Wedding Flowers Questions And Answers
Vesna Grasso Floral Designer is a leading wedding florist who works with you to ensure you have the most beautiful flowers on your wedding day - from bouquets to buttonholes!
If you would like Vesna to answer any questions regarding wedding flowers, please email flowers@i-do.com.au.
Q - My partner is Scottish and will be wearing a kilt along with his best man and groomsmen and would like Scottish Thistle for their buttonholes. Are thistles available in Australia?
A - Scottish Thistle is available in Australia however is only in flower for a short period, i.e. in June & August. It is not a very long lasting flower and so is probably not a very good choice for a buttonhole. Some florists choose to use Heath instead as it is similar in appearance.
Q - I have decided on oriental pink Lilies for my wedding flower. My mother used to arrange flowers and she will make the two bouquets. Can she make them the day before, or does it need to be done on the day? It will be a simple posy. Also, I will have just pink in my bouquet, should the bridesmaids have another colour, or just white the same as mine?
A - This is a little tricky to answer as I'm not sure what style of bouquet your mother is making for you. If the bouquet is going to be wired then I would suggest your mother do it the night before and store it in the bottom of the fridge to keep it cool. However, I do not recommend she do it in this way,
for the Oriental lily doesn't last very long out of water. Having a natural stem style bouquet is preferred as your mother can arrange it the day before and keep it in water at the bottom of the fridge. I would recommend you organise some vases at the reception for the bouquets, as they will
definitely need to be rehydrated by that time of the day. Because only you and your bridesmaid will be holding bouquets, I would say to keep them the same colour, however make the bridesmaids bouquet slightly smaller than your own.
Q - I am getting married in September. My bridesmaids dresses are a light blue with shade of purple. I wanted to use a variety of bright colours - purple, yellow, orange, red etc. My favourite flower is the Iris (purple), but I don't think they are in season and know that they do not last long. I am not keen on roses. My mother says "no" to lilies as she associates them with funerals. Can you help?
A - The iris will be available and is OK to use in a bouquet. I have used them in the past and found they do last the whole day. Here is a list of flowers & colours that will look lovely together:
Yellow -Cymbidium orchid
Orange - Ranunculus
Hot Pink - Tulip
Purple - Freesias or Hyacinths.
I think the colour combination should be more of the hot pink, orange, yellow with a splash of purple.
Q - I am getting married at the end of October. Are 'lily of the valley' available at this time of year? Would I be able to find them at flower markets?
A - Yes, it should be available in late October. What I recommend you do is order the quantity you need well in advance eg approximately. 3 to 4 weeks before the wedding, either through your floral designer or with an agent at the flower markets. Perhaps if you were thinking of purchasing them yourself it would be in your best interest to find out which supplier you should use now, and remind them a couple of months before the wedding what you require.
Q - I am getting married in May. My dress is white with blue beading around the neck and back. My bridesmaids are in blue. I wanted to have lilies but my mother and mother-in-law think that the white lily symbolises death. I love pink tiger lilies for the bridesmaids but I am unsure on the flower girls (aged 2 and 9) and what they should have.
A - Pink goes nicely with blue, I think the pink lilies would go nicely with your dress and also with the bridesmaids dresses. If you feel that having a bouquet of pink lilies may be a little too much for you, then why not add some white in another type of flower, for example, a rose, tulip, lisianthus, gardenia or hyacinth? Your youngest flowergirl could wear a little wrist corsage or perhaps a few mini roses in her hair. If you prefer to have her holding something, I think a small chiffon pouch filled with white and pink rose petals would be small enough and light enough for her to carry around all day. The older flowergirl could have a small version of the bridesmaids bouquets
Q - I am getting married in June and would like to know what purple flowers are in season?
A - Purple flowers available in June are as follows: Freesia, Tulips, Sweet Pea, Orchids - Singapore, Vanda, Pansy, Hyacinth, Anemones, Delphinium, Iris, Lisianthus
Q - I'm getting married in early October and would really like to have peonies in my bouquet. I've checked the seasonality of the flower and they are definitely listed as a spring flower however all the florists I've talked to > have said that they are only available in November. My second alternative are David Austin roses and they also seem to be unavailable. Can you help?
