Most brides have an idea of what colors they want to incorporate into their wedding. They sometimes base this decision on seasons, favorite color combinations or because a color palette will compliment the venue they have chosen.  Floral is one of the many things a bride can decide upon to help feature the color palette she wants to share with her guests. Floral design tends to be one of the more time consuming aspects of event design for a few reasons. First, there are hundreds of flowers in a variety of colors to choose from. This can be somewhat daunting to brides since during the planning process there are dozens of decisions to be made. Second, the cost of floral surprises many brides and their families. Brides don't realize the cost of a centerpiece they may have seen in a magazine and the time it takes florists to construct dozens of floral pieces for one event. Some brides like the idea of having all low romantic centerpieces. This can create a chic look that reveals a bit more casual approach to their wedding.

We have included some floral photos from our Outstanding weddings to illustrate our floral ideas and points.

On the opposite end is the bride who wants to create a "wow" factor and have all high, dramatic centerpieces that creates a very formal atmosphere.

The most common is using a mixture of high and low centerpieces.  This gives the décor more depth and diversity, so every single table is exactly alike.

And let's not forget the guys!  Boutonnieres can tend to be an afterthought.  The more common choices are going with any white flower, like a white orchid shown below. Also, for fall and winter weddings it's fun to incorporate the many types of berries that bloom in this season.  The white berries shown here give a modern feel to the grooms attire. For those who want something outside the box of a standard boutonniere, you can create your own using no floral and adding a personal touch. Here the bride chose to honor her late father in law by having his initials monogrammed into a ribbon that was then placed within the boutonniere of the groom.

As for the ladies. brides need to consider the style of their gown, the bridesmaids attire and the ceremony setting when making decisions on their bouquet. From the type of flower, to the shape, size and any accents used like ribbons.  Color always seems to be the first choice for a bride, followed by whether the shape of the bouquet will be popular nosegay, pave' or a cascading bouquet. One rule of thumb we always tell brides is that your bouquet should not overpower your frame. Remember a bouquet is the finishing touch for a bride who is about to walk down the aisle.

Brides getting married here in Arizona also need to consider the heat. There are certain types of flowers that don't do well in prolonged heat. Here is a brief list:  hydrangea, tulips, sweet peas, dahlias, and lisianthus. Those that fair well in the heat are succulents, Viking mums, button mums, celosia, mini callas, hypericum, peonies, kale and bells of Ireland. Be sure to check with your florist if you are concerned about the heat during your wedding.  Now go and choose your floral and make it your own!

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Outstanding Occasions
On the most important day of your life, you don’t want to be scrambling for phone numbers or running around with flowers. Heather Crabtree and Jennifer Thinnes with Outstanding Occasions have loads of experience and can create custom packages for you- whether you are looking for day-of coordinating or genius, creative ideas. www.outstanding-occasions.com