WEDDING FLOWERS GUIDE

Posted In: Services+

 

elegant-intimate-wedding-dining-table-display-at-villa-balbianello-by-my-lake-como-wedding

CHOOSING FLOWERS AND DECORATION FOR YOUR WEDDING DAY

Let’s face it, your flowers are going to be seen by a lot of people, not only by your attending wedding guests but also by those who were unable to attend and will be eagerly awaiting the release of your wedding photographs. Everybody else lucky enough to be working for you on your wedding day will also be extremely interested to see your beautiful finishing touches and personalised details so there is in fact quite a lot of pressure to get your flowers right. We have all had experience with a florist in one way or another, whether it was arranging an elegant mother’s day display or a personalised birthday bouquet, but for some that would have proved tricky enough let alone trying to come up with a theme for an entire wedding event. Thankfully nowadays there is a lot of inspiration available online with sites such as Instagram and Pinterest, but I also wanted to draw from my many years of experience working in the beautiful wedding industry and offer my very own advice and guidance towards when and how to get started. It is never to early to start considering the flowers for your wedding day. Many couples in fact start with planning the flower theme and then continue to create their entire wedding event around it. Initially, I believe it is important to add your own flare, It is your wedding day after all and your wedding flowers should be unique and reflect your wonderful personality as a couple.

SELECTING A COLOUR THEME FOR YOUR WEDDING DAY

Wedding-day-flower-colour-scheme

It’s your wedding so try and start by thinking of a statement colour that means a lot to you. A favourite childhood colour, the colour of an incredible dress that made you once stop in the street or even a feature colour that you have just painted your home. I absolutely love hearing about how my couples chose their colour themes, and trust me some are really whacky proving that it really doesn’t matter where you get your inspiration from. If you find it hard to decide on a colour then use bridal magazines, floristry books and internet sites such as Instagram and Pinterest for inspiration. There are literally thousands of images out there and you will stumble upon that perfect theme sooner then you think. Once you have your colour scheme in mind, think about how you can then transfer that to your overall wedding day theme, will it incorporate well into your bridal bouquet, bridesmaid dresses, groomsman ties and even your dining room linen and table decorations. Don’t be afraid to run your ideas past your friends and family, or your wedding planner and florist if you want to keep everything top secret until the reveal on the wedding day itself.

WE EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENT MEANINGS FOR EACH WEDDING FLOWER COLOUR.

Lake-Como-bride-shows-off-her-beautiful-bouquet

The symbolism of a flower colour is steeped in tradition. Every flower colour from a deep red rose to a bright yellow daffodil offers a meaningful story dating back thousands of years. The flower colours you choose for your bouquets, table centrepieces and venue displays can be as important as the type of flowers you decide to use in the arrangements. Many couples simply choose the colours of their flowers based on their personal preferences, yet many will take into consideration what each flower colour means and make their choice based on this.

RED WEDDING FLOWERS. There’s an indisputable energy to the color red, an energy that has the power to transform an otherwise unassuming flower into the essence of love, desire, strength, and passion. With beauty, courage and heat as its symbolism, it’s no surprise that an arrangement filled with rich red blooms knows no restraint.

WHITE WEDDING FLOWERS. Often associated with innocence and humility, white flowers evoke simple beauty. Any arrangement dominated by white blossoms conveys elegance.

YELLOW WEDDING FLOWERS. There is a good reason why you have an urge to smile and feel a comforting warmth when you see a bouquet of bright yellow. This colour evokes feelings of joy and lightheartedness and is a symbol of friendship. An arrangement bursting with yellow blooms sends a message of new beginnings, warmth and happiness.

PINK WEDDNG FLOWERS. Think of pink and you instantly think of grace and gentility. From the tight small buds of a pink rose to the delicate open petals of a pink caellia in full bloom, a pink blossom conveys youth, innocence, and joy.

PURPLE WEDDING FLOWERS. With its origins tied to royalty and ceremony, purple flowers represent dignity, pride and success. Whether this colour is used alone or mixed with other colours to provide depth and contrast, an arrangement filled with purple blooms represents accomplishment and admiration.

LAVENDER WEDDING FLOWERS. While purple is the colour of royalty, and pink the colour of youth, lavender is femininity all grown up. Representing refinement, grace, and elegance, lavender holds an almost sacred place in nature. An arrangement filled with this gentle colour sends a message of feminine beauty.

BLUE WEDDING FLOWERS. The pale blue tones of a hydrangea or the deep blue of an iris can represents peace, openness, and serenity. A floral arrangement filled with blue flowers will also offer a natural cooling antidote to anxiousness.

GREEN WEDDING FLOWERS. The perfect complement to any bloom, the color green represents health, resilience, good fortune and youth. Green flowers and foliage send a message of optimism and renewal.

CONSIDER THE FLOWERS THAT ARE AVAILABLE DURING THE SEASON OF YOUR WEDDING

Wisteria-tree-flowers-wedding-bouquet-matching-spring-colours

The season can play a huge part in your final flower decisions so it is well worth doing some research into any particular favourite flowers that you want to try and include in your displays during a particular time of year. Whilst some non seasonal flowers can be sourced and shipped in I would suggest trying to use the flowers that are in season and readily available. You should also consider the wonderful flowers, plants and trees that will be flourishing during the season of your wedding as many venues will have incredible gardens and terraces full of colour which will provide a free colourful canvases for you to build on. For example, my wedding couples marrying here in Lake Como in the Spring will take full advantage of the beautiful natural backdrop of the vibrant purple and white climbing Wisterias. Below is a list of the more popular flowers that are readily available here in Lake Como during the wedding seasons.

