You may be well versed on the different wedding gown silhouettes like A-line, Empire, Ballgown or Mermaid, but did you know that wedding flowers come arranged in different shapes too? You’ll find that the same combination of flowers can look very different depending on the shape of the bridal arrangement. Though shape is important for your wedding centerpieces and other flowers, the biggest place where shape has an affect on your wedding flowers is in your bridal bouquet.

When you choose the shape for your bridal bouquet, you’ll want to make sure that it blends with your wedding theme. For example, a heart shaped bouquet would clash with a modern and minimalist wedding where a cascade shaped bouquet would look quite lovely. Your bridal bouquet should also flatter the look of your wedding gown. With the right shape, your wedding flowers will lend a beautiful touch to your wedding ceremony and be your best bridal accessory.

No matter what your wedding theme is, you’ll find that there’s a bouquet shape that’s just right for you. If you’re familiar with the 7 most popular bridal bouquet shapes, once you choose your wedding florist, you’ll easily be able to talk to her about the type of bouquet you want.

Read on to discover the 7 most popular wedding flower shapes and find which one is right for your bridal bouquet.

Round

Round bouquets are the most popular wedding flower choice for brides. Round bouquets are, as the name implies, bouquets with flowers arranged in a round or globe shape. Though the round shape is a very traditional look for wedding flowers, modern brides appreciate its versatility. Simple and elegant, round bridal bouquets are appropriate for both formal and casual weddings.

Crescent

A dramatic shape that consists of flowers and greenery arched from the center and then tapered at the ends, the crescent shape is best suited for formal weddings. Because of the natural way that the flowers seem to fall around your hands, the crescent shape is favored by many brides. Crescent bouquets can be created with a symmetrical look or they can be created asymmetrically by arranging flowers in a graduated fashion for a more contemporary look.

Oval

A combination of round and crescent shapes with rounded edges, the oval shape is generally used for larger bridal bouquets. Because of their size and length, oval wedding flowers are best for brides that choose dramatic wedding gown silhouettes. An oval bridal bouquet can be created with a combination of several flowers, but the oval shape is boldest when it is created with just one type of flower.

Pageant

Pageant shaped bouquets are characterized by long stems arranged in a sweeping fashion so that the bouquet can fit nicely into a bride’s arm. Named for the way that a beauty queen carries her bouquet, the pageant shape can be used for formal or informal weddings. For casual weddings, the pageant shape should be created loosely to lend an organic and wispy look to the bridal bouquet.

Cascade

Also known as a waterfall, the cascade shape features great amounts of flowers at the base of the bouquet that slowly taper along the length of the bouquet. The Cascade shape gives the appearance of flowers spilling over the edge of the bridal bouquet. Sophisticated and elegant, bridal bouquets done in the cascade shape can be used for formal or casual weddings.

Heart

Because the heart is the symbol of love, a heart shaped bridal bouquet is ideal if you want your wedding flowers to have a romantic quality. Arranged in a dense heart shape, heart bouquets add a girlish sweetness to your wedding flowers. If you’re carrying a heart shaped bouquet, you’ll only want to select one or two different flowers to include so the shape of your bridal bouquet is clearly discernable.

Loose

Also known as organic or hand-tied, loose flower arrangements are the epitome of casual elegance. Loose bridal bouquets are characterized by the stems of flowers and greenery loosely tied together by wire or ribbon. Bridal bouquets done in a loose style appear unfussy and are perfect for beach weddings and other more casual wedding ceremonies.

Now that you know what’s available, you can start thinking about which wedding flower shape is right for you. With so many beautiful options, you’ll have no problem in finding a bridal bouquet that will compliment your wedding theme and wedding gown perfectly.

A wedding expert, Elizabeth Reuth offers wedding tips online for brides and grooms and is the author of the popular wedding vow book Perfect Wedding Vows in Minutes

Planning a wedding is like telling a story. And it is the flowers that set the tone for the way the story unfolds. By their opulence or their simplicity, they create the drama of the day. For today’s bride, that story seems to be set in the past as many seek a simple, more classic look not just for their gowns, but for the flowers that will accent them. Here are a few ideas on how to choose flowers for the modern bride.

Princess Diana’s long cascade of flowers caught the public’s fancy at her 1981 royal wedding, but that look seems fussy and frilly by today’s standards.

Now, most brides want a nosegay bouquet, often with a mixture of colors. Some brides have firmly planted ideas about which flowers to use. But for those willing to experiment, florists can create a colorful mix using flowers like calla lilies, gerbera daisies, spray roses, cymbidium orchids, stargazer lilies and cattleya orchids. Greenery often consists of ivy, huckleberry, plumosa, smilax or leatherleaf. For pastel arrangements, stephanotis and gardenias are still popular.

