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The
bridal bouquet is one of the most important elements
of the bride's attire and deserves special attention.
Start by selecting the color and shape of the bouquet.
The bridal bouquet should be carried low enough so
that all the intricate details of your gown are visible.
There are many colors, scents, sizes, shapes and
styles of bouquets to choose from. Popular styles
are the cascade, cluster, contemporary and hand-tied
garden bouquets. The traditional bridal bouquet is
made of white flowers.
Stephanotis,
gardenias, white
roses,
orchids and
lilies of the valley are
popular
choices for an all-white bouquet.
If
you prefer a colorful bouquet, you may want to
consider using
roses,
tulips,
stock,
peonies,
freesia
and
gerber daisies, which come in a
wide range of colors.
Using scented flowers in your bouquet will evoke
memories of your wedding day whenever you smell them
in the future. Popular fragrant flowers for bouquets are
gardenias,
freesia,
stephanotis,
bouvardia, and
narcissus. Select flowers
that are in season to assure availability.
Your
flowers should complement the season, your
gown, your color scheme, your attendants' attire,
and the style and formality of your wedding. If you
have a favorite flower, build your bouquet around
it and include it in all your arrangements. Some
flowers carry centuries of symbolism. Consider
stephanotis - tradition regards
it as the bridal
good-luck flower! Pimpernel signifies change; white
flowers radiate innocence; forget-me-nots indicate
true love; and ivy stands for friendship, fidelity, and
matrimony - the three essentials for a happy marriage.
Whatever
flowers you select, final arrangements should
be made well in advance of your wedding date to insure
availability. Confirm your final order and delivery time
a few days before the wedding. Have the flowers
delivered before the photographer arrives so that
you can include them in your pre-ceremony photos.
In
determining the size of your bouquet, consider your
gown and your overall stature. Carry a smaller bouquet
if you're petite or if your gown is particularly ornate. A
long, cascading bouquet complements a fairly simple
gown or a tall or larger bride. Arm bouquets look
best when resting naturally in the crook of your arm.
For
a natural, fresh-picked look, have your florist put
together a cluster of flowers tied together with a ribbon.
For a Victorian appeal, carry a
nosegay or a basket
filled with flowers. For a contemporary look, you may
want to consider carrying an arrangement of calla lilies
or other long-stemmed flowers over your arm. For a
dramatic statement, carry a single stem of your favorite flower.
Price Range: $60 - $500
If
you want to preserve your bridal bouquet,
consider having your florist make a smaller, less
expensive bouquet specifically for tossing. This will
be the bouquet you toss to your single, female friends
toward the end of the reception. Tradition has it that
the woman who catches the bouquet is the next to be
married. Have your florist include a few sprigs of fresh
ivy
in the tossing bouquet to symbolize friendship and fidelity.
Price Range: $10 - $30
The
maid of honor's bouquet can be somewhat larger
or of a different color than the rest of the bridesmaids'
bouquets. This will help to set her apart from the others.
Price Range: $15 - $75
The
bridesmaids' bouquets should complement the
bridal bouquet but are generally smaller in size.
The size and color should coordinate with the
bridesmaids' dresses and the overall style of the
wedding. Bridesmaids' bouquets are usually identical.
To
personalize your bridesmaids' bouquets, insert
a different flower in each of their bouquets to make
a statement. For example, if one of your bridesmaids
has been sad, give her a
lily of the valley to
symbolize the return of happiness. To tell a friend
that you admire her, insert a yellow jasmine. A pansy
will let your friend know that you are thinking of her.
Choose
a bouquet style (cascade, cluster,
contemporary, hand-tied) that compliments the
formality of your wedding and the height of your
attendants. If your bridesmaids will be wearing floral
print dresses, select flowers that complement the floral print.
You
can have your attendants carry a single-
stemmed rose, lily or other suitable flower for
an elegant look that also saves money.
Price Range: $15 - $60
For
a garden look, have your maid of honor and
bridesmaids wear garlands of flowers in their hair. If
so, provide your maid of honor with a slightly different
color or variety of flower to set her apart from the others.
You
may consider using artificial flowers for the hairpieces
as long as they are in keeping with the flowers carried by
members of the wedding party. Sine it is not always easy
to find good artificial blooms, other types of hairpieces
may be more satisfactory, durable and attractive.
Price Range: $8 - $25
Flower
girls often wear a wreath of flowers as a
hairpiece. This is another place where artificial
flowers may be used, but they must be in keeping
with the flowers carried by members of the bridal party.
