Here are some things to keep in mind when deciding what wedding flowers you need.

* Bride’s bouquet: The most talked about wedding flowers in the whole ceremony. This one has to match your dress and other accessories so decide accordingly. Also, if you intend to preserve your wedding bouquet, then ask the florist for a smaller or similar version of the original wedding bouquet. You can use this for the tossing.
* Floral hairpieces: If you intend to wear flowers in your hair instead of a wedding veil, place an order with the florist well in advance. You may even want to try out the hairstyle a week before the wedding.
* Attendants’ flowers: It is the bride’s duty to coordinate the wedding flowers for the attendants. The maid of honor and the bridesmaids generally carry bouquets that complement the wedding bouquet.
* Flower girl: As the name suggests, wedding flowers are very much required for the youngest member of the wedding party. You can have the flower girl carry a basket full of rose petals, a nosegay or a simple floral and ribbon wreath.
* Corsages: It is wedding tradition to present wedding flowers to the mothers and grandmothers of the bride and groom in the form of corsages. The corsages can match the wedding bouquet, the wedding decoration or the dresses worn by the women in the wedding party. Make sure you ask beforehand whether the women would like corsages to be pinned to their dresses or purses or to wear on their wrist.
* Boutonnieres: The groom’s boutonniere almost always matches the wedding bouquet. The best man, groomsmen and ushers also wear boutonnieres, but different from the groom. The fathers and grandfathers of the groom and bride receive boutonnieres as well.
* Ceremony wedding flowers: You will need to check with the coordinator at the ceremony site before you place any orders for wedding flowers for the ceremony. You generally have the option of decorating the beginning of the pews, the aisle and the arches with wedding flowers. You may also want wedding flowers at the guest book table. A beautiful tradition is to pass around rose petals to all the guests to toss at the bride and groom when they are finally introduced as man and wife.
* Reception wedding flowers: Wedding flowers to be used as part of the wedding decoration for your reception will be determined entirely by the theme of your wedding reception. In general, it is common to have some kind of wedding flowers at each table. The buffet table also needs to be decorated with wedding flowers. One way to cost cut on wedding flowers is to use the attendants’ bouquets to decorate the cake table.

As beautiful as flowers make the occasion, remember to order only as many wedding flowers as you can afford. Also, a great way to share your joy with others is to arrange to have the wedding flowers sent to an orphanage or old age home the day after your wedding. Not only will this bring a smile to the faces of those who receive them, it will bring a big smile to you knowing you passed on your joy to others.

Copyright Andrea Britt, 2005. All rights reserved.

Reprint Rights: Feel free to use this article on your website or online publication. Please remember that you must include the author’s copyright, resource box and live URL links, exactly as shown below, to the author’s website at the end of the article.

Andrea Britt is owner of http://www.CharmingWeddings.com where you can find elegant, unique wedding favors, bridal shower favors, and wedding planning tips for your wedding reception and bridal shower.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrea_Britt

Congratulations! You are engaged!

You are now on your wonderful yet often frustrating journey from engagement to wedding.

It is a journey that will take you through many avenues and some forks in the road where you’ll have to stop, consider and choose a path.

The road we’ll take together is the one leading to the “fork in the road” to wedding flowers selection.

Like most brides and grooms, Bar-Bat Mitzvah parents, the parents of a quinceniera or sweet 16, event organizers for a work place or for a special occasion you are probably not a flowers mavens. Yet, all of a sudden you need to consider not only what flowers to use at your wedding, special celebration or event, but also what arrangements, for which designations and whether to use fresh or silk – satin flowers. This is quite a feat.

Hopefully this article will shed some light and help you decide how to proceed.

Today, you can select to proceed to the Fresh Flower road or you may opt for the Silk Flowers road.

Before you decide, however you must weigh the benefits and drawbacks you will encounter on either road traveled.

About Fresh Flowers

Traditionally, fresh flowers dominated the wedding and celebration receptions because the scent of fresh flowers fill the air with sweetness and empower the emotions.
However, fresh flowers are extremely expensive yet fade and wilt after just a few days.

Before you decide, you may wish to consider the following
# You may host guests who are allergic to fresh flowers. They may spend your wedding sneezing and with red, itchy eyes.

# You must order fresh flowers long before the wedding date. Yet, by their nature, you cannot see them until the florist brings them to your wedding site. Once done, with no time to spare, whether you like them or not, you are stuck with the bouquets, flower arrangements, and other floral accessories as created by the florist.

# Fresh flowers do not last long. They fade and wilt. If you want them to become keepsakes, you must have them preserved. Preserving them necessitates getting them to a reliable flower preserver and this is often a costly process.

# Fresh flowers are seasonal. So, if you are willing to go with flowers that are available at the season of your wedding you may pay less than if you opt for more exotic flowers that are out of season.

# Many flowers that grow in greenhouses or imported from other parts of the world can be available to you out of season. However, they are often very expensive.

Brides and grooms like to know the meanings of the flowers they choose. So we added the ones we know. Additionally the need to know which flowers are seasonal for their wedding date.

Following is a list of seasonal flowers and some of their meanings.

AUTUMN

Calla Lily: Magnificent beauty. Associated with the sixth wedding anniversary.

Chrysanthemum: Cheerfulness, optimism, rest, truth. Is the birth flower for November.

Chrysanthemum, red: I love

Chrysanthemum, white: Truth, loyal love

Dahlia: Instability. Associated with the fourteenth wedding anniversary

Daisy: Innocence, loyal love, associated with the fifth wedding anniversary.

Freesia

gladiolus: Strength of character, splendid beauty, is the birth flower for August.

Gypsophila

Hydrangea

Iris: Wisdom, faith, hope, valor, is associated with the twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.

Lily: Purity, modesty, Chinese emblem for mother, associated with the twentieth wedding anniversary.

