Wedding Flowers

Flowers for weddings can make up a large part of your budget, from the bridal bouquet; bridesmaids bouquets; button holes for the groom, groomsmen, fathers and grandfathers; corsages for the mothers and grandmothers; not to mention aisle decorations, table floral center pieces and rose petals for the flower girl!

You can literally spend thousands of dollars on wedding flowers, but most brides don’t have that kind of budget so how can you get fabulous wedding flowers without paying a fortune?

Know your stuff…

You need to know what kind of flowers are in season and what flowers are easiest for the florist to work with. The easiest way to find this information (aside from surfing the net) is to ask your florist, they probably do hundreds of weddings a year and are going to be well versed in what flowers are best in your bouquet and which are going to be the cheaper option and which are actually available in season.

Roses and Calla Lillies are always a popular choice. You can get roses year round and callas for most of the year. Just remember if you have a Valentines Day wedding planned expect to pay more for your flowers, it’s a well known fact the price of flowers, roses in particular, can double and sometimes triple over this “holiday” period. Red wedding flowers such as traditional red roses are an extremely popular wedding flower for brides and their bridal party, but roses, especially red ones, are in hot demand on Valentines Day!

Add a personal touch and watch your floral fantasies spring to life

The blooms you choose for your wedding day play a significant role in creating the atmosphere of the event, so it pays to consider your options carefully. Once you’ve set your theme, visit a few florists – you’ll be able to tell from their portfolio how much wedding experience they’ve had and if their flowers are fresh. Show them pictures of arrangements that appeal to you to see whether their creative style matches your taste.

Be prepared with information such as your wedding date, venue, theme and budge.

Availability and price will be affected by the time of year you marry. It’s also important to ask members of your bridal party if they have any allergies before you confirm your order.

Owner of a popular flower studio, wedding florist Kristy Wright, reports that many brides are boldly stepping away from the traditional.

‘I’m seeing a lot of couples who feature dramatic, avant-garde colours wrapped in shiny, bight ribbons. It’s a growing trend – think of the recent film Sex and the City,’ explains Kristy. But she warns that you should limit yourself to just two hues or feature variations of one colour, so the overall look is unified.

Vintage styles are becoming increasingly popular, with couples adding creative flair and a personal expression to old-world classics.

‘Many of my brides are putting a modern twist on the vintage theme by not limiting the “old and new” to their gown and jewellery, but using it in styling the venue with flowers as wee,’ says Kristy.

Whether you choose a look that’s simple and sleek or wild and loose, be creative in putting it together. Display flowers in unique centrepieces – accentuate each arrangement by using different types of flowers on each table. Or feature flowers in clear vases filled with swirls of grass or brightly coloured fruit such as lemons.

Traditionally, the woman who catches the bride’s bouquet will marry next, but modern brides often give their flowers to a guest who has been a big part of their life, such as a godmother or aunt.

Talk to your wedding florist about making your wedding flower dreams come true.

Here’s a list of popular wedding flowers and their meanings:


Amaryllis –Splendid beauty	Iris – Message
Aster – Symbol of love	Ivy – Fidelity, friendship, marriage
Bluebell – Constancy	Jasmine, pink – I attach myself to you
Broom – Humility	Jasmine , white – Grace, amiability
Campanula – Gratitude	Lavender - Luck, devotion
Carnation, pink – I’ll never forget you	Lilac – First love, first emotions of love
Chrysanthemum, red – I love you	Lily – Purity, modesty
Chrysanthemum, white – truth	Lily, calla – Beauty
Cornflower – Delicacy, hope	Orchid – Love, beauty, refinement
Daffodil – Regard	Ranunculus – Radiant with charms
Fern – Sincerity
Freesia – Innocence	Rose, red – Love
Gardenia – Ecstasy, refinement	Rose, pink – Grace, beauty
Gentian – Loveliness	Rose, yellow – Friendship
Gypsophila – Fertility	Stock – Lasting beauty
Heather – Admiration	Sage – Gratitude, domestic virtue
Hellebore – Calming	Sweet pea – Departure, tender memory
Holly – Foresight	Tulip – My perfect lover, declaration of love
Hyacinth – Sport and play

DIY Wedding Flowers

If you have the time and inclination doing your own wedding flower arrangements can be a great way to save money and put your own personal touch on things. There are many instructional videos online and it would be a good idea to watch a few of these. The most important thing is to practice! Don’t leave it to the day before your wedding to put together your bridal bouquet, it will most likely end in tears.

A great alternative to fresh flowers is to use silk wedding flowers, these can often be cheaper if you can find decent quality flowers at a wholesaler, and they have the added benefit of lasting forever!

Floral fantasy

Choosing a theme for your wedding is essential to express your personality and style, and to ensure all elements of the wedding work together to create the Wow factor you’ve always dreamed of for your perfect day.

Flowers are a great place to start when deciding on a theme, they come in every variety and colour imaginable, and are used in every part of the wedding from the wedding ceremony to the reception.

Whether you want a modern masterpiece or an elegant vintage feel, you’ll find inspiration from flowers.