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Planning Your Wedding Flowers and Decorations

When it comes to wedding flowers and decorations, the key to pulling off a look that works really lies in the planning. Since there are no rules when it comes to wedding flowers, it really is all about what the couple, well mainly the bride, wants and can afford. Decorating options are limited only by the imagination and even the most outrageous floral images can be made to fit practically any budget, if you're willing to research the many options and ideas that are out there.

From do-it-yourself arrangements to using silk floral arrangements that can even be rented for the occasion, planning your wedding flowers can be a lot of fun. Involving your bridal party will help generate ideas you might not have thought about and besides, helping the bride is one of their responsibilities so why not? But forget about the groom, though. The most he'll probably care about is that you stick within the amount that has been budgeted.

You want to give yourself plenty of time so begin planning the wedding flowers at least 6 to 12 months prior to the wedding date. The flowers are one of those things you'll want to consider while you are choosing the wedding attire because most brides want the floral arrangements to complement the overall color scheme and theme of the wedding. Bridal magazines are full of pictures of bouquets so that's a good place to go for ideas. Also think about the types of flowers that will be in season at the time of your wedding. Choosing flowers that are readily available is one way to keep costs under control.

Besides boutonnières and bouquets for the wedding party, you can also make flowers and decorations part of the wedding ceremony and reception. Pew bows, arrangements for the altar, head table, cake table and gift table, as well as centerpieces for all the guest tables should be considered. These will definitely add to your costs, but they're also areas where you can really get creative.

If cost-control is an issue, why not have the bridal bouquets do double-duty as head table decorations or perhaps the gift or cake table? Once the formal photographs are over, no one will be carrying their bouquets around anyway. Or why not use less expensive balloons or candles as centerpieces? Pew bows are very easy to make, even for 'craft-challenged' brides. Another idea is to add more 'filler' to your floral arrangements by using more greenery, baby's breath and tulle.

As you can see, it really is all in the planning. Once you've got the wedding flowers and decorations figured out, you just need to find a florist capable of turning your thoughts into reality. It's important to select a florist early on because there's a limit to how much even the best florist can handcraft. Go over the contract with a fine-toothed comb before signing to make sure the number and type of arrangements, including the flowers being used, are clearly specified along with delivery details. Record the deposit amount and delineate the payment schedule.