Getting Started
Flowers are considered to be one of the most important elements of your wedding day.

The ideal time to begin thinking about bridal flowers is after you've chosen your gown and ceremony setting; this will let you select a bouquet that harmonizes with the wedding's mood and motifs. Although the colors and types of flowers are the elements brides tend to think of first, you'll want to weigh all aspects of the bouquet, from its shape and size to such finishing accents as ribbons. The decisions you make often set the tone for other flowers as well, including the blooms for the wedding party.

Finding Inspiration

Details from the wedding itself are a rich source of ideas. Color often plays the deciding role. If you've always adored blue and brown and plan to weave the hues into your reception decorations, you might want your bouquet to reflect the same shades. For some brides, the wedding location can inspire the bouquet's aesthetic. Stems trimmed with miniature shells would be fitting for a seaside celebration. For a garden wedding, you might carry sweet peas and larkspur in an exuberant tumble reminiscent of nature's carefree style.

Perhaps a decorative detail from your gown will give rise to a bouquet. Stalks of ladylike pink astilbe, with its clusters of tiny beadlike blooms, could echo a beaded bodice, while the full and frilly look of cabbage roses might replicate the abundant ruffles of a skirt.

Sometimes the best bouquets have sentimental meaning. For the Victorians, many flowers and foliage symbolized different virtues or emotions. Daisies, for instance, were associated with innocence, rosemary with remembrance. A flower with personal significance could also spark an idea.

Meeting with a Florist
Your initial appointment with a potential florist should be dedicated to reviewing his work and discussing your vision for the wedding. Look at photos of weddings he's done before.
It's helpful to have some pictures to avoid misunderstanding.

Budgeting For Flowers
It is common to allocate approximately 10 percent of the total wedding budget to flowers, but you may choose to spend more or less, depending on your priorities. When you meet with florists, be honest about your budget from the very beginning.
The florist should be able to give you a good idea of what can be accomplished within your budget and offer you helpful advice and alternatives if your requests are unrealistic.
If you're on a tight budget choose flowers that are in season. Although most blossoms are available year-round from florists, flowers are most affordable and best-looking in season. Blooms that must be imported also cost more.

- Use less expensive varieties.
- Avoid a wedding date that coincides with holidays such as Christmas, Valentine's Day, and Mother's Day, when flowers are at a premium.
- Choose simply constructed arrangements, which are more affordable than complicated wired bouquets.

Deciding on the Details
If you are lucky enough to start planning a full year ahead, this is a great time to see the flowers that will be in season for your wedding, to have a sample bouquet made, and to discuss color schemes. The details can wait until a few months before the event.

Schedule planning meetings with your florist at the ceremony and reception locations. If visits to the sites aren't possible, have photos on hand instead, so that you can discuss what will best complement what is already there. You may want flowers at the altar only, or around the doorway and marking the rows of seats as well.

For the reception, make sure the centerpieces aren't too tall, or your guests won't be able to see one another while dining.

For buffet tables, choose less fragrant flowers so that the scent doesn't compete with the food. Also, if you want flowers on your wedding cake, ask your florist to work with your baker so that everything coordinates.

Bouquets and corsages should complement the attire of the wedding party and featured guests, so provide your florist with swatches of fabric from the wedding gown and bridesmaid dresses, as well as an idea of what your mothers and grandmothers will be wearing.

Bouquet Shapes
Bridal flowers can be arranged in many styles, from a petite, compact nosegay to the popular domed bouquet to a cascade, in which flowers drape just over the wrist or spill gracefully down the gown's skirt. Many kinds of flowers are commonly wired to create unusual shapes, such as a fanlike spray.

Elaborate bridal bouquets tend to work well with ornate wedding gowns that have full skirts and long trains, while simple ones pair best with sleek dresses. There are no strict rules to follow, however; the key is to avoid extremes that appear unbalanced. The bouquet should also complement the bride's own proportions. Heavy profusions of flowers may overwhelm petite women, whereas small posies can look too diminutive when they are carried by statuesque brides.

If you are planning an outdoor summer wedding, you may need to select flowers that can withstand the hot weather. Avoid ones that wilt in a heartbeat.You might love gardenias, but they're very fragile and bruise easily. Orchids, on the other hand, are extremely sturdy.

Stems and Details
A thoughtful treatment of the stems will enhance a bouquet. For a casual outdoor ceremony, a florist might keep the stems long and tie them with a simple bow, evoking a just-picked freshness. For a polished look, stems can be trimmed and entirely wrapped in wide ribbon. The ribbon or fabric might match the colors of the blooms or provide a nice counterpoint. But just as the bouquet should accessorize the dress rather than overpower it, ribbons should accessorize the flowers rather than compete with them.

You might want to embellish the flowers themselves. This could include ringing the bouquet with delicate silk leaves or a tulle cuff, or dotting it throughout with dainty bows or beaded accents, with wires for stems.

A large bouquet isn't necessarily more expensive. The price has much more to do with the kind of flowers used. An abundant rose bouquet will likely cost less than a smaller one made entirely of calla lilies

Enjoy Your Flowers
With good inspiration and proper planning, the flowers you carry on your wedding day are sure to be as breathtaking as the ones blossoming in your imagination.