The Main Event by Memory Makers Event Planning, LLC

Wedding season is fast approaching. Each year brides seek to do something different, something their friends have not yet done, something to set their wedding apart without bending tradition too much. A current trend is mismatched bridesmaids' bouquets. Some brides choose to give each attendant a bouquet containing one of the flowers in the bride's bouquet - roses for one lady; calla lilies for another and freesia for yet another. Other brides bestow their bridesmaids with brightly colored bouquets of unrelated flowers, making all the bouquets totally different. Done carefully, the look can be most pleasing. Done poorly, it looks chaotic. To pull off the look, colorful flowers should be used. The differences will be lost if all bouquets are white or pale pink.

If you are planning a wedding or another special event, chances are you will need the services of a florist. Unfortunately, not everyone who claims to be a florist really knows their way around flowers. The following tips will help you choose someone you can trust to provide quality bouquets and centerpieces. First, let's begin with a bit of background on the industry. There is a difference between a florist and a floral designer. Florists are licensed by the Idaho Department of Agriculture. They must maintain certain standards set by the state. A floral designer does not need a license. Their primary responsibility is designing arrangements under the direction of a licensed florist. Florists obtain the majority of their flowers from wholesalers, though they may occasionally purchase special items from local growers. Two floral wholesalers serve most of southwestern Idaho and eastern Oregon. The wholesalers obtain their flowers from growers, both in the U.S. and international...