Wedding bouquets - ideas for getting your flowers right

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Struggling to pick your wedding bouquet? Here's a guide to help you pick the perfect bouquet colour to suit your wedding and your personality.

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The wedding bouquet allows you a stamp of individuality whereas the wedding dress may not. Over 90% of brides opt for a white or ivory gown, but the colour of the wedding flowers in your bouquet depends only on the limits of your or your florist’s ideas and imagination.

Chances are that you already know whether you fall in to the ‘purist’, ‘dazzling’, or ‘co-ordinated’ camp. The purists out there will almost always think of an array of different flowers along the common theme of white. This may include lilies or roses, but can also incorporate less customary flowers such as stephanotis or gardenias. Adding green foliage, such as ivy, can also enhance this simple choice.

If you have a more fiery nature and stronger colours appeal to you, the ‘dazzling’ bouquet is more likely to appeal. Bright colours like reds, oranges or yellows can look incredibly striking and tend to make a bold statement about individuality and confidence. Calla lilies in burgundy, orange and yellow hues can look stunning with their architectural shape. Other less traditional choices can also include deep purples, lime greens and hot pinks. You could choose from gerber daisies, dahlias or even orchids, which come in a variety of strong colours. However, the most popular bouquet for the strong-willed bride is a tight arrangement of blood-red roses — the classic flower for romance, the red rose still remains the simplest way to say ‘I love you’.

Last but not least are those who prefer the wedding bouquet to co-ordinate with the rest of the wedding party. This may include your bridesmaid dresses, your wedding reception decoration or your wedding cake frosting. Pale pinks, lilacs and blues are the prettiest of pastels which are frequently used to create a co-ordinated and put-together wedding style. For a bride who errs on the side of feminine and romantic, tiny pink rosebuds are likely to appeal.

There are some basic shapes of bouquet most florists will discuss with you. The cascading style is very traditional, but also truly romantic. More recently, hand-tied bouquets in looser forms are becoming very popular. You could even consider carrying a few orchids draped over your elbow.

Flowers can be very expensive — make sure you discuss your requirements with a reputable florist plenty of time before your big day. For those on a tight budget, opt for seasonal flowers which will be less expensive.

You can be very expressive with your bridal bouquet. Ancient roman brides carried scented herbs representing fidelity and fertility, and those in ancient Greece incorporated ivy to bring everlasting love. Whatever wedding bouquet you choose, don’t forget to pick a matching bloom for the groom’s button hole so you make the perfect couple.

© The Pink Fridge Online Magazine 2013 - Wedding Bouquets