Flowers Will Enhance Beauty Anywhere
By Sally Manglicmot, creator of Wedding’s a Breeze
Wedding Planning Products.

Flowers at your wedding will enhance the beauty at the ceremony, for the bridesmaids, the reception tables and as centerpieces.  If you have a limited budget, bring out the beauty with bright, colorful selections--even small bunches can brighten any table or room. If you have an unlimited budget, place flowers anywhere and everywhere possible for a stunning yet sophisticated effect.

The Millennium Bride and Groom want bold, colorful flowers—yellows, oranges, reds, bright blues and pinks— and every bright color in-between (out with pastels)—perfect for Spring and Summer. Fall and Winter colors include rich, dark purples and reds surrounded by hardy leaves and berries with a velvet ribbon on the stem. The Bride prefers the just-picked look made popular by Martha Stewart. The bouquet can contain one type of flower which can look stunning, or a mixed bouquet of seasonal favorites.

Flowers are needed at the ceremony and the reception. The wedding attendants and relatives that usually wear or carry flowers include the Bride and Groom, of course, the Bridesmaids and Ushers, the flower girl, possibly a corsage for the mothers and boutonnières for the fathers. 

The flowers you select from a professional florist will be incredibly beautiful. If you are on a tight budget and decide to buy and design the flower arrangements yourself, please do your homework first. Flowers are a fragile product demanding a specific environment to thrive. A bouquet of wilted roses may require you to have your brother run to the store and purchase a vibrant bunch.

Here are some hints on selecting the right floral arrangements:

• Take samples of your color theme (swatches) with you to the florist.

• Describe you vision; bring pictures from magazines if you found a favorite.

• Describe the size of the room, the windows, and the lighting.

• Some flowers contain pollen and natural dye that can stain fabric. Ask if the florist can remove these, if any.

• Consider the scent of the flowers, whether it is a part of the attendants’ bouquets or the centerpiece. Some people may be extra sensitive to strong perfumed flowers. Some of those include carnations, daphne odora, gardenia, genista, jasmine, stargazer especially in the evening, and wisteria.

• Since many florists provide for weddings, some have accessories you may need, such as arches, benches, candles, runners, gazebos, etc.

• Discuss the environment for the flowers (room air-conditioned during summer; centerpieces placed on outside tables without shade, etc.)

• Don’t forget a special vase with water to keep the Bride’s bouquet fresh as long as possible, especially if you decide to preserve them