Contributed by Marilyn Ruyter, Flowers & Sense

The first consideration when planning your bridal flowers is always colour, colour, colour! Colour – its shade or tone – also sets the mood and feel of the wedding.  A good example of this is the difference between ‘soft blue’ or ‘rich sapphire blue’; both are blue but will give you a totally different look and feel.  The variety and type of flower are always second to colour.

All arrangements by Flowers & Sense, Barrie, Ontario

Naturally your first colour choice will be to match or coordinate with the bridesmaids dresses.  The second colour choice can either blend gently for a subdued and elegant look or be a complimentary colour if you want a vibrant and rich look.

A professional florist will ask you about your dress, your colours, your venue and the date and time of your wedding.  These are all important questions for they will determine flower choices, colours and the mechanics of making them. You want your flowers to be just as beautiful at the end of the day as the moment they were delivered.

Flower choices will help firm up your look and theme simply by their construction.  Some flowers are more playful like gerberas, elegant like callas, modern like fugi mums, or vintage like lisianthus. The right choice of flowers will connect you visually with the idea of summer like dahlias, spring like tulips, autumn like sunflowers or winter like amaryllis.

It’s been said that flowers are the ‘jewellery’ to the dresses.   They should be selected because they compliment you, your gown and your day.  Where ‘what’s in style’ comes into play is the design of the bouquet.  For the past three or four years the ‘nosegay’ or ‘roundy moundy’ hand tied bouquet have been most popular.  With the new look of simpler gowns and the mermaid dresses,  we find brides still like a nosegay bouquet but smaller than that made popular in the 1980s and we are seeing a rediscovering  of a modern cascade. These new cascades are not your typical tear drop bouquets but more of a nosegay bouquet with a contemporary cascade of flowers and or greenery that follow the lines of the fitted bridal gown.

Extending your floral theme throughout your wedding with centerpieces and event décor is key. Whether you want to make your own or have a professional do it for you the same concepts apply.

Keep you colour theme simple, three colours with a choice of metals, glass or ceramics. Take you colour choices and repeat them wherever and whenever you can, from invitations, programs, linens, backdrops, favours and the cake. Strive for continuity. Mixing up tints and shades of colours will give your wedding a messy and cheap look. Be sure that the colours are as close to a perfect match as possible when choosing the colour on paper, in ribbon, in flowers, in cake decorations etc.

For the bride and groom who want their wedding to be grand, to be the talk of the town, then it’s lots of height, lots of special effects light, some bling and a lush or bold arrangement for centerpieces. For the intimate and cozy atmosphere, low, full and inviting warm candlelight is the choice. Having a wedding outdoors and needing the natural look? Then choose a centerpiece that incorporates live plants, organic containers and pure simplicity. There is an unlimited choice in containers, design and flowers to pull together your dream wedding.

Every bride and groom wants their wedding to be unique and reflect their personal style. While some brides have such a distinct sense of their own style they may  coordinate their wedding beautifully, for the rest of us a professional florist is vital.  They will help you coordinate all the elements of your wedding, create all your designs, deliver and set it up perfectly for you so that you may enjoy every special moment of your perfect day.  Because really, you deserve it.