Micklemas

Morning Glory

Orchid: Love, beauty, refinement, Chinese symbol for many children, long life is associated with twenty-eighth wedding anniversary

Rose, cabbage: Ambassador of love

Rose, red: Love

Rose, pink Grace, beauty

Rose, yellow: Friendship

WINTER

Calla Lily: Magnificent beauty. Associated with the sixth wedding anniversary.

Carnation: Fascination, distinction, divine love, is the birth flower for January.

Carnation, pink: A woman’s love, I’ll never forget you, mother’s love

carnation, red: my heart aches for you, fascination

Carnation, white: Innocence, faithfulness, sweet and lovely, pure love, ardent love, good luck. And motherhood

Chrysanthemum: Cheerfulness, optimism, rest, truth. Is the birth flower for November.

Chrysanthemum, red: I love

Chrysanthemum, white: Truth, loyal love

Forsythia

Freesia

Gentian

Gypsophila

Holly Berries:

Iris: Wisdom, faith, hope, valor, is associated with the twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.

Lily: Purity, modesty, Chinese emblem for mother, associated with the twentieth wedding anniversary.

Orchid: Love, beauty, refinement, Chinese symbol for many children, long life is associated with twenty-eighth wedding anniversary

Peony: happy life, happy marriage, good health, prosperity. Associated with the twelfth
Rose, cabbage: Ambassador of love

Rose, red: Love

Rose, pink:Grace, beauty

Rose, yellow : Friendship

wedding anniversary: Cheerfulness, optimism, rest, truth. Is the birth flower for November

Snowdrop

Stephanotis:

Winter Jasmine

SPRING

Amaryllis: Pride

Apple Bossums: Good fortune

Azalea

Bluebell: Constancy

Broom: Humility
Calla Lily: Magnificent beauty. Associated with the sixth wedding anniversary.
Camellia
Carnation: Fascination, distinction, divine love, is the birth flower for January.

Carnation, pink: A woman’s love, I’ll never forget you, mother’s love

carnation, red: my heart aches for you, fascination

Carnation, white: Innocence, faithfulness, sweet and lovely, pure love, ardent love, good luck. And motherhood
Cherry Blossom

Chrysanthemum: Cheerfulness, optimism, rest, truth. Is the birth flower for November.

Chrysanthemum, red: I love

Chrysanthemum, white: Truth, loyal love

Clematis

Cocus: Cheerfulness

Dffodil: new beginnings, yet, associated with the tenth wedding anniversary is the birth flower for March.

Dffodil, bunch: Joy, happiness.

Daisy: Innocence, loyal love, associated with the fifth wedding anniversary.

Forsythia

Freesia

Heather: wishes will come true.

Honeysuckle: Bonds of love

Iris: Wisdom, faith, hope, valor, is associated with the twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.
Jasmine: Grace

Lilac

Lily: Purity, modesty, Chinese emblem for mother, associated with the twentieth wedding anniversary.

Mimosa

Orchid: Love, beauty, refinement, Chinese symbol for many children, long life is associated with twenty-eighth wedding anniversary

Polyanthus

Primrose: I can’t live without you

Rhododendron

Rose, cabbage: Ambassador of love

Rose, red: Love

Rose, pink Grace, beauty

Rose, yellow: Friendship

Stephanotis

Tulip, red : My perfect lover, Reclamation of love

Waxflower

SUMMER

Aster: Variety, elegance, daintiness.

Azalea

Calla Lily: Magnificent beauty. Associated with the sixth wedding anniversary.

Carnation: Fascination, distinction, divine love, is the birth flower for January.

Carnation, pink: A woman’s love, I’ll never forget you, mother’s love

carnation, red: my heart aches for you, fascination

Carnation, white: Innocence, faithfulness, sweet and lovely, pure love, ardent love, good luck. And motherhood

Chrysanthemum: Cheerfulness, optimism, rest, truth. Is the birth flower for November.

Chrysanthemum, red: I love

Chrysanthemum, white: Truth, loyal love

Cornflower: Delicate

Daisy: Innocence, loyal love, associated with the fifth wedding anniversary.

Delphinium

Freesia

Fuschia

Gardenia : Ecstasy

Gladiolus: Strength of character, splendid beauty, is the birth flower for August.

Heather : Admiration, wishes will come true.

hollyhock: Ambition, fruitfulness, is associated with the thirteenth wedding anniversary.

Iris: Wisdom, faith, hope, valor, is associated with the twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.
Jasmine: Grace

Larkspur

Lilac

Lily: Purity, modesty, Chinese emblem for mother, associated with the twentieth wedding anniversary.

Lupin

Marigold

Orchid: Love, beauty, refinement, Chinese symbol for many children, long life is associated with twenty-eighth wedding anniversary

Peony: happy life, happy marriage, good health, prosperity. Associated with the twelfth wedding anniversary: Cheerfulness, optimism, rest, truth. Is the birth flower for November

Rhododendron

Rose, cabbage: Ambassador of love

Rose, red: Love

Rose, pink Grace, beauty

Rose, yellow: Friendship

Stock

Sweatpea

Sweet William

ABOUT SILK FLOWERS – SATIN FLOWERS

Today Silk and satin flowers are becoming more and more popular. With craftsmanship and high quality materials such as silk and satin, and the many applications creative brides and grooms find for them, many couples prefer the artificial flowers for their weddings. Let’s find out why.
# If you order your silk flowers from a professional, they will most probably look realistic. Some look so realistic in fact that unless you touch them you can not tell the difference. However, even if you spray them to emit the scent of the flower, the scent will evaporate after a while.
# When you choose silk flowers, you are not depended on the season and can get the flowers you want, in the colors you want, no matter how exotic and pay much less than fresh flowers.
# Silk or satin flowers will not fade, and will not wilt. Therefore, they become a lifetime keepsake without the trouble and expense of having them preserved. Your bouquet will always look the same as it did the day you walked down the aisle. If they get dusty, you can clean the dust off to restore their color and beauty.
# Silk flowers are not allergenic and will cause no one to go through your wedding sneezing and with red, itchy eyes.
# You can have peace of mind and be worry free when you order silk flowers because you can not only order them long before the wedding You are not stuck with the bouquets, flower arrangements, and other floral accessories as created by the designer. You can examine them and you can have corrections and changes made in plenty of time and go to your wedding knowing that your flowers are just as you want them.

