By Thea Mann
Your wedding flowers add that final touch to your event, lending elegance, romance, whimsy or nearly any other note you’d like to include in your big day. The decision can be overwhelming: fresh or silk, fabulous and lush or simple and lovely, not to mention the myriad of individual flower choices. Some brides even choose their flowers based upon the Victorian tradition of assigning meanings to certain flowers. As a bride you can have a lot of fun with your flowers.
Three basic wedding bouquets types make up the most common bouquets used for wedding flowers. The design you choose will help set the tone for your wedding and should coordinate with your dress, your other decorations and you own personal style. It should also be easy for you to carry during the wedding ceremony.
Nosegays are small, round clusters of flowers that are often held together in small, lace-trimmed holders. They will work for most styles of weddings and are easy for the nervous bride to handle. Cascade bouquets are large, luscious arrangements usually descending below the main part of the bouquet, creating a cascade of flowers and greenery. These tend to be very formal, sometimes heavy and can be difficult to handle during the ceremony. Hand-tied bouquets have ribbon tied or wrapped around the stems of the flowers in the design. It is possible to make your own hand-tied bouquets from wildflowers you have picked yourself. These are casual, simple wedding bouquets that look charming with almost any but the most formal gown.
Flowers are often used for decorating the church and reception area as well. One very inexpensive option is to use the flowers from the church (and even your bouquet) as decorations in your reception location. If you choose silk, you can give individual table arrangements away as mementos. Fresh flowers can be floated in a small bowl or vase of water for a very elegant touch. You can do this yourself simply with a bunch of flowers, a pair of scissors and glassware picked up at a thrift store or a crafting supply store.
Choose wedding flowers that are in season and will stand up throughout the day (no violets!). Your flowers should compliment your dress and look good with your skin tone. If you must choose flowers that are out of season, choose silk or be prepared to spend a tidy bundle.
Let your creativity and your personality speak through your flowers; you will be amazed at the selection available most times of the year. Remember that there are plants that flower as well, so feel free to include those as well. Pussy willow and cherry blossoms can add a sweet, eye-catching touch to a bouquet that may otherwise be ordinary.
Take your time in choosing your flowers. Bring a swatch of your dress fabric and a picture of your dress as well as the bridesmaids gowns and menswear with you so you can be certain your flowers will coordinate with your bridal party’s clothing. This will also make it possible to match ribbon and lace that will coordinate as well. Finally, make sure to carry the bouquet, or one like it, to get a feel for how you’ll handle it on your big day. You may love the look of the bouquet, but find it is cumbersome or hard to carry.
Flowers add the perfect, finishing touches to your wedding and truly can make the event sparkle with your own individual style and personality. Spending a little extra time working with your florist or even doing it yourself can make a world of difference to your big day.
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