When I was choosing flowers for my beach wedding, I wasn’t really aware the meaning of various flowers are, which I’m sure every bride would go for whatever suits their like which compliments their style. It’s about time for every bride to know these various meaning of every flowers for your wedding, and they may be simple to look at before making into a gorgeous bouquet, but every flower shop will do everything they can to make them as unique as possible.

Roses:
No other flowers symbolize love better than roses. Roses are available all year round and come in a great variety of colors to match any wedding theme. Among the most popular colors are white, red, yellow, pink, orange, lavender, and hot pink

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Alstroemeria:
These beautiful “south of the border” flowers are native to South America, specifically to Chile and Brazil. They primarily bloom in the spring and summer and can be found in sunny yellow, milky white and rich red colors.

Asters:
These gorgeous flowers, whose heads are shaped like stars, are perfect for late summer and fall weddings as they bloom abundantly during these months. Asters are similar in appearance to daisies and are available in white, purple, lavender, pink and red

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Bells of Ireland:
These unusual green flowers are a favorite for summer weddings. Mix bells of Ireland together with hypericum berries for a one of a kind festive centerpiece.

Birds of Paradise:
True to their name, birds of paradise give an impression of exotic birds. Known as an ornamental flower, this exquisite combination of a tall green stalk, bright orange sepals and purplish-blue petals stands beautifully on its own. It is a perfect flower to use for weddings with tropical themes.

Calla Lilies:
Calla Lilies come in classic, pure white as well as occasionally in two-toned shades such as white with pink, butter with cream, or yellow with gold. They are time-honored wedding flowers and are available for enjoyment all year round.

Chrysanthemum (aka Pompons):
As their name suggests, these festive flowers look like a flowering pompon. A fun and cheerful flower, pompons are celebrated annually at the Japanese “Festival of Happiness.” Pompons are available in a variety of colors and are perfect for contributing to the happiness of weddings all year round.

Hypericum Berries:
These unique, full flowers, similar to berries, are available in wonderful earthy tones such as green, brownish red, yellow, pink, and red. Hypericum berries are most widely available in the summer.

Hydrangeas:
These blooming flowers look beautiful on their own or mixed with other flowers. They come in white, blue, natural pink and purple tinted. Hydrangeas are great for spring and summer weddings.

Larkspur:
These tall white, blue, and pink flowers burst into bloom in the springtime which makes them ideal for an April or May wedding (though they can be used throughout the spring and summer as well).

Liatris:
Tall and ornamental, these flowers are a popular choice for summer wedding centerpieces and bouquets. As an added effect to a romantic event, their rich purple color attracts beautiful butterflies.

Lilies:
Lilies are large flowers with three petals that come with three petal-like sepals. They are most commonly available in the summer. Lilies come in a range of color such as white, yellow, orange, pink, red, purple, bronze and even nearly black. Their petals are often marked with spots, brush strokes and picotees. Not only are lilies a lovely flower to use at your important affair, but they give off a fragrant aroma and create a rich and sweet ambiance.

Mini Callas:
Mini callas are elegant flowers, perfect for bouquets and centerpieces. They are available throughout the year and come in a variety of colors such as white/cream, yellow, orange, pink and mauve. Weather conditions also play a part in their pigmentation and you can often find slight variations in colors of mini callas.

Statice:
While most commonly found in shades of pinks and violet or purple, statice is also available in blue, yellow, white, red, orange and apricot. It is most frequently used to enhance summer and early fall weddings.

Snapdragons:
With their beautiful petals, these tall Mediterranean flowers are reminiscent of an exotic paradise. Snapdragons are widely available in the summer in a crisp white color. They are also available in other colors, including shades of pink or yellow.

http://www.mydreamwedding.ca/uploads/Image/Kyla/8111.jpg

Wedding flowers are one of the essential parts of a wedding, and silk wedding flowers are a great way to make sure you have great flowers at your wedding without breaking your budget. Why would you buy silk wedding flowers instead of real ones?

Of course the head always says real flowers. It’s traditional, it’s real, real flowers are the only wedding flowers that will do it. Silk wedding flowers are, well, artificial.

However when the head stops ruling and reality starts to be heard, there are some very good reasons to use silk wedding flowers.

Why would you choose to buy silk wedding flowers rather than traditional real flowers? Here’s 6 reasons why.

