Tips from the Expert
on Wedding Flowers

by Delwyn Thomas of
Flowers by Delwyn at Kurrajong Village Florist

So, Congratulations are in order! You have set the date and booked your reception venue... Now the real fun starts. It is time to choose your wedding flowers, bouquets, flowers for the church, reception and anywhere else you decide.

Okay. Now you have chosen your wedding gown and been shopping for a dress you love that will beautifully suit your bridesmaids ... now you can talk to a wedding flower specialist.

Please, resist the temptation to assume your local florist is qualified to provide the quality and style of wedding flowers that you want for your special day. First, ask around. Talk to your recently married girlfriends, and you will soon get a feel for who does what and who is the best available in your area and, more important, who is the one most able to interpret your personal style!

This applies to all suppliers, be they wedding photographers, wedding cake specialists, hire cars... In fact any service you need. So, ask around.

Now you've found someone you trust, make an appointment and set aside at least an hour. Take fabric colour swatches of the gowns for all of the bridal party.

Nowadays, most flowers are available all year round from somewhere. But for your wedding flowers, if you have a particular favourite, ask your florist to check availability of the blooms first ... before you make too many plans and have your heart set on something special.

If for instance you would like Lily of the Valley, a most beautiful, fragrant and delicate little flower and highly prized for wedding bouquets, it is only available for a short time in early spring. 

Now, if you have the resources and can afford it, it may be possible to ship it in from the other side of the world. But remember, it will still only be available for a short period during the spring.

Please refer to my Seasonal Availability Guide.
 
The wedding bouquet you choose for your wedding will most likely be a combination of a style you feel suits you and the occasion, and then with the expert guidance of the florist you will be ready to select the wedding flowers available in the colour scheme to enhance the wedding gowns and dresses and the whole theme.

Usually these are the people in the wedding party that will have to wear or carry flowers.

First, a Bouquet each for the Bride and each of the Bridesmaids.

Next, Bouttonaires for the Groom (the Groom's buttonhole flowers), and mote buttonhole flowers for the Groomsmen, for both Dads, any Page Boys, Granddads, and perhaps brothers of the Bride and of the Groom... And don't forget more Bouttonnaires the Ushers.

Now, how far do you want to go, and how much can you afford? Usually the Groom's buttonhole wedding flower will match with the Bride’s wedding bouquet... And the Groomsmen's floowers with match with the Bridesmaids' flowers, the Dad’s bouttonaire will match with Mum’s flower corsage and so on.

Flower Corsages for Mums, Grandmothers, and again, Sisters and special friends (maybe overseas guests) or helpers, if you think it is appropriate.

Dont forget a separate throw-away bouquet. You don't need to throw away your precious bouquet, most florists supply a complimentary posy for you to throw. Many brides these days choose to have their bouquets dried and framed as a keepsake. This is a very specialised service and best left to the experts, such as preserved bouquets by the flower preservation experts... For Keeps.

Hair flowers... How often do you get to wear flowers in your hair? This can be a very pretty look, and the hair flowers can be done on their own or combined with a veil. You can have single flowers or add sprigs of vine or little clumps of berries to add to the wedding theme, and to match whatever blooms are in your wedding bouquet.