Some brides feel that silk flowers are “not the real” thing and even when they look too real to be distinguished, when you touch them they just don’t “feel” like real flowers. Other brides prefer silk flowers. The choice is yours. With some information at hand, choose the road you wish to travel and whether it is Real Flowers or Silk Flowers, have a pleasant trip, beautiful wedding and a happy, blessed life together.

Nily Glaser, the CEO of A-wedding Day at: http://www.a-weddingday.com She writes important articles, and has presented workshops for wedding professionals all over the USA.
To read more of her articles CLICK HERE Her web site is very popular for its discount wedding gifts, bridal accessories, print your own invitations, favors and the very unique items offered including the exclusive line of wedding Accessories By Nily.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nily_Glaser

Spring Flowers
Spring is the season of re-birth and new beginnings. There are many wedding flower choices perfect for springtime – daffodils, tulips, hyacinths and soft colored roses in pink and peach. Many of these flowers add eye-appealing interest to your bouquet. These blooms are also closely linked to meanings of happiness in marriage and romance. Purple, pink and white tulips are a favorite for spring because of their simplistic elegance. Adding other romantic flowers such as peonies and lily-of-the-valley to your bouquet will wow your guests.

Summer Flowers
Summer is the time when a large variety of flowers are at hand. Vibrant colors are usually used in bouquets and flower centerpieces. Accenting these flowers with white roses or orchids, can be a great way to spice things up, but always keep your wedding on the traditional side. Flowers that are abundant during summer are: snapdragons, sunflowers, zinnias, dahlias, daisies, and cockscomb to name a few. Summer wedding flowers usually come in a wide variety of shades to complement your wedding theme. These dazzling and colorful bouquets are great for conveying messages of youthful love and everlasting admiration.

Fall Flowers
Colors that are usually associated with fall are orange, yellow, brown and darker shades of red. This color combination can make for a beautiful and eye-catching wedding bouquet. Look for flowers like hydrangea, sun flower, asters and chrysanthemums. For personalized touches in your fall flower bouquet, adding green or darker brown leaves will help add an earthy, natural vibe. Adding texture to your arrangement is also easy – consider using berries, which are bursting with color. This will give your bouquet the ultimate fall appearance. If your heart is still set on summer flowers, it’s no problem! Many flowers are still grown through the fall months and can easily be added to your bridal bouquet.

Winter Flowers
Winter is a time of formality, with soft shades of blues, lavender and white commonly appearing in flower arrangements. The simplicity of flowers like orchids and amaryllis have a striking elegance during the winter months. Flowers that are abundant during this time of year are orchids, sweet pea, camellia, grape hyacinth and viburnum. Shades of blues and purples have a calm and soothing appearance and have the ability to be both restful and majestic. Fit for a queen, these lovely wintry colors will grab attention and love from all your guests.

There still are many options for wedding flowers that are available year-round. Flowers such as roses, aster, calla lilies, carnations, delphiniums, iris, orchids, gerbera and chrysanthemums can be purchased without worry of becoming too costly. If you are provided with the option of buying your wedding flowers in bulk, take advantage of it. Most times, these prices are cheaper compared to the amount of flowers you get. Especially if you are doing your wedding flowers yourself, it can assist you in making sure you stay under budget. Adding pop and shine to your flower bouquet is easy when you incorporate fresh, seasonal flowers!

Janna Hagan is the owner of http://www.special-flower-delivery.com/wedding-flowers.htm where you can find a complete guide to finding the perfect wedding flowers, from bouquets to arrangements. Learn how to hire the right florist and save money on your wedding floral designs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Janna_L_Hagan

Hand-Tied Bouquets
These bouquets have a nature inspired look and are perfect for summer weddings that take place outside, such as in a garden or on the beach. These flower blooms are simply tied together, usually with a fancy ribbon or bow. These wedding flower bouquets are suitable for almost any setting, whether formal or informal. Adding textured flowers such as roses, peonies and chrysanthemum can add an extra elegance to your bouquet. If you are looking for a more personalized hand-tied bouquet, instead of using a ribbon, use meaningful objects such as your mother’s old wedding dress, etc. These bouquets are eye-pleasing and classical.

Cascade Bouquets
Cascade wedding bouquets are designed to resemble a “waterfall” of blossoms. Although these bouquets are beautiful to look at, they are usually only complementing to taller brides and dresses with a simpler design. Since the bouquet itself is larger, it is important to balance out the proportions of size and color with your dress. These bouquets are usually filled with flowers such as calla lilies, orchids, stephanotis and long, flowing greenery. The soft accents of green are an excellent backdrop for any other vibrant colors in your bouquet. A cascade bouquet can be striking on it’s own!

Posy
These smaller flower bouquets are popular among flower girls and bridesmaids. Tiny flowers such as spray roses, baby’s breath and lily-of-the-valley can create cute bouquets for your wedding. Another creative option for the posy flower bouquet is to use a couple larger flowers as focal points to complement your color scheme. These flowers arranged together can make quite a statement at your ceremony! This style of bouquet is perfect for children and has the ability to accompany every dress type. Some more examples of flowers that would work are hyacinths, hydrangeas and multicolored roses.