But as flowers quickly fade, so does their individual popularity with fickle brides. Flower choices move in cycles, and every few years, one or two types emerge as the favorites.

Lily of the valley is a good example. It’s a tiny white bell-shaped flower and seems to be increasingly popular. In years past, brides chose the stargazer lilies because they went so well with colors like dark green, navy and burgundy, which were the popular colors for bridesmaid dresses. Now, brides are choosing dress colors like seafoam green, champagne, periwinkle blue and buttercup yellow. And lily of the valley is perfect for this new trend.

Jewel tones are another new favorite, giving brides a golden opportunity to highlight the themes of joy and celebration. This is a bolder, brighter look. These are flowers that come in colors like hot pink, bright yellow and deep purple. The English garden look of mixed colors will always be appealing, but some brides have completely tossed the bouquet out the window and instead opted for the stark, but elegant look of the hand-tied bouquet.

The look is simple and natural, such as a cluster of tulips wrapped with a single ribbon perhaps. You literally see just flowers and stems, with each petal touching and no greenery at all.

But bouquets are just the beginning. The florist is often responsible for the altar flowers and reception arrangements as well. Depending on the time of the wedding, morning, noon or evening, certain colors and styles may work better.

Rich and vibrant colors work better for daytime weddings, while monochromatic schemes (total white, total blue) add a soft and sophisticated touch to nighttime occasions.

And while the flowers take center stage at the actual ceremony, they often serve as a decorative backdrop at the reception for other design elements like candelabras, statuary, urns, pedestals and columns.

Finally, the expense involved can really take the bloom off the wedding experience. But a beautiful wedding doesn’t have to cost a fortune.

L Hayes is a wedding professional and owner of Wedding Favors Emporium. They carry an extensive line of unique wedding favors as well as bridesmaids, groomsmen, and bridal shower gifts. For more information about wedding planning and wedding reception ideas, visit their website at: Wedding Favors Emporium.com

Marrying in the Autumn or Winter does not mean that you need to be restricted when it comes to choosing floral arrangements. Some couples want their wedding to have a particular look associated with a wintry time of year. A wedding with a particular theme needs to be meticulously planned so that it doesn’t look too contrived. There are certain times of the year that lend themselves to certain themes such as Christmas and Valentine’s Day that have strong visual images to work with. Choosing plants and flowers symbolic of the time of year can give guests a sense of time and place. These can then be easily developed within the wedding flowers.

There is quite a chasm between Autumnal flowers and Winter flowers in terms of colour, style and fragrance. However, some blooms are clearly suitable for either season and – depending on the colour – can be incorporated into a winter or autumn themed wedding.

Obvious choices for Autumn may be berries with plenty of dark green, brown, orange and gold foliage. Equally though, purples, dark pinks, burgundies and anything in chocolate browns look quite at home during the Autumn season. In fact, if there is an introduction of a different colour it can prevent arrangements looking contrived or clichéd. If you focus your flowers around a ‘Harvest’ style theme, and work outwards from this centre point, then you can’t really go wrong. Autumn is such a great time as there is such an abundance of seeds, fruits, berries and grasses that contrast beautifully together. When choosing flowers to accompany berries, seeds, twigs and foliage choose from or combine vibrant orange Tiger Lillies, Chocolate or peach roses, honeysuckle, cream freesia, orange gerbera and ivory carnations. Your florist will help you with which flowers are seasonal if you are still unsure as to what to go for.

When it comes to winter wedding flowers and Christmas wedding flowers there is still plenty of classy choices without your reception tables and bouquets feeling tacky. Chinese lanterns, poinsettias, holly berries, Christmas Roses, Grand Prix roses, leatherleaf fern, beargrass in gold, crisp white flowers of any kind, ivory roses, Mistletoe, gold foliage, twisted branches and pine cones are to name but a few ideal choices. The most popular of all choices really is the red rose; these are the epitome of beauty, romance and seduction. Many a bride bases her entire theme on the red rose and why not? You need not be restricted to roses solely in the bouquets, they may also be used as button holes, as napkin decorations, attached to placecards, placed in bowls of water along with floating candles, on the wedding cake and petals scattered on the tables. Team the red roses with cream roses and insert diamante or pearls into their centres to give the occasion a sense of festive opulence. There is no way that when done properly, these beautiful flowers could ever look inappropriate or tacky.

