Tips on chosing a bridal bouquet

A bridal bouquet is much more than just a flower arrangement. It stands for lore and symbolism. The bouquet must be beautiful to highlight the beauty of the bride. It should also be meaningful since it reflects the personality of the bride and ceremony. The flowers are a symbol of femininity and fertility and as such a bridal bouquet having beautiful flowers held together with a strong stem gives reflection of a blushing bride.

Color and flowers in the bridal bouquet:

When we talk about color in weddings, white is the natural color which comes to our mind. Traditionally, the bridal bouquet consists of white or cream flowers like stephanotis, sweet peaks, lilies of the valley, orchids, roses, carnations or gardenias. The classic and timeless white bridal bouquet consisting of lily of the valley and orchids is still a popular choice for brides who want an all-traditional wedding. While white is traditional, it is considered to be bad luck for superstitious to carry white bridal bouquet. Therefore, other colors can be added. Adding another color also pleases the eye aesthetically, as pure white flowers would blend in with the traditional wedding gown. Adding another color, for luck, also makes the flowers stand out in contrast to the gown thereby highlighting the beauty of the bride.

Roses which symbolize eternal love as well as marigolds, an edible flower known to symbolize constancy and endurance are often included in a bridal bouquet. Orchids and Calla Lilies are two other very popular choices for bridal bouquets. They are unique and add a personalized touch to the couple's very special day. Exotic flowers make a special statement but they are tricky to keep fresh throughout the day. If you are budget conscious, choose flowers that are in season and readily available.

Fragrance is also a very important consideration since scented bouquets are fast becoming a rage. Some of the fragrant flowers include gardenias, peonies, stephanotis and tuberoses.

Wedding bouquet shapes and arrangements

Even the simplest wedding dress can be complemented by an elegantly shaped bouquet. Talk to your florist for various bouquet shapes and arrangements. Usually florists have a catalog containing photographs of classic bouquet shapes. You can visualize your wedding gown with the bouquet shape and your wedding color scheme which will help you in making a good decision. You should also ask your florist about suitability of the selected bouquet for the particular wedding season.

Among the most popular designs are the "Trailing waterfall" shape and the round "posy" of tightly arranged flowers. The ‘trailing waterfall’ shape draws the eye from top to bottom and can therefore make the bride appear tall and slim. However, it can eclipse a petite bride if it’s too big so make sure it is of appropriate size. The cascading shape of bouquet would complement a full-length skirt, though with a shorter skirt length, it can result in an unbalanced look. As a general thumb rule large bouquets suit long, formal dresses while small bouquets or a single bloom compliment a shorter knee-length dress.

The arrangement of flowers in a bouquet can be done in different ways, from a single stem to a freeform bouquet. One bouquet style rising in popularity is the posy style or the hand tied bouquet. This bouquet is made of fresh flowers and gives a look of freshness and draws attention to the middle of the body. This type of bouquet is usually held just below waist level. If this is likely to hide a design of the wedding dress, which you wish to be seen, choose a bouquet that lies across the arm.

Also consider a headdress along with a bridal bouquet. A well-chosen headdress can create a spectacular effect. Ask your florist for some good advice on matching the headdress to the dress and the bouquet. Don’t forget to ask about the freshness of your flowers. Flowers by their nature are delicate and they tend to wilt faster on a hot day. To avoid wimpy headdresses, choose a headdress of flowers made of silk or some other flowing fabric, as these look good all day and can also be kept as a memento of the day.

Toss Bouquets

After the ceremony, the bride tosses her bouquet to one of her bridesmaids or single friends as a custom. Legend has it that this woman will be the next to marry. Symbolically, the bride is tossing away her single-hood, and also bestowing good luck upon the recipient. In recent years, brides have started to have a second or ‘toss’ bouquet, which they throw to the lucky friend, thereby allowing the bride herself to keep the actual bouquet she carried in the wedding as a souvenir. Increasingly, brides are choosing silk wedding flowers since their appearance is so lifelike.