Ideas For Doing Your Own Weddings Flowers, Artificial Or Fresh – When to Use a Florist

Submitted by Michelle O’Connor
Doing Your Own Flowers Can be Complicated. Make Sure You Know What You Are Getting Into!

There are many reasons you may want to go with do-it-yourself wedding flowers… the number one reason is that they typically can save you a chunk of cash.  With that in mind, florists are professionals at their trade, and, while that gorgeous cascade bouquet might look simple to you, it was quite complex to create! Before you attempt this on your own, be sure you have some talent in this area, a good amount of time and a lot of patience in order for you to successfully do your own wedding flowers

Before you begin, decide which wedding flowers you will make on your own and which you will hire help for. While you can make them all, you may want to consider having some help with some of the larger or more complicated pieces. During your planning phase, be sure you really do have the time to devote to this, weddings take a lot of planning! 

Some of the places you’ll need flowers:
The Ceremony- In many cases, you’ll want to provide wedding flowers for the altar of the church or the area in which you will be married. You may also want to decorate the pews of the church or the area near the entry. Make sure your flower girls has her petals. Be sure that your location will allow you to provide you own flowers, some will want you to purchase theirs.  Remember, the number one rule is that YOU like any wedding decoration supplies you use. Your Bridesmaids- Decide if you want their bouquets to match yours, be smaller versions of yours, or be completely different. Will they have fresh flowers or artificial ones? Your Groomsmen- Don’t leave out the guys! They will need lapel flowers. We suggest you hire a florist for these, they are NOT as easy as they look. The Wedding Reception- Check with your reception location to make sure you can provide your own, then, put up some large displays around the cake table, at the entrances and on the tables. It is helpful to look up some photos of receptions, then, decide which areas you think MUST have flowers
If you do opt for artificial flowers, be sure to check for sales at your local crafts stores. If you go with fresh cut flowers, you will save money if you select varieties that are in season at the time of your wedding.
Michelle O’Connor has been in the wedding industry for over 8 years and has coordinated hundreds of weddings. See her link for more tips on ideas for theme wedding decorations.

Wedding Flowers – How to Pick the Perfect Petal?

Submitted by Sherry L Harris
Alright ladies and gentlemen, the engagement ring is on the finger, invitations are in the mail and your wedding is fast approaching. You grab your face, let out a sigh and realize you have wedding jitters. On top of all of that you start freaking out because you still need to choose wedding flowers. Not just any flowers because my friend this is no ordinary day. It is your wedding day and even if you have been married 5 times before you still want “your day” to be perfect.

Whether you are looking for traditional or contemporary bridal bouquets, corsages, boutonnières and/or centerpieces below are some great ideas that should help calm your jitters.

Floral Arrangements

Floral arrangements for the bridal party, ceremony and wedding reception can mirror your personality and taste. Whether you are planning a small and simple to elegant and extravagant wedding a professional florist can match the unique style and color scheme of your wedding.

Always choose flowers that are fresh and adapted to the season. When picking flowers make sure the petals are firm and upright. Finally, there are three styles of arrangements in the world of floral arrangements. Drum roll please:

1) Oriental Flower Arrangements: The accent is on the lines in the floral arrangement.
2) Traditional Flower Arrangements: This arrangement focuses on the use of many flowers.
3) Modern Flower Arrangements: These floral arrangements are based on the taste of the florist. It resembles oriental more than the traditional style of arranging flowers.

Roses

For a timeless and classic wedding, roses will always maximize the scene. Roses are very popular because of the high degree of fragrance and beauty they possess. They are called the “queen of flowers”. It is often associated with love, and it is the flower of June, the wedding month. In addition, roses have more than a hundred species.

The origin of the rose dates back to pre-historic times. In fact there is a fossilized rose in the Smithsonian Museum. The rose was declared our National Floral Emblem in 1986 by President Ronald Reagan.

To keep things simple on the big day just remember there are only three primary types people love for weddings:

Miniatures: These roses are beautiful and are ideal for small spaces like back yards and balconies.

Hybrid Teas: These roses have a beautiful shape and are available in a wide variety of colors and shades. And, they have huge blooms.

Floribundas: These relatively smaller flowers with smaller blooms are usually in clusters and come in many colors.

