April showers bring May flowers, or so the expression goes. So I thought I’d dedicate a blog post to tips on making decisions about the most important accessories to your wedding: your wedding flowers. For this post, I brought in an expert, my friend Jason of Outbloom Floral in Methuen, MA. I asked him where couples should begin when they are considering floral arrangements. Together we came up with this list of tips for getting wedding floral arrangements that impress.
- Like with most wedding-related stuff (including your wedding photos), start looking for wedding flowers on Pinterest! Finding and pinning floral arrangements that you like (and don’t like) will give you a starting point for speaking with a florist. Jason said that he loves when brides show him a Pinterest board because he can get a sense for their personal style.
- Start with the bride’s bouquet. According to Jason, all of your wedding flowers – from the centerpieces to the boutonnieres to mom’s corsage – will be based on the design and colors in the bridal bouquet. After all, the bridal bouquet is in most of the wedding photos! Before you get overwhelmed thinking about all the other floral elements to your decor, focus on what you’d love in your bouquet. Everything else will flow from there.Flower arrangement by Derby Farm Flowers
- For maximum efficiency, go dress shopping before you hit up your florist. To help in designing the bouquets, your florist will want to know everything about the bride’s and bridesmaids’ dresses; colors, styles, long, short, sleeves, no sleeves, shawls, headpieces, sexy, formal, traditional. The designs of the dresses influence the look and feel of the bouquet, too.
- Make it personal. Is there a charm or personal effect that you’d want added to your bouquet? Give it to your florist the week of your wedding – or when they drop off the flowers on your wedding day they’ll add it to your bouquet, making sure it’s perfectly intertwined and secured.Floral arrangements by OutBloom Floral
- Local, seasonal flowers are great quality, but not necessarily cheaper. According to Jason, this is a popular misconception. But he assured me that the quality of locally grown flowers is much better than those grown across the world and shipped to your area. If there is a flower you love that is a must have but it’s not in season or too expensive, there are likely alternatives to give you the same texture and appearance. Ask your florist!
- Boutonnieres are not a “must.” Traditionally only the groom is expected to wear a boutonnière, so don’t stress about having them for all of the men in your wedding party. Also consider that if the groom is wearing a pocket square you don’t need a boutonniere at all to embellish his suit.Floral Design by Floral Notes
- If you do a boutonniere, have a backup! Lapel flowers are intended to be worn during the ceremony and cocktail hour, but even before then they begin to wilt and get smooshed from all the hugging. So it’s good to have a backup groom’s boutonniere, in case it doesn’t make it past the first look.
- What about your moms? Moms like to enjoy wedding flowers, too. A hand corsage is the most traditional choice for the women in your family, but not everyone likes the look and feel of them. Jason said he often makes corsage with magnets on the back instead of pins, which are more favorable to the fabric of fancy dresses. But he also suggested a nosegay for your mom, which is an itty-bitty bouquet she can hold in her hands. Talk to your florist about these options and what is right for your mothers and grandmothers.
- Save on church flowers. If you’re getting married in a church, you may be able to skip the ceremony flower altogether and save yourself some dough. Churches are typically ornate and beautiful enough without a lot of floral décor. Put that money towards your bouquet instead!
- The centerpieces aren’t designed in a vacuum. When designing the centerpieces, your florist is going to consider all of the details of your reception décor: linens, chairs, dishes, china, silverware, favors, and lighting. All of these elements set the mood for the guests, and the flowers are the penultimate addition to the table. If you don’t know how to choose linens and silver, or if you don’t have a wedding planner helping you, ask your florist for input!
- Don’t forget the candles. Candlelight on your dinner tables adds a beautiful romantic mood to your floral centerpieces and makes everything sparkle. Even if you have to use the little electric candles, it’s worth putting them in glass votives and letting them do their sparkle.
- Don’t throw your bouquet! If you decided to participate in the traditional bouquet toss, let your florist know ahead of time. He can make you a specific bouquet for you to throw that is smaller, safer, less expensive, and still contains flowers from your wedding bouquet.
Thanks to Jason at OUTbloom Floral for collaborating on this post! Jason specializes in floral and event design, and if you’re in need of a florist for your wedding, be sure to contact him!