Q1. Do I really need to hire a floral designer?
The short answer is yes. Although your aunt does a great job of arranging her fresh flowers every Sunday, this will not translate into fashioning fantastic wedding flowers for you. Think about all the blooms you might need and how you want them to look.”¨If you’re getting married on a hot day, they will have to last the distance and be visually arresting.”¨Your wedding flowers are often wired to ensure they stay upright and fresh and this takes professional skills and time.
Q2. What should I look for in my floral designer?
Make sure you shop around. Look at Modern Wedding Flowers Magazine, the Galleries and our Wedding Flowers Pinterest board for pictures of bouquets and flowers you like which fit in with the colour scheme of your wedding. Make sure the floral designer you select is a wedding specialist as some are not. Once you’ve made a shortlist of the ones you like, make appointments and visit them to view their work. If you find ‘the one’ make sure you book them up well in advance, as they can be in hot demand especially in the spring and summer months.
Q3. What exactly will I need other than a bridal bouquet?
You might like to have an arrangement at either side of the aisle. These can also be transported to your reception venue and used again. Use small blooms on the end of each row of seats. You’ll need a bouquet for yourself and one for each of your bridesmaids. Then there are the buttonholes – one for your honey and one each for his groomsmen and perhaps the fathers of each of you. Quite often girls present their mum and future mother-in-law with a corsage they can wear. “¨All of this is totally up to you. You may want to go all out and sprinkle rose petals down the aisle or you may decide only to opt for an amazing bouquet and buttonhole for you and your future husband. Whatever you decide, flowers add a special touch of romance to your day.
Q4. I know there are different shapes of bouquet – can you explain them to me?
There are basically five main types.”¨Posy – circular in shape using round flowers of equal size. “¨Trail – Slender from top to tip with either a wide or narrow tail. “¨Teardrop – has a posy top but a trail, which narrows down to form a teardrop shape. “¨Arm sheaf – Lies along the arm or hangs down and is normally a long neat blooms. “¨Natural stem – known as a hand-tied bouquet, features visible stems and isn’t wired.
Q5. I really want something different for my bouquet.
Why not try Aussie wildflowers? There are some fantastic blooms available in an amazing array of colours. We have native species of orchid, lily and even a desert rose. What about native pines, gardenias and jasmine all of which could leave a beautiful scent as well? Wildflowers are normally tougher and grown locally which means they’ll be fresher too. Check with your floral designer which ones will be in season at the time of your wedding and create something spectacular.