Choosing the right flowers to suit your style
By Julie Farby - AHN Reporter
You’ve got the venue, the food, the dress, the tux and now need to add your special style by accenting with flowers.
Depending on your selection, you should work with the florist several months in advance to ensure your choice of flowers will be available for your wedding. Photo; Jason Keerak/Pure Studios
Sometimes it is hard to know where to start when planning your wedding flowers, but it can be simpler by knowing a few things in advance from your colours to the types of blooms you love.
Keep in mind that flower choices can help to guide the direction of the entire event from formal to casual elegance and flair.
This need not be limited to traditional ideas about what wedding flowers should be but rather it should be an expression of your personal style and taste. With the guidance and help of a professional florist, you can have the flowers of your dreams within your budget. Over the years, florists have seen a wide variety of choices for popular wedding bouquets. Roses are always a number one choice for their beauty as well as the romance associated with them. Instead of the traditional style where roses were mixed with plenty of greens, fillers and other flowers in a flowing, cascading style, today’s brides tend to opt for a compact, rounded look. Very little is needed to accompany the roses in these bouquets, apart from the modern addition of grasses or unique handle treatments.
Ivy is gaining in popularity once more as this green plant is a symbol of fidelity. It was widely used in bouquets of the past and some brides are choosing to incorporate this element for posterity’s sake. Even a sprig or two in the groom’s boutonniere is a nice touch.
Also, adding in a flower that may have been in your mother’s bouquet is a nice way to pay tribute to the marriage of your parents.
Another popular option is the joyous gerbera daisy. This striking native of Africa is elegant in its simplicity and is available in a multitude of colours from pale cream to fuchsia pink. Gerberas look stately on their own and for this reason are a good option for budget decorating. Just a few blooms per table can tie the room’s decor together.
When considering boutonnieres and corsages for groomsmen and family members, it is a good idea to keep in mind that there is generally a lot of dancing and hugging at weddings. For this reason, sturdy flower choices are wisest for adornment that lasts throughout the evening.
Keep in mind that your wedding flowers need to be booked right from the source — the grower. For this reason, it is best to contact your chosen florist in a timely fashion, at least a few months in advance of the upcoming nuptials. Your florist will work with you to determine appropriate choices, keeping in mind the style of dress, the venue, the time of year and your favourite flowers.
If you are looking to keep the costs down, you may want to consider the seasonal and local varieties also. Whatever you choose, you can’t go wrong. Flowers bring an element of unmatched beauty to any decor and will be preserved in photos for many years to come, providing you with lasting memories of your special day.