When planning a wedding one of the many details brides want especially perfect is the flowers. Flowers instantly enhance, brighten, and complete the look and feel of a wedding. The fragrances, the colors, and the beauty of live blossoms help to create the aura of magic that every bride hopes to achieve.

From the altar flowers at the church to the eye-catching centerpieces in the reception room, the flowers will set the style of the event. When choosing wedding service providers, selecting a reputable, experienced florist is essential to making the floral design exactly as envisioned. 

Floral options abound at all price levels. Consider season and style when working with a budget. When planning a wedding date, keep in mind that pricing may be affected if the wedding falls within two weeks of any major holiday.

For reception centerpieces, larger blooms are suggested with the use of fillers to create a beautiful but economical piece. Floating floral is always a nice touch without the need for multiple stems or fillers.

Bridal bouquets vary from bride to bride, reflecting the bride’s individual taste and style. Roses continue to be the most popular bloom and are still commonly used in bouquets. Roses are available in many varieties, in every shade and size. Many new varieties are also available. Ask your florist for the latest colors and types.  

Hand tied bridal bouquets are in full style. Hand tying creates a beautiful and natural look. Brides and bridesmaids alike love this simple style. Other options are three long stem blooms with greens in presentation style. The more traditional style of a cascading bouquet is still popular when choosing floral in all white.

Many brides are incorporating the bridesmaids’ dress colors into the floral used or accenting with this color in the ribbons used for hand tying. When choosing floral for bridesmaid bouquets, some suggestions that are economically favorable are: alstromeria, daisies, asters, carnations, and a few roses. Flowers to use sparingly would be stargazer lilies, roses, gardenias, stephanotis, or orchids.

Coordinating the order of flowers for others in the wedding party is also important to help unify the wedding style. Don’t forget the boutonnières for the groom, best man,
groomsmen, ring bearer, fathers, and grandfathers; and corsages(wrist or pin-on)for the flower girl, mothers, and grandmothers. Others to consider as part of the floral order are musicians, vocalists, cake servers, personal attendants, and ushers. 

Flowers By the Seasons
Spring: tulips, lilacs, freesia
Summer: roses, hydrangea, wild flowers
Fall: sunflowers, ranunculus, mums, stock, hybericum
Winter roses, lilies

For a complete floral planning guide worksheet, go to www.thewomantoday.com

Diane Miskulin is the owner of Occasions Party Store, now in their new location at 2330 Mountain Shadow Drive in Duluth.