Your Floral Choices
You may already have a good idea about the type of flowers you’re going for. Perhaps you’ve got a favorite, or maybe your wedding theme is summer daisies. Either way, Mother Nature’s got plenty of beautiful possibilities for you to choose from, and some will work better than others with your theme, season, and location.
Things to Consider
Here are some key points to keep in mind as you think about the type of flowers you’d like to use on your big day, and how you’d like to use them:
Your Color and Theme
Select varieties in shades that echo your wedding colors. Don’t worry about trying to match colors up perfectly (there’s over a hundred shades of pink, for example) but instead choose shades that blend together and complement each other well. You may want to use a type of flower as your overall wedding theme, perhaps playing off its special meaning.
Season and Availability
Varieties that are in season will give you the most flower power for your buck. They’ll be more affordable as well as fresher and therefore more beautiful. Make these the most abundant flowers in your bouquets and arrangements. And if you’re marrying in a hot month (especially if your ceremony or reception will take place outdoors), go for more durable flowers like roses instead of quick-to-wilt options like hydrangeas, tulips or gardenias.
Location
The scale of your arrangements will depend on the scale of your site. A grand cathedral will require larger flowers and an overall larger arrangement size than a small chapel or intimate location. And take into consideration the characteristics of the site itself; you may be blessed with a location whose inherent beauty requires little decoration, while a more plain setting might need a bit more help.
Style and Formality
Different flowers, vases and arrangements complement different levels of formality. Think about the different style and message that a woven basket of wildflowers gives as opposed to a tall, square glass vase with a few calla lilies.
Budget
Flowers can be pricey, especially if yours include out-of-season blooms or a time-intensive arrangement style. As you’d expect, the more flowers you need, the higher the price tag. Increasing your guest or attendant count usually directly increases your cost of flowers, since more tables mean more centerpieces, and more attendants mean more bouquets and boutonnieres.
Here are some money-saving tips to keep in mind as you try to find flowers that match your budget: use local in-season varieties and simple yet elegant centerpieces to cut down on labor costs. Even groups of a single in-season flower can work. Pick large flowers, as they fill up space better. If there are any flower wholesalers in your area, give them a visit on a day they’re open to the public, or check out a local farmers’ market.
Still looking into ceremony and reception locations? Choose an ornate spot that won’t need a lot of extra decoration. And have your ceremony arrangements do double duty: assign someone the task of transferring them to your reception location after the ceremony is over.
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Written by Crystal and Jason Melendez.
Authors of e-Plan Your Wedding: How to Save Time and Money with Today’s Best Online Resources. For more information, please visit www.eplanyourwedding.com
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