For me, no symbol represents a bride quite as quintessentially as the bouquet. This probably has something to do with the miniature bouquets my mom used to make for my Barbie brides. Though, when you think about it, there really is no other time in a woman’s life that she gets to proudly carry a bouquet, than when she is participating in a wedding. There will be other times to wear elaborate dresses, and veils can still worn at funerals, but this is the only situation where a lady will have the opportunity to carry a bouquet.
- Lily of the Valley
I have always been a flower lover, as a child I would bring my mom a fistful of freshly picked wildflowers home from school with me almost every day in the spring months. In return, she would clip off a piece of her lilac tree for me to give to my teachers. This is why it came as no surprise to me that the only moment of confident clarity I had during my entire wedding planning process was when it came time to choose my flowers.
- Yellow Rose
What to know before you go:
- What flowers you like/want
- The names of those flowers
- Which flowers are seasonal to the date of your wedding
- What your wedding colours will be
- Whether your favourite flowers come in the right colours
- Who you need to select flowers for (bridesmaids, groomsmen, parents, etc)
- Where you need flowers for (within your ceremony and reception sites)
- Where your ceremony and reception will be (venues should be booked)
- What your budget is
- Daisy
What to expect during your first consultation:
- The florist will ask where and when the wedding is
- You will discuss how big you want each bouquet to be
- You will discuss filler flowers and if you want them
- You will discuss the different shapes that bouquets can be made (round versus cascading)
- Hand tying is in vogue right now so you will need to choose ribbon colours
- You will need to choose boutonnières for the groom and groomsmen
- It is not necessary, but it is customary to choose corsages and boutonnières for your parents and grandparents to designate these guests of honour
- They will ask you if you want a special “throw-away bouquet” for your bouquet toss
- They will be able to show you pictures and some samples
- Be open to suggestions – these people are better at this than you are
You should book a florist 9-12 months before your wedding, finalize your arrangements 3-6 months before and make sure to confirm your order 1-2 weeks before the date of your wedding.