Wedding Flowers Buying Guide

Most aspects of a wedding  require careful planning.  From choosing the right wedding music  to making sure the bridesmaids dresses  don't land anyone on the worst dressed list, there's a lot to think about.  And choosing your wedding flowers is no exception.  Flowers are used in both the ceremony  and reception,  and a theme (whether it be colour scheme, type of flower or both) is often carried throughout bridal party bouquets,  including the bride's herself.  While choosing the right flowers for centrepieces,  garlands  and the like often comes down to a matter of taste, budget and season also undoubtedly play a role when making the best floral selection.

Seasonal Flowers

It could be heartbreaking to discover that the one type of flower you had your wedding sights set on just isn't in season for your big day.  To avoid any unnecessary stress, do your homework!

In-Season All Year Round
Roses	Anthuriums	Lilies	Gerberas  (Gerber Daisies)	Orchids

Don't worry if you're having your wedding in winter, there are still plenty of beautiful flowers in bloom.  While many are available thanks to commercial growing and importing from warmer climates, there are some that are actually seasonal.  It's up to you to decide which flowers work best with your wedding vision.

Winter Flowers
Tulips  Available in a variety of colours this time of year.	Amaryllis  Wonderful in red, white and white pink varieties, these flowers have huge heads and look great in table arrangements.	Cymbidium Orchids  Stunning in white, yellow and pale green, they're great in bridal bouquets.	Anigozanthos  Commonly known as kangaroo paw, these flowers have a soft feel, making them useful for adding both texture and colour to reception arrangements.	Ivy  Holly  Pussywillow Stems  Good foliage for centrepieces, bouquets or garlands.

Tons of flowers are in bloom during the spring.  Those with especially vibrant colours are most popular for eye-catching bridal bouquets and stunning reception centrepieces.

Spring Flowers
Hyacinth  A bit old-fashioned, these flowers are known for their delicate shape and strong fragrance.	Peonies  Great for a bridal bouquet.  Just make sure you tell the florist whether you want them as buds or in full bloom.	Forsythia  These flowers are unique in that the yellow bulbs appear before the leaves.	Lily of the Valley  Small and white, these work well for boutonnières.  They also have a very distinctive scent.

Summer can be great for having either colourful arrangements, or soft whites, ivories and yellows.

Summer Flowers
Blue Delphiniums  Super-tall, these flowers work well in wedding arrangements of a grander scale.	Gladioli  Gladioli add great colour and texture.	Columbine  (aquilegia)	Irises	Snapdragons  Like gladioli, their interesting texture makes them great for bouquet fillers or centrepieces.

Choosing fall wedding flowers isn't so much about the type of flower as it is about the colour.  Rich reds, oranges and yellows are the most popular shades of the season.

Fall Flowers
Ranunculus  These orange and yellow flowers are perfect for fall arrangements and just started appearing at wholesalers.	Dahlias  Originally from Mexico, these flowers offer some of the most vibrant reds and yellows.	Hydrangeas  Their large flowers come in blue and pink and look great in a flower girl's basket.	Chrysanthemums  Commonly known as mums,  these flowers come in a wide range of sizes and colours, from the large-headed white varieties like rebonnet,  to small, lime green ones like kermit.	Red Hot Pokers  (Kniphofia) The picture should give a clue to this flower's unusual nickname.

Types of Bouquets

The shape of your bouquet will often dictate what flowers will be most suitable.  Below are some of the most popular bouquet shapes.  And for more information, please check out our wedding bouquets guide.

Sheath Bouquet  Also known as an arm bouquet,  because it is best carried over one arm, this arrangement is long and slender.  Long stemmed flowers like calla lilies  work best here.	Cascade Bouquet  Also known as a shower bouquet,  it has a tear drop shape.	Champagne Bouquet  Also called a posy bouquet,  this has a traditional, full shape.  It best suits flowers like roses, tulips, rununculus and peonies, and can be easily hand-tied.	Custom Bouquet  Sometimes referred to as simply creative bouquet,  these arrangements aren't governed by any particular pattern or shape, but rather are created to suit a bride's vision.

Along with the shape of the bridal bouquet, the colour is also important.  If you are wearing a white dress, you can use your bridesmaids' dress colours in your bouquet.  If you are wearing a coloured bridal gown, it's best to use the same colour, a complementary colour, or a simple white.

Where You'll Use Them

Aside from the bridal party, you may need to consider using floral arrangements in the following places:

Ceremony

• Altar.
• Huppah.
• Pew or chair decorations.
• Candle bouquets.

 Reception

• Entryway arrangements.
• Bar decorations.
• Table centrepieces.
• Buffet table decorations.
• Cake decorations.

Tips for Choosing a Florist

Do the research.

• It's never too early to start thinking about your floral arrangements.
• If you don’t have a favourite florist, browse the yellow pages and the internet to find some local ones.  Your wedding planner or recently married friends may also have some great ideas, so don't forget to use them as resources.

Make appointments.

• Once you have a list of local florists, make appointments to review their portfolios. 
• If their previous work fits well with your wedding vision, suggest they make some follow up proposals based on your specifications.  This way, you can better compare the work of a select pool of florists if you're having trouble deciding.

Do it to it.

• Schedule planning meetings at the ceremony and reception sites to help you decide which flowers you will use and where.  If you can't meet at the actual location, try providing photos to your florist so that he or she can get a better idea of the space.

Money Saving Tips

Make your own arrangements. 

• This works best if you or a friend have some prior bouquet building experience, but if that's not an option, try consulting with a florist first.
• Buy your flowers from a bulk provider.
• You'll need to remove outer petals, work to open the flowers at the right time, and keep them watered. 
• Your expenses will include storage containers, floral tape, scissors and other accessories, so make sure that these costs are still under what they would be if you just hired an inexpensive florist to work within your budget.

Keep it small.

• A modestly sized bridal party will mean fewer bouquets, hair pieces and boutonnières.
• A modestly sized guest list will mean fewer tables (i.e. fewer centrepieces) and fewer chairs.

Tis the season.

• Flowers that are in season are easier to find, and thus less expensive.

Get creative.

• You may consider scattering flower petals around votive candles for a more inexpensive, yet still elegant look.
• Try using grasses, fruits, veggies and other types of foliage to bulk up bouquets and arrangements for a little less cash.

Pick a naturally beautiful locale.

• If your venue is set on the beach or in a park, the natural flora and fauna makes it so you don't have to get any major arrangements.  Anything to big might detract from the landscape.

Rent-A-Flower

• Some companies actually rent out floral arrangements.  But to make sure you get something that looks classy, aim for high-end soft acrylic or silk flowers.

Related Guides

In-Season All Year Round
Wedding Ceremony Decorations	Wedding Vows	Choosing a Wedding Location	Corsages	Seasonal Weddings

External Links

• Elegala.com:  Gives you ideas and advice on everything from staying within your floral budget to building your own bouquets.
• Weddings.About.com:  Provides a flower buying checklist and tips on how to make your own centrepieces, bouquets and more.
• Wedding-Flowers-Guide.com:  Gives you details on seasonal flowers and floral colour schemes.