Over arm
This modern look is elegant and simple, yet extremely beautiful design for any wedding. Over arm bouquets are most commonly seen with long-stemmed flowers such as orchids, calla lilies and roses. These flower buds are your best guarantee because of their sturdy and durable stems. Wrapping these flowers together with a ribbon is also a stylish option. Figure fitting dresses are perfectly complemented with an over arm wedding bouquet. Keep in mind, holding the flowers for long periods of time during photos may make them become heavy – select lighter flowers if this is the case.

Round Flower Bouquet
Round wedding flower bouquets are the most commonly seen as bridal flowers. Although similar to the posy style bouquet, round bouquets are larger in size and usually contain a collection of various flowers. Using color to your advantage for these bouquets is important – use complementing or contrasting colors to create the biggest visual impact. Any wedding, whether formal or casual, can accompany a round wedding flower bouquet. If fragrance is an important part of your floral design, consider adding sweet smelling roses, lilacs or peonies to your bouquet. Capitalizing on flower texture, color and size, you can be assured to have the most striking bridal flower bouquet your guests have seen!

A lovely, creative and personal flower bouquet is just as much a part of your wedding day as finding the perfect dress. Selecting blooms based on the style of your dress, the color of your wedding palette and the availability of your flower choices can assure you that your choosing the right flowers – and help you save money at the same time. Your bridal flower bouquet is the glorious finishing touch to radiating the true beauty of your entire wedding. Call on flowers to set the mood and scene for the wedding you have dreamed of since childhood. Knowing the various designs of bouquets can help you select the perfect arrangement of complementing flowers for your wedding day.

Janna Hagan is the owner of http://www.special-flower-delivery.com/wedding-flowers.htm where you can find the complete guide to finding the perfect wedding flowers based on color, budget and your personal taste! Learn how to hire the right florist and save money on your wedding flowers.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Janna_L_Hagan

1. Choose Flowers in Season

This is a critical money-saver. It is also important to keep in mind that flowers look and smell best when they are fresh and in season. This is especially true for roses. But if you have your heart set on a particular flower that holds sentimental value for you, it would be wise to plan your ceremony around the time period it will be in seasonal bloom.
Although flowers in season will give you a beautifully scented bouquet, use caution with the flowers you choose to include in any centerpieces at your reception. The fragrances that come from flowers as gardenia, jasmine or freesia can be overwhelming and may not be the best choice for dining tables. Overpowering flowers might also stir up any allergies that your guests may have.

2. Do it yourself

When considering the daunting task of preparing and designing the wedding floral arrangements on your own, take the time to fully consider all of the responsibilities that will come with such a task. Questions that you might want to ask yourself are:

• Am I motivated enough?

• Will I have enough time to arrange bouquets/centerpieces before the ceremony?

• How much money will I save vs. how much work is involved?

Many women find that, in the interest of saving money, they end up learning a costly lesson. It is important to remember the many challenges involved with coordinating what may be the most important event of your life. You may be able to find a relative or member of the bridal party who would be willing to help you assemble your floral arrangements and bouquets. Think of the fun you would have spending your last days as a bachelorette with your best friends!

If you find yourself industrious enough to go it alone, there are many quick courses in floral design that are available through local community colleges and arts-and-crafts stores such as Michaels.

The internet is a fantastic resource to take advantage of, as well! Web sites such as save-on-crafts.com offer free instructional lessons that will tell you not only which flowers work best in a bouquet, but provide valuable steps designed to help you put your arrangements together successfully. You might also want to check for wedding ceremonies that will be held on the same day as yours. Chances are good that you could share the expense of the ceremony flowers with another couple looking to do the same!

Keep in mind, however, that even if opting for the “budget bridal bouquet”, remember that it is a very key aspect of the wedding and should be an expression of the bride’s personality. Try to keep a sense of balance between the wedding gown, the bridesmaid’s gowns, the ceremony flowers and decorations and the bouquet.

From that point, the other flowers, such as the bridesmaid’s flowers, the flowers at the reception can follow the theme and take on the elements of the bride’s bouquet. Current colors for 2006 are chocolate with pale pink, baby blue or mint green. Colors generally follow the trends of interior designing.

Consult with a florist. This could cost up to $100 in consultation fees, but their wealth of knowledge is sure to add a professional polish to the finished product. If you take into account the fact that florists can generally charge 3 times the price that a wholesaler would and charge additional labor costs for designing and assembling the flowers, you would still be saving money.

Buy your flowers from a wholesaler. Wholesalers sell their flowers much more cheaply than a florist does. If you decide to deal with a floral wholesaler, it is important to know that they use a grading system. When choosing your flowers, make sure that you choose Grade 1 flowers. You can locate many floral wholesalers online. OnlineWholesaleFlowers.com actually offers “Wedding in a Box” packages of varying sizes that come with all the flowers necessary to create the look that you want. Budget-Bride.com has a similar package, which even includes items such as the cake knife and ring pillow!

If you are getting married in the spring/summer time, visit the farmer’s market and talk with the flowers vendors. Find out if they grow the flowers that you are looking for and don’t be shy to ask if they have ever done weddings. Always be sure to ask them what they do with the flowers that they don’t sell. You might be able to grab large amounts of them for a steal!

Tip: Try using masses of one flower to showcase the flower’s individual beauty.

3. Use a school

Most high schools and colleges have horticulture classes that specialize in caring for and arranging flowers and plants. For a small fee, you could hire these aspiring florists who would be thrilled to work on your arrangements. The teachers of such a course will act as your safety net and, as an added bonus to you, will have extensive experience and oversee your project.

4. Have a Garden Wedding

Consider having the ceremony and/or the reception in a beautiful garden! Do you know someone that has a beautiful backyard and would be honored to host a wedding there? There will be no need for arrangements if you are already surrounded by lush greenery and blossoming flowers. Be prepared, though! Depending on the regional climate (or the time of year you hold your wedding), you may want to make use of either awnings, patios or sophisticated white open-air tents in case Mother Nature decides to become a wedding guest!

