly, forget-me-nots
Wedding Flowers - Some Recent Trends
Single-hued bouquets: Using a variety of flowers in a single color, or shades of a single color.
Silks: There are a number of advantages to silk over fresh wedding flowers: they don't wilt or bruise, need no watering, they are never out of season, they are durable, they can be scented to smell like the real thing and are lightweight. But they can be just as expensive as the real thing.
Bold, vivid colors: To make the bride truly stand out, opt for a bouquet in bright colors. Shades of red and blue are very popular. The same idea may be used as spot color for the reception tables and church pews.
Single blooms: Typically a carnation or a rose for the groom, but many cost-conscious brides are opting for a single wedding flower instead of a bouquet, or a few simple blooms floating in low bowls as centerpieces. Good single-flower options are gardenias, orchids, anemones, daisies and roses.
Wraps: Velvet ribbons, jewel-toned wiring, large leaves or sparkling cloth wrapped around a bridal bouquet. Tall glassware, urns, antique vases, oversized cocktail glasses for table centerpieces.
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