Whether you’re planning to say ‘I do’ in an old chapel or on a romantic beach, you can’t go past flowers to create the perfect backdrop. If you follow our little tips, your floral planning is sure to be roses all the way.
Church Flowers
The first thing to do if you’re planning on getting married in a church is to check their flower policy. They may provide pew bows instead of flowers or insist you use their preferred florist – each church has a different set of rules so plan ahead to avoid any disappointment.”¨Many churches are large and bare, so you’ll need a few strategically-placed arrangements to fill out the space. Flowers at the church will help create an intimate atmosphere and establish your wedding colour theme right from the start. “¨The most common flower arrangements in a church are as follows:
- Either side of the altar or communion rail
- On the floor in front of the altar table
- In front of the lectern or pulpit
- A large urn or flower arrangement at the entrance
- A few blooms or elaborate foliage in a swathe of tulle or ribbon at the end of the pews
When it comes to colours, try to avoid dark colours – although they often create a dramatic atmosphere, they can also considerably darken an old church and make it appear gloomy. Go for bright, colourful blooms for a guaranteed refreshing look and don’t forget to mix a few fragrant flowers amid your arrangements – they’ll give the wedding a wonderful fresh scent.”¨”¨Hot tip: The church might be able to put you in contact with other couples marrying the same day. Ask them if they want to share the flowers and split the cost of the decoration.
Not getting married in a church?
If you are marrying ‘on location’ or having a garden wedding you will need to consider the look you want to achieve.
- Have a good look at both the attractive and unattractive features of your chosen venue. You can disguise those less attractive parts with gorgeous blooms.
- If it is a colourful garden setting, use this to your advantage by having the bride and groom stand in front of a beautiful backdrop.
- Have a look at your outdoor wedding location at the time of day you are planning on marrying (sunset, mid-morning etc) to check the height and direction of the sun, which areas are well lit etc before you make any final decisions.
- Flowers can help you create an ‘aisle.’ You could drive a spike into the ground beside the end chair of each row and drape fabric or ribbon between each one. Or why not consider an aisle of densely strewn rose petals? This not only looks beautiful and oh-so-romantic but it also smells wonderful!