Choosing the Flowers for Your Wedding
Most weddings involve flowers, usually bouquets, corsages, boutonnieres for the men and possibly centerpieces and other decor. It is easy to become overwhelmed with so many items, not to mention the varying prices. The following tips will guide you as you begin thinking about your floral needs.
Bride's bouquet - Unless the bride is being married at the courthouse, she probably needs a bouquet. Bridal bouquets come in two basic styles, either handheld or in a holder. A handheld bouquet is one in which the stems are wrapped in ribbon forming a "handle" for the bride to hold. The flowers generally form a round mound. Handheld bouquets are easy to keep hydrated on hot days by slipping them into a vase of water.
If the bride prefers a bouquet that cascades (flowers or leaves hanging down), the flowers will be placed in a plastic holder containing damp florist's foam. The bride holds the handle of the bouquet holder. This is sometimes a bit more awkward than holding stems because the flowers tend to be top-heavy and the bouquet tends to pitch forward.
The bride may choose to use real flowers or silk ones, particularly if allergies are an issue. If a florist is engaged to make silk bouquets, the cost is close to that of real flowers because of the labor involved. If using silk flowers, choose ones that resemble live flowers as closely as possible (no green lilies, please).
Flower pollen can create problems for anyone with allergies. Certain types of flowers, particularly lilies, are quite fragrant and contain much pollen. Your florist can recommend the best flowers for allergy sufferers.
Bridesmaids' bouquets - Bridesmaids usually carry smaller handheld bouquets containing flowers similar to those in the bride's bouquet or complimentary ones.
Toss bouquet - If you plan to do a bouquet toss at the reception, you will need a small toss bouquet. Some florists offer the bouquet for free as a thank you gift. Others charge for it. The bouquet can serve double duty by using it as a centerpiece on the guest book table.
Flower girls - Flower girls may carry baskets containing either real petals or silk petals, depending on the preference of the church or venue and the bride. When dark colored petals are stepped on, they may leave a stain on carpeting, concrete and wood floors, so many facilities do not allow them. If a fall or winter wedding is planned, the girls might carry baskets of leaves or snowflakes rather than petals.
If you want to omit petals, the children might carry pomander balls. However, the tendency is to swing the balls during the ceremony, so the children may need to be reminded of their manners before walking down the aisle.
Pomander balls can also be used for ceremony decor, hanging from chairs or shepherd's hooks or from the center of a tent.
Little girls sometimes serve as ringbearers. A female ringbearer usually dresses like the flower girls, but does not require flowers.
Boutonnieres - The men in the wedding party, including the groom, groomsmen, ushers, ringbearer, fathers and grandfathers, wear a boutonniere. The officiant may also wear one unless he wears a robe. Men who wear a military uniform do not wear a boutonniere.
Boutonnieres do not need to include flowers. They might be berries, such as hypericum berries, or a sprig of rosemary (very popular in Europe). A current trend is to use a sprig of curled, brown fiddlehead fern.
Corsages - Moms, grandmothers and other important ladies receive a corsage, generally made of flowers. It may be either a pin-on style, worn on the shoulder, or a wrist corsage.
Decor - Using flowers in the wedding decor is optional, depending on the bride's budget and the season. If the ceremony will be held in a Catholic church, couples are required to provide a large bouquet to stand beside or in front of the altar. The bouquet is then given to the church. If a Protestant ceremony is held and large bouquets are used, they can be transported to the reception for use on the buffet table and in other areas or donated to the church.
Floral centerpieces are optional and can be expensive if you need many. If you want to use flowers and are on a budget, you might float one large blossom, such as a lily or gerbera daisy, in a glass container with decorative rocks. Many florists rent centerpiece containers, so be sure to ask.
Flowers are also sometimes used in place of pew bows, to mark the aisle at an outdoor wedding, on buffet tables and in other locations.
Cake flowers - Many brides use flowers on their wedding cake, either on top or for accent on the sides. Your florist and your baker can coordinate on the quantity needed. The baker usually places them on the cake, because the florist will usually be gone before the cake is delivered.