Monochromatic Bridal Bouquets

Monochromatic bridal bouquets will express your modern and bold style. Arrangements featuring only one type of flower (such as all roses, tulips, lilies or iris) are in style and may even include different colors of the same flower. So, go ahead and be bold pick a color, any color and stick with it! If your favorite color is yellow, for example, ask your florist for a fresh bouquet of different flowers in the same color range.

When it comes to choosing wedding flowers, there is a thin line between elated excitement and nervous tension that sometimes reaches the level of being called “stress.” Just remember to breath and let your professional florist handle the rest.

If anxiety over your upcoming wedding is taking a toll on your body, you are constantly having trouble sleeping, feel stressed out and can’t seem to stay calm; you need to stop right now. Don’t be shy or afraid to admit the stress is getting to you. See a doctor who can help get rid of the anxiety before the big day or try natural remedies that can help calm you down and get some rest. You will be surprised that after you calm down and rest, you will be as good as new and ready to finish planning your big day and ordering your wedding flowers with confidence and ease.

Wedding Flowers Basics – 5 Easy Steps to Planning Your Wedding Floral Arrangements

Submitted by Cori Russell
Aside from the bouquet you spring for each Mother’s Day, chances are you’re a novice when it comes to flowers. However, now you are a bride-to-be planning your dream wedding, and suddenly you must make decisions on bouquets, boutonnieres, reception centerpieces and ceremony arrangements. Overwhelming? Yes. Fortunately, this guide will walk you through this process so you can enjoy planning your wedding flowers without wilting from the stress. Read through these useful tips gathered from experts in the field.

Discover Your Style

Close your eyes and envision the perfect look to your wedding. Will it be formal or casual? Elaborate or simple? Bold or neutral colors? Are you a traditionalist in favor of roses or lilies, or do you favor a more contemporary floral theme incorporating grasses, fruits and herbs? Your wedding flowers are more than eye candy; they set the ambiance for the entire event. Knowing your wedding style is a start in the right direction, because you’ll want to choose blossoms that match the formality of your wedding day.

Pick Your Palette

Your color scheme should flow directly from your desired style. Today’s floral trends embrace an anything goes mentality, from wedding flowers in traditional whites and pastels to modern and adventurous dark hues and citrus shades. Flowers in matching shades or cool contrasts are breathtaking, but make sure they coordinate with your overall wedding theme. Choose your wedding colors accordingly, and your wedding will express your spirit. If you are still not sure where to begin, bring a bridesmaid dress fabric swatch when you meet with your florist and choose coordinating shades.

Go With the Season

You know your floral theme and you’ve chosen your color scheme. When deciding on the specific blooms your want in your arrangements, be sure to consider the season in which you are marrying. Consult this seasonal wedding flowers guide for help.

Set Your Floral Budget

Let’s face it: Determining how much wedding flowers cost is probably not the aspect of your wedding you’ve been dreaming of since grade school. You may see your floral budget as the biggest nemesis between you and your wedding flowers. If you plan wisely, however, you should have enough money to create the floral theme of your desires. Expect to spend about 8-10% of your overall budget on wedding flowers.

Hire a Florist

Even the most creative and artistic bride will benefit from a florist’s professional capabilities. Your wedding day will be full of activity, and you won’t want to spend vital hours fumbling with the wiring of each bouquet. A florist is not necessarily a budget breaker; a good one should be able to work with any floral budget.

Now that you’ve been prepped with the basics, this complete wedding flowers guide will walk you the rest of the way towards planning your floral and decor scheme.

Question about wedding flowers?

Submitted by pang
Hi. I’m trying to get an idea of how much money I saved (if any) by doing my own wedding flowers (middle to high quality silks). Anybody out there (brides, florists, etc) who can make an educated guess of how much the following list of items would have cost me if I had used a traditional wedding florist? All of the flowers used were roses, and some filler flowers and fall leaves were used as accents.

1 very large round bride bouquet with 2-3 dozen large open roses, fall leaves, and filler flowers, with handle fully wrapped in satin ribbon

2 large round maid of honor bouquets with 5 open roses and 10 rose buds, few fall leaves, some filler flowers, handles fully wrapped in satin ribbon.

5 medium sized bridesmaids bouquets containing 4 open roses, and 8 rosebuds, few fall leaves, some filler flower handles fully wrapped in satin ribbon.

