"The theme of your wedding is essentially incorporated in the decor, but this can also include other aspects such as the colour of the apparel of your retinue, the venue, the food, the music and even your dress", says Hermien and Laetitia of Deco Flora.

The chosen colour for your retinue plays a large role in determining the choice of flowers: pink, yellow or baby blue bridesmaids will only be complemented by floral arrangements of the same hues. However, if you intend for your retinue to wear a more neutral colour - black, white, or even a dark green or blue, brightly coloured bouquets and floral decorations often brighten up the entire picture.

The chapel or church
The time at which your wedding takes place is also an important factor when deciding on the decor. Decorating the church with bright flowers always brings about a happy atmosphere. Depending on the size of the church, two large arrangements near the altar are considered to be the full extent of inside decoration. To cut costs on flowers, candelabras or urns can be utilised in these larger arrangements. Attached to the pews, you`ll usually find small posies of flowers using oasis and decorated with satin ribbon. The scattering of petals down the aisle is becoming a popular option for modern brides, use of topiary trees or small urns filled with flowers outside the church. Flowers used at the church are often discreetly transported to the reception and displayed there, to save costs.

Your floral designer will, in most cases, be the one doing the floral decorations on the day. Remember to allow him or her to liaise with the chapel and/or venue well in advance, and give him or her clear indication as to the timing of events.

The reception
Hermine and Laetitia recommends that the floral decorator who created your church flowers and bouquet, should also do the floral decorations at the reception. The main table should be the focal point of any reception and is usually one long table, adorned with flowers cascading down the front of the table. Although the flowers need to be large enough to be admired, it is important that your guests will be able to see you and your family seated behind the flowers, and that there is sufficient space on the other side of the table, so that the flowers do not get in the way, especially when you eat.

Flowers similar to those at the main table, should ideally adorn the tables of the guests at the reception, with the same rules about size applying. Often the theme can be carried throughout, not just in the flowers on the tables, but also with the bomboniera or gifts you place at each place setting.

Availablity
It is important to visit your floral designer early in your wedding planning, as the flowers available at your chosen date may well be the deciding factor on your theme. Tulips, irises, daffodils and fuscias are all readily available in late winter and early spring, however it is best to seek the advice of a professional in the field.
For a larger wedding, your floral designer will often be happy to show you their portfolio of work completed or should this not be available request that a sample of the arrangements be made prior to the date of your wedding.

Article source: LifeWorld