SPRING. Anemone, Aster, Anthurium, Buttercup, Bouvardia, Broom, Chinese Lantern, Cosmo, Calla Lily, Camellia, Carnation, Celosia, Cherry Blossom, Chrysanthemum, Crocus, Daisy, Daffodils, Delphinium, Dogwood, Freesia, Forsythia, Gardenia, Gerbera, Gladiolus, Gypsophila, Heather, Honeysuckle, Hyacinth, Hydrangea, Iris, Liatris, Lysianthus, Lilac, Lily, Lily of the Valley, Matthiola, Mimosa, Narcissus, Orchids, Ornamental Ornithogalum, Pepper, Peony, Ranunculus, Roses, Salvia, Snapdragon, Sunflower, Sweet pea, Tulip, Trelizia, Viburnum, Wax Flower.

SUMMER. Agapanthus, Amaranths, Anthurium, Aster, Bouvardia, Broom, Calla Lily, Carnation, Camellia, Chinese Lantern, Chrysanthemum, Cosmo, Dahlia, Daisy, Delphinium, Lavender, Lisianthus, Freesia, Gelsomino, Gerbera, Gladiolus, Goldenrod, Gypsophila, Honeysuckle, Hydrangea, Lavender, Lily, Lysianthus, Orchids, Magnolia, Ornamental Pepper, Ornithogalum, Roses, Salvia, Snapdragon, Sweet pea, Sunflower, Terberose, Viburnum, Wax Flower.

AUTUMN. Aster, Amaranths, Anthurium, Amaryllis, Bouvardia, Calla Lilly, Carnation, Celosia, Chrysanthemum, Clematis, Cosmo, Dahlia, Daisy, Delphinium, Freesia, Gelsomino, Gerbera, Gladiolus, Goldenrod, Gypsophila, Hosta, Hydrangea, Iris, Liatris, Lily, Lysianthus, Matthiola, Orchids, Ornamental Pepper, Ornithogalum, Passion flower, Pinks, Roses, Salvia, Snap Dragon, Sterlizia, Sunflower, Tuberose, Tulip, Wax Flower.

ALL YEAR ROUND. Anthurium, Alstroemeria, Aster, Bouvardia, Calla Lily, Carnation, Chrysanthemum, Daisy, Delphinium, Freesia, Gerbera, Gypsophila, Hydrangea, Lily, Lysianthus, Orchids, Ornamental Pepper, Ornithogalum, Protea, Roses, Snap Dragon, Sunflower, Tulip, Wax Flower.

BUDGETING FOR YOUR WEDDING DAY FLOWERS

Creative-use-of-flowers-and-glass-to-keep-flower-costs-down-at-your-wedding

Before you get too excited make sure you do some quick math. It is so easy to get carried away when looking at some of the incredible flower displays on media sites such as Pinterest and Instagram. Many people forget to take into consideration the costs involved in trying to recreate some of those images, and are very quickly left wondering where their initial flower budget went when the quotes start rolling in. It is very important to have an initial budget in mind, and speak openly about it with your wedding planner and florist. Once I know my clients budget, and initial flower and decoration visions I can then openly inform them if their budget is realistic, and if not then advise them on how they can achieve a very similar look by using clever little tricks to keep the costs down. I also always suggest having a ‘must have list’ and a ‘wish list’ of flowers and decorations so that it is clear and easy to start subtracting the items from the wish list if the budget is being pushed. There are many tips on how to initially stop your flower costs spiralling out of control.

  • Be prepared to be more creative if you’re on a tight budget.
  • Be open and honest if you don’t have a huge budget. It will help the florist to suggest cheaper decoration alternatives.
  • Table centerpieces can be the most expensive displays. Consider using less elaborate ideas like glassware and candles.
  • Use local flowers that are available in that season. This will save on any required shipping costs.
  • Use low fuller table displays and vibrant colours which will give the tables a fuller impression.
  • Use a style that involves a lot of greenery. Olive branches and large green leaf displays look great in Italy.
  • Use displays that can be moved from one area to another.

CONSIDER WHICH WEDDING DAY FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU

Villa-Balbianello-wedding-table-flower-display-in-glass-vase

Your wedding flower displays and arrangements can be elegantly simple or utterly elaborate depending on the style of wedding that you are wanting to create. Either way, your flower arrangements and displays should be unique and look as if they have been specially created for you and reflect your personalities.

 

RELATED WEDDING BLOGS WHICH WILL HELP YOU GAIN INSPIRATION WHEN PLANNING YOUR WEDDING CELEBRATION ON LAKE COMO

You may also be interested in – LAKE COMO WEDDING FLOWERS  |   LAKE COMO WEDDING CAKES

It is always lovely to hear if this blog was interesting and helpful to you. Please let me know by leaving a small comment in the comment section provided below.

 

Thank you!

Your enquiry has been sent and we’ll be in touch with you very soon.