5. Cut down on attendants

By choosing fewer attendants, you will not have to provide as many bouquets and boutonnieres. Since small ceremonies are currently in vogue, it will be a natural progression to balance out the ceremony with a more intimate wedding party. Many couples favor a secluded setting with soft, glowing candles or lights to provide a devastatingly romantic theme. These more intimate, family oriented gatherings are also advantageous because they help the bride and groom to stay within their budget.

It is also very elegant to have your bridesmaid carry a single flower tied with a piece of satin ribbon. Choose a flower that matches one of those in the bride’s bouquet, or that signifies a special meaning to you.

6. Avoid having your wedding on or near a holiday

Flowers are generally in high demand around Valentines Day, Mother’s day, proms, graduations and other special holidays. Because of this, prices rise dramatically and certain flowers are often impossible to find. As if this isn’t enough bad news, florists tend to be extremely busy during holidays while they desperately try to keep up with their increased business. Will they be left with enough time to put the desired attention into your flowers?

You can take great advantage of this if planning your wedding around the Christmas holidays. It is a safe bet that most venues, either indoor or out, will be festively decorated before you arrive!

7. Use alternate centerpieces

It is not necessary to adorn every table with a high-priced floral centerpiece. Candles are beautiful and provide an amazing ambience! Try submerging an orchid (or flower of choice) in a glass container filled with water and float a candle on top. Also attractive is placing river rocks at the bottom of a glass container, adding water and floating a flower on top. Try using orchids, roses, peonies, camellias or gerberas.

A dramatic and stunning effect can be created with an inexpensive, rectangular mirror (much like the ones designed to hang on a bedroom door). Place the mirror reflective-side-up and let it run the length of the table, placing tealight candles at even intervals down the center. Sprinkle colored glitter or flower petals across the surface. The result is not only attractive, but sets the tone for your reception.

Tip: Search the internet and magazines for great ideas on alternative centerpieces.

8. Rent outdoor plants or small trees for an indoor garden effect

Decorate with greenery. Many nurseries will let you rent plants for your wedding and it is much cheaper than buying them. This will allow you to fill the room with greenery and make flowers more or less unnecessary. Use trees to fill up large spaces, and ivy garland to gracefully drape across the tops of doorways.

9. Let Your Flowers Do Double Duty

If your ceremony and reception are in two separate places (or even two separate rooms), let the floral arrangements that decorate the ceremony do double duty by using them to also decorate the reception! Find out if your florist is able to transport and setup the flowers at your reception after the ceremony is finished. There is usually sufficient time between the two, and you can save an incredible amount of time and money by “recycling” your beautiful, fresh flowers!

10. Forget the corsages

Corsages are not as trendy with modern weddings as they once were. 21st century Moms are trendy and don’t always want a flower pinned on them. Ask first.

You have waited your entire life to reach this day, and it should be as beautiful as you always imagined it would be. A ceremony without the soft, delicate beauty and fragrance of flowers would be like having a cake without icing. Although paying the traditional retail price for wedding flowers can cost you a bundle in materials and fees, utilizing these great cost saving tips will keep the floral arrangements from becoming one of the most expensive items on your budget checklist.

Jacquie Cattanach is a new bride and founder of Buy-N-Send-Flowers-Online.com which offers advise, opinions and helpful hints on buying and sending flowers from tropical flowers to funeral flowers worldwide through online florists.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jacquie_Cattanach

When you are thinking of silk flowers on your wedding day, do not think of the ratty flowers at the dollar stores with the misshapen petals or the thread coming undone. Think about high quality silk flowers that truly mimic the look of fresh flowers. These silk flowers have been put together with the care and the study of the real flower to make them look as realistic as possible. Silk wedding flowers give you the beauty of flowers on your wedding day without the fuss.

Where to Find Quality Silk Flowers

The DIYers already know that one of the best places to find beautiful silk flowers is at your local craft or hobby story. Because there are those who dabble in flower arranging, these stores offer a variety of flowers. Some stores even offer classes on arranging flowers or have someone who can make custom arrangements for you. Also, if you are like me, you want to feel and touch the flowers to actually see the quality of what you are getting. You can study them to see how well they can go with your look.

Your local florist is another place where you can get beautiful silk wedding flowers. Many people may want arrangements done for a number of events or their personal space where they don’t want the flowers to die in a few days. Because the florist has the best connections and the expertise on flower arrangements, they are a great resource in finding fabulous silk flowers for your wedding day.

Last but not least is the internet. The internet has many sites that not only offer silks, but packages with them arranged as well. You can get the flowers you want arranged at quite a reasonable price. Silk wedding flowers can even be found on eBay. However, always make sure you find a reputable company that has a reputation of providing quality service. Many sites do show pictures of their arrangements and offer testimonials. If this does not assure you, buy a test bouquet to see if the quality is what you are looking for.

The Advantages of Silk Wedding Flowers

1. They can be done in advance. Although real flowers are very beautiful and breathtaking, they must be done right before the wedding in order to not wilt. If you are a bride on a budget and taking this task on yourself, you may find yourself overwhelmed and stressed during a time that should be fun and relaxing. With silk arrangements, you can arrange them ahead of time which can reduce the stress of the last few days leading up to your wedding. On the day of your wedding, they will still be even more beautiful than the day you bought them.

2. Submerged, they look real. One of the big trends in weddings now is the submerged flower. What is so good about this trend is that you can submerge a silk flower in water and no one will be able to tell if it is real or not. If the flower is submerged in water, all people will see is a beautiful arrangement. No one will actually put their hand in the water to see if the flower is real. Also, being that you need less flowers when doing submerged or floating centerpieces, this saves on money.

