A Guide to Picking Flowers for Your Wedding

Although the selection of flowers when planning a wedding is an important decision, it's often shifted to the back burner for more pressing matters. Breaking the process down into simple elements will help you better decide what is right for your special day. Couples first need to determine whether they will be using the services of a professional wedding florist, or if they will take on the floral aspect alone. Whatever route you decide to take, consider the following points to help guide you through the wedding floral selection process.

Colors

When making floral choices, the most basic element to consider is color. Wedding flowers are most often used to provide a splash of color, and to complement the wedding dress and wedding colors. Experts often suggest going with two colors, with white most often being one of them as a complementary element.

After deciding on the color scheme for your floral arrangements, you can then begin thinking about the particular flower style and size. If you find yourself having a hard time making these decisions, you may want to consider looking at what flowers are in season for the date of the wedding. This is an effective and cost-efficient place to begin making floral decisions.

Bridal Bouquet

The bridal bouquet is considered the most important floral element in the wedding. Here, less is more as large flowers can distract from the bride. The flowers in the bridal bouquet should be a delicate way to complement the beauty of the bride on her special day.

While brides often fall in love with hydrangeas, an experienced florist knows they are extremely delicate flowers that have a short life. White daisies and tall gladiolas offer a more stable and affordable choice that will remain fresh for the entire event. The life of picked flowers is short, but this brief existence can vary considerably depending on if the wedding event is inside or outside. In arid Las Vegas, hearty flowers are highly recommended especially when outside.

Find Inspiration & Set a Budget

If deciding to go with a professional florist, it is highly recommended to keep a file of inspirational pictures to showcase the type of flowers and look you are interested in achieving at your wedding. It is important that your florist knows what you are trying to accomplish and what your budget is going to be.

While some experts suggest budgeting up to 8 percent of the total wedding budget on flowers, it is up to the couple to decide what role flowers will play at their wedding. Florists are well aware that food and beverage considerations tend to hold more weight than flowers, and knowing how much money they have to work will ensure you get what you want while staying on budget.

Find Simple Ways to Save

Regardless of the floral budget, there are several cost-saving measures to consider. Flowers used in the ceremony should be designed to be repurposed as table centerpieces at the reception to save money and flowers. Bridesmaids flowers placed in glass vases can offer a refreshing splash of color to the cake table. Votive candles arranged with flowers are an excellent way to make the flowers go further as a design element in the room.

Also, use expensive flowers sparingly, and combine them with more inexpensive flowers for a varied mix. Be mindful that some flowers, such as lilies have strong scents, while other such as Gerber daisies have none. An experienced professional florist will be able to guide you through the decision-making process for selecting flowers with complementary scents.

While flowers are certainly not the most important decision when planning a wedding, they play a vital role, and should be carefully considered. As it is a common tradition for guests to take the centerpieces home at the end of the wedding event, spending a little extra for table centerpieces will provide guests with a lovely final parting gift to remember your event after your special day.