3 mother wrist corsages, 2-3 roses each

11 single rose bud boutonnieres

1 groom boutonniere with 2 rosebuds, accent flowers

16 pew markers, containing satin bows and 3 roses each

4 medium sized church arrangements containing about 2 dozen roses each

2 small swags and 2 garlands, 4 additional decoration bouquets
FYI, I already have the flowers. The list above is everything that I have and have already done. The bouquets look real from a few feet away. Actually, a few months ago I bought a bouquet of fresh orange roses from the grocery store and then compared them to my silks and they looked extremely similar…actually the silks looked better because their color was more vibrant. Honestly, flowers weren’t all that important to me…I mean I want them to be nice but I didn’t want the flowers to be one of the biggest expenses of my wedding. There were other places I would rather spend money, on things that mean more to me. So that is why I went with silks. But I’ve just been wondering what I would have paid ballpark for all of those fresh roses if I had gone through a florist.

Easy Ideas For Your Wedding Flowers

Submitted by Amanda Jane
Wedding flowers make the event. They are the most conspicuous decoration at the wedding. Every guest will see the flowers first before anything else. For this reason, it is essential that you put a lot of efforts into the decoration. You will want to impress your guests. But coming by glamorous floral decorations takes time. If you are hiring a florist, the job is pretty easy but if you are doing it on your own, you will need to consider many things. We put together some simple ways that you can create elegant floral decorations for your wedding ceremony hall and the reception venue.

Try to get your arrangements in bigger shapes. Often the larger they are, the more beautiful they will look. Again, by hanging higher in the hall, you create an elegant overhead decoration that everyone can see. The sides of the pews are another area you can achieve beautiful floral decorations with. If you are a slender figure you can try on sleek flowers with long flat petals. They make great bouquets. For the centerpieces, you can pick blooming orchids and place on bowls or plates. If you are holding your event in Winter, ivory colored roses make elegant decor for both the wedding ceremony hall and the reception venue.

Getting the flowers right makes half the wedding celebration. Your guests are able to interact with the surroundings well, enjoy the day and particulate in the vent. You will take care to make sure that whatever you do blends with the season, the theme of the wedding and the personality of the couple. You will want to adopt both live and artificial plants depending on your budget and availability. If you are hiring a florist, ensure that she understands your needs fully and can factor in colors and flower types that specially appeal to you.

Elegant and unusual flowers for a fabulous wedding

Submitted by brides
Florist Jodi Shalgosky takes us through the choices you have when choosing your wedding flowers and shows us some beautiful, but different, bouquets and table arrangements. Visit Bridesmagazine.co.uk for more tips and inspiration. The video is brought to you by Brides Magazine and Atlantic Multimedia Ltd. … bride brides wedding flowers bouquet table arrangements

Seasonal Wedding Flowers – Get the Perfect Seasonal Wedding Flowers

Submitted by Wendy Pan
Many women envision their weddings way before being asked to get married. They know what kind of dress they want, what kind of cake, where they want their wedding, and what kind of flowers the want for their wedding. Finding out about seasonal wedding flowers could definitely help in the long run when it comes to time, money and aggravation.

Flowers should be one the first things planned when discussing your wedding and decorations, especially when opting for fresh flowers. The good new is that most flowers are good in and out of seasons due to the many imports and florists that are growing these types of flowers for these types of purposes. But the best way to get the perfect seasonal wedding flowers is of course to get them in season.

These types of flowers are usually around yearly with no problem getting them fresh: The Rose, Arthurian, Orchids, Tropical flowers, Lilies and Gerber Daisies. When getting married in the winter a lot of brides get worried that they will not be able to find the exact flower that they are wanting for their wedding. Usually orchids, tropical flowers are the most common and most used when it comes to needing fresh flowers for your wedding.

Spring flowers are some of the easiest and most beautiful flowers that you can find. Spring is usually when nature comes back to life and everything is growing and looking beautiful again. Peonies are one of the best seasonal wedding flowers that you can find. The most popular of spring flowers would be the Lilly of the Valley. It is one of the most expensive flowers that can be used in wedding and usually are more dominantly found during the months of April and May.

Summer flowers are some of the most popular seasonal wedding flowers. There is a huge amount of flowers that are available. Usually Irises have their most beautiful months during early spring through summer. But the most popular flower that you will ever find being used would be the rose. You can usually find them used in just about every type of bouquet and centerpeice that is made. They come in such a variety of colors so it easier to use them with combinations of flowers and have on the most beautiful arrangements ever.