Holiday conflicts - Mother's Day and Valentine's Day are the two busiest holidays for florists. If you plan to be married near either date, you will need to contact a florist up to a year in advance so they can reduce the number of other orders they take. Don't expect to call a florist in early January to schedule your Valentine's wedding. Chances are you will be arranging your own flowers.
Flowers add that pop of color to complete the look of your gown and the men's attire, and they make your ceremony and reception look more festive. However, they can be expensive and the choices are almost limitless. Don't allow the process of choosing them to stress you out. Take your time to meet with a knowledgeable florist and allow her/him to guide you.
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| Handheld bouquet |
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| Bouquet holder |
The bride may choose to use real flowers or silk ones, particularly if allergies are an issue. If a florist is engaged to make silk bouquets, the cost is close to that of real flowers because of the labor involved. If using silk flowers, choose ones that resemble live flowers as closely as possible (no green lilies, please).
Flower pollen can create problems for anyone with allergies. Certain types of flowers, particularly lilies, are quite fragrant and contain much pollen. Your florist can recommend the best flowers for allergy sufferers.
Bridesmaids' bouquets - Bridesmaids usually carry smaller handheld bouquets containing flowers similar to those in the bride's bouquet or complimentary ones.
Toss bouquet - If you plan to do a bouquet toss at the reception, you will need a small toss bouquet. Some florists offer the bouquet for free as a thank you gift. Others charge for it. The bouquet can serve double duty by using it as a centerpiece on the guest book table.
 |
| Pomander ball |
Flower girls - Flower girls may carry baskets containing either real petals or silk petals, depending on the preference of the church or venue and the bride. When dark colored petals are stepped on, they may leave a stain on carpeting, concrete and wood floors, so many facilities do not allow them. If a fall or winter wedding is planned, the girls might carry baskets of leaves or snowflakes rather than petals.
If you want to omit petals, the children might carry pomander balls. However, the tendency is to swing the balls during the ceremony, so the children may need to be reminded of their manners before walking down the aisle.
Pomander balls can also be used for ceremony decor, hanging from chairs or shepherd's hooks or from the center of a tent.
Little girls sometimes serve as ringbearers. A female ringbearer usually dresses like the flower girls, but does not require flowers.
 |
| Hypericum berry boutonniere |
Boutonnieres do not need to include flowers. They might be berries, such as hypericum berries, or a sprig of rosemary (very popular in Europe). A current trend is to use a sprig of curled, brown fiddlehead fern.
Corsages - Moms, grandmothers and other important ladies receive a corsage, generally made of flowers. It may be either a pin-on style, worn on the shoulder, or a wrist corsage.
Decor - Using flowers in the wedding decor is optional, depending on the bride's budget and the season. If the ceremony will be held in a Catholic church, couples are required to provide a large bouquet to stand beside or in front of the altar. The bouquet is then given to the church. If a Protestant ceremony is held and large bouquets are used, they can be transported to the reception for use on the buffet table and in other areas or donated to the church.
Floral centerpieces are optional and can be expensive if you need many. If you want to use flowers and are on a budget, you might float one large blossom, such as a lily or gerbera daisy, in a glass container with decorative rocks. Many florists rent centerpiece containers, so be sure to ask.
Flowers are also sometimes used in place of pew bows, to mark the aisle at an outdoor wedding, on buffet tables and in other locations.
Cake flowers - Many brides use flowers on their wedding cake, either on top or for accent on the sides. Your florist and your baker can coordinate on the quantity needed. The baker usually places them on the cake, because the florist will usually be gone before the cake is delivered.
Holiday conflicts - Mother's Day and Valentine's Day are the two busiest holidays for florists. If you plan to be married near either date, you will need to contact a florist up to a year in advance so they can reduce the number of other orders they take. Don't expect to call a florist in early January to schedule your Valentine's wedding. Chances are you will be arranging your own flowers.
Flowers add that pop of color to complete the look of your gown and the men's attire, and they make your ceremony and reception look more festive. However, they can be expensive and the choices are almost limitless. Don't allow the process of choosing them to stress you out. Take your time to meet with a knowledgeable florist and allow her/him to guide you.
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