A - Both Peonies & David Austin Roses are at the beginning of their flowering season at the END of October. Sometimes you may be able to obtain them earlier, however I wouldn't guarantee it.
Q - I am getting married in mid September. I am having great difficulties in deciding what flowers to use - and what are available. My dress is a very soft pink with white and my bridesmaids will each be wearing different colours - pink, mauve, mint and lemon with white (on top). Their skirts all have cherry blossoms embroided on them and I have incorporated the 'cherry blossom' theme into the invitations. Are cherry blossoms available this time of year (I would like to use them for decoration).
A - I think you should keep the colour scheme of the bouquets very simple as adding too many different colours could end up being a disaster. I have a few ideas which will work for the bouquets. Firstly, white - have your bouquet & the bridesmaids bouquets in white. Your bouquet can be larger
than the bridesmaids bouquets or a different shape to the bridesmaids bouquets. Secondly, a neutral colour being white & a touch of a pastel tone of each individuals dress colour added to the bouquet. You have the option of adding pink in your bouquet or keeping your bouquet all white. And
finally, go with different shades & tones of different flower types of each individual dress colour. Again you have the option of keeping your bouquet all white, or go the pink tones.
Blossoms are available in September & do look fantastic when used in tall glass vases to decorate your church &/or the reception venue. Flowers available in September include the following: Cymbidium orchids, Cattleya orchids, Helleborous, Daphne, Tulip, Hyacinth, Roses, Iris, Blossoms, Ranunculus, Pansy, Daffodils, Jonquils, Lily of the Valley,Sweet Peas, Poppy, Stock, Arum lily, Lilac, Freesia, Violet, Singapore orchid, Forget me not.
Q - I am getting married for the second time in December. Is it important to have a bridal bouquet? I am wearing a A-line ankle dress with 3/4 sleeves in wedgewood blue. If I do have a bouquet what could you suggest? My MOH is a larger woman too, so what do you suggest she carry?
A - I think it would look nice for you to hold a bouquet. Perhaps you would choose something that is quite simple yet elegant. An armspray design would be suitable. Arum lilies along with a few stems of iris look divine in this style & would go lovely with your dress. Your matron of honour could go with
the same style bouquet.
Q - I am very confused about what colour flowers I should have at my wedding. I am getting married in July wearing an off-white dress. My bridesmaids are wearing black and silver dresses. I am planning on carrying a bunch of white tulips. What colour and type of flowers should my bridesmaids carry? Do you think white tulips will look OK with an off-white dress?
A - I think the white tulips will look fine with an off - white dress, just make sure there is some foliage either throughout or around the outside of the bouquet. I think your bridesmaid should carry a bouquet of vibrant pink or a burgundy tulips, this would be in contrast to their dresses and look
fantastic in the photos.
Q - I am gettng married at the end of October in Sydney. My dress will be off white silk, two of my bridesmaids will be wearing long elegant dresses in a soft smoky grey/blue colour. I am having a dress made for my head bridesmaid in either a slightly deeper shade of mauve or even pinky tones. I would like to have hydrangeas perhaps in mauve,pink/blue tones for the girls and for the table settings. Are hydrangeas available at this time of the year and would they suit? I would like to add some warmth and colour to the scheme. like gardenias and freesias for me as I love flowers that smell nice. Are these suitable and would they match in with the other girls? I would like a
romantic/elegant theme.
A - Hydrangea is available from December and through the warmer months of the year, so unfortunately will not be available in October. I like your ideas in colour & flower types & I think Gardenias & Freesias are a lovely combination. You may want to add some Lisianthus or small open spray roses just to add a delicate touch to the bouquets to go with the elegant/romantic
theme. White flowers with a touch of soft pink would suit both the bridesmaids dresses.
Q - I am getting married in October and have no idea what sort of flowers to have. My bridesmaids will be wearing black, each with different coloured jewellry such as bright blue, green, red & yellow. We are having a jazzy wedding so I'm looking for flowers that are a bit alternative or funky.
A - "Jazzy" is always bright and colourful. Gerberas in a mix of bright colours will suit your theme. You may choose to have a different colour for each bridesmaid, perhaps to go with the colour jewellery she is wearing or a combination of bright colours for each girl.Your bouquet can include a
mixture of different colours.If Gerberas are not your flower then you may wish to consider some of the following flower types: Calla Lily, Daffodil, Iris, Tulips, Ranunculus, Roses, Lilies, Orchids, Hyacinths, Sweet Pea.
