Budget, style and color: the three things every bride-to-be should consider when choosing her flowers – and her florist – for the big day.
Jodi Hefferan, floral designer at Mary’s Petals and Vines in Gaylord, recommends that the ladies first determine how much they want to spend on flowers, and go from there.
“A budget will determine the type of flowers she can have,” said Hefferan, adding it might help to thumb through some magazines for ideas and inspiration.
As for style, Hefferan recommends having the wedding gown, maid of honor, and bridesmaids’ dresses selected before deciding on flowers, as the colors and styles of dresses will impact the floral decisions. “We don’t try to match color; we try to complement,” said Deborah Weber, also a floral designer at Mary’s Petals and Vines. Weber recommends thinking about how your flowers will look in photographs. “White may blend too easily, whereas blue may end up looking black,” she noted. Pink and brown or light blue and brown are popular color combinations.
Martin Van Til, AIFD, design manager at Flowers by Josie in Gaylord, notes there are many fall weddings this year. Trendy colors are soft greens, creams, and deep purples.
Types of bouquets vary, noted Weber, and cascading bouquets are once again becoming popular. However, the gathered bouquet, she said, is very popular by virtue of its simple elegance. Flowers most often used are lilies, callas, hydrangeas, gerber daisies and roses.
Something else to think about when ordering the bouquet is the bouquet handle, said Van Til. “It’s a simple addition that no one will see, but the bride knows it’s there,” he remarked. It has also become trendy to add herbs, berries and pods throughout the bouquet.
Van Til also noted that the popularity of hybrid roses is on the rise, but the hybrids are not readily available from the florist. All the more reason to plan ahead and make careful decisions to ensure you have the perfect flowers for your wedding. 

Flower tips:

• Expect a free consultation with florists to discuss your vision, but keep an open mind and try to be flexible.

• Ask your florist what kind of rentals (like vases or arbors) and services they provide.

• Decide on a price and payment schedule. You will have to put a minimum payment down that day to secure a date.

• Think outside the box. Fresh flowers can be used anywhere: on the pews, on arbors or cakes, as napkin sprigs or in combination with fruit and vases or candlesticks. 

See related article: "Picking The Flowers"