So, whether you are a Autumn or a Winter bride, there are so many unique and unusual floral ideas that can be incorporated with ease into your big day. You won’t go far wrong if the flowers are in season and in keeping with the overall theme of your wedding. This includes the style of your dress, reception venue décor as well as the general ‘feel’ of your event – i.e. modern, simple, fairytale, lavish, funky, minimalist etc. Ensure that any floral arrangements are tied with co-ordinating ribbon to complete the look. This ribbon can also be used on napkin settings, favours and wedding cake to keep everything ‘uniform’ rather than something just thrown together.

This article is brought to you by “World of Wedding Favours” - Offering brides high quality wedding favours and bomboniere at low-cost prices. To view our vast range of wedding favours to suit your special occasion please visit: Wedding Favours Advice?

October is a good time for marriages. The climate is generally dry and cool. October is also a good time for flowers due to the abundant harvest. Like all other seasonal weddings, fall weddings have their popular flower choices.

Montbretia is one such delicate flower. It consists of a series of small, individual tubular florets arranged as a comb along the upper portion of a long, slim stem. Its color ranges from yellow-orange to brick-red, perfect for the season. Hypericum is another popular choice. It is usually raisin-brown in color but is also available in yellow, green, orange, red and pink.

Roses are the popular choice for all weddings, but the best picks for this season are Leonidas (chocolate-brown), Terra Cotta (burnt orange), Star 2000 (coral-orange), Black Magic (darkest, velvet burgundy), Hocus Pocus (a variety with dark burgundy petals flecked with yellow spots), Mambo (tangerine-orange spray variety), Konfetti (deep yellow with red-orange blaze), Red Berlin (tomato- red), and Sari (apricot-orange).

To highlight the texture of the fall season, dry grasses like rye and wheat can be used in the bouquet. A variety of fall-toned foliage like copper beech, croton leaves, or vine mapleliage is available in the market.

Some choices for fall wedding flowers (categorized by color) are:

Reds/Pinks: Poinsettia, Euphorbia, Holly, Cotoneaster, Amaryllis, Carnation, Primula, Viburnum, Daphne.

Yellows: Iris, Winter Jasmine, Narcissus.

Purples/Blues: Iris

White: Shrub honeysuckle, Amaryllis, Narcissus, Snowdrop, Carnation

Greenery: Mrs. Robb’s Bonnet, Mahonia, Hemlock, Senecio, Blue Spruce, Ivy.

It is always advisable to choose flowers for the wedding according to the season, along with your personal choice.

Wedding Flowers provides detailed information about wedding flowers, fall wedding flowers, silk wedding flowers, spring wedding flowers and more. Wedding Flowers is the sister site of Wedding Flowers.

Wedding flowers as we all know add a touch of brightness and sophistication to the wedding. Since early times, flowers have always been a part of the traditional wedding as it is today. The one exception is, flowers today have changed and became more daring. Brides carry bouquets and the area or location of the wedding has flowers, while the reception hall also has a beautiful array of flowers. Wedding flowers everywhere when you are at a wedding. What some people do not realize is that the flowers symbolize prosperity, happiness and fertility. However, flowers used today have different meanings. Every flower means something and some brides choose their bouquets by the meaning of the flowers.

When a bride to be says yes to the man of her dreams, she starts to plan the wedding right away, if she has not already. The flower selection is one of the important parts of the wedding and so the planning starts. What wedding flowers will accent your wedding theme or what type of flowers do you want as far as conveying special meaning. The effort you spend picking out the perfect flowers will take some time. Most brides pick flowers for the location, reception, bouquets for her and the bridesmaids and corsages for the men and if she chooses a garland of flowers for her halo, this takes time as well.

When you go out on the flower hunt, you want to visit a reputable flower shop, preferably one that has years of experience with weddings. You need to know your color scheme and the wedding theme before choosing the wedding flowers. The time of year you plan to exchange vows also plays an important part in picking out flowers. There are more spring and summer brides than anyone realizes. For this reason, you need to make your arrangements with the flower shop way in advance to allow time to make your arrangements and not get turned away, if they happen to be completely booked for that particular day.

When you begin planning your wedding bouquet and the other flowers that will be used during your wedding ceremony, remember that you do not have to go with traditional flowers or arrangements. Your wedding is your day, and it should reflect your unique style and personality. The bouquet reflects your happiness and love, as you know this is the arrangement that be in all your wedding pictures. Always remember to purchase a throw away for the bridal toss.

