What Flowers Are Appropriate for Weddings?

Wedding Planners are often asked to give their advice on the floral arrangements for a wedding.
Of course, 'the flowers' may come into a number of different categories.
There may be those associated with the Bride's bouquet, those carried by Bridesmaids, the decorations around the church or other service venue plus all of the flowers in place at the reception site.
As a general principle, there isn't really any firm stricture relating to what flowers should be used for what types of wedding.
Even so, there are a number of points that the Wedding Planner may wish to keep in mind.
The seasons In the modern world, many types of flowers are available almost 12 months a year but it's quite nice to have a certain seasonal touch to the floral decorations associated with a wedding.
Natural blooms sometimes bring with them their own fragrances whereas those that are forced to be available out of season can occasionally be less attractive in that respect.
Classic options Some flowers are classically associated with weddings and always have been in western traditions.
They might include: • Roses • Sweet peas • Camellias • Gardenias • Orchids • Lilly of the valley • Lavender • Anemones • Ranunculus • Peonies • Carnations • Hydrangeas • etc.
Of course, all of the usual considerations relating to the preference of your clients and indeed things such as colour coordination will apply.
Keep in mind that the flowers should never 'out do' the Bride in terms of being the focus of people's attention.
Clearly budget will also play a part because some of the above blooms may be rather more expensive than others.
For the certified Wedding Planner, however experienced, it is always a good idea to take the advice of a very knowledgeable florist.
Flowers to avoid Whilst ultimately the couple's preference is the only real governing factor, there are by tradition and common sense certain types of flower and bloom that are often avoided at weddings.
These may vary tremendously based upon the cultural origin of the couple concerned but here are just a few points that the wedding planner should keep in mind: • Trumpet Lilies - in some European cultures this is a flower sometimes associated with funerals and death.
As such, it may be seen as inappropriate for weddings by some.
Rosemary is also regarded by some to be similar.
• Elderflower - this can be beautiful but it can be laden with pollen which might be something that you would wish to avoid in a service where there may be people with various forms of allergy.
Some other flowers are also well known for causing particular problems with pollen distribution though some sprays and treatments can reduce that.
• Longevity - the one thing that the Wedding Planner will want to avoid is a church or reception venue that looks fantastic when it is dressed in the morning but which looks way past its best just a few hours later before the wedding party has even arrived.
Some blooms are more prone to very rapid fading and falling than others - hydrangeas are an example.
The key message for any Wedding Planner must be to listen carefully to their clients' preferences and to do some research coupled with getting expert advice.