One of the most important parts of your wedding is the flowers. Choosing the perfect ones for your day is quite an undertaking, and you need to factor in a lot of different considerations. You need to start by determining how many flowers you need and who will carry them, as well as the floral arrangements for the venue and the wedding reception.
The flowers should match the theme of your wedding, and you need to know these details when you meet with your florist. You can make the process easier by creating a list of wedding flowers that you are interested in. Set your budget, and create your wedding flower checklist before meeting with your florist. You may want to consider the following for your checklist.
Start With The Bridal Party
For the bride and her party, you will want to consider the following:
- Bridal bouquet
- Flowers for bride’s hair
- Bridesmaid bouquets
- Maid of Honor bouquet
- Boutonnieres for any bridesmen
- Headpiece for flower girl
- Basket decorations for flower girl
- Petals for flower girl to toss
For the bridal party, you will want to consider roses, tulips, and calla lilies, as these are formal arrangements that are popular for weddings.
The bride usually has a larger bouquet that is more expensive, and there should be a common theme throughout the bridal party. This piece will appear in numerous pictures throughout the wedding, and it should stand out and be something you want to remember. When it is designed, the appropriate flowers should be used so that it complements the bride’s dress. The price doesn’t always reflect the number of flowers; it is the quality of the flowers.
If the bride wants to wear flowers in her hair, it is important to make sure that the right ones are chosen. These flowers will be as apparent as the bouquet, and they should be just right for the photos.
The maid of honor can have a more impressive bouquet than the other bridesmaids, but it should not be as large as the bride’s flowers. The flowers for the bridesmaids is the next most important one after the bridal bouquet. Although you don’t have to have flowers for the bridesmaids, many people do, and they look great.
For the flower girl, you can have a headpiece made with felt and light colored flowers, and you can decorate the basket with flowers, and you will want to choose the petals for the flower girl to toss as she walks down the aisle. You should keep this simple, and know that you can have them toss feathers or another material in place of the petals. If you don’t have a flower girl, you will skip this part of the process.
The Groom’s Wedding Party
For the groom’s wedding party, consider the following:
- Groom’s boutonniere
- Groomsmen’s boutonnieres
- Boutonniere for the best man
- Corsage or bouquet for groom ladies
The flowers for the groom’s wedding party should tie in with those for the bridal party. A boutonniere is a flower that men wear on the lapel of their tuxedo or suit jacket, and the most popular shades are white, green, and yellow. Some people choose all green, including herbs or a succulent to make the boutonniere stand up. There are many different ideas for the boutonniere, so you will be able to get the perfect one to tie into your wedding.
Many people use the boutonniere as a way to match the groom to the bride. Then, the groomsmen will have smaller versions of the same pattern.
The Families of the Bride and Groom
Next, you will want to choose flowers for the families of the bride and groom. This includes the parents, step parents, grandparents, and anyone else who is special. Consider the following for your checklist.
- Corsage for the mother of the bride
- Corsage for the mother of the groom
- Corsage for the stepmother
- Boutonniere for the father of the groom
- Boutonniere for the father of the bride
- Boutonniere for the stepfather
- Corsages for the grandmothers
- Boutonnieres for the grandfathers
For the boutonnieres, including the groom’s party, popular flowers include carnations, orchids, and roses. Usually, the best man has a unique boutonniere that separates him from the other groomsmen. The parents and grandparents should have flowers that fit in with the theme of the wedding.
The Wedding Ceremony
No matter where you hold your wedding ceremony, you might want to have flowers there. Although some people substitute the flowers with lanterns, fruit, or other items, the flowers have a traditional touch. It is standard for people to use flowers for the following:
- Altar, chuppah, or any central arrangements
- Decorations for pews or chairs
- Aisle arrangements
- Aisle markers
- Aisle runner
- Candles
Most people consider roses, gardenia, daisies, and other similar types of flowers. The floral arrangements for the altar or chuppah will be featured in a number of photos, and a floral arch looks amazing. However, you can decorate this area with other items if you want to cut back on the flower expense.
Decorating the backs of the chairs with flowers makes the aisle incredibly beautiful. You can also decorate the aisle, and you can reduce costs by choosing two statement pieces on either side. This helps to frame the aisle and looks great, but you won’t have to cover the entire aisle.
The Wedding Reception
For your wedding reception, you need to consider the venue and how you want the decor to look. You will want some flowers, and the following are what many people choose.
- Flowers for the entryway
- Flowers for the welcome table
- Centerpieces for tables
- Centerpieces for head table
- Table runners
- Hanging flowers
- Flowers for the back of the chairs
- Flowers for buffet and dessert tables
- Flowers to decorate the cake
- Floral bouquet for the bouquet toss
For your wedding reception, you might want to choose roses or peonies for your centerpieces. Some people choose hydrangeas because they are beautiful. Some brides toss their wedding bouquet, while others toss a second bouquet that is made for this purpose. It is usually scaled down and less expensive than the bridal flowers. It is also possible to use one of the bridesmaid’s bouquets so that you don’t need to buy another bouquet for the toss.
On the cocktail tables, you can use small and simple vase arrangements. You can place flowers on all of the different tables, or you can choose a few areas where they will have the most impact.
Who Should Pay for the Flowers?
Wedding experts often say that the groom is responsible for paying for the corsages and the boutonniere. However, the bride’s party pays for the rest of the flowers. That said, people often forego tradition and work together to divide up the costs. In general, you should expect the boutonniere to cost around $10, but you can choose a single flower for less money.
Is it Possible to Save Money on Flowers for the Wedding?
There are a few ways to make your flowers more affordable. For the boutonnieres, you can choose a single flower rather than a flower with garnishment around it. You can also get smaller bouquets for the bridal party, and you can skip the corsages and boutonnieres for some people in the bridal party. Make sure that you have a plan, and you should let everyone know what to expect before the big day.
Final Words on Your Wedding Flower Checklist
It’s easy to get overwhelmed with all the things that need attention during a wedding. so, when you are planning for your big day, you need to have your wedding flower checklist to make sure that you have all of the flowers you need.