Since it is not always easy to find good artificial
blooms, other types of hairpieces may be
more satisfactory, durable, and attractive.
If
the flowers used for the hairpiece are not
a sturdy and long-living variety, a ribbon,
bow, or hat might be a safer choice.
Price Range: $8 - $25
You
may want to consider wearing a corsage
on your going-away outfit. This makes for pretty
photos as you and your new husband leave the
reception for your honeymoon. Have your florist create
a corsage which echoes the beauty of your bouquet.
Put
a protective shield under
lilies when using them
as a corsage, as their anthers will easily stain fabric.
Be careful when using
Alstroemeria as a corsage, as
its
sap can be harmful if it enters the human bloodstream.
To
save money, ask your florist if he/she can
design your bridal bouquet in such a way that
the center flowers may be removed and worn
as a corsage. Or omit this corsage altogether.
Price Range: $10 - $25
The
groom is responsible for providing flowers for his
mother, the bride's
mother, and the grandmothers.
The officiant, if female,
may also be given a corsage
to reflect her important role in the
ceremony. The
corsages don't have to be identical, but
they should
be coordinated with the color of their dresses.
The groom
may order flowers that can be pinned to
a pocketbook
or worn around a wrist. He should ask
which style the
women prefer, and if a particular color is
needed to coordinate
with their dresses. Gardenias,
camellias, white orchids,
or cymbidium orchids are excellent choices for corsages, as they
go well with any outfit.
The groom
may also want to consider ordering
corsages for other
close family members, such as
sisters and aunts. This will
add a little to your floral
expenses, but will make these female
family members
feel even more included in your wedding and will
let
guests know that they are related to the bride and
groom.
Many women do not like to wear corsages,
so the groom should
check with the people
involved before ordering the flowers.
Put
a protective shield under
lilies when using them
as corsages, as their anthers will easily stain fabric.
Be careful when using
Alstroemeria as corsages, as
its
sap can be harmful if it enters the human bloodstream.
Price Range:
$10 - $25
The
groom wears his boutonniere on the left
lapel, nearest to his heart.
Boutonnieres
are generally a single blossom such
as a
rosebud,
stephanotis,
freesia or a miniature
carnation. If a rosebud
is used for the wedding party,
have the groom wear two rosebuds, or add a sprig of
baby's breath to differentiate him from the groomsmen.
Consider
using a small cluster of flowers instead of
a single bloom for the groom's boutonniere.
Be
careful when using
Alstroemeria as a
boutonniere, as its sap can be harmful
if it enters the human bloodstream.
Price Range: $4 - $10
The
groom gives each man in his wedding party
a boutonniere to wear on his left lapel. The
officiant, if male, may also be given a boutonniere
to reflect his important role in the ceremony. The
ring bearer may or may not wear a boutonniere,
depending on his outfit. A boutonniere is more
appropriate on a tuxedo than on knickers and knee socks.
Generally,
a single blossom such as a
rosebud,
freesia, or miniature
carnation is used as a
boutonniere.
The
groom should also consider buying boutonnieres
for other close family members such as fathers,
grandfathers and brothers. This will add a little to
your floral expenses, but will make these male family
members feel more included in your wedding and will let
guests know that they are related to the bride and groom.
Price Range: $3 - $7
The
purpose of flowers at the main altar is to
direct the guests' visual attention toward the front
of the church or synagogue and to the bridal couple.
Therefore, they must be seen by guests seated in the
back. The flowers for the ceremony site can be as
elaborate or as simple as you wish. Your officiant's
advice, or that of the altar guild or florist, can be most
helpful in choosing flowers for your altar and chancel.
If
your ceremony is outside, decorate the arch,
gazebo or other structure serving as the altar with
flowers or greenery. In a Jewish ceremony, vows are
said under a Chuppah, which is placed at the altar
and covered with greens and fresh flowers.
In
choosing floral accents, consider the decor of
your ceremony site. Some churches and synagogues
are ornate enough and don't need extra flowers. Too
may arrangements would get lost in the architectural
splendor. Select a few dramatic showpieces that
will complement the existing decor. Be sure to ask if
there are any restrictions on flowers at the church
or synagogue. Remember, decorations should be
determined by the size and style of the building, the
formality of the wedding, the preferences of the bride,
the cost, and the regulations of the particular site.
To
save money, decorate the ceremony site with
greenery only. Candlelight and greenery are elegant in
and of themselves. Use greenery and flowers from your
garden. Have our ceremony outside in a beautiful garden
or by the water, surrounded by nature's own splendor.
