Wedding Flower Elements
Flowers are a key part of wedding ceremonies and receptions. They are incorporated in every aspect of the event, from the background decorations to the cake. They can be a subtle enhancer of an already beautiful wedding, or bold flairs of color, bringing life to the event. Typically there are a variety of flower creations scattered throughout the wedding, drawing attention to key players involved in the wedding and to the beauty of the venue.
When you think of wedding flowers the first thing that comes to mind is the bride's bouquet. Every bride has a bouquet. Some choose small bouquets of roses or calla lilies, something simple and elegant that enhances the delicate gown worn by the bride and the simple elegance of the wedding. Others choose large, overflowing bouquets of freesias, roses, peonies, or even stargazer lilies, whatever the bride happens to fancy. These bouquets do not overwhelm the bride and gown. Instead, they are a bright spot of color flowing down the dress. The effect is always stunning and adds flair to the wedding.
Many brides choose to have bouquets for their bridesmaids, and an extra bouquet to toss. Usually the bridesmaid bouquets are smaller than the bridal bouquet, sometimes only a long-stemmed flower such as a calla lily or gerbera daisy with a ribbon tied around the stem. They acknowledge the role of the bridesmaid but don't outshine or draw attention from the bride. They add to the design of the wedding by adding more color. The toss bouquet is usually smaller, somewhat lightweight that’s easy to throw and easy to catch.
When it comes to wedding flowers you can't forget the men participating in the wedding. The groom and his groomsmen should all have some sort of flower differentiating themselves from the wedding guests. Boutonnières are usually the element of choice because they pin to the front of the lapel and don't have to be carried around. They are beautiful, but masculine. Most boutonnières have one main flower surrounded by small bits of greenery, smaller flowers, or baby's breath. Roses, calla lilies, carnations, lily buds, geraniums, and daisies all make beautiful boutonnières. Usually the color of the boutonnière will coincide with the colors of the bouquets. Some brides choose to have boutonnières made for the fathers and the ring bearers as well
The flower girl and mothers should not be overlooked when it comes to planning wedding flowers. To include the flower girl in the wedding many brides like to have a headpiece made for the young girl. Some choose to do a wreath of small flowers such as violets, spray roses, baby's breath, or lilac, while others choose a headband of small roses or a large daisy surrounded by baby's breath. Both options are beautiful. The perfect way to include the mothers is with a wrist corsage. These are beautiful and strap to the wrist for convenience. They are larger than boutonnières so a larger variety of flowers can be used and more color can be incorporated.
To tie in the wedding party with the venue, the same flowers are often incorporated into the wedding decor. This part of planning the flowers is fun because there is so much that you can do. Each table should have a centerpiece of some sort. This can be anything from a candle surrounded by a wreath of tulips, to a thin vase with one rose, one calla lily, and some greenery shooting out the top, to a small round bouquet of stargazer lilies and carnations. The possibilities are endless, but the effect is always eye-catching.
Most weddings, especially those indoors, have a backdrop or specially designed background for pictures. The same flowers used in the bouquets, boutonnières, and centerpieces are easily incorporated into the background. There is nothing more beautiful than a spray of roses and calla lilies with bright spots of pink freesia intermingled resting above a sheer, lighted curtain. This is stunning. Even a large bouquet of the wedding flowers set on a pillar, one on each side of the bride and groom, is beautiful. This is simple elegance. Again, the possibilities are endless and are only limited by your imagination, the imagination of your florist, and your budget.
When planning wedding flowers there really is no right way to do it, and no wrong way to do it. Flowers are a representation of the bride’s personality therefore every wedding and every design is unique, even if it is similar to another. One couple may prefer red roses and white lilies while another might choose gerbera daisies and tulips. Even if the styles are exactly the same, because of the flower choice they will always be different. Have fun when planning the flowers because you want it done right the first time. Not everybody gets the chance to re-do their wedding.