Your Bridal Bouquet

How simple and sweet it would be to go out into a garden in full bloom and pick a beautiful posy of fresh flowers for your bridal bouquet. Unfortunately, society dictates more sophistication for a special occasion such as a wedding ceremony, but that doesn’t meant there are no other options available. You don’t have to spend a fortune at an exclusive floral boutique, and you don’t have to import out-of-season tulips from Holland for an exorbitant price.

Co-ordination

The most important consideration is that your bridal bouquet co-ordinate with the theme, color scheme and style of your wedding. Obviously, it wouldn’t do to have an Asian-inspired posy if your theme is medieval. A traditional wedding requires traditional flowers. A thoroughly modern occasion deserves contemporary arrangements.

Color

Just because you will be wearing white, cream or ivory, doesn’t mean your bridal bouquet has to be in pastel colors. Offset the pale subtlety of your gown with a magnificent arrangement of vivid flowers. Echo the color of the petals with your nail polish or lipstick, or perhaps a gemstone in a choker or necklace. Tie in the hues of the flowers with the color scheme of the decorations, dresses and men’s ties.

Don’t be afraid to mix purple and orange, green and pink. Consult your florist about your desire for ‘something different’ and your bridal bouquet will echo your outside-the-square personality.

A rose by any other name

While roses remain one of the most popular bridal bouquet flowers, along with lilies and orchids, there are no rules to dictate that you can’t use a world of other species. Sunflowers are perfect for a casual, outdoor wedding and they lend a vibrance that brings smiles to all faces. Asters and daisies are reminiscent of happy childhoods, lavender emits a wonderful fragrance and hyacinths can be dramatic and eye-catching.

Size matters

In past decades, long, cascading bridal bouquets were popular. The more recent trend is towards simplicity and not allowing the flowers to overwhelm the other elements. Try sticking to a size of bouquet no larger than your head, to keep things in balance.

Real or fake?

Depending on where your wedding will be held, and the availability of fresh flowers, you might opt for fake ones instead. Or, you might simply prefer a bridal bouquet that will be as beautiful in twenty years as it is on your wedding day. Silk arrangements are very convincing these days, and you can even buy wood roses, created from wood shavings that are curled into rose petal-like shapes and colored to resemble real roses.

One-stop shops

You can save money on the floral elements of your wedding if you order everything from one supplier. Choose a company that does excellent work in bridal bouquets and that can also provide table centerpieces, arbors, corsages, buttonhole flowers and hair decorations. By ordering everything from one florist, you not only economize but you also ensure that all the flowers are supplied as a batch and there will be less likelihood of any noticeable color variation.

When you order your bridal bouquet and other floral arrangements, make sure you are dealing with a reputable company who will deliver as promised. The last thing you want on your wedding day is complications. Since the flowers are an item that you don’t get to see until the actual day, you want to be sure that they will arrive and be as you ordered.