Wedding Flowers 101
by Tim Farrell on November 4, 2011 at 11:36 amFlowers are a main attraction at a wedding. They finish off any venue, add elegance to every table and beautifully accent the bride’s and bridesmaids’ gowns. Boutonnières and corsages will be in all photographs, and flowers for the ceremony and reception will add romance to the background of every photo taken. If you’re planning your wedding, here are a few pointers on wedding flowers.
1) Contract with a professional florist to do your wedding flowers. You really are doing yourself a favor when you hire a professional to bring the beauty of flowers to your special day. Don’t try to make it a DIY project. Think of all of the time and money you have invested in the day. Don’t cheat yourself to try to save a few bucks. Professional florists have seen what works and what doesn’t. Professional florists have the knowledge to order correctly, and time the opening of all the blooms so that they are just perfect on your wedding day. Professional florists will deliver and install the décor so that you don’t have to worry about any of that on your wedding day.
2) Go with a personal recommendation for your florist. Ask around. Most towns have certain florists that are the “go to” people for weddings. Preparing and designing perfect wedding flowers take quite a bit of dedication and commitment, so you will probably hear a few names mentioned over and over. Go with one of those recommendations, and leave nothing to chance. If you can’t find a recommendation, start with the Society of American Florists’ Florist Directory for florists in your area. Then visit them and ask to see their work. You’ll get a feel for the character and style of the shop and their work. Go with your gut.
3) Book your florist early. Because wedding flowers are labor intensive and perishable, most florist shops are limited on the number of weddings they can handle on a particular date. Call as soon as you have the date, time and place for your wedding and reception and make arrangements to meet with your florist to lay the groundwork for your wedding flowers. If you already are confident on who you are using, leave a deposit ASAP to secure the date for you.
4) Ask the pro for advice. While it is always good to do homework and get some kind of idea of what you would like for your wedding, it is advisable to ask your florist for suggestions to make your day even more beautiful. Use their expertise to your advantage. Your florist might have an idea to incorporate an unexpected color that harmonizes your color palette. Your florist might be able to suggest alternative flowers to 
achieve the same look on a more modest budget. Your florist will also be glad to suggest design styles and floral combinations that give you a unique “signature” look for your wedding.
5) Choose some fragrant flowers. The human psyche closely associates flowers and fragrances. Just think of what you see most people do when they get up close to a few blossoms. Use that to your advantage and make sure to have your florist include a few fragrant blooms in all aspects of the wedding flowers. Lighter sweet fragrances like stephanotis, freesia and stock are perfect for corsages and bouquets. They all have pretty fragrances that are not at all overpowering. In large venues or ceremony locations, even a few stems of Oriental lilies can fill the air with a sweet perfume. Others like tuberoses, sweet peas and English Garden Roses bring the outdoors in and are truly a pleasure for the senses.
By following these easy steps, you set the stage for beautiful flowers for your wedding. For more advice, check out the Weddings section on www.aboutflowers.com.
What questions or advice do you have about planning flowers for your wedding?
It is so important on such a special day in a couple’s life, to leave the floral designs to a professional florist. No one knows better how important it is to the couple to fulfill every emotion and dream that they have. It is only the professional florist who can see, learn, and understand that special feeling and make it come to life for the ceremony and reception.
Great suggestions for the bride trying to make a decision about her wedding flowers. A professional will always make your day perfect.
Tim-
You are so right. The Bride deserves HER day to be one that she can enjoy, and not be worried about the details at the last minute. A professional florist will listen to the needs and dreams of a bride and follow through, making it a day that will filled with wonderful memories. The Bride needs to be reminded that the flowers are remembered every time the Wedding photos are shared. Many couples take out their photos each year on their anniversary. Don’t you want to be proud of them on your 10th – or how about the 25th anniversary?
Flowers are one of the most romantic parts of the wedding and bringing in a professional florist is probably one of the most important choices a bride will make. Thanks for the great tips Tim! Carol
I cannot agree more ! Your flowers are such an important part of your wedding and one of the most photographed items of the day leave it to a professional florist this is the one item that should not be compromised!!!
I agree with Tim Farrell, Use a professional to design & provide your wedding flowers. Doing a good job is not for the inexperienced. It is very time consuming & stressful. No bride should have to deal with this on such a momentious occasion. In addition to the flowers looking professionally designed a florist can help you save money as well. See how to save money on your weding flowers. http://petalpeopleflorist.com/howtosavemoneyonyourweddingflowers.html
Flowers can really set the mood for the whole event, think of the colors and the emotions they bring out. I like to add small touches in unexpected places, If you really want them to talk add flowers to the bathrooms. Your professional florist can give you great creative ideas that can make your most special day an awesome memory for all who attend.
I’m getting married in late October and I’m trying to decide what type of flowers I want. My colors are black and hot pink and white. Can you get any type of flower from a florist in fall or does it have to be in season? I was hoping for tulips.
Thanks for sharing. What a pleasure to read!
A professional florist will have contacts who can search product from all corners of the world. Although tulips are generally a spring flower, there is a good crop of tulips available from Holland in the fall, and some varieties are even available year round! I recommend using varied shades of strong pinks in varied textures. Hot pink tulips, dark pink hydrangea, roses and mini gerbers in shades of dark pinks would make stunning bouquets. Other wonderful choices of flowers on the hot pink family would include dianthus, spray roses (miniature blooms clustered together on a stem), English garden roses (beautifully fragrant varieties), ranunculus, and asters. Best wishes for a wonderful wedding day!
Beautifully written . In this DIY world of weddings there still is a need to use us pros. We care about our clients and seek that certain look for our brides that sometimes DIY just can’t quite capture. Thanks for the post! Florals by Becky , Costa Mesa CA
The flowers especially roses, are a symbol of eternal love in the marriage or at any time of life.
Very beautiful, red roses are always perfect in arrangements.