Don’t Rest On Your Florals—Tips for Your Wedding Bouquet and Flowers
by Sarah Rognes for Weddings Down East

I once imagined a wedding lavishly festooned with magnolias. They were draping from the edges of the tent, overflowing from antique vases on the dining tables. And the most fabulous single magnolia blossom rested in my hands as I walked down the aisle. The decadent décor and fragrant magnolias made this dream seems so real I thought it must be my perfect day. I awoke and from this dream faced my wedding in Maine in the beginning of February without any hope of being draped with an abundance of magnolias. I met with my designer and my perfect day was planned, but instead of magnolias, my designer created a white winter wonderland of white roses, fragrant eucalyptus, and luxurious white fur—something I would have never envisioned, which goes to show, adoration for particular blossoms goes only so far-- and simply asking for a flower is a great disadvantage to a bride.

A bride envisions the wedding to every imaginable detail, but materializing these visions becomes the duty of the trusted and talented experts of the industry. A floral designer is dedicated and experienced in working with you to create your wedding vision. Choosing themes, location, and colors is the beginning. The details that the floral design must coordinate with are infinite, from the dress to the location to the menu, and all things in between. Judith Bourgeois, principal of Flora Fauna floral design, explains that once your location and theme have been established, the heart of planning and designing begins. Color is the next logical step in creating your wedding decor. Coming up with a color palette will help in choosing fabrics, décor, and of course the perfect flowers.

Maine is known to be a quiet place to retreat.. A sense of time in Maine is propelled by the ever-apparent change of seasons. Such a noticeable change in environment, mood, and activities is the foundation in planning a wedding in Maine.. Using nature’s cues, a designer in Maine has access to a wide variety of seasonal flora that can create breathtaking designs for any location. There are the rich jewel tones of fall with dahlias, mums, and foliage; the hardy evergreens and rich browns of pinecones in winter; the bright bursts of color in tulips, crocus and daffodils of spring, and the rainbow of color that warms us in summer.

When you first choose a designer, use your intuition. Most women want to create a relationship with every person who provides a service for their wedding, but this is not a relationship--not yet. This is business proposition and you are entrusting one of the most important days of your life. First, meet with designers, review their work and see how receptive they are to your ideas. Second, be open to new ideas; you are hiring someone for his or her expertise and with a little trust, a talented designer will materialize your vision. . Bourgeois recommends once you have decided on the theme, design, and decor of your special day, discuss your budget with your designer and the person or people to whom will be financially responsible. Remember that most floral budgets are 10-20 percent of your entire wedding budget. Agree upon a range with your designer and note that any changes or additions later in the planning will affect the final cost. Also, remember to read your floral contract over carefully and discuss any questions with your designer so there will not be any surprises when the final bill arrives.

On the day of the wedding, have an illustrated and precise plan. You will be so busy on the day of your wedding that we strongly recommend you use the services of your professional floral designer to set up and remove your flower arrangements. For a special touch, provide an empty vase at each table where a bridesmaid sits so her blossoms don’t just sit next to the napkin ring—they add beauty to the tabletop presentation.

At the reception: make your flowers do double duty. Arrange to have centerpiece arrangements hand carried to the reception before you arrive so that they may continue to be enjoyed long into the evening. Once the dancing is done and the band is packing up to go home, your wedding planner or trusted friend should remember to gather as many of the centerpieces as can fit in the back of a car, so that they don’t go home with the catering staff or get thrown out.

With a little flexibility in your floral vision and a solid plan for the execution and arrangement of the bouquets, your guests will be murmuring as you head down the aisle, now really--which is more beautiful, the flowers or you?