Written by Amy Zimmerman
Above photograph by Joel Marion Photography

"I always think of flowers as the icing on the cake, the final accessory that makes everything perfect," says Dale Rohman, America's Flower Man. "They make the dress perfect, the bridesmaids perfect. Carrying flowers is one of the most important wedding traditions."

Throughout history, weddings and flowers have been intertwined. The tradition of carrying flowers in a wedding came from the superstitious belief that flowers represented fertility and helped ward off evil spirits. Before the use of flowers, brides carried bouquets of garlic, herbs, and grains to drive away evil spirits as they walked down the aisle. Over time, these bouquets were filled with flowers, symbolizing fertility and everlasting love. The Greeks and Romans began the custom of strewing flowers before the bridal couple, symbolizing the essence of love.

Bouquet designed by Beth Foster Peterson, owner of Jardin Flowers.

"Flowers are the primary visual stimulus at a wedding," says Sandra Meyer, owner of Petals Galore in St. Charles. "They set the mood, create the theme. Flowers are what wows your guests as soon as they walk in the door."

But where do you start? What flowers should you use? What about colors? What is the appropriate size and shape for a bouquet? What about decorating the church and the reception?

Don't let all these questions overwhelm you. Following is a lesson in Flowers 101 to get the ideas blooming for your big day.

Bouquet designed by Sandra Meyer, owner of Petals Galore

Bridal Bouquet
Just as there are trends in fashion and interior design, there are trends in floral design. However, Rohman, a nationally recognized floral designer, speaker, and author says brides should follow their hearts. "If the bride wants yellow roses in her bouquet because that is the flower her beau always sent to her, then she should have yellow roses. If she's always dreamed of having a cascading bouquet, then she should ignore the trends and get what she wants. It is her special day," he says.

Brides are beginning to use more color in their own bouquets. Judy Page, owner of A Floral Gallery in Clayton, says colorful bouquets are beautiful, especially in photographs. "Many brides have seen photographs of other weddings where the vibrant colors of the bridesmaids bouquets stand out, but the all-white bridal bouquet fades," says Page.

Bouquet designed by Sandra Meyer, owner of Petals Galore

Rohman agrees that the look can be beautiful, but offers brides a word of caution. "If there is a stark contrast between the dress and the bouquet, when the guests turn to watch the bride walk down the aisle, their eyes will be drawn to the bouquet and not the bride's glowing face."

The traditional all-white bouquet remains popular with brides. "I recommend that the bride not try to match the color of the flower exactly to the dress because it takes away interest," says Rohman. "I often suggest tones of white, from stark white to creamy white to ivory. That is a bouquet that will look good with any dress."

Round, tufted bouquets with wrapped handles are popular, but some magazines are starting to show the return of the cascade or teardrop look. "I've found that brides are trying to get away from the really round, tight look. They are getting more into using multiple types of flowers to vary shape, size and texture," says Page.

Whatever shape bouquet you select, Rohman suggests that brides not compact the bouquets too tightly or use too many flowers, as it can take away from the beauty of the flowers. "I always tell my brides less is more and simplicity is elegance," says Rohman.

There are some guidelines brides should keep in mind when selecting the bouquet. For example, an evening wedding may call for more formal flowers than a daytime ceremony. If your wedding is more of a formal event, you may want to stay away from a casual flower such as a Gerber daisy.

The style of the dress can influence the bouquet design, too. "As a floral designer, I like to see the dress or at least see a picture of the dress," says Rohman. "For a very tailored or simple dress, I like to use larger and fewer flowers. For a very lacy or beaded dress, you can go with a smaller, more feminine look." The bride's build also should be a consideration. "If the bride is smaller in stature, long-stemmed calla lilies might not be the best choice," says Rohman.

Ultimately, the choice is yours. "It all depends on how important it is to the bride," says Rohman. I do make suggestions, but when it comes down to the nitty gritty, the bride should do what she wants. It's her day."

Rohman stresses the importance of actually seeing the flowers that will be used in your bouquet. "The bride needs to see the flowers for herself to make sure she likes what is being recommended."

Bridesmaids Bouquets

"When I plan a wedding, we start with the bridesmaids," says Rohman. "They set the theme for the wedding. I take the color the bride has selected for her bridesmaids and recommend flowers that will complement."

The bridesmaids bouquets often are the most colorful flowers in the ceremony. They add vibrancy to the photographs and are striking as the bridesmaids walk down the aisle. Usually the colors used in the bouquets depend on the color of the dresses.

As with bridal bouquets, the trend is starting to move away from the tighter, small bouquets to larger bouquets. "We are seeing a revival of the cascading bouquet," says Jane Winter, one of the owners of Wildflowers in St. Louis City.

While some brides use the same shape for the bridesmaids bouquets as the bridal bouquet, it is not necessary for them to coordinate. You may choose to use different shapes as well as different flowers. In fact, many brides prefer to keep their bouquet unique from the others.

The Ceremony

"The style of the church will influence your choice of flowers," says Winter. "In a very ornate church with a lot of stained glass, white arrangements will help focus the guests on the ceremony. White is a color that stands out against a very colorful background. However, in a more monochromatic church you may want to use more color."

Rohman recommends that brides use all white flowers for the church, particularly for evening weddings. "It's a very romantic look, especially if there is candlelight," he says.

