What's Blooming? Tips on bouquets and centerpieces.

Where do I start and what's a fringed parrot tulip?

Who knew that choosing those fleeting little things called flowers could cause such an avalanche of indecision?  There are endless options, and it really is next to impossible to make flowers look bad, after all, they're flowers, not cummerbunds.  Whether you plan to use a pro or go the DIY route, after reading this series on What's Blooming, (which will arm you with practical information, of course), you're friends will be coming to you with advice!  So go on-gather ye rosebuds (or ranunculus) while ye may. (Oh, and by the way, that's a fringed parrot tulip you see here. You know, just in case.) So let's put your petal to the metal, starting with these considerations.

What colours do I want? Start assembling your palette on your own by following a few guidelines.

• Decide which colours in both your ceremony and reception locations you want to enhance or play down.  If there are yellow walls, choosing yellow flowers isn't the best choice, as they may just disappear against the walls.
• Consider the lighting you have to work with.  A daytime wedding, sunlight will flood into the space, so pale colours may get washed out.  So try using warm colours in low-light settings, which reflect light better.  Cool colours recede into darkness.
• Pick three colours to start.  You can always add more later.  
• Weigh neutrals as carefully as you would other colours because sometimes they can dilute a palette.
• Make a trip to the paint store and head to the paint chips.  Pick up ones that appeal to you.  

Budget? 

There are three different pieces of the pie when it comes to your floral budget.  

• In order of importance:  Flowers for the reception.  This is where you will spend the most. 
• Flowers for the wedding party and immediate family members.  These are heavily photographed, so don't be tempted to cut corners.  
• Flowers for the ceremony.  Sometimes there are limitations on decorating at ceremony sites, so check with the officiant.  You may not need these at all.  
• Another way to save money is to avoid planning your wedding near the floral-heavy holidays, otherwise you could be dealing with supply-and-demand issues, which in turn could jack up the prices.  

Did somebody say style?

Casual, formal or wild and carefree?  That is the question.

• Certain colours and blooms evoke different levels of formality, partly depending on how they are arranged.  
• Most flowers don't fall easily into one category or another, but generally speaking bright colours and dynamic shapes have an informal feel, while muted monochromatic or single-variety collections appear more formal.  

(Courtesy of Real Simple Weddings)