Q - I am getting married in October. My gown is white, strapless with crystal beads all the way down the dress and the train. My bridesmaid dresses are strapless with little crystals along the neckline. The colour of the dresses is wisteria. This is sort of a cross between pink & lilac, quite a shimmery material, really unusual. I am unsure of what flowers to have for myslef & my bridesmaids. I don't want to cover up too much of my dress. I love pink frangipani's but I don't think they are available in October? Any thoughts on simple yet effective bouqets to go with wisteria?
A - The first thing that comes to mind is a combination of soft pink & lilac freesias to go with the colour of the bridesmaids dresses, as you seem to be more in favour of having lots of smaller flowers of one type. Your bouquet should be simple as well, and not too big. I think a small posy of white freesia for you would tie in perfectly with the whole look of your wedding.
Q - I am having a mint coloured wedding dress whereas my bridesmaids are having a strong pink colour. What flowers are available for a June wedding and what flowers can you recommend?
A - Flowers available in June are: Lillies, Hyacinths, Tulips, Hydrangea, Freesia, Sweet Pea, Arum lillies, Cymbidium orchids, Roses, Anemones, Violet, Stock, Singapore orchids. There are a lot of different combinations of flowers and colours which will definitely look great with the colour of the gowns you have chosen. I guess my favourite would be, for your bouquet to be a natural stemmed
bouquet to consist of, White and pale pink parrot tulips (these have a green streak through their petals), white freesias and a few green Singapore orchids scattered through. For the bridesmaids, pale pink parrot tulips, vibrant pink freesias and green Singapore orchids.
Q - I am wearing an ivory dress, and my bridesmaids are wearing navy blue. Can I have white flowers? My colour theme for the wedding is navy and silver, but we are leaning towards mauve and white roses for the bridesmaids bouquets, as we cant think of any other colour. Do you have any suggestions?
A - Deep red/burgundy gives a very warm, rich feel when used with navy blue.
Q - I am getting married in a rose garden. We are having a silver theme. What type of bouquet arrangements and/or colours would suit?
A - Keep the bouquets very "Garden-like". Go for loose natural stemmed bouquets and include flowers such as David Austin roses, spray roses, Gardenias and lisianthus. For colour, pink and ivory always go well with silver.
Q - I am getting married in February in Victoria which is likely to be quite warm. I am wearing an off-white dress in silk dupion, and my bridesmaids are wearing a deep magenta colour also in silk dupion. I had always thought I would like my flowers to be a large bunch roses in a tight cluster with the bridesmaids also having the same style but a smaller bunch. However, since picking their colour I am having trouble deciding on what I want to match their dresses.
A - Roses would be lovely, I think choosing the colour is where you need help. The girls bouquets will suit a two-toned red/cream rose, for example, New Fashion, Double Delight, Dolce Vita. Add some cream if you want it to look a little softer, or add some magenta coloured roses to ad richness in colour.
Q - I'm getting married in October. My dress has baby pink and the girls dresses are ice blue. I was wondering what sort of flowers would go with these colours? I would like something a little funky!
A - Flower types that would be suitable for a "funky" look include the following: succulents, celosia, calla lilies, orchids, gingers, large coloured leaves, berries. The style of the bouquets will need to suit the style of the dress. However, your look can be achieved in a modern trail type design or a round modern design.
Q - I was wondering what type of flowers would go with my ivory dress and my bridesmaids dresses in Cinese brocade red fabric?
A - Red/burgundy looks lovely against ivory, the bridesmaids can have red & ivory.
Q - I am getting married in June and really want bright pink roses, however I am not sure about the rest of the flowers. My dress is off-white and the bridesmaids have deep blue (sapphire not navy). My mother is in pale blue and is walking me up the aisle. I am thinking of pale pink roses (or a mixture of pale pink and deep pink) for the bridesmaids. We are just having very small posies as I am short and already have a bouffy ballgown so don't want to be swamped! What colours would you suggest? Also I need help with the men's buttonholes - should they be roses too? The grooms sister would particularly like irises or Singapore orchids in her hair .