Price Range: $50 - $1,000
In
a candlelight ceremony, the candelabra may
be decorated with flowers or greens for a
dramatic effect. Ivy may be twined around the
candelabra, or flowers may be strung to them.
Price Range: $25 - $50
Flowers,
candles or ribbons are often used
to mark the aisle pews and add color. A cluster of
flowers, a cascade of greens, or a cascade of flowers
and ribbons are all popular choices. Candles with
adorning greenery add an elegant touch.
Use
hardy flowers that can tolerate being handled
as pew ornaments.
Gardenias and camellias, for
example, are too sensitive to last long. Avoid
using
Allium in your aisle pew
decorations,
as they have an odor of onions.
It
is not necessary to decorate all of the aisle
pews, or any at all. To save money, decorate
only the reserved family pews. Or decorate
every second or third pew.
Price Range: $5 - $40
Flowers
add beauty, fragrance and color to your
reception. Flowers for the reception, like
everything else, should fit your style and color
scheme. Flowers can help transform a stark reception
hall into a warm, inviting and colorful room.
Consider
renting indoor plants or small trees to give
your reception a garden-like atmosphere. Decorate
them with twinkle lights to achieve a magical effect.
You
can save money by taking flowers from the
ceremony to the reception site for decorations.
However, you must coordinate this move carefully
to avoid having your guests arrive at an undecorated
reception room. Use greenery rather than flowers
to fill large areas. Trees and garlands of ivy can give a
dramatic impact for little money. Use greenery
and flowers from your garden. Have your reception
outside in a beautiful garden or by the water,
surrounded by nature's own beauty.
Price Range: $300 - $1,500
The
head table is where the wedding party will
sit during the reception. This important table
should be decorated with a larger or more dramatic
centerpiece than the guest tables.
Consider
using a different color or style of
arrangement to set the head table apart from
the other tables. Avoid using highly fragrant
flowers, such as
narcissus, on tables where food
is being served or eaten, as their fragrance
may conflict with other aromas.
Price Range: $50 - $300
At
a reception where guests are seated,
a small flower arrangement may be placed on
each table. The arrangements should complement
the table linens and the size of the table, and should
be kept low enough so as not to hinder conversation
among guests seated across from each other.
Avoid
using highly fragrant flowers, like
Narcissus, on
tables where food is being served or eaten, as
their fragrance may conflict with other aromas.
To
keep the cost down and for less formal
receptions, use small potted flower plants placed
in white baskets, or consider using dried or silk
arrangements that you can make yourself and
give later as gifts. Or place a wreath of greenery
entwined with colored ribbon in the center of
each table. Use a different colored ribbon at
each table and assign your guests to
tables by ribbon color instead of number.
Price Range: $10 - $60
If
buffet tables are used, have some type of floral
arrangement on the tables to add color and beauty
to your display of food. Whole fruits and bunches of
berries offer a variety of design possibilities. Figs add
a
festive touch. Pineapples are a sign of hospitality.
Vegetables offer an endless array of options to
decorate with. Herbs are yet another great option in
decorating. A mixture of rosemary and mint combined with
scented geraniums makes a unique table decoration.
Depending
on the size of the table, place one or two arrangements at each
side. Avoid placing certain flowers,
such as
carnations, snapdragons, or the
Star of Bethlehem,
next to buffet displays of fruits and vegetables, as they are
extremely sensitive to the gasses emitted by these foods.
Price Range: $50 - $300
Flowers
are a beautiful addition to a wedding cake
and are commonly seen spilling out between the cake
tiers. Use only non-poisonous flowers, and have your
florist - not the caterer - design the floral decorations
for your cake. A florist will be able to blend the cake
decorations into your overall floral theme.
Decorate
the cake table with flowers, as well.
You can have your bridesmaids place their bouquets
on the table during the reception, or decorate
the cake top only and surround the base with
greenery and a few loose flowers.
Price Range: $50 - $100
Decorate
your
cake knife and server with
white satin
ribbon and/or flowers. Consider engraving the cake
knife and server with your names and wedding date.
Price Range: $15 - $125
Tie
small flowers with white ribbons on the stems
of your
toasting glasses. These
wedding accessories
deserve a special touch since they will most likely be
included in your special photographs. Consider engraving
your toasting glasses with your names and wedding date.
Price Range: $10 - $30
Most
florists charge a fee to deliver flowers to
the ceremony and reception sites and to arrange
them on site. Make sure your florist knows where
your sites are and what time to arrive for setup.
Price Range: $25 - $100
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