1. Lets get one thing straight. Silk wedding flowers look just as good as real flowers. There is an impression that silk flowers look a little tacky, just a little bit cheap and poor quality.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Modern silk flowers look exactly like the real thing. A viewer cannot tell the difference between silk flowers and real ones when looking at them unless they either feel them or subject them to serious scrutiny.

2. Unlike real flowers, silk wedding flowers don’t wilt. They don’t have petals falling off from time to time and they don’t sag. Silk flowers look as good at the end of the wedding as they do at the start of the wedding. You can’t say that for real flowers.

3. And whilst real flowers are pretty much finished a few days after the wedding, a bride can keep her silk wedding flowers for years if she wishes to preserve the memory of her wedding day.

4. Real wedding flowers are very expensive. If you haven’t shopped for flowers yet just have a look at the price of real wedding flowers and you’ll be surprised at how expensive they can be. Silk flowers, on the other hand, can be extremely cost competitive. Particularly if you buy them in the right place.

Because unlike real wedding flowers you can buy silk wedding flowers online. Yes, you can ORDER real flowers online, but if they come from too far away they won’t be looking so great after delivery. With silk flowers, on the other hand, you can order online and get your silk flowers extremely cheaply, and they won’t come to you all damaged and wilting.

5. It’s possible to have the exact flowers you want, in the right colors, regardless of the season. With real flowers you’re a little dictated to by the season. If the flower you want isn’t in season, or the color isn’t in season, you’re stuck. But with silk flowers you’ve got a complete choice of flowers regardless of the season.

6. Silk flowers retain value. Now of course you may want to keep them as I’ve suggested, however many don’t. If you don’t want to keep your flowers you throw them out, if they’re real ones. They’ve usually had it. But silk flowers keep indefinitely, and can be resold.

Convinced? Silk wedding flowers are the way of the future.

For me, flowers are one of the most important aspects of a wedding. They bring color, life, and aroma to a wedding. They help make table settings more beautiful, and can transform a formerly dull space into a beautiful personality-filled one. Yet they can also be confusing for a beginner, and a budget breaker for many, as well as an excuse to spend your wedding sneezing for some. Before you order your flowers, check out these sites.

Source: About

I get quite a few emails from brides-to-be, asking me which flowers would be good to use at their weddings, flowers that won’t make them or their bridesmaids start sneezing and sniffling right in the middle of the wedding. I get enough of these requests that I thought that the subject warranted its own article.

Wedding flowers

First, flowers for a wedding ought to be bright, fun, cheerful, festive flowers. For example, I like “glads,” gladiolas, but I see them used at funerals all too often, so they seem out of place at a fun affair like a wedding.

The one thing you don’t want with wedding flowers is pollen! With wedding flowers very little pollen is good, and no pollen at all is by far the best.

Daises: For starters I would avoid using most of the daisy-related type flowers, daisies, gerbera, chrysanthemums, asters, dahlias, and sunflowers unless you know they’re pollen-free ones. There actually are quite a few chrysanthemums, dahlias and asters that are called formal doubles and that have no pollen. All of these formal doubled flowers will be ones with a very high number of petals per flower. What has happened with these flowers is that they have been hybridized so often that the pollen parts (the stamens) have turned into parts that now look more like petals (staminoids). All true formal double flowers will be pollen free.

Goldenrod flowers (bright yellow) are often used as fillers in arrangements and goldenrod is a daisy-ragweed relative and will shed plenty of allergenic pollen. Don’t use goldenrod!

Baby’s breath is a popular wedding flower, again, often used as filler between other larger flowers. Baby’s breath is grown and sold as single or double flowered. If you use baby’s breath, use only the doubled flowered types.

Roses: Florist type hybrid tea roses that are still in a closed bud stage and that are not especially fragrant are excellent choices and will shed no pollen. If using roses picked from the garden, choose only those roses with healthy green leaves, and pick roses that are still in the bud to half-open stages. Some free-flowering garden roses, such as the beautiful pale pink ‘Cecile Brunner’ roses, are always allergy-free and produce no pollen at all. The Banksia roses, which will be either yellow or white, are small, cute, come in dense sprays, and are also pollen free.

Pots of blooming hydrangeas, especially of the old-fashioned Hydrangea macrophylla type, are mostly pollen-free and are good choices to use. Pots of blooming double tuberous begonias, especially all the erect type cultivars, almost all of these are great, very large, colorful flowers and pollen-free. The fancy flowered begonias called ‘Reigers’ begonias are also pollen free and come in bright colors or white, yellow, red, salmon, and pink.