Fall is of course another season that can bring a lot of changes when it comes to getting married. This is another time of the year for finding some of the most beautiful seasonal wedding flowers possible. You have so many different types of colors that range from orange to red.

Finding the perfect flower for your wedding day should not be that hard. There are so many different options that a person can choose from. Florists can also get flowers from wholesalers so that basically means you can find whatever flower that tickles your fancy but it may come with a price. Shopping around for the best deal possible is the best way to go. That way you will be saving on all the hassle and irritation that can be brought on by not getting exactly what you are looking for.
Wendy Pan is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about seasonal wedding flowers, please visit Choosing Wedding Flowers Shop for current articles and discussions.

About Wedding Flowers and Decorations

Submitted by Basil Kakis
Bouquets
Your bridal bouquet can come about having the status of much of a main detail having the status of your wedding dress. Come about daring! Our florist says, “Most individuals avail yourself of monochromatic shades while matching flowers to dresses, but the opposite shade on the color steering wheel better complements the dress. Afterward, avail yourself of flower accents with the aim of match the dress color to really have the bouquet burst with color.”

Our authority as well recommends, “Make certain to inquire about what is innovative and trendy.” What is trendy at the moment? Green is still very trendy, but right now takes middle stage as a substitute of a sustaining role of other colors. Pale sorbet shades are additionally making a comeback. Pinks rebuff longer dominate the landscape, but are moving on in place of peaches, yellows and oranges.

While hand-tied bouquets are still in prohibitive demand, brides at present ask for a combination of styles. Weeping hand-tied bouquets, called pseudo-cascades, make use of elements from both designs to create gorgeous bouquets with the aim of clearly spill on top of your hands. Avail yourself of berries, feathers, crystals, wire and leaves accents. We also suggests mixing contemporary and traditional blossoms, such having the status of orchids with peonies, roses with anthurium, or else even auburn with tulips. It possibly will come about counterintuitive, but the result effect is beautiful.

Personalize your bouquet and avail yourself of it to distinguish your story. Avail yourself of grandma’s antique wedding dress lace or else beading to wrap the stem. Pin an heirloom brooch or else weave a strand of pearls otherwise a locket into the center to fulfill your “something old” or “something borrowed.” To become it that much more individual, tuck something special within the bouquet intended for your eyes just.

Decorations
Decorating is one of the areas you can either get a expert otherwise you can do-it-yourself. If you wish to deal with each assign yourself, keep in thought that many of the decor must only be set up the sunlight hours of the wedding. This additional stress may not be worth the slight savings inside the decor finances. If you do decide to make up of the decorations by hand, it is still useful to consult with the experts. Many professional decorators are more than happy to sell you materials, rent out supplies, and even teach a couple tricks of the trade. Once you have your plan, seek approval from management at the ceremony and reception venues.

Cost chopping ideas:

Double Duty: Make use of the ceremony flowers to enhance the dais or escort card and gift tables at the reception.

Less is more: Consider using raised centerpieces in 1/3 or 1/2 of the guest table centerpieces. Use low less expensive centerpieces on the balance of the tables. This gives the look of a profusion of flowers for less cost. The guests walk in to see high flowers, low flowers. Just beautiful!

The Ceremony
The entry to your ceremony location is the first glimpse your guests will catch a glimpse of of your wedding. You can make use of fresh flower wreaths and planters to elegantly adorn the doorways. Even simple bows on the railings and doors provide a festive element. Use fresh flower arrangements, balloons, tulle, and candles or other soft lighting to create the environment while guests line up to sign the guest book.

Beautify the altar with flower arrangements or else avail yourself of pedestals to frame the area with flowers and other decorations. We often recommend using two flower arrangements on either side of the altar. As a cost saving option, these displays can later on be used to enhance the reception location.

You will want to especially focus on the aisle. Your goal is to transform the aisle. We’d like to point out the single moment the bride and groom catch a glimpse sight of each other is often times the walk down the aisle.

If you are the bride, this is when all your guests rise up and look just at you; it ought to be an ethereal environment. You can line the aisle with the heads of blossoms, candles or bows and present the flower girl petals to scatter on her walk down the aisle. Tulle, flowers and custom bows promote a elegant way of denoting reserved chairs at the ceremony.

The Reception
Do not limit beautiful arrangements simply for your ceremony. Pomander balls and topiaries are beautifully elegant adornments for both inside and outside.

