Traditionally, flowers play a major role in weddings and as such involve some careful planning. The flowers are chosen to reflect the bride and groom's tastes and to harmonize with the existing colours of the wedding. The shape of the flowers is equally important as a form of expression and as a means of drawing the eye.

In the past, the bridal bouquet comprised white flowers as a symbol of her purity. While white flowers are still popular, many brides now experiment with colour echoing those splashed throughout their wedding.

Choosing the Bouquet Flowers

It is a good idea to consult several florists to get a wide view of what is possible and what the minimum or maximum costs are. To prepare for a consultation with a specialist wedding florist it is advisable to collate some ideas whether from magazines, your own sketches, or even from someone else's wedding photos. Asking different florists the same questions will give you a good basis for comparison on cost, helpfulness, and quality.

Season

While almost any species of flower is now attainable out of season and available for import from around the world, seasonal flowers are not as expensive and are likely to stay fresher for longer. For a general idea of some seasonal flowers that you could choose for your bouquet, try:

• Spring: daffodil, narcissi, bluebell, freesia, tulip, hyacinth
• Summer: rose, hydrangea, stephanotis, sunflower, sweet pea, delphinium, larkspur
• Autumn: chrysanthemum, euphorbia, gerbera, alstromeria
• Winter: lily, orchid, ivy, dendrobium, deep red rose

Fashion

Looking at the latest trend in flower choice and style can give you some great ideas, but don't be swayed by fashion alone. Look at a varied selection and choose flowers that appeal to your nose as well as your eyes. The scent will be particularly important in the bouquet, as it will be the closest to your face.

Modern trends are leaning towards simplicity. Bouquets often contain only one flower type or colour, with a matching ribbon used to bind the stems into a bunch cradled in the arm. Contemporary favourites include:

• Arum lily: carried in a bouquet or as a single flower, these are large flowers are chosen in the traditional white as well as a multitude of other colours.
• Rose: an ever popular choice, pinks and whites are the colours of the 21st century.
• Lily of the Valley: often expensive and releasing a strong scent, these seasonal blooms are best kept to a striking minimum.
• Ivy or Jasmine: a popular choice for trailing waterfall bouquets.
• Peonies: although they are seasonal to May, June, and November, peonies are a firm favourite.
• Freesias: another preferred choice, these are favoured for their colour and scent.

Psychology

Colours can arouse certain feelings and emotions in the viewer. What do you want your flowers to convey?

• White: traditional and effective, white contains all colours of the spectrum and thus all the associated qualities.
• Red: symbolising blood and family bonds, but also linked to love and passion.
• Orange: can be a lustful colour well as a happy, strong one.
• Yellow: optimistic, cheering and sunny.
• Blue: a calming colour and fairly unique
• Green: a natural, balancing colour that brings peace and freshness
• Violet: pale colours can symbolise spirituality.

To help you choose your colours it is a wise idea to take a sample of fabric from the bride's and bridesmaids' dresses if possible, or a good quality photograph. This will assist the florist in giving you suggestions for colour co-ordination. Even if the bride's dress is white, there are many variations in shade so still try to take something for comparison.

If you are keen on a particular flower, you might want to buy some to take home first. Then you will see how they last and whether you still like their appearance and smell. The flowers should last throughout the day. This is especially important if you intend to wear flowers in your hair, though for hair adornments dried or silk flowers are usually best.

Choosing the Shape

The shape of the bouquet will have to be considered in relation to the type of flowers desired, and vice versa. Some flowers work better in certain bouquet arrangements. It may also depend on the seasonal availability of the flowers.

• Cascade: also known as a waterfall or trailing shape, this is tear shaped and trails downward gracefully. It is one of the most popular choices.
• Posy: also known as a nosegay. This is a round shape of a small, tight cluster of flowers which is still very popular.
• Spray: triangular floral cluster.
• Biedermeier: concentric circles of different types of flowers.
• Hand tied: simple, ribbon-tied long stems.
• Pomander: ball of flowers that hangs from ribbon attached to the wrist or hand. Popular choice for bridesmaids

The shape of the bouquet is not only a matter of aesthetic taste, but also one which will most flatter the bride's shape and dress. The cascading waterfall creates a slimming illusion as the eye moves from top to the narrowing bottom. It goes well with a full length dress, but can look odd with a shorter one.

The posy draws the eye to the centre of the body, and so is often sidestepped by wider hipped brides. It may not be suitable for taller brides either, as it is relatively small in comparison to the height and splendour of the bride. If the bride feels that the bouquet will obscure part of the aesthetic of the dress, a bouquet that rests across the arm could be better.

The size and style of the bouquet will be influenced by the formality of the wedding and of the bride's outfit. Formal, long dresses tend to complement larger bouquets, while shorter dresses or more informal outfits accompany small bouquets and single flowers beautifully.

Preservation

Instead of throwing the bouquet to the competitive arms of the single females as tradition dictates, many brides now wish to keep the flowers and make them last. You can either:

• Dry them whole or separately and make a collage from the pressed flowers
• Grow some more from any suitable shoots
• Get a silk flower replica made of the bouquet

Flowers For The Family

It is generally the case that members of the family will wear or carry flowers in some form. They will probably be the same colours but not necessarily the same type as those decorating the wedding venue and reception.

Mothers and grandmothers are traditionally decorated by corsages, while the groom, both of the fathers, the best man and the ushers wear buttonholes. The groom's buttonhole will usually match the bride's dress, while the rest of men traditionally wear a red or white carnation.

Flowers for the Venue

While the Church or the venue were you actually have the wedding ceremony will indeed be a significant location in your wedding day, you will be spending relatively little time there so you may want to concentrate your money and efforts on floral displays at the reception.

Areas of the venue and reception you may wish to decorate include:

• Pew ends
• Altars
• Columns
• Windowsills
• Around The Entrance
• Chair Backs
• Table Decorations

If it is a church wedding it will be necessary to speak to the vicar about the flowers first as they may already have someone who always does the flowers. If you are using your own florist, it may be possible to get flower arrangements that can be moved from the church to decorate the wedding reception.