Working With a Wedding Florist

The term "florist" can refer to anyone from a neighborhood-shop owner to a floral designer who oversees every detail of the decorations. Even if you plan to arrange your own flowers (only advisable if you have experience and will have a lot of help), it's wise to consult a knowledgeable wedding florist who can offer advice and provide varieties of flowers not readily available to you.

When interviewing florists, be forthright about both your budget (flowers typically represent about 10 percent of the overall wedding cost) and the look you want. Come prepared with basic information: the number of guests as well as the number of bouquets, corsages, boutonnieres, centerpieces, and other floral decorations needed. Keep in mind that florist can also provide potted trees, wreaths, and candles. Bring photos of the ceremony and reception sites, and pictures from books and magazines of floral arrangements you admire. A picture of your dress and a swatch of the fabric can be helpful in choosing the elements for a bridal bouquet. The florist will give you an estimate of what can be accomplished within your budget and offer advice and alternatives if your requests are unrealistic. Florists' styles (and prices) will vary greatly, so try to meet with two or three so you can get a feel for what's available.

Once you have chosen a florist, the next step is going over details. Discuss how you expect the arrangements to look; for example, whether you want fully opened blooms or a mix of open and closed buds. Once you've made your selections, include specifics - right down to cultivar names - in the contract. If you want blossoms on your cake, ask the florist to consult your baker. (Any flowers on the cake should be nontoxic and grown without pesticides. If you want edible blooms, make sure they come from a reputable vendor.) A few weeks before the wedding, go over the schedule for delivery and setup. Request an early delivery time if picture-taking is scheduled before the ceremony.

Bouquets
Whatever flowers you eventually choose for your bouquet, they should above all complement both you and your gown. A simple sheath may be rendered extraordinarily romantic with an abundant array of flowers, or sleek and stylish with a miniature nosegay. Stay away from extremes - an extra-small posy will look out of balance if your gown is composed of yards and yards of bouffant tulle; similarly, an oversize bouquet might overwhelm a petite bride.

Another important consideration is the heft; bouquets can be surprisingly cumbersome. And the more blooms used, the heavier. Many florists remove the flowers from their stems, replacing them with lengths of wire. In addition to making the blooms sturdier and easier to carry, wired stems give florists better control of a bouquet's shape. The stems of hand-tied bouquets are left intact - a look some brides prefer.

You should also be aware that natural substances found in certain flowers, mostly in the stems and sap, can cause a rash. Your florist should let you know if the flowers you want for your bouquet could be irritating to your skin, but if you are buying blooms directly from a flower market or plucking them from your garden, you will need to do some research on your own.

Boutronnieres
When choosing boutonnieres, consider the style and season of the wedding, and the flowers the bride and her attendants will carry. Also consider what the men will be wearing. For a formal affair, darker flowers, such as 'Black Magic' roses, with stems wrapped in black satin ribbon, blend with the lapels of tuxedo jackets. For a more casual look, you might pair a pale-purple tie with a sprig of lavender. Boutonnieres need not be flowers, however. Herbs, leaves, and berries are also lovely. The pins used to secure the boutonnieres can be decorative as well. Thread the pin through a pretty bead for a custom ornament, or use antique stickpins (which also make nice gifts for groomsmen). The boutonnieres can all be the same, the groom's can be a bit more dramatic, or each can be unique. Most important, the blooms must be able to withstand at least three hours of hugging, kissing, and dancing. Choosing a flower that starts as a bud and opens as the reception progresses is one solution. It's also a good idea to have a second set of boutonnieres for photos taken toward the end of the party.

Corsages
Giving the mothers of the bride and groom corsages is a thoughtful, traditional way to acknowledge their special roles. You may offer corsages to other honored guests as well, such as a grandmother or stepmother. These floral accessories should blend with the other wedding flowers but not necessarily match exactly. For example, you might have your florist build each corsage around the wearer's favorite flower but frame them identically with a tiny spray of buds, say, or a single impressive leaf. Generally, a corsage is pinned to the left shoulder or the waistline of a dress. If the garment is made of a delicate fabric, the wearer may not want to put a pin through it; she can use the corsage to adorn her purse. Or you can order a wrist corsage or small nosegay for her to carry.