Your flowers need to be a coordinated part of your whole look. In general, if you are petite, you will not want a huge, overwhelming bouquet. And if you're not petite, you don't want a small bouquet that looks almost like an afterthought. Your florist should be able to talk about scale in a way that makes sense to you. And in choosing flowers, the cut of your dress should be as important a consideration as color or texture. In general, an elaborate dress calls for simple flowers, and a simple dress calls for elaborate flowers. If your dress has lots of beading or panels of lace on the bodice, you will probably want a simple bouquet that won't detract from the dress. Lots of hanging ribbons and trailing greenery can look great against a simple sheath - or just look too fussy against a complicated dress.

The last thing you want to look like is a rose bowl float coming down the aisle. If you think you or your bridesmaids may be a tad nervous, you might want to ask your florist to avoid a lot of wires in your bouquets. They can make your bouquet bounce like posies on springs. A relaxed, natural bouquet will help keep you calm and will "bounce" a lot less.

Make sure your florist will be there -- either at the rehearsal, or before the wedding to send you off down the aisle. Every bride or bridesmaid deserves a quick lesson in how to hold a bouquet to the best possible effect. (You'll want to make circle with your hands and simply drop the bouquet in it, holding it as loosely as possible. Otherwise, your bouquet is likely to shake and tremble down the aisle and through the service, making you look much more nervous than you are.) And unless you have a wedding party of professional models, beware the temptation to cut costs by having bridesmaids carry a single perfect rose or calla lily. It's a look that's hard for mere mortals to carry off without looking like a would-be baton twirler or a lecturer with a pointer.

     Get real!

At their best, flowers are a source of light and good energy, and there's just no substitute. Avoid the temptation to use silk flowers. Sure, silk and dried flowers have their place. But nothing marks a celebration or speaks of joy like the ephemeral beauty of real flowers. If you want a keepsake, make sure you get some good close-up photos of the flowers. If you're set on having a preserved bouquet, talk to your florist about making a smaller version from silk and dried flowers. He or she can also give you advice on drying or pressing a few flowers from your bouquet.

But even dried and silk flowers begin to look tired in time. Better to have a love that lasts than a permanent bouquet.

The Right Arrangement
www.therightarrangement.com
(773) 262-0054

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