Both Rohman and Winter agree that the sweet, fragrant aroma of flowers can be lovely in the church. Using flowers such as gardenias and stargazer lilies help achieve this effect. Brides are using more than just bows to decorate pew ends. "We're seeing a lot less emphasis on bows and a lot more emphasis on greenery," says Page. "Green shows up well in the church and adds dimension. It is a very fresh look."

Traditional arrangements that hang from the pew are popular, but so are arrangements that start on the floor and go up the pew. When selecting pew arrangements, brides should keep in mind the size of the pews and the width of the aisle. Also, high or large arrangements may block guests' view of the ceremony.

The Reception

The reception is the place to cut loose with a blast of color. The most important floral designs for the reception are the centerpieces for the guest table, flowers for the bridal table, and bouquets for the cake table.

Centerpieces that sit low on the table are back in style. "Tall centerpieces are wonderful when you walk in because they make a great impression at eye level, but they cause a problem when the guests are seated," says Rohman. "Lower centerpieces allow guests to see across the table and hold a conversation."

Page recommends using two or three different heights of flowers in the centerpieces to achieve both looks. "If the flowers are at different levels, guests can still see around them while seated, but the centerpieces also have an impressive impact when guests enter the room," she says. Short-stemmed, tufted bouquets with a very natural, fresh from the garden look are trendy, says Rohman. And candlelight never goes out of style.

Both Page and Rohman strongly suggest using candles because they create such a romantic atmosphere. Even simple votive candles are beautiful, but Rohman has used as many as 12 candles on a single table.

Using fruits and vegetables in the centerpieces is another returning trend. Rohman says he has used red pears and artichokes in the fall and grapes in the summer. Herbs such as rosemary add a wonderful fragrance, but be sure that the scent doesn't overwhelm the aroma of the food.

The cake table is another area that draws the attention of guests. Meyer suggests placing arrangements around the cake and adds that using fresh flowers on the cake is popular. Your baker and florist can work together to create a beautiful cake that uses both cake and floral design elements.

Meyer also recommends placing a tall piece on the place card table to help draw attention to it as guests enter the reception. Meyer says powder room pieces in the women's restrooms are trendy, too.

Popular Flowers
There are no limits to the kinds of flowers that can be used in your wedding. From daisies and tulips to lilies and roses, the possibilities are endless. The types of flowers that are popular often change with floral design trends.

Big flowers are one of the current trends, so flowers such as hydrangeas and wide-open roses are popular. Orchids are very popular because they are available in a wide range of colors, including yellow, pink, mauve, and even lime green. Miniature calla lilies also are trendy.

Rohman says different kinds of berries and greenery are gaining in popularity. "Hypericum, which is commonly known as St. John's Wort, was first used with a chocolate brown berry. It has been hybridized and now is available in red, lime green, coral and yellow."

Some flowers, such as roses and tulips, never go out of style. "There are so many beautiful colors of roses. And tulips are always a favorite for brides, especially in the spring. But I've even done bouquets with white tulips and holly for a Christmas wedding," says Rohman.

Picking Your Blooms
When meeting with your florist, it is helpful to bring pictures of ideas that represent your tastes. Pull pages from magazines or bring photographs from other weddings that show the types of floral designs you have in mind.

Whether you choose a cascading bouquet or an arm bouquet, white flowers or red flowers, daisies or gladiolas, the most important opinion is yours. It's your special day and you should have the flowers of your dreams.

The Budget
The amount of the wedding budget you put towards flowers is an individual decision, but it is something you should know before you start planning. For an average wedding, the floral budget will run close to $2,500 to $3,000 dollars. If your dream wedding includes lots of fresh flowers, plan to spend more. "Ten percent of the total budget is a good starting place. To really do it up takes closer to 15 or 20 percent," says Meyer.

"We've done everything from $1,000 to over $30,000," says Winter. "It's best to be up front about your budget. Don't be embarrassed about having limits. Knowing how much you can afford will help you make some of the difficult choices about how to use flowers in your wedding."

For example, a bride on a budget may choose to limit the number of arrangements used in the church and at the reception. Rohman suggests concentrating on using flowers in areas that will be photographed such as the altar, dining tables, head table, and cake table. The florist can help you plan a beautiful wedding within a budget. "When I meet with a bride, I ask about the budget so I can help guide her through the planning process," says Page. "I will let a bride know when she is going outside of her budget so she can either plan to spend more or realize that she will need to cut back on her flowers," says Page.

Floral Checklist

There are no steadfast rules for using flowers in your wedding. Brides who love fresh flowers may lavish their entire day with blossoms. Others may choose to be more conservative. It's all a matter of preference and budget. Your wedding should reflect your tastes, so follow your heart. Following are possible floral arrangements to consider when planning your wedding.

Bridal Party

• Bridal bouquet
• Bridesmaids bouquets
• Flower girl basket or bouquet
• Candle lighter corsages
• Mother and grandmother corsages
• Groom's boutonnieres
• Groomsmen's boutonnieres
• Ushers' boutonnieres
• Ring bearer's boutonniere
• Father and grandfather boutonnieres

Church

• Entrance
• Guest book table
• Pew ends
• Altar
• Window sills

Reception

• Entrance
• Guest book table
• Place card table
• Bridal party table
• Dining tables
• Cake table
• Buffet table

This article was contributed by Saint Louis Bride Magazine, working in partnership with Wedding-Club.com. If you have questions or comments about this article, please email their editor at nancy.slade@wheremagazine.com.