A - Pinks go nicely with blues. A combination of deep pink/pastel pink tones would go well with the bridesmaids dresses. Usually, if the bouquets are in roses then that theme should follow through to the buttonholes & corsages for the bridal party. The parents however can have orchids, probably in pale pink to go with colour scheme of the bridal party. The Singapore orchids for the hair would be more suitable as I'm not sure that the iris has the capability to last the whole day. If she is set on the
iris, then perhaps you should order an extra one to replace it later on the day/evening.
Q - I am getting married in January or March. Our theme is red and silver. I have been married before and had red and white roses and wanted something different.
A - I'm not sure what style of bouquet you had the first time, but I think you should change the style, design & shape of the bouquet this time. There are other types of red flowers you could use instead of roses, which are available in March or January. These include, Gerberas, Calla lilies, Nerine, Water Lily, Anthurium, Oriental lilies, L.A Lily, Orchids. Perhaps you could choose a couple of different types of flowers in your bouquet.
Q - I am having three colours in my wedding - silver, fuscia and blue. I am considering silk flowers. How should I incorporate these three colours?
A - The advantages of using silk flowers is firstly, that they will last forever, and secondly, that you can obtain just about any type of flower in any colour, even if it doesn't actually come in that colour in nature. I guess you could use any type of flower in any one or all of the colours you need.
Q - I am getting married in November in Melbourne and was wondering if frangipanis are available then?
A - November may still be a little early for Frangipani's in Melbourne. You will need to speak with a professional floral designer in Melbourne, perhaps they can arrange to have them imported for you. I would get onto this ASAP, the more time they have to organise this, the better.
Q - What colour flowers would be best suite Royal Blue? We are having an October wedding.
A - You could choose one of the following options.
1. Pale blue flowers for e.g: Hyacinths, Delphinium, Forget - Me -Not, Iris, Cornflower,Hydrangea.
2. Pink tones, from a vibrant pink to a very pale soft pink, e.g: Rose,
Hyacinth, Delphinium, Orchids, Gerberas, Stock, sweet Pea, Tulips, Hydrangea, Peonies (End of October).
3. Pale yellows/cream tones - Most of the flower types above will come in these colours.
4. A mixture of blue, pink and cream in soft pastel tones.
Q - Our wedding is in October. I love lilies, and want to have a theme of reds and pinks (in various shades) for our wedding. Can I get lilies in those colours and also what other flowers will go with them?
A - Lilies do come in the colours you need. There are different types of lilies including, Orientals lilies, LA lilies, Asiatic lilies and Tiger lilies. They all come in red & different pinks tones. Lilies generally go with lots of other flower types, some of my favourites are: roses, tulips, freesias
and orchids.
Q - I am getting married in February and would really like to have tulips but I have received mixed messages about this.
A - Tulips will not last in February. They are suited to colder weather and so winter is the best time for Tulips.
Q - I am getting married in December and love carnations. As it is a second marriage for me, I have purchased a lovely twin set teal/green suit. My bridesmaid will be wearing ice green. What colour flowers should I have as my bouquet and for my MOH?
A - I would suggest you go with one of two colour schemes. Firstly, using white flowers with some foliage or berries throughout for both of you. Secondly, pink goes well with green. You could choose a brighter tone for your bouquet & softer tones for your matron of honour.
Q - I'm getting married in September. I have a white strapless wedding dress with diamante/crystal detail down the left side and will havea white flower hair piece with 3 white feathers coming off it (worn on the side). What flowers and style of bouquet would complement my dress and head piece? Should I go for a flower that is similar to the flower in my hair (ie gardenias) or go for an arm spray such as tulips (which will show off the detail on the left side of my dress). Should I stick to white flowers? My bridesmaids will be in red.
A - Gardenias are scarce in September, so perhaps your second option will be more practical. It does make sense to carry an armspray as you want to show off the beautiful work on your dress. Tulips are a good choice & do look elegant in an armspray design. However there are a lot of orchids available at this time & they also look elegant and would be suitable in an arm spray design.
Q - I would love to use waterlillies in our table centre pieces and was wondering if this is a flower that I could use in my bouquet. We are planning an early March wedding.
