When it comes to wedding flowers and decorations, the key to
pulling off a look that works really lies in the planning. Since
there are no rules when it comes to wedding flowers, it really
is all about what the couple, well mainly the bride, wants and
can afford. Decorating options are limited only by the
imagination and even the most outrageous floral images can be
made to fit practically any budget, if you’re willing to
research the many options and ideas that are out there.

>From do-it-yourself arrangements to using silk floral
arrangements that can even be rented for the occasion, planning
your wedding flowers can be a lot of fun. Involving your bridal
party will help generate ideas you might not have thought about
and besides, helping the bride is one of their responsibilities
so why not? But forget about the groom, though. The most he’ll
probably care about is that you stick within the amount that has
been budgeted.

You want to give yourself plenty of time so begin planning the
wedding flowers at least 6 to 12 months prior to the wedding
date. The flowers are one of those things you’ll want to
consider while you are choosing the wedding attire because most
brides want the floral arrangements to complement the overall
color scheme and theme of the wedding. Bridal magazines are full
of pictures of bouquets so that’s a good place to go for ideas.
Also think about the types of flowers that will be in season at
the time of your wedding. Choosing flowers that are readily
available is one way to keep costs under control.

Besides boutonnires and bouquets for the wedding party, you can
also make flowers and decorations part of the wedding ceremony
and reception. Pew bows, arrangements for the altar, head table,
cake table and gift table, as well as centerpieces for all the
guest tables should be considered. These will definitely add to
your costs, but they’re also areas where you can really get
creative.

If cost-control is an issue, why not have the bridal bouquets do
double-duty as head table decorations or perhaps the gift or
cake table? Once the formal photographs are over, no one will be
carrying their bouquets around anyway. Or why not use less
expensive balloons or candles as centerpieces? Pew bows are very
easy to make, even for ‘craft-challenged’ brides. Another idea
is to add more ‘filler’ to your floral arrangements by using
more greenery, baby’s breath and tulle.

As you can see, it really is all in the planning. Once you’ve
got the wedding flowers and decorations figured out, you just
need to find a florist capable of turning your thoughts into
reality. It’s important to select a florist early on because
there’s a limit to how much even the best florist can handcraft.
Go over the contract with a fine-toothed comb before signing to
make sure the number and type of arrangements, including the
flowers being used, are clearly specified along with delivery
details. Record the deposit amount and delineate the payment
schedule.