As you select the flowers, you can begin to plan the other necessary things needed as well. The invitations, which you may decide to have a picture of a flower that will be part of your wedding flowers, this always looks lovely on any invitation. Therefore, say yeas and then start planning everything you will need for your beautiful and special day.

You can also find more info on Wedding Cake and Wedding Gown. Dreamweddingplanning.com is a comprehensive resource to know more about dream wedding planning.

There will always be debate about the pros and cons of using artificial flowers at a wedding instead of cut flowers. Tradition is a hard thing to influence no matter the stakes. White wedding Dresses, Veils, Church Weddings have all come under fire at some point only to be knocked back but Silk Flowers have had some staying power. Reason wins out over tradition.

I think the primary reason for this is that Brides love to save everything they can from their wedding. Cut flowers do not lend themselves to this pursuit. Sometimes they do not even last to the reception. Who has not seen wilting carnations at a wedding?

The following are the top reasons why Silk Wedding Flowers are better that cut flowers:

1. Silk Wedding Flowers last longer and are easier to preserve
2. Silk Flowers are less expensive, traditionally saving a Bride more than 50% of her cost for flowers.
3. Artificial Flowers can be prepared well ahead of time - leaving more time for time sensitive details to be taken care on the big day.
4. Colors of Silk Roses, Tulips and Orchids are much more predictable than live flowers. Perfect for matching bridesmaid dresses and wedding gowns
5. Silk Wedding Flowers can be made to match each other more precisely. Because they are manufactured items, no need to worry about size variations and natural color variations.
6. Buying a little extra will not break the bank. Not sure if you’ll have 40 tables or 42? Because of the cost savings, having a little extra on hand is usually not a worry.
7. Artificial Flowers are always in season - it doesn’t matter if you want Silk Lilies in October or Silk Tulips in January. No need to worry if your favorite flower is in season.
8. Variety abounds - There are thousands of choices including shapes, colors and sizes to choose from. The choices are near limitless
9. Resale value - I know this seems like an odd reason, but the reality is that a wedding lasts a day. There are many of the floral piece that the bride will have no sentimental value for eBay and Craigslist provide a ready market for selling off the floral pieces you don’t want to keep.
10. Recycle - Re-use. Okay maybe you don’t want to resell everything. I have seen lot’s of creative ideas for what to do with silk flowers for crafting, decorating gifts and even greeting cards. Browse the web for ways to use the Silk Flowers for Frames, Hats, Purses, etc. etc.

Silk Flowers Resource

Flowers are an integral part of any wedding. From the bride’s bouquet and the decoration at the wedding ceremony to the reception, flowers appear literally everywhere and it would be hard to imagine a wedding without flowers. But how would you feel about having silk wedding flowers?

If you’re anything like me then your first reaction will probably be a definite no! The idea of using artificial flowers at a wedding is simply unthinkable. Well, think again.

I have just returned from a trip to the Far East where I saw some of the most magnificent floral arrangement that I have ever seen – and every single one of them was artificial. I couldn’t believe it when I was told and had to actually touch the flowers to distinguish them from the real thing. Some had even been perfumed so that they actually smelled like the real thing. It was almost unbelievable.

Artificial flowers are nothing new of course and the tradition of making artificial flowers is believed to have started with the Chinese and dates back hundreds of years. Taken up by the Italians in the twelfth century, the art of making flowers from the cocoons of silkworms was developed and was then taken over and perfected by the French. Indeed, history records that in 1775 Marie Antoinette was presented with a silk rosebud and is said to have been so overcome by its perfection that she feinted.

Shortly after this the French Revolution forced many of the French flower makers to flee to England from where the craft was taken to the Americas by English settlers

For many years florists looked down on dried and artificial flowers as being inferior, but this is changing today and many florists now regularly use artificial flowers, and in particular silk flowers, in floral arrangement where they frequently mix both natural and silk flowers together.

Against this background it is easy to see the benefits of silk wedding flowers.

You no longer need to worry about whether or not flowers are in season and bear the expense of flying in out-of-season blooms. Neither do you need to face the mad hectic rush of having an army of people arranging the flowers right up to the minute of the ceremony for fear that they will wilt before the guests arrive.

If you would like to have spring flowers for your wedding in October then that’s fine and if you’d like to fill the church with sunflowers in March that’s equally fine. The possibilities are endless.

And what better keepsake could you have of your special day than some of the flowers from your wedding to help decorate those special events in the future such as your wedding anniversary or the christening of your first child.

The idea of using silk wedding flowers is not quite as crazy as it seems.

For more information on silk wedding flowers please visit Talking weddings today.