3. Allergies are not aggravated. You, your hubby to be, or any of your guests may have certain allergies when it comes to flowers. To avoid the inevitable sneezing, runny noses, or red eyes, silk wedding flowers are a great way to have that floral beauty and happy guests. This is also a plus if you are having an outdoor wedding and are afraid of attracting insects.

4. Life-lasting keepsake. The fabulous thing about using silk flowers for your wedding is that you can have a keepsake. You can bring a centerpiece home as well as your bouquet and save on floral preservation costs. They can become a decoration for your home and a reminder of the start of your married life.

5. Great as favors. Many of your guests may fall in love with the wedding centerpieces that you have on the tables. A great favor would be to send the centerpieces home with those flower-loving guests. Your guests get great arrangements to beautify their space as well as a reminder of your wedding day.

6. Sturdy flowers. Because real flowers are more delicate, cold or heat can cause them to wilt quickly. If you are having an outdoor ceremony, the flowers may not be able to stand the heat. What if you forget to put them in water to keep them looking fresh? Well, with silks, this is not a problem. They don’t need water and can stand any weather conditions.

7. Less expensive. Now this is always argued because quality silk flowers can cost as much as live ones. This is true; however, if you need a particular flower in December that can only be found in France, the cost can rise. You can use silk flowers instead and have incredible savings. Also, when submerging flowers, because you generally use less, you can use silks instead of the real ones which can run cheaper. You can also save money with silks by checking out sales on the internet and in stores.

How to Spice Up Your Silk Wedding Flowers

If you are using silk flowers for your wedding day, there are many ways that you can spice them up to make them even more unique which gives a personal touch to your day.

Scent. We love the smell of real flowers, so how can we replicate a fragrant smell with silks. Spraying the perfume of your choice on the flowers is a great way. This way, the flowers have a wonderful smell that can add spice to your reception. Although, you want to make sure the smell is something that will not aggravate guests. I would suggest a real clean, light scent.

Jewels. Instead of having a plain bouquet of flowers, add jewels to liven it up. You can get crystals glued to the petals of the flowers. This adds more pizzazz and personality to an already beautiful arrangement. Plus, you don’t have to worry about damaging the flowers because they are sturdy enough to be handled.

Feathers. Feathers can add flavor to any floral arrangement. Adding feathers to a silk bridal bouquet gives an extra flair that makes it stand out. Beautiful peacock feathers in a silk centerpiece arrangement helps add a certain level of exquisiteness.

How to Care for Silks

Although one of the advantages of silk flowers is that they need little tending and care, here are a few tips to make sure your silk flowers for your wedding day are in perfect condition.

• To clean silk flowers you can wash them or clean them by hand, but this is not the most recommended way because it can become a bit messy and time consuming.

• A great way to keep silks looking their best is to use an ozone safe aerosol spray. This can keep them looking clean and fresh.

• If any of the greenery is wrinkled, you can steam iron the leaves. Just make sure the temperature is on the lowest steam setting. Test a corner before steaming out the wrinkles.

• Many stores that carry silk flowers also carry silk flower cleaners that can keep silk flowers looking great.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cassandra_Mallett

• A list of those in your wedding party that will need flowers.

• A list of what flowers you will want at the ceremony.

• A list of what flowers will be needed at the reception, including table count, size and shape.

• Color/fabric swatches and pictures of your dress and bridesmaids dresses, if you have them.

• Feel free to also bring pictures of flowers that you like.

Your florist will also have pictures of flowers, bouquets and arrangements to help determine exactly what will create the wedding of your dreams. If your wedding has a “theme”, let your florist know before the consultation, as they can prepare suggestions to fit the style of your wedding. After style, the next thing to consider is if there are any specific flowers you want.

Keep in mind that some flowers are not in season year round. The flowers that will give the best presentation are those in their season prime. Make sure you let your florist know if your ceremony and/or reception will be held outdoors. Certain flowers do not hold up in hot/humid conditions. Consider color, shape, and fragrance when selecting your bouquet flowers. A note of advice on color choice, avoid all white flowers, they do not photograph well.

It is important that you are upfront with your florist about your budget. Not just for your bouquet but for all of your flowers. Be realistic. You may want a $200 bridal bouquet, but if you only have $400 for a flower budget, you will not have enough left for 3 bridesmaids bouquets, 2 corsages, 3 boutonnieres and 15 centerpieces for your reception. Choose similar flowers to be used throughout your wedding. Using 20 different kinds of flowers will quickly increase the cost. Your florist can balance your needs with your budget. They can offer alternatives. Exotic flowers such as Orchids are very pretty, but they are more expensive. Consider more affordable flowers if you are on a budget. Don’t plan your wedding near big flower holidays, such as Valentine’s Day, Easter and Mother’s Day. If you do, expect to pay more for your flowers. Not because the florist’s want to charge you more, but due to the fact that the wholesalers charge more during these busy holidays based on growing and demand.

Once you have chosen your Bouquet you have selected the “center” of your wedding flowers. The other pieces can be used to incorporate your bouquet flowers throughout your entire wedding. The following is an example list of the flowers you may need for your “Special Day”…

• Bride’s Bouquet

• Toss Bouquet for Bride to Throw

• Maid of Honor Bouquet

• Bridesmaids Bouquets

• Grooms Boutonniere

• Boutonnieres for Best Man and other male attendants in the wedding

• Boutonnieres for Father of Bride and Groom

• Corsages for Mothers/Grandmothers and/or Guests of Honor

• Boutonniere for Ring Bearer

• Flower Basket (with petals?) or small bouquet for flower girl*

• Ceremony Arrangements (can serve double duty at your reception perhaps at your buffet)

• Vase at Guest Book Table

• Centerpieces for Reception Tables (make sure you get an accurate count)

• Centerpiece for Head Table (usually larger than other centerpieces)

• Flowers or Petals for Cake Table (Flowers for Cake if necessary)

*If you are considering petals for the aisle at your ceremony, make sure your accomodations allow them. Also remember that roses with color petals will stain the carpet if stepped on. White petals are recommended for carpeted areas.

