Beautiful Bouquets….how to get them and how to afford them-Dunhill Tuxedos Bridal Blog

Every girl loves getting flowers and they should be extra special flowers for the wedding day. The bouquet is one of the main elements of your wedding since it is something that is photographed again and again. It should reflect the atmosphere of the wedding as well as the couple themselves. Here’s some thought about the needs to know, selection of the flowers, and little extras.

Tips

Be courteous to your groom and other members of the bridal party. Check with everyone to make sure they don’t have any allergies to flowers before making final floral decisions.

If you have a look in mind, take that look with you to the florist. Find a picture or gather pictures together and give that to them. Give them everything you want to incorporate into the flowers: invitations, swatches of the bridesmaid dresses, favors ribbons etc. If you are set on a look and don’t supply them with materials, you may find that your flowers went in a completely different direction. Also, mention all the flowers and colors you want and don’t want in your contract with the florist. Communicate with your florist and build some trust in them. They want you to have beautiful flowers on your big day too.

Money Savers

Typical budgets for flowers are 10-15 percent of the wedding cost, but that can be altered based on the person.  Select a budget friendly flower that is versatile in color. If you have your heart set on a type of flower but you find it being a little far from your budget, work with the florist. You should be able to get the same type of texture and look,  but for a less expensive price. Orchids can be expensive, but very popular for weddings. Cymbidium Orchids are more within a reasonable budget. They come in many different colors and can create an array of different looks. Use paler shades for a romantic look and green ones for an earthy bouquet. If it is the peak season for the type of flower, then it should be within a reasonable cost. You may find yourself paying more for flowers out of season. Dahlias are seasonal flowers only available in the late summer through the fall. If you fall in love with them, but do not want to pay the extra charge, substitute with similar flower such as a peony.

You can reuse ceremony flowers at the reception and none of your guests will ever know. Use the arrangements from the ceremony at your place card table, or guest book table. This way you don’t have to pay twice the price.

Building the bouquet

There are actually lots of bouquets to choose from. Check out these links for descriptions of visuals to find the one that suits you and your wedding best:
http://www.bloomsforbrides.com/styles.htm
http://www.amaffair.com/floral.htm

A lot can be done with the accent colors you choose to pair with the main flower. If you are planning on going with a more traditional color of flowers, pick another color to add a little pop. If you’re going with a soft yellow, complement with a bright orange. If you go with a bold red, add in a touch of purple to keep things upbeat.
Ribbon choice can completely alter the look of the bouquet. You can have the ribbons cascading for more of a whimsical look or hand tied using the complementing colors to your wedding. To go a little more eccentric, have a hand tied bouquet wrapped in different things such as berries, grasses, moss, or pods. Florists have also used stems, leaves, denims and vines. You can also use wire to wrap around ribbon to create a bit of edge on sweet bouquets.

All of these things can keep your flowers from looking like the same ones you’ve seen over and over.

Something extra special

Your bouquet is a great opportunity to add in something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. Use the same kind of  flowers your mother or grandmother had for their wedding, or something handed down such as cameos, rosaries, handkerchiefs or other heirloom. This is also a very sweet sentiment to celebrate the life of someone passed.

A modern twist on today’s wedding bouquet is to throw in something extra to give it a little more bling or accent. Have a little ladybug (fake of course and stuck in by a stick) sticking out among the flowers as a sign of luck on your big day. You can also add butterflies or bees for spring and summer weddings. Use seashells if you choose for the “I dos” to be exchanged beachside. Monogrammed crystals look beautiful surrounded by the sweetness of flowers and may add to a pre-planned monogram theme throughout the day.  To add a textural element among the flowers, add feathers.