Now that you are planning your wedding, you?e got to choose

bouquets, boutonnieres, centerpieces, church arrangements, and a

stunning corsage for one of the most important people who will attend

the ceremony?our mother. Somehow, you?l have to make the

arrangements for all this, and at a cost that will likely be between 10 and

15 percent of your overall wedding budget. If you?e like most brides-to-be, just thinking about how to manage all of

the details required to successfully deck-out the church, reception areas,

and the wedding party with the perfect flowers is enough to make you

dizzy. So our first words of advice are "Relax, and follow these tips from

well-seasoned floral experts. "First Things First1. Opt for a Pro?ven the savviest bride-to-be should hire a florist.

Given the attention to details and pace on your wedding day, you won?

want to be worried about wiring each stem for your bouquet when you

should be getting dressed and posing for photos. And don? let money

be an obstacle. A truly good florist should be able to work within your

budget. 2. Picture Perfect?ust as a hairstylist invariably will ask for a picture of what you have in mind, so will a good florist. Be prepared. Flip through

bridal magazines, surf the Internet, and peruse books for flowers and

different arrangements that appeal to you. Gather as many images as

you can, and take them along when you first visit the florist. 3. Color Coordinate?f you?e unable to find inspiring floral designs

even after all that browsing, begin with a color scheme. You may want to

start with the color of the bridesmaids?dresses and choose coordinating

hues, says St. Louis floral designer Dale Rohman. 4. Checking It Twice?efore meeting with your florist, carefully make a

list of every flower need. Include the obvious (your bouquet and his

boutonniere) as well as the nice touches (garland for the staircase). Visit the Shop5. Judge by Appearances?lorists are like home decorators; they are

paid to pay attention to details and to create inviting as well as

interesting spaces. If the shop seems noticeably out-of-date or

hopelessly disorganized and strikes you as unimpressive, look for a

different florist. 6. Use the B-word?he cost of your flower arrangements will quickly

add up, so don? let it overwhelm your budget. If you are really trying to

keep expenses low, downsize. Instead of ordering bouquets for your

bridesmaids, have them carry one stunning bloom? long-stem calla

lily, for example. 7. Be Open to Different Ideas?hen you meet with your florist, let her

know what kind of flowers you like, as well as those you don? like. But

keep an open mind, suggests New York floral designer Kimberly Wise.

"Give us the parameters to work within? color, for example?hen let

us be the experts. " After you and your florist have made all of the

necessary selections, look over the proposal carefully before signing,

just to make sure that you are both on the same wavelength. Designer? Sense8. Setting the Scene?he flowers you select will go a long way toward

setting the mood for your wedding day. Choose blossoms that match the

setting and formality, or informality, of your event. For example, daisies

or pansies would be far too casual for a white tie and tails wedding. On

the other hand, lush garnet roses are too formal for a beach ceremony.

Get the idea. 9. Season Sensations?pring and summer weddings lend themselves

to pale colors, citrus tones and, as the weather warms up, bright, vibrant

beach-ball colors. If you are planning a fall wedding, begin thinking in

terms of rich, earthy colors, such as amber, burgundy, and rust. Winter

brides can create an unforgettable, sparkling effect with evergreens,

silver, crystal?nd, of course, a wonderland of white. 10. Worth a Thousand Words?ou may be dresses in white when you

walk down the isle, but which white? Wedding gowns come in many

shades of pale, from pure white to ecru, so don? just describe you

wedding dress. To ensure that your flowers will work well with your

dress, take along a swatch of the fabric when you first meet with your

florist. 11. Stay in Proportion?he size of the bouquet you choose should be in

proportion to your size. If you are petite, have your florist design a

bouquet that complements, rather than overpowers, your size. After all,

you don? want your bouquet to be the center of attention. Conversely, if

you are a tall woman, you may want to opt for something robust. Memorable Bouquets12. Mother-of-the-Bride?ell, she may be making you a little crazy right

now, but she?l settle down again once all the excitement is over. In the

meantime, consider honoring her love and devotion throughout the

years by looking to her wedding bouquet for inspiration. Maybe you?l

want to carry some of the same kinds of flowers she did. 13. History and Traditions?f there was ever a time to blend the past

with the present, this is it. Devote a little time to reading up on wedding

traditions?erhaps in different cultures, especially if that will lend

something particularly appropriate to the ceremony. Did you know that

during the Middle Ages, brides carried fragrant herbs to ward off evil

spirits or that Queen Victoria adorned herself with orange blossoms?14. One Memento, Please?ould you prefer to keep your wedding

bouquet as a memento, rather than toss it away? Have your florist

design a "toss bouquet" to throw to those eagerly awaiting maidens. It

will be smaller and less expensive, as well as easier to lob. Jean Bachcroft is a former public relations director. Currently she is the

owner of Bachcroft and Aloha Labels and the publisher and

editor-in-chief of Town and Country Shopping Bargains Magazine. For

designer wedding, holiday, and year-round mailing and return address

labels, visit Bachcroft

Mailing and Return Address Labels and

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Labels. For bargains and

bargain shopping articles, visit Town and Country Shopping

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Author:
Jean Bachcroft