A - Waterlilies are available in March and would be perfect for the table centre pieces. However, you need to be aware that they are not a very long lasting flower when used in a bouquet. I would suggest you choose a floral designer who has had experience working with waterlilies. You may need to pay a little bit more for their services & expertise, but it sure beats disappointment on your wedding day.
Q - My wedding will be in late February. Could you suggest a flower which is in season, slightly sculptural (eg arum lilies), is reasonably priced and will suit a natural stemmed bouquet?
A - The calla lily seems to me to be the most suitable for your wedding. It comes in yellow, orange & burgundy & it's form is the same as the arum lily. You will need to speak with your florist about price. It will be in season & so should be a reasonably priced.
Q - I am getting married in June and am having fushia as my bridesmaid dresses. I have decided to on white tulips with green foliage for my flowers but I'm really stuck on what the bridesmaids should have.
A - Fuchsia is a very strong colour, I think it would be wise to soften the colour of the bridesmaids dresses & go for a mixture of soft pink tones with a hint of off-white to break up the pink.
Q - My fiance is wearing a kilt at our garden wedding in October. The kilt is green and red check with a hint of yellow. I wanted purple and silver as my theme but have since changed my mind to make the main colour green and silver. i haven't picked my dress yet but am wanting a warm white colour. The bridesmaids are going to wear green to blend with the bottle green in the kilt. I was thinking of white flowers for all of us with green follage but I am not sure whether I should add any other colour such as red. I have also thought of putting one or two purple iris into a bouquet. Would this look any good with white flowers, green dresses and the kilt? What white flowers would you recommend?
A - If you wanted to add red, I would suggest only a small amount scattered through or grouped to form a row around the outside of the bridesmaids bouquets. You can achieve this by using small red berries or miniature roses. Alternatively, use more foliages in the design of the bouquet including, large tropical leaves & Photinia (red leaf).
White flowers suitable for a garden wedding in October: Roses, Lisianthus, Freesia, Berries, Lilac, Peonie roses, Ranunculus, Lily
of the Valley, Hyacinth.
Purple goes very well with red & will go with the dark green dresses. Perhaps you could use these two stronger colours & if necessary use white to soften them a little. To add a small amount of purple, perhaps you could use a smaller flower type, for example, a freesia in purple, that way it won't stand out too much.
Q - I am getting married in Decemberand am unsure what flowers I should choose. I am having a rainbow wedding and my bridesmaids will be in pastel colours such as yellow, green, blue and pink. What flowers are in season at this time? Do you think the bridesmaids should have the same coloured bouquet as their dresses? Should I have the four colours mixed with white/cream as my bouquet? My wedding dress is white.
A - I think the bridesmaids could have the same colour flowers as the dress they are wearing & a neutral tone such as white or cream - you could then have white or cream only, or white and cream with pale shades of pink, yellow, green & blue. It would be best to choose two main colours and use only a small amount of the other two colours - for example, pink & cream/white as the main colours, so the bouquet will be predominantly pink & cream/white, then use a small amount of blue & green. Flowers available in December:
Lilliums, Roses - glasshouse, field & David Austin, Calla lily, Frangipani, Arum lily, Thai tulip, Stephanotis, Bouvardia, Gardenia, Lisianthus, Freesia, Hydrangea, Iris, Natives/Wildflowers, Agapanthus
Q - I am getting married in October I was wondering if Gardenias are in season?
A - Gardenias are available from late October. Sometimes, depending on weather conditions, they may be available at the beginning of October as well.
Q - I'm having a morning ceremony and have chosen fragipanis for my bouquet. I am having trouble finding a florist that uses frangipanis. Most say the flower browns too quicky after picking. Could you please advise?
A - There should be no problem in using frangipani's in bouquets, as long as they are very fresh. They will begin to go brown by the end of the day, but should still look OK for photos.
Q - My gown is white with pearl and crystal beading all over the bodice. Could you suggest some colours that I could use in my bouquet. As I still haven't chosen a theme for the wedding, I could use your suggestion. What shape would suit a full (and I mean FULL) skirt on a slender body?
A - Going on the description of your dress, it seems you have chosen a formal, elegant theme to your wedding. I think you could go with the classical white & green colour scheme, and a trailing bouquet or round clustered bouquet style would be suitable. The size of the bouquet will need to be in proportion to your body size, taking into account the fullness of the dress is also very important. Other colours which would suit are pastel tones of pinks, creams, mauve or lilac.