Lilies of all types can often now be purchased that are either simply pollen-free flowers, or else someone (who doesn’t have allergies), can carefully remove the brown pollen-bearing anthers on the tip of each of the six stamens in each regular lily…. watch this pollen as it will also easily stain your wedding clothes, especially anything white. Lilies that have had the anthers removed will be completely pollen free. ** A caution here though: sap from any and all kinds of lilies can cause a very nasty, long-lasting itchy skin rash…certainly nothing any bride would want on her honeymoon! With this in mind, watch out for the sap of all lilies and of Alstromeria too. Also, it would not be a good idea for a bride to even carry a bouquet of lilies, certainly not if she has skin that is in the least bit sensitive. Anyone helping with the wedding would be wise not to stick their hands into the water in which the lilies have been standing, as this water will have the sap in it.

Camellias: Camellias come in bright white, red, or pink colors and few flowers are more beautiful than nice camellias, however they are not easy to buy from florists. Still, a gardener friend may have some you could use if the season is right…spring and fall. If you can find them, there are many nice fully doubled, formal double type camellias that are pollen-free. These camellias will look fabulous floating in small bowls of water on tables.

Orchids: Very few orchids cause any pollen allergies and it is now possible to buy small pots of beautiful blooming orchids at quite reasonable prices. Occasionally there is some skin rash associated with orchids, so watch any and all sap from cut flowers. Individual orchids should have their stems in small tubes of water.

Although certainly not indoor plants, pots of growing pansy, viola, and impatiens also can look terrific and they are all very low allergy potential flowering plants. In California or Florida it might be possible to get large sprays of bougainvillea flowers. These now come in many colors, including bright white. Double bougainvillea flowers will have no pollen at all, and even the more typical types of bougainvillea will shed next to no pollen. Bougainvillea flowers are good too for using around perfume sensitive people, as they have next to no smell.

Lawns: If the wedding is to be held on a lawn, or if the reception afterwards is, I’d suggest that the lawn be mowed two to three days ahead of time, and that a lawn mower with a really good grass catcher be used.

Source: about

A guide to all the wedding flowers you’ll need

By Nina Callaway, About.com

Before you talk to your florist, put together a list of wedding flowers you’ll need. It will help focus your discussions, and help you stay within budget! (keep in mind that this is only a general checklist. You certainly don’t need all of the flowers listed here. You may also wish to add corsages or boutonnieres for other people that are special to you.)

Wedding Party
___Bridal Bouquet
___Flowers for bride’s hair
___Bridesmaid’s bouquets ___number of bridesmaids
___Different bouquet for maid of honor?
___Flower girl headpiece
___Flower girl basket decorations
___Flower girl petals to toss
___Groom’s boutonniere
___Groomsmen’s boutonnieres ___number of groomsmen
___Different boutonniere for best man?
___Mother of the bride corsage
___Mother of the groom corsage
___Stepmother corsage
___Father of the groom boutonniere
___Father of the bride boutonniere
___Stepfather boutonniere
___Grandmothers corsages
___Grandfathers boutonnieres
___Other

Ceremony
___Altar, huppah, or other central arrangements
___Pew or chair decorations
___Candles
___Other

Reception
___Entryway arrangements
___Centerpieces for each table
___number of tables
___Buffet table decorations
___Bar decorations
___Flowers to decorate passed trays (talk to your caterer about what they’ll need)
___Cake decorations
___Other

Source: About

Wedding flowers are one of the most important elements of your big day. Not only do they provide color and scent, but they symbolize life, growth, and rebirth. Good wedding flowers are also a conversation starter and after the food and dress, one of things guests will remember most. So how do you find the right florist to provide your wedding flowers, what questions should you ask them, and when should you sign a contract with a florist? Here are those answers and more.

Finding a florist for your wedding flowers

If you don’t already have a favorite floral designer, talk to your friends and family about who they’ve used in the past. You can also go to bridal shows, or simply look in the phone book. Make appointments to visit at least three different florists. When you visit the shop, take a look around.

Do you like the arrangements that are in the store’s windows?

Are the flowers in the cooler fresh and luscious?

Is the shop clean and organized?