A very important detail is to make sure your florist knows exactly when and where your flowers will need to be delivered. They will also need to know ahead of time if you will need them to set up the flowers. If you have someone else handling set up, make sure your florist knows who they are and how to reach them. You will probably want your flowers to arrive at least an hour before you need them. Make sure you have somewhere safe and cool to keep them until you use them. Always leave your florist a phone number of someone you trust (preferrably with a cel phone) that can handle any last minute decisions regarding your flowers.

Finally, when it comes to your wedding flowers, don’t skimp! I have heard many sad stories about bride’s trying “do-it-yourself” flowers or having a friend design them, only to end up with bouquets falling apart minutes before the wedding! Don’t risk it! Experienced florists process and design your wedding flowers for optimum presentation and performance. Your flowers are one of the most important elements of your wedding! You want them to be beautiful. They compliment you, your wedding party, your wedding photos and provide an elegant atmosphere for you and your guests on your special day!

Congratulations!

Tenley McDonald- Former Florist- Now Co-Owner of [http://www.flowerpowernetwork.com] (Online Directory of Real Local Florists) Ms. McDonald has over 14 years experience in ~Consumer Relations/Marketing ~Customer Service Management ~Floral Design. Please email the Author directly for reprint permission of this article.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tenley_McDonald

Tradition holds that a girl carrying flowers should bring extra good luck to the marriage. After the bride, the flower girl is the member of the bridal party most capable of stealing the hearts of all the guests. In choosing the flower girl dress, consider the style, colour, fabric and formality of the occasion. The flower girl should not outshine the bride, but complement her gown while blending with the bridesmaids’ outfits.

The Flower Girl Gown

Although bridal styles change from season to season, flower girl fashion has changed very little. The gown is always classically “little princess” in style but in keeping with the style of ceremony – church wedding, beach wedding or garden wedding.

A flower girl’s gown should complement the bride. It can be bridal white or ivory, the same colour as the bridesmaid’s gowns, or a contrasting colour that complements the outfits of the entire party. If white is chosen for the flowergirl’s gown, a colour sash may be used to tie it in with the colour of the bridesmaid’s gowns.

The age of the flower girl is a factor when choosing the length of her gown. A small child could trip over a long skirt, so ankle length is better for the “little ones”. A younger girl (say 5-6 years old) can wear an ankle length “princess” style dress, while an older girl (10-12 years) might prefer a more sophisticated silhouette with more length. While traditional formal weddings do tend towards floor-length gowns, practicality should be considered as well.

If you are having several flower girls of varying ages, you can co-ordinate their dress styles using colour, fabric and accessories such as flowers or jewellery.

Whatever the style you choose, avoid those that will make your flower girl look too sophisticated for their age. This is an occasion when you want to play up her little girl charms. When else can she have the joy of wearing rustling silk or satin gowns, full petticoats, tulle skirts and big bows?

Perhaps this is why flower girl fashion has remained constant over the years – little girls love dressing up!

Fabric Choice

Fabrics such as polyester and cheap lace can be very itchy. No matter how precious the flower girl looks, if her gown and shoes are uncomfortable, it will be reflected in her face and behaviour. Scratchy gowns and tight shoes can cause everything from fidgeting to temper tantrums, so take this issue seriously in order to not interrupt the ceremony itself.

If possible, invest in a better fabric, keeping in mind that the dress doesn’t have to be a “one-time” dress. It can be re-worn often, from a portrait sitting to a birthday. It can also be preserved and handed down as an heirloom once the child grows out of it.

Choose fabrics that aren’t wrinkle prone, such as silk, satin or velvet for the best results. Dupion silk does have a reputation for creasing, but it is actually a pronounced fold that the fabric develops in line with the vertical or horizontal threads, and as such does not appear crushed.

Fabrics and colours for flower girl gowns vary greatly depending on the time of year and the location. If the wedding is in autumn or winter, rich fabrics such as velvet, satin and silk are popular choices not just for their beauty, but because they will keep the chills away. For a spring or summer wedding, lighter fabrics such as dupion silk, delustered satin and tulle.

For the cooler months, a gown with sleeves may be considered, but as the ceremony is usually indoors at this time of year, perhaps a wrap or shawl would be a better choice, allowing clothing to be removed in layers as suits.

Colour will primarily be dependent on the bride’s choice for the wedding party.

Also, wait until the very last possible minute to dress your flower girl. Her dress will be free from wrinkles, and you won’t have to worry about any food or drink spills just before the ceremony. A nice comfortable robe for the child to wear prior to the final dressing is a good idea.

Shoes

Flower girl shoes can be a satin or silk “streetwear” style ballet shoe or similar flat shoe that is comfortable and complements the fabric and colour of her gown. If having a beach wedding, a flower girl may go barefoot with a petite silver or gold fine chain anklet or ankle bracelet.

A young child in uncomfortable shoes will fidget, so regardless of anything else ensure that the shoes for the flower girl fit well and are comfortable. If the shoes are stiff, tight, unworn or new it’s a good idea to slip them onto the child at the last minute.

Hair

A “fresh” look is perfect for a flowergirl. If the girl has natural curls let her hair flow naturally with a flower or a hairpin to finish it off. Floral or ribbon head wreaths, and lightly jewelled tiaras are also popular. if you prefer a bun, adorn it with flowers or hair jewellery matching the bride’s attire, always remembering a flower girl represents youth in the bridal party. An elegant silk tiara adorned with satin ribbons flowing gentle behind her hair would also be appropriate.

Flower Girl Jewellery

Flower girl jewellery should be be kept simple. A delicate necklace and bracelet is usually enough to compliment the gown, but tiaras, headpieces, chokers, earrings, and hairpins can also be worn. Simple silver or gold with pearls or coloured Swarovski crystal provides an inexpensive yet elegant finishing touch to the flowergirl ensemble.