Q - I'm getting married in October and planning an autumn theme. I am wearing an off-white dress and my bridesmaids are wearing candy apple red dresses. I wanted typical fall flowers (red, orange, yellow, purple) but I'm not sure how these colors will look with the red dresses. Would a combination of red and cream flowers be more appropriate?
A - Stick with the Autumn tones - they will look much better in the photos afterwards. Red, orange, yellow & purple do work extremely well together. But why not add some type of woody branch, for example Magnolia, blossom, willow ,crokia, any one of these "woody" type branches would top off the Autumn look.
Q - My bridesmaids are having ruby red dresses and I am having difficulty deciding what colour flowers they should have. I am having a bouquet of white tulips, so was thinking of either a bouquet of red tulips for the bridesmaids, or a mixture of white and red tulips. I am even tossing up the idea of incorporating oriental lillies into their bouquets as these will be used as ceremony and reception flowers. Can you please give me some advice?
A - A lot of brides have difficulty in choosing flower colours to go with their red bridesmaids dresses. There is a tulip which is whiteish/cream in colour & has red markings on it. I think this tulip mixed in with the red would look lovely with the girls red dresses. If you have difficulty finding this particular tulip, you could substitute it with a rose which is very similar in colour & its markings, called a "Double Delight". Alternatively, you could add the red "Stargazer" oriental lily into the girls bouquets - you won't go wrong with these!
Q - We are on a tight budget so am thinking of making my own bouquets for our wedding, or having silk flowers. What are your thoughts?
A - Some brides do choose to go with silk flowers for their bouquet. I have not done many of these in the past, as I work mostly with fresh flowers. I think what you do need to consider is the time factor. Are you going to have time to make your bouquet (& possibly other members of the bridal party) of fresh flowers the day before or on the morning of your wedding? If you feel confident in creating your bouquet, then why not? After all it is your wedding day, and as long as YOU are happy with it, that's all that matters.
Q - I am getting married in June and would like to know what purple flowers are in season.
A - Flowers available in June in the colour purple are as follows: Tulips, Freesias, Hyacinths, Iris,lavender, lisianthus,Violets, Singapore /Dendrobium Orchids, Vanda orchids,Delphinium,Anemones, Gladioli, Stock, Sweet Pea.
Q - My fiancé and I both have Scottish relatives and we want to acknowledge this heritage by using Heather in my hair and bouquet. The problem is is that very few florists use it and none so far have been able to tell me what season they flower in.
A - Heather is in flower in the winter months from June through to August. Not many florists use it because it is not a very long lasting flower, they choose to use Heath instead, as it is similar in appearance to Heather.
Q - My partner and I have not yet set a date, and one big reason for that is, I would like Tulips for my flowers but we are unsure on when Tulips are available. What would be the best month to have our wedding so the flowers would be in full bloom? Also, do tulips come in most pastel colours? My bridesmaids will be each wearing a different pastel coloured dress and if I cannot get the tulips to match, then they will have white or cream tulips with ribbon to match their dresses, but I would just like to know if it is difficult to get tulips in pastel colours in-case I change my mind. The dresses will be in colours, mauve, lemon, light pink and light green.
A - The best time for tulips is in July and August as they prefer the cooler temperature. Tulips come in lots of different bright and pastel tones. I would suggest for you to bring a fabric sample of the girls dresses to your floral designer so they can guide you with the correct colour tones of the tulips.
Q - I am having a wedding in late March and am wonderng what flowers are abundant at this time of year. I am in Perth, WA and realise this could have some impact on what is available.
A - You will need to check with your florist as to availability of flowers in Perth. However, you should be able to receive the following flowers as they are available all-year-round: Gerberas, Roses, lilies, freesias, Tulips, Anthurium,Chrysanthemum, Dendrobium orchids.
Q - I am getting married at the end of September and would love to have tulips in my bouquet. I have received mixed messages regarding the use of tulips at this time of the year. What is your opinion?
A - Tulips are fine to have in September as along as they are support wired and used in a tightly clustered bouquet, with some foliage supporting the flowers around the outside of the bouquet. A good foliage to use is camellia, laurel or magnolia foliage.
