Once upon a time in Europe, young men used flowers to convey their feelings and emotions hoping for an encouraging sign from the one whom they wanted to court. Each flower said something; each flower had a symbolism. You could also use this symbolism to create the theme of your wedding.

The red rose– this flower when red in color symbolizes an open and passionate invitation of love. When you choose the red rose for your wedding flowers you want to tell the world how passionate you are about one another, how much in love, how much committed to each other you both are.

The white rose– white is the color of purity, innocence, beauty, virtue. When used as wedding flowers, they symbolize purity of love and openness that comes with innocence and virtue. It symbolizes fidelity, infinite and enduring love.

The daisy– there is no way you can lay your eyes on a daisy and not instinctively smile. This flower is just that – it forces you to be happy. When daisies are used as wedding flowers they symbolize delight, joy, ecstasy in finding one another, in knowing and feeling each other’s love.

Daisies also mean romance and purity of thought. Very often the daisies are associated with the ladybug (a little red insect with round tiny black dots on its back) which in turn means marriage. The legend goes that when a ladybug lands on a young lady she would be married before the year ends.

Calla Lilies – these wedding flowers trace heir origin to Greece where some of the most beautiful legends about love, devotion and commitment has been romanticized. These flowers symbolize beauty in an elegant way, sophistication, and practicality. These flowers normally leave an impression of unbeatable charm and even a little arrogance.

There are plenty of other flowers with which you can make your wedding as special as you dreamt it would be. For best impact of your efforts do not forget to print a little note explaining the meaning and symbolism of the wedding flowers you chose so your guests would understand and appreciate your efforts.

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There is just something about wedding bouquets that trigger all the memories of your wedding day and it is amazing how much wedding bouquets seem to mean to not only the bride but the groom as well.  For many years wedding bouquets were always made of real flowers and the bride is always give two wedding bouquets.  One of the bouquets she throws at the end of the wedding in the ceremony that is supposed to foreshadow who will be the next to get married and then the other bouquet is the keepsake that winds up bringing back the memories.

For years both were made of real flowers and there was a service that the florist would offer to help preserve wedding bouquets.  Today the keepsake bouquet, which is also the one used in the ceremony, is made of silk and it will last forever.  Now when a couple pulls out their wedding bouquet it will look exactly the same as it did the day they were married and the memories will be even more vivid.

The throwing bouquet is still real flowers but even then many brides are having both wedding bouquets made of silk so that whoever catches the bouquet can keep it as well.  But many times the person catching the bouquet will lose it and this is why some brides prefer to not spend the extra money on two silk wedding bouquets when they know that only one of them has any chance of surviving.  But the silk flowers will last forever and they look just as beautiful as the real flowers.  The only thing that brides notice is missing from silk flowers is that flower scent but the silk flower makers are working on that too.

A Bouquet in Itself

For some reason the bouquet is the one flower arrangement in the entire wedding that does not need to match the wedding color scheme.  Many brides will choose their bouquet based more on how it looks by itself rather than how it matches the rest of the wedding party colors.  A bouquet can be a simple handful of flowers or it can be an elaborate arrangement that cascades down the bride’s arm but either way it is usually a flower grouping that stands on its own.

So the next time you are at a wedding and you wonder why there are two wedding bouquets now you know why.  Many years after the wedding the couple will look on the bouquet and remember who caught the throwing bouquet and wonder whatever happened to that girl.

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Pick your palette — Say goodbye to muted tones and pastels, 2007 is all about bright colors making bold statements. For those planning to wed this summer, yellow and pinks are expected to be the hot colors of the season. Big, bold yellow sunflowers radiate warmth and tranquility and are the perfect addition to any garden wedding. Romantic roses tied with bold ribbons and pearls, are both sophisticated and timeless, and beautifully compliment any style of wedding gown.

Eco-conscious — It’s a nice day for a green wedding. If you and your partner are rigorous about recycling and want to plan a wedding that reflects your environmentally friendly lifestyle, there are a ton of options to choose from. Creating centerpieces with organically grown flowers or potted orchid plants add that extra “green” element to wedding receptions. Edible flowers on your wedding cake not only look beautiful; they also add an eco-friendly touch.

Brides on a budget — If you find yourself wilting from the stress of those ever-tightening purse strings and don’t want to spend a fortune on flowers, forget the personal florist. From wedding bouquets and boutonnieres to creative centerpieces, online flower companies like ProFlowers, offer a number of stylish selections for the budget-conscious bride. Choosing flowers that are in season are automatically cheaper than out of season or exotic flowers.

Wedding tails — Man’s best friend is enjoying a new high profile when it comes to exchanging vow-wows. Originally adopted as a west coast trend, more and more people are including their favorite four-legged friends in their wedding ceremony. Adorn your pooch with a pretty floral dog collar or boutonniere to really tie them into the theme of your wedding.

Whether your style is traditional or contemporary www.proflowers.com has a number of different arrangements to match your personality, dress style, wedding location and season.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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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 boutonnières 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.

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One of the most effective ways to choose a florist for your wedding is to find a florist who is recommended by a trusted friend or family member.  Wedding planners and others in the wedding planning industry may have a vested interest in recommending a particular florist for your wedding but a friend or family member makes their recommendations simply because they were happy with a previous performance by the florist.  If you have been to a number of weddings in your area and were pleased by the floral arrangements you may want to consider contacting the host of that wedding to find out who they used as their florist.  When it comes to choosing a florist, previous performance is the best indication of how the florist will perform in the future.

While the aesthetic appeal of the flowers is important, price will also likely factor into your decision to choose a particular florist.  It is important to establish a budget for flowers before you meet with potential florists for your wedding.  When you do meet with them get a detailed estimate and discuss what is included in the estimate that they have provided.  It is also important to find out if there are any additional fees that have not been included in the estimate such a delivery charges and set-up fees.  If possible try to negotiate having these fees incorporated into the estimate to avoid any unexpected charges.

It is also important to consider whether or not the florist specializes in weddings.  A florist who regularly completes arrangements specifically for weddings is much more likely than another florist to be aware of everything that is involved with being a wedding florist.  They will not only know all that is required of them but they will also likely have established relationships with local venues. 

Another important consideration in choosing a wedding florist is how much support they are willing to offer.  Some florists may simply deliver the flowers to the destination and will not take care of setting up the flowers.  You will want to find a florist that is willing to send a representative along with the delivery to ensure that the flowers are set up correctly and that they look fresh and attractive.  It is ideal to have your florist remain onsite throughout the wedding and reception to ensure that there are no issues with the flowers but if this is not possible you should have a florist onsite at the very beginning of the party as minimum.

The delivery system employed by the florist is also important in determining whether or not to choose a particular florist for your wedding.  Many florists employ independent contractors to take care of their delivery needs.  The delivery person drives their own vehicle and operates independently from the florist.  While this situation may work out very well for the florist, it could be the recipe for disaster at your wedding.  It is important to remember that if the delivery personnel are driving their own vehicles then it is likely that the florist does not have a backup vehicle in case something happens to the delivery truck.  However, if the florist employs their own delivery personnel who drive company supplied vehicles then the florist most likely has a contingency plan for when a vehicle breaks down. 

Choosing a florist for your wedding is very important.  Seeking opinions of friends and family members is one of the most effective ways to choose a qualified florist.  Careful review of recommendations is another important step in choosing a florist as is understanding their payment structure. 

 

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