Young children may be unused to wearing any jewellery at all and it may become a distraction to them. If this is the case then some pretty hair jewellery (small crystal clips and hair slides) and a simple bracelet would be the best choice.

A wide range of flower girl jewellery and junior bridesmaid jewellery is available online, however many of the pieces marketed in this way are just downsized bridal pieces which may be too flashy for a flower girl to wear, and run the risk of detracting from the bride. Look for formal jewellery specifically made in children’s sizes, of a style intended for a flower girl rather than a bride

On the practical side look for a sturdy lobster style clasp to reduce the possibility of loss, and be aware of “spiky bits” on the jewellery that a young child may inadvertently catch on the gown causing damage, or worse, cause injury to themselves with.

Makeup

The flower girl theme is “natural” and a minimum of makeup is a must. A little light lip gloss, some light foundation, and a touch of mascara to highlight her eyes. Don’t forget the sunscreen as majority of photos are taken outside – give some thought to using a foundation that has a 30+SPF factor.

Nails

Nail decoration is best kept to a minimum – simply filed to shape and a light clear coat applied. Many brides prefer their flower girls to either wear a light pastel or natural colour, or just a shiny clear lacquer. No bright reds or sparkly kiddy purples!!!

Flowers

A basket of flowers carried by the flowergirl is a tradition, regardless of the whether the flowergirl carries out her traditional role of sprinkling petals in the bride’s path as she walks down the aisle.

As a bridal fashion accessory, a small posy of flowers is also popular, and usually matching the floral adornments (bouquets, buttonholes, etc) of the rest of the bridal party.

Flowers worn in the hair are also a traditional touch, either as flowers woven into the hair style, floral headbands, or flowers attached to hair clips. Artificial silk or satin flowers can be used, as well as fresh flowers.

In all floral adornments and bouquets try to use miniature flowers. A flower girl is half (or less) the size of anyone else in the bridal party, and the size of the flowers should be scaled down accordingly.

Dress Care

Some simple storage and handling advice for your flower girl gown:

* Always dry-clean the gown
* Wash your hands before handling the gown.
* When packing the gown in a box or chest, pack with acid free tissue paper.
* Keep the box stored out of direct sunlight and away from moisture, and away from household fumes and pollutants.
* Store the box where vermin and insects can not get to it.
* Ensure there is adequate air circulation around the box to prevent mustiness.
* To hang the gown, use a material coated hanger and place the gown in a sealed garment bag.

Other Resources

* Flower Girl Dresses By Jennifer Catherine Design
* Flower Girl Jewellery By Silver Bells And Cockle Shells

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christine_Slapp

Get a relative to help out

Having a relative help out at your wedding it a great way to get someone involved. It’s also a great way to save money! Ask around relatives and see if anyone has a dab-hand at flower arranging.

A word of advice though – leave the bouquets and button-holes to the experts.

Use the flowers from the ceremony at the reception

Often it’s not necessary to double up on flowers at both the ceremony and reception. They’re often the same type of floral arrangement and so once the ceremony is over, the flowers can then be used at the reception.

Check if the venue supplies flowers

Some venues insist that you use their florists for the venue. If this is the case, be careful as you’re likely to get charged through the roof. Try and stick to simpler arrangements or even balloons as this will keep your costs to a minimum.

Check if the church supplies flowers

Many churches have specific rules when it comes to flowers in the church. They may insist that the flowers are done through the church committee, whereby the church flower arrangers will provide the arrangements for a small fee.

If a particular church is popular for marriages, the same flowers may then be used for all ceremonies that particular weekend. This is often a good thing, as you will usually pay a low set charge, however it means you may not get control over the flowers on the day. Check with your celebrant to see if there’s any flexibility.

Use a hand-tied bridal bouquet

The bridal bouquet can come in all shapes and sizes, but the general rule is that the more complicated you go, the more expensive the bouquet will be. Having a hand-tied bouquet is an easy way to lower the costs – sometimes even by half.

Use corsages for the bridesmaids, rather than small bouquets

A corsage is a small arrangement that sits on the wrist. They’re often made up of one, two or three main flowers and some greenery. They’re then secured to the wrist using ribbon or tie. Because they use less flowers, they’re much cheaper then bouquets.

An added benefit is that they allow the bridesmaids to have both their hands free during the day – to hold your bouquet, bag or drink.

Choose simple button holes

You can easily triple or quadruple the price of your buttonholes by choosing different flowers or multiple flower buttonholes. Go for simple, one flower buttonholes and you’ll keep your costs to a minimum.

Use single flowers instead of bouquets or arrangements

The cost of arrangements or bouquets is usually dependant on the cost of the flowers used and the complexity of the arrangement. You can cut your costs dramatically by going for single flower arrangements.

The best cheap wedding flowers for bouquets are simple and elegant. Single flower arrangements make great a bridal bouquet or table centrepiece. Flowers such as lilies or exotic flowers make stunning single bouquets, and large flowers such as peonies or camellias work great as single flower centrepieces.

Hire any accessories you may need instead of buying them

Before you rush out to buy vases for your table decorations, have you considered hiring them? Most florists will hire any equipment you need to create fabulous floral arrangements. Hire equipment comes in a variety of different shaped vases, pedestals and containers for all your flower arranging needs.

Buy flowers that are season

By choosing flowers that are in season, you will ensure that you get the freshest, cheapest, best quality flowers. Check with your florist which flowers are in season for your big day.

Nicola Ray is the owner of Cheap Wedding Success, a website dedicated to planning and creating the perfect cheap wedding. With lots of advice, tips and ideas to lower the cost of your wedding, Cheap Wedding Success is the perfect place to start. You can find more articles like this one in the Wedding Flowers section.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nicola_Ray