Q - I would love to have gerberas for my wedding flowers but I dont want a huge bouquet of them. My sister suggested I hold four different coloured ones and each of my bridesmaid hold one each.
A - A - I think you should hold at least 5 stems of the one colour, perhaps white or cream. Your bridesmaids should also carry at least 5 stems but in a different colour. I think this will be suitable if you are going for a very simple look for your wedding & you don't want to make flowers a feature.
Q - I'm getting married in December and would like a simple yet chic, casual yet elegant style and overall feel to the wedding but I'm a little stuck on the flowers! I am wearing a slinky, sexy off-white backless full length gown with a low cut V-neckline and my base colours are ivory/white. My fiancé is Aust/Chinese and orchids are an oriental flower which I adore - could you tell me which species are in season for summer? I would love to carry an arrangement that doesn't look sculpted. I like the idea of my arrangement to look as though it has been cut from the garden. Can you suggest a flower in a sexy bunch that stands alone well? Preferably not roses or tulips. There is a beautiful white orchid that is quite fashionable at themoment and I don't know it's name - do you know what it is? I would love carry them if they were in season and not too expensive! My bridesmaids will probably be wearing chocolate brown/sexy/slinky gowns. Can you suggest some flowers/colours that my bridesmaids could carry? I don't want anything too girly and frilly. Unique, contemporary and simple casual elegance is the key!
A - Orchids in season in summer are Phaleanopsis orchids, Cattleya orchids and also Dendrobium orchids. Other flower types in season which will suit the style of your wedding are, water lilies, gardenias, stephanotis, calla lilies and frangipani. The orchid you may have seen that is quite fashionable at the moment is the Phaleanopsis orchid, also known as a Moth orchid due to its shape & form. These type of orchids are expensive, you will need to speak to your florist for prices. Cream always goes well with brown. Any of the above mentioned flower types will go nicely with the girls dresses. If you change your mind about not having roses, there is a lovely brown coloured field rose called a "Julia" rose which would suit your theme.
Q - Can you make a bouquet of fake flowers?
A - Most florists will be able to make you a bouquet of silk flowers. Because of the large variety of flower types available in the silk range you should be able to get the bouquet you want.
Q - I am planning to have my wedding in late September. I would love to have lotus flowers, although they are not available in Australia florists. I guess they would need to be imported from Thailand or Vietnam.
A - The problem we have with Lotus flowers is that they do not last very well, and so most flower agents will not import them. I am yet to find somebody who will.
Q - I live in the country and will have to have my flowers shipped from the city. How long before my ceremony would they be safe to leave Sydney?
A - You will need to receive your flowers approximately 1 hour before the photographer arrives at your home for photos. If you are not having photos at home before the ceremony, then you should have them delivered to you about one hour before you leave to go to the ceremony.
Q - My dress is ivory and I was wondering about flowers and colours. I was thinking along the lines of lillies or something similar but don't know what types are available. Bridesmaids dresses will be light blue.
A - There are lots of different lilies available, her is a list for you to go by: Oriental lilies; Tiger lilies; LA lilies; Asiatic lilies; November lilies; Arum lilies (different shape to the above mentioned, these are more of a trumpet shape); Calla lilies. There is a beautiful oriental lily called "Acopoco" which is mainly dark pink with a white trim on the outside border of the petals. This lily against the soft blue & ivory looks beautiful. You may want to include another type of flower with it, perhaps a rose or lisianthus.
Q - My sister got married and used gerberas. Do you think it is OK for me to use them as well? My bridesmaids are wearing purple and i was wondering what colour would go with their dresses. Our wedding is in March.
A - There are lots of different coloured gerberas available in March. If you really like the look of the gerberas then why not have them for your wedding too? Both you and your sister obviously have very similar tastes, so why should you have to miss out?
Here are a few different options for the purple bridesmaids dresses: Multicoloured gerberas incl. yellow, pink, orange & red, Fuchsia gerberas, gerberas in different shades of pink, purple lisianthus, yellow tiger lilies, orange roses & fuchsia gerberas.
Q - I am having trouble choosing a colour for my flowers. My bridesmaids are wearing a strapless black lace top and skirt with a gold material underneath. I am wearing a strapless dress with a touch of blush. I am getting married in the Hunter Valley vineyards in November.
A - Red always looks great with black & gold. I think red/burgundy would the go.
