The one feature that usually has most people entranced with the romance of a wedding is the wedding flower arrangements. When choosing the right flowers for your bouquets, using fresh flowers that are positioned in various visible places are vital so as to not waste the time, money and effort put in to them.

A weddings demands are colossal and things that are done on time and correctly saves everyone energy and headaches.

If you want to make sure that you get the best flower decorations possible, then hiring professionals is the way to go, but that won't get you out of having to make a lot of decisions on the types of flowers you want where, and at what time you want them there!

For more wedding ideas, visit our sister sites, www.matrimony.co.za and www.theperfectwedding.co.za 

Let Your Wedding Flowers Speak the Language of Love
By: Claire Bowes

Congratulations! You have found the man of your dreams and are getting married. What a wonderful time in your life – full of promise, hope, and happiness. Can you think of a better way to express these emotions than through flowers? A wedding would just not be the same without wedding flowers.

The Tradition of Wedding Flowers

Carrying flowers by the bride is not something new; it actually has its roots in ancient times. Strong smelling herbs and spices were used to keep away evil spirits during the wedding celebration. Later, during the Roman era, flowers were used to symbolize fertility. Eventually, flowers were given different meanings and used as a way of sending “love notes" in the form of bouquets. Soon, the tradition of the meaning of each flower trickled down and was adopted for the bride’s bouquet.

By tradition, the groom wears a flower that appears in the bridal bouquet in his buttonhole. This custom originates from the Medieval tradition of a knight wearing his lady's colors as a declaration of love.

So it seems that a wedding without flowers is like, well, it’s like a garden without flowers!

So Many Choices

Have you ever considered how many different kinds of flowers there are? Hundreds of beautiful blooms are available to create the romantic elegance your wedding deserves. You may even feel like author Phoebe Cary, who said, “I know not which I love the most, Nor which the comeliest shows, The timid, bashful violet Or the royal-hearted rose: The pansy in purple dress, The pink with cheek of red, Or the faint, fair heliotrope, who hangs, Like a bashful maid her head." So, how do you choose?

One way is to consider the different meanings of the flowers and create a bouquet that is not only beautiful to the eye, but also meaningful to the heart. Another way is to consider the time of year. Many flowers are more common during one season than another, so finding off-season flowers may be difficult!

Based on tradition, here are some of the more popular wedding bouquet flowers and what they mean, along with when they are in season:

Red Rose – Love, All Year

White Rose - Unity, All Year

Yellow Rose - Joy, All Year

Orange Rose - Passion, All Year

Pink Rose - Secret Love, or Grace & Sweetness, All Year

Alstroemeria - Devotion, All Year

Baby's Breath - Innocence, All Year

Calla Lily - Magnificent Beauty, March through September

Carnation - Devoted Love, All Year

Daisy - Innocence & Romance, All Year

Ivy - Fidelity, Marriage, All Year

Lily Of The Valley - Happiness, March through September

Myrtle - Joy , All Year

Orchid - Love & Beauty, All Year

Stephanotis - Marital Happiness, All Year

Tulips - Love & Passion, January through April

Zinnia - Affection, All Year

The best way to get the right flowers is to choose the right florist and one of the best ways to find a good florist is by word of mouth. If the florist's service and work comes highly recommended, chances are they will do a good job for you. Select a florist that listens to you and really grasps the look and feel you want. Be open to the florist's ideas and suggestions. In the long run, it will be the value of their experience, talent, and expertise that you have purchased.

Don’t Forget the Flowers for the…

In addition to flowers for the wedding party and family members, you will need flowers for the church, arrangements for the reception tables, head table, and guest book table. You may even want flowers for the cake and a small bouquet for the ladies' room. To make sure you don’t forget any of your floral needs, here is a list of possibilities:

Flowers for the Bridal Party

Bride's Bouquet

Maid/Matron of Honor

Mother of the Bride

Mother of the Groom

Bridesmaids

Flower Girl

Grandmothers

Groom

Best Man

Father of the Bride

Father of the Groom

Ushers

Ring Bearer

Grandfathers

Flowers for the Wedding Ceremony

Altar Arrangements

Aisle Markers

Candelabras

Aisle Runner

Canopy or Archway

Kneeling Bench

Flowers for the Reception

Bridal Table

Cake Table

Guest Table

Buffet Table

Bandstand

Gift Table

Guest Book Table

Bouquet to Throw
Fresh flowers underline the importance and elegance of your wedding day. They enhance any setting and can literally transform an average looking room into a beautiful scene. If you've planned well, your flowers will be exactly what you want, and you'll be free to focus on what your day is all about.

About The Author

Claire Bowes is a successful freelance writer and owner of http://www.1st-for-flowers.com/. For a wide selection of florist shops to choose flowers for all occassions, visit businessfinder.com.sg.

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