Guest table centerpieces are most imperative in support of setting the tone of the reception. Guests sit at the tables for several hours and the centerpieces ought to be an eye-catching conversation piece. They are additionally a way to convey the couple’s interests. Candles, balloons and flower petals are continuously classic centerpieces accents, but consider a number of other ideas: If you and your fiancé are both outdoor enthusiasts, your florist can incorporate tall grasses into the design if you both have a contemporary way about you, create something using orchids and river stone to your designs. We also recommend mixing it up. Make use of two to three various versions of your design; it gives depth and provides visual attention.

In addition to your guest tables, you additionally have the dais table, cake table display and gift table. Try to follow through the same theme all the way through the reception. We suggest using plenty of candle illumination on the dais table. Really try to overdo it. The outcome is a really magical reception venue.

Ice Sculptures
Ice sculptures are a dramatic way to enhance your reception. Sculptors can form these memorable creations into almost any statue you want, from a bride and groom dancing to a monogram of the Bride and Groom’s initials. These ice sculptures are surprisingly not expensive for the effect they accomplish.

Brides Wedding Flowers

Submitted by Simone Icough
Choosing the flowers is the fun bit of planning your wedding.

There are so many things to decide about when choosing your wedding flowers, including:

Choosing Your Bridal Bouquet Gent’s Boutonnieres (buttonholes) Deciding on Your Flower Colors Flowers for the Ceremony Reception Wedding Flowers Centerpieces Artificial and Silk Flowers Tropical Wedding Flowers

 

A lot of the preparation of the flowers is done the day before and the morning of the wedding when the couple and their families are at their busiest and most stressed. Therefore unless the floral displays are very simple it is wise to have them professionally prepared by a wedding florist.

When deciding on a florist seek personal recommendations from friends and recently married acquaintances. If you are unable to decide, it is best to visit several and look at their displays. Most florists will allow you visit them at a time when they have prepared flowers for other weddings so that you can see the quality of their work. You should also try to select a florist who actually does wedding flowers for a living, not just run a florist shop. Remember it is is your special day, so find a florist who shows passion, love and commitment for what they do as this way you know you are more likely to be getting the best.

Make sure your florist can work within your budget. Decide how much you can afford, then ask your florist for suggestions within this amount. The price of wedding flowers depends on type and availability and the size of the bouquets and decorations. If you are on a tight budget, use flowers that will be in season at the time of your wedding. Or keep things simple: a hand-tied posy of roses looks stunning and is less expensive than an elaborate bouquet.

There are several classic shapes of bouquet and good florists should have a selection of photographs to demonstrate them. The florist should also be able to advise on which flowers match the chosen shape bearing in mind the colour scheme and seasonal availability.

The choice of your wedding bouquet depends of the style of your gown. Bouquets can range from the just-picked-from-the-garden look, to the tailored-stylised formal look. You should always get a sense of balance between your gown and your bouquet. A fresh-picked bouquet from the garden may look out of place with a very formal gown. The bouquet size should be proportion to the bride. Too large a bouquet would simply overpower the bride and clutter her elegant dress.

Buttonholes will match the bride’s bouquet and blend with the dark lapels of the groom’s wedding attire. Usually the groom, best man, ushers and fathers of the bride and groom should wear buttonholes although other important guests such as the grandparents may also wear them.

Corsages are normally larger than a buttonhole and can be made of the same or similar flowers as those in the bride’s bouquet. The mothers of the bride and groom will wear corsages and so may the grandmothers and other important guests. Corsages can also be pinned to the lapel as with a buttonhole or alternatively worn on the wrist or attached to a handbag or purse.

Some reception venues such as hotels and restaurants often include wedding floral arrangements as part of their overall wedding service. Others may make a separate charge. A lot of venues will allow the couple to provide their own wedding flowers and floral decorations. The venue management should be consulted to arrange a convenient time to set up the displays which will not inconvenience the catering arrangements.

The wedding flower decorations usually consist of a large display just inside the entrance which is seen by guests as they enter the reception room, and arrangements on each of the tables for guests. The top table occupied by the newlyweds usually has a more ornate wedding flower arrangement. Large halls and marquees usually provide plain backgrounds and therefore wedding flower arrangements should be spectacular and large to catch the eye. Decorating with potted plants is a good idea as they can subsequently be used in the newlyweds new home.

Wedding Florist Marbella. Beautiful arrangements and bouquets for the bride and bridesmaids, buttonholes for the groom, vehicle and church decorations.