You've scheduled your first meeting with a florist, but perhaps you feel a little intimidated – you don't know anything about flowers. Or maybe you have a few favorites, but are just not sure how to pull it all together. Relax! Your florist will love the opportunity to make suggestions and recommendations for your wedding.
It is important for you to have photos and color swatches of your dress and the attendants’ dresses for your first flower meeting. Seeing your dress helps the florist determine the style of bouquet and types of flowers. Your attendants' dresses can sometimes change your color theme. Make sure you have finalized your color choices for all the dresses, since changes may affect the use of certain flowers.
Aside from your personal preference and style, the location of the wedding and reception are factors to consider when determining your colors. When you have chosen your reception venue, remember its décor – you don’t want your flowers or style of design to clash.
You may find it helpful to think of colors you see in nature and the flowers that are available during the season your wedding is planned. Pinks, greens, lavender and yellows are great springtime colors. The bright colors of summer are deep pinks, reds, oranges, yellows and blues. Autumn colors are rich and fiery reds, orange, turquoise, golds and mahogany. Winter colors shade toward white, silver, green, red, purple and brown.
The color wheel can also guide your decisions, and there are three types of combinations that work particularly well for weddings. Monochromatic is a variation of one color in tints, tones and shades. This is often considered the most subtle and pleasing color combination. An analogous combination consists of any three colors next to each other on the color wheel, and is one of the more popular color groupings. Complimentary colors are any two that are directly opposite each other on the color wheel, and will give you a more dramatic effect.
Orange is becoming increasingly popular – and not just for fall events. It can be paired with many colors, including purple, lilac, lime green, burgundy, magenta, turquoise, sky blue, brown, gold, silver and pewter. Many brides are using bold colors for their bouquets. If bold colors are not for you, look at using shades of white, and bringing in touches of colors that are in your attendants’ bouquets.
Lucky for all of us, there are no rules dictating colors for your flowers. It is all about your personal style and what you like.
When you are browsing Web sites or magazines, collect photos of bouquets or flowers that you like and bring them to your meeting. This will help the florist recommend flowers and materials to match the style and look you desire, while keeping in mind the availability of flowers for the season.
Have fun choosing your flowers. Rely on your floral designer’s creativity and experience to make your wedding florals as individual as you are!
By Debbie Rogers of Distinctly Debbie
