Wedding flowers pack a punch that’s way more than just fragrant.
Get creative with your use of greenery and blooms! Go over-the-top with mounds of arrangements in opulent vases or settle on an understated look with simple stems in mason jars. Here are a few tips to help you pick the best blossoms for your big day.
Stick With Seasonal
Though it’s possible to get any flower at any time of year, your costs will skyrocket if you select flowers that are not in season. Do your homework. Know what will be in bloom when you are getting married and go with those options for your centerpieces, boutonnieres, bouquets, petals for the flower girl and any altar decorations. On average, flowers usually make up about 5 percent to 12 percent of a bride’s overall wedding budget.
Not sure what’s in bloom when? Here are a few examples for each season:
WINTER: Cedar, lemon leaf, succulents, garden roses, Lisianthus, burgundy orchids and tallow berries.
SPRING: Poppies, tulips, jasmine, delphinium, lilacs, sweet peas, peonies and ranunculus.
SUMMER: Freesia, dahlias, carnations, poppy pods, wax flowers and hydrangeas.
FALL: Thistle, garden roses, winter eucalyptus, Nigella and brunia berry.
‘Something Borrowed’
One of the best places to find flower ideas is Pinterest. Get inspired by beautiful bouquets, innovative ideas and pretty things in bloom. Blogs like Snippet & Ink, Style Me Pretty, Green Wedding Shoes and Brides have a ton of ideas, and some allow you to search by color scheme, season or favorite bloom. Look for ways to use floral decorations from the ceremony, such as bouquets and altar arrangements, to decorate your reception site to save a little money. The Internet is your flowery inspiration destination.
Ask The Pros
Hire a local, experienced professional to help keep you and your flowers in bloom and on budget. Rarely does a bride do all the flowers herself — almost all hire a florist to bring their floral visions to life.
When interviewing florists, ask to see a portfolio of their work. Many professionals will keep a Flickr gallery or post their work on Instagram, making it easy for you to view a large variety of the centerpieces and bouquets they have assembled. You’re looking for a florist whose style fits your vision as well as your budget. Make sure you ask about any deposits, fees and payment schedules before you sign a contract.
Selecting the flowers can be one of the most exciting parts of planning your wedding. It’s an opportunity to incorporate your theme, your season and your color scheme all in one place, and the flowers will be a highly visual and photographed portion of your wedding. Whatever your budget, feel confident that you can pull off something beautiful — greenery doesn’t cost as much as fresh-cut blooms but still adds a natural, elegant touch — and you’re sure to find a local professional who will be more than happy to make your dreams come true.
