Have you ever noticed how most bouquets look the same? Sure, they look beautiful, but they don’t really have much variety.

They usually contain flowers and some type of greenery.

But who ever said that bouquets only had to contain flowers and greenery?

Why can’t they contain something a bit more exciting?

Like what? I can hear you asking.

Well you can try anything really, it is only limited by your imagination.

Most brides spend hours thinking about what flowers they want in their bouquets and then what flowers they want as accents to the focal flower.

I wonder what what would happen if they had something else to choose from, instead of just flowers?

Does the person you are making the bouquet for have a favourite thing that they would love to carry down the isle?

You should always ask your bride what they would like in their bouquet because it doesn’t have to be flowers.

There are plenty of other things you can add, such as:

• toy cars
• toy trains
• toy airplanes
• miniature teddy bears
• small dolls
• plastic horses, cats, dogs, or birds

Some other things you could add include candy, chocolates, bubble gum, fruit, vegetables, cup cakes etc. For my own wedding, I am adding lollipops to my bouquet!

You probably think I’ve gone mad! But trust me, people liked to have choice and they like to feel that they are  different and unusual!

And adding interesting objects to the bouquet can be a good way to get the groom more involved with the wedding. For example, if the groom is a pilot, or likes cars, how about adding some toy planes or toy cars to the bouquet? This is sure to get him more involved!

Not all brides will want to do this, but it certainly doesn’t hurt to have more choice!

And just because you are adding a few different things doesn’t mean you still can’t have flowers.  All you do is combine the two, for example, you could have seven teddy bears and nine roses. It’s really up to the person getting married.

As you know, weddings can be very stressful and taxing. So why not lighten things up a little and give people something to talk about for years to come?

When it comes to choosing wedding flowers, many brides may know the wedding flower they want in their own bouquet, but are a little mystified about the rest of the wedding flowers needed to fill out the ceremony and reception.

While you can leave all your wedding flower selections in the hands of a capable professional florist and get great results, you may want to take a more hands on approach. We hope this wedding flower guide will help making planning your most special day just a little easier.

Your first decision should be whether you plan to use a professional florist to create a wedding flower arrangement and bouquets, or if you’d rather visit a wholesale wedding flower retailer and order flowers to make your own bridal bouquets, boutonnieres and so forth.

If you are the creative type, a simple floral craft book will give you all the tips and tool lists necessary to create your own custom wedding flowers that reflect your personal style. It’s a good idea to purchase some flowers to practice with ahead of time to make sure you’ll be happy with your results. Whatever you decide, there are some standard traditions and suggestions to help make sure you’ve covered all your wedding flower needs.

Wedding Flower Guide

Wedding flowers for the church would include:

• Altar wedding flower arrangements
• Pew markers/decorations

Wedding flowers for the reception would include:

• Wedding flower arrangement for the bridal table.
• Table centerpieces
• Buffet table decorations

Wedding flowers for the bridal party would include:

• Bridal bouquet
• Small Bridal bouquet to toss
• Groom’s boutonniere
• Maid/Matron of Honor bouquet
• Bridesmaid bouquets
• Best Man boutonniere
• Groomsman boutonnieres
• Flower Girl bouquet or petal basket
• Mother of the Bride/Groom corsages
• Father of the Bride/Groom boutonnieres
• Step-parent corsages/boutonnieres
• Grandparent corsages/boutonnieres

A Few Extra Wedding Flower Tips

• Maid/Matron of Honor wedding bouquets should be  slightly more elaborate or in a different color  shade than the rest of the bridesmaid wedding bouquets.

• The Best Man boutonniere should be slightly more  elaborate than the rest of the groomsmen  boutonnieres.

• The corsages/boutonnieres for the parents should  differ slightly from the step-parents, and all  grandparent corsages/boutonnieres should be different as well. It makes it easier for guests to keep track of who’s who.

• Wedding flower arrangements from the church can be transferred to the reception hall for double  duty.

• Bridesmaid wedding bouquets could be set in  waiting vases and used as decoration for the bridal table.

Remember, these are just wedding flower guidelines. When it comes to your special day, your wedding flower selections and arrangements should reflect your personal taste and style. You can keep things simple or get as elaborate as you like, as long as your wedding flowers help you create the perfectly romantic wedding day you’ve always dreamed of.

If you plan to walk down the aisle anytime soon, you should be aware that the flowers you carry might say more than you intended.

That’s right — most flowers carry a meaning, or a special significance that has been passed down from generation to generation.

We can trace this “flower talk” back to the Victorian Era. It was improper in those days for a man to come out and tell a lady how he felt, so he would choose a flower with special meaning and send it her instead. Because the meaning of flowers was so well known, the woman receiving them understood the message as clearly as if it was written on a piece of paper.

Today, many people don’t speak “flower talk,” but on a day as important as your wedding, you should place a special emphasis on what the flowers that you carry mean.

Let’s start by looking at a few of the most popular wedding flowers, and then examine their meanings.

Roses

There is a reason that roses are the most popular choice of flowers for brides. A white rose stands for innocence, beauty and charm-just the traits every bride wants to portray. A bride that chooses red roses for her wedding flowers is sending a message of passion and of fiery love. If dark pink roses are used for a wedding, the couple is expressing a thankfulness that they found each other. An ivy colored rose stands for fidelity in the marriage-something every new couple strives for.

Tulips

If you are having a spring wedding, there is simply no better way to express your love for your future spouse than by carrying a bouquet of tulips. They are not only beautiful, but speak of an undying love.

Daisies

Daisies are many people’s favorite flower, but not a lot of brides use them in their wedding décor. They might if they understood their significance! Daisies stand for romance and an innocent spirit. Does that describe you?

Calla Lilies

These graceful flowers are reminders of our past generations when grace and beauty were the rule. Associated with elegance and charm, a calla lily would be the perfect flower if you wanted to create a sophisticated atmosphere for your wedding.

Now that we’ve looked at some of the most popular flowers, let’s talk about how to use them to create just the right wedding event for you.

If you want a fairy tale type wedding, then you can’t go wrong with roses-lots of them – Combine pinks-both dark and soft -and white and ivy colored ones. Be sure to wrap them in lots of sparkling tulle that matches the other colors in your wedding.

For a more sophisticated affair, use calla lilies. You can carry a single stem for a simple look, or a large bouquet for a stunning effect. Be sure to combine these flowers with elegance-both in the wedding party’s attire and the surrounding decorations.

For a more casual event-such as a beach wedding-use daisies to make your guests feel cheery and at home. You can tie them with pretty ribbons that match the other colors in your wedding’s décor, and then mix them with loads of baby’s breath.

Finally, there simply is no better flower for a garden wedding than the tulip. Choose soft pastel colors to create a spring wedding, and then combine them with lots of feathery greenery, white linen and adoring looks!

As you can see, the flowers that you choose for your wedding will definitely set the mood. Knowing that, before you select your flowers, determine what type of wedding and reception event you want to have. Once you do that, choosing the flowers will be a breeze!