Ask to see photographs of previous work

Ideally, your wedding florist will have vast previous experience as a wedding florist, and will have many photographs of previous wedding flower arrangements and bridal bouquets. Make sure that the pictures are recent, and comprehensive – not just one bouquet, but that they show all the bridal bouquets and centerpieces from a particular wedding.

Talk to them about your ideas for wedding flowers

Bring swatches of bridesmaid dresses, pages from magazines with bouquets and floral arrangements that you like, the type of container you’d like to use, and any ideas you may have. Make sure that the florist is receptive to your ideas, and that they are willing to listen to your vision. You’ll want to feel comfortable with this person – make sure that they are the one who will be personally responsible for your arrangements. You’ll also want to make sure that they think your budget is realistic for your ideas.

When to book your florist

This depends on how long you have to plan your wedding, but a general guideline is to start talking to your florist about 6 to 8 months before your wedding, and sign a contract with them about 4 to 6 months before the big day.

What you’ll need to know before you can book a florist for your wedding flowers

• You’ll need to have booked your ceremony site, and know how many arrangements you’ll need to decorate it.
• You’ll need to have booked your reception site, and know the prominent colors of the venue (so the flowers don’t clash)
• If you are doing floral centerpieces, you’ll need to know approximately how many wedding guests you are having, and thus how many centerpieces you’ll need. (Most round catering tables seat 8, 10 or 12 guests; rectangular tables generally seat 8 people)
• How many bridesmaids you are having, and the color of their dresses
• The number of corsages (for mothers, grandmothers, and sometimes readers or other special guests) and boutonnieres (for the groom, groomsmen, ushers, and sometimes readers or other special guests).
• If you’ll need separate arrangements for the rehearsal dinner, post-wedding brunch, entryways, bathrooms, gift or cake tables, or buffet tables

Questions to ask the florist

• What is your design philosophy? Do you prefer modern arrangements or more traditional ones?
• Can I see examples of past work by the same person who will arrange my wedding flowers?
• How many other weddings and events will you do the same weekend as my event? (this gives you an idea of how much time and attention they’ll spend on your wedding flowers)
• What flowers will be in season and less expensive for my wedding? How can I maximize my budget?
• What ideas do you have for my wedding? What are the most successful ideas you’ve had for past weddings?
• Is it possible to see a sample of my centerpiece and/or bouquet?
• Will you deliver and/or set up my flowers? How long do you generally spend at a site setting up? Is there an extra delivery or set up charge?
• Is it possible to reuse the ceremony flowers as reception decorations? Will you transport them, or will we need to? Is there a transport fee?
• Are there any other additional or hidden costs I should know about?
• Do you have rental supplies (such as vases, urns, candelabras and potted plants) or do I need to use a separate rental company?
• If I need to add, subtract, or change arrangements or bridal bouquets, how long to I have to do so?
• Will you write up an itemized quote of what we’ve discussed?
• How soon do I need to put down a deposit to reserve your services? What is the minimum deposit?

Also, if you are having an outdoor wedding, you’ll want to ask what flowers will best stand up under the weather conditions. A bride who is sensitive to scents, or allergic to flowers may want to talk to the florist about scented or allergenic flowers so she won’t be sneezing down the aisle.

Source: About

by: Glenda Erceg

Weddings are very expensive. If you are looking for ways to cut wedding expenses you may want to consider the flowers.

Even if you want to have the flowers provided by a rather expensive florist there are ways to cut back. If you want flowers that are unique or created by a pricey florist but still need to shave a little from the floral budget you can consider fewer flowers and arrangements. Use the florist of your dreams but order less.

If you need to trim more from the floral expenses consider flowers from a local grocery store floral department. Many stores have excellent floral arrangers and they will work with you to create beautiful floral designs.

Let’s say neither of the above suggestions is going to work but you still want to have fresh flowers. You can order flowers and put the bouquets together yourself. Or maybe you have a friend or relative who could help with this project. You also could check into hiring a student who is taking classes in floral arranging. Many community colleges offer these courses and the student may also be able to purchase fresh flowers at cost.

Many people are very happy with wedding floral arrangements created from silk flowers. If you are creative you can design the bouquets yourself. You may also know someone who can help you with the arrangements. Gather your friends together for an evening of flower bouquet preparations. Have all the flowers and supplies ready, provide some food and have a flower arranging party.

Weddings are expensive but you can cut the cost and still have gorgeous flowers for your special day.