The wedding reception is almost over. The bride and grooms picnic basket is packed with champagne and honeymoon snacks. The picnic basket is waiting in the get away carriage for the bridal couple.

As the happy just-married husband and wife prepare for their grand departure, family and friends gather to shower them with a canopy of fragrant rose petals.

Rose petals are a lovely alternative to the traditional rice or bird seed that is tossed in the final moments of a wedding reception before the wedding couple head off to begin their new life together as Mr. and Mrs. Just Married.

How To Dry Rose Petals For A Fragrant Rose Petal Shower1. Start collecting rose petals several months before your wedding day.2. Place each petal individually in a single layer on a cookie sheet and allow to dry at a very low temperature in the oven.

Since summer is the most popular time for weddings, it is very important to decide in advance the type of wedding flowers wanted by the bride. Since the florists are bound to be busy with many other weddings, the bride should be sure of her choices.

One good thing about summer weddings is that just about any kind of flower is available at the time. Favorite pastel colors include cool blues and pale yellows. Bold purples, brilliant reds and oranges really suit this season.

Roses give a very traditional summer wedding feel. Orange, red and yellow roses in the bouquet or the hair gives the feel of bright sunny days. Sunflowers are perfect for a modern summer wedding. It can bring the feel of the sun to the wedding with its vibrant colors.

Some popular choices for summer weddings are: foxglove, hyacinth, bachelor buttons, geraniums (pink, red, white, blue), hollyhock, moss rose, lilies, poppy (red, orange, yellow), carnations, daisy, pansy or berries (Blueberry or Raspberry).

Outdoor locations are very popular for summer weddings, and can determine the flowers used in the wedding. If the wedding is being held in a botanical garden, the kind of flowers in the garden can be used in the bouquet. If the wedding is by the seashore then the deep blue iris or bachelor buttons along with sand-colored tulips can be a perfect choice. Sunny yellow and fiery red poppies can also be appropriate. When paired with green ferns, white lilies can have a striking effect.

With so many choices, it is very important to understand the feel and mood expressed by each of these flowers, and choose accordingly.

Wedding Flowers provides detailed information about wedding flowers, fall wedding flowers, silk wedding flowers, spring wedding flowers and more. Wedding Flowers is the sister site of Wedding Flowers.

Very often the physical setting for your wedding ceremony will limit your choice of floral decoration but, when it comes to wedding receptions flowers, this is often a very different matter. Bear in mind that flowers will often form a large part of your overall plan of decoration and start by choosing a venue for your reception which allows you plenty of scope.

The next thing that you will need to think about is theme that you wish to use for your decoration. You might choose a theme that is consistent throughout your wedding and will run from the bouquet, through the flowers at the religious or civil ceremony and on to the wedding reception flowers. Alternatively you may choose, as many couples do, to separate the wedding ceremony and reception by selecting a different theme for each.

Once you have decided on a theme then it will be a question of selecting flowers that will match that theme. In many cases couples turn this on its head by taking as their starting point the flowers that are readily available and in season and then build a theme around these. This can work but, more often than not, you will end up by having to make compromises and, once that starts happening, you run the danger of coming away from your special day feeling less than satisfied.

If money is no object then sourcing the flowers that you need for your chosen theme is a fairly simple matter and you can have just about anything you choose flown in from every corner of the world. For most couples however money is a very real issue and it is this that pushes them in the direction of going with whatever is available. But there are alternatives.

One possibility is to make use of potted flowers. These can often be hired for the day and you’ll be surprised at the range of exotic flowers that you can get through your florist or local nursery quite cheaply. I remember that one day I was driving along a small country road in Lincolnshire in England when I came across a huge glasshouse full of every shape and size of cactus. My attention was drawn in particular to one area where the owner had a large selection of beautiful potted arrangements and I asked him if these were for sale. He said that he was sorry but that these were only for hire for special events such as weddings.

Another idea is to use silk wedding flowers, or a mixture of both cut and silk flowers. This is becoming increasingly popular these days and you will be surprised at just how realistic modern silk flowers can be. Indeed, you will find it very hard to spot the difference between the natural cut flowers and the silk flowers. Nowadays silk flowers can even be perfumed so that they smell like the real thing.

Having sourced your flowers it’s then simply a matter of letting your imagination run riot and creating a range of decorations that fit the room chosen for your reception and, more particularly, fit your personality. Whether it’s a floral arch to stand under when you cut the cake, potted plants to line the dance floor, centerpieces for the tables or napkin treatments let your creative juices flow and speak to your guests through your wedding reception flowers.

For more information on wedding reception flowers visit Talking Weddings today.