Q - I want to know what sort of flowers would be best for a January wedding? I am looking at having an outdoor wedding, I am not sure what sort of flowers to have on the tables.My colour scheme will be, red and white.
A - Flower types suitable for a January outdoor wedding are:
Open field roses- David Austin roses, combined with smaller spray roses, these come in red & white; Gardenias - white only; Hydrangea - white, not red; Lisianthus - white; Lots of lush green foliage .eg. Gardenia foliage, camellia, Viburnum.
On the tables you could have a combination of the flowers mentioned above. For example, white David Austin roses, gardenias & hydrangea with a splash of red spray roses to add colour. These flowers would look lovely on the tables in clear round fishbowl vases. To finish the look you could sprinkle some red rose petals on the tables. If your reception runs into the evening, perhaps you could incorporate some candlelight on the tables in the form of tealights or small votive candles.
Q - I would love to have pink Tiger Lily's as my bouquet - my favourite flower. I'm seriously contemplating setting my wedding theme around this flower. However, I'm a bit lost on what other types of flowers would work with these, I'm keen to use these with other flowers for my bridesmaids and on the tables at the reception. Do you think that these will be too big and/or look silly on my husband-to-be and the groomsmen?
A - I think roses, lisianthus or freesia always look lovely with lilies. You can also incorporate these flower types for the bridesmaids as well as on the tables at the reception, I'm sure they will look good. The idea of the lily being used for the buttonholes is not suitable as it probably will not last & does look a little bit silly because of the size of the flower. I would suggest the roses or a freesia.
Q - My dress has an intricate pattern on the left hand side down the front. It has been suggested my bouquet be laid along my right arm as opposed to held by both hands in the front to avoid covering the design of the dress. My bridesmaids are both wearing a burgundy coloured dress. Do you have any recommendations for types of flowers that suit this type of arrangement? Are there any other factors I should consider when choosing this style of bouquet?
A - You need to be comfortable in holding your bouquet in this way. Obviously you don't want to cover up the beautiful work on your dress so an armspray would probably be most suitable to the style of your dress. You could also consider a small to medium size round bouquet, that you could hold in your right hand, therefore leaving the entire left side of your dress to be seen.The types of flowers you should consider for an arm spray bouquet are virtually any type of flower which has a longer stem. Some examples are: arum lilies, oriental lilies, iris, roses, heliconias, orchids, tulips, there are also a variety of different foliages available that would also be suitable for this style.
Q - I am starting to look at different styles for my bouquet, and I am at a point where I dont know what shape and/ or length i should have it. I am a bit wide at the hips, and am about 5'2. My bridesmaids are wearing Chinese Cheongsams for their dresses, and I would really like to have Singapore Orchids, as well as camellia's, and also frangipanis, but I have feeling they will not match. My bridesmaids are having corsages. Camellias were my dad's favourite flower, however he has passed away.
A - Your bouquet: An oval shaped bouquet with a few long trails to soften the shape and add length. The width of the bouquet should be slightly smaller than the width of the area around your waist.The length of the trails could fall to the mid thigh. Bridesmaids: orchids and frangipanis can look nice together in corsages. Perhaps you could include the camellias somewhere else throughout the wedding. For example:
At Home: arrangements at home, in the house.
At the church - a small arrangement of camellias on the altar - around the base of the candles, particularly if you are having a candle lighting ceremony - on the pews, as pew decorations
At the Reception - floating in a bowl of water as centrepieces on the tables.
Getting married in a garden - choose a venue that has a lot of camellia trees around. I have heard of couples planting a tree in a park or a special place on their wedding day, perhaps you could plant a camellia in a place that may be special to you. Most of the time it is done after the ceremony and before the reception with close family.
Q - I am currently in the process of purchasing a wedding gown, but am having second thoughts on a particular one because I am unsure of what type of flowers / bouquet I should consider. The gown is white, strapless with a fairly large train which has a lace trim right around the dress & train. The dress & train also has a spattering of embroidered flowers, but the centre of the flowers are in a shiny silver thread. The dress is stunning, but the silver in the flowers has put me up against a brick wall. To glitter the dress up a bit, I will sew diamantes in the centre of each flower. Can you please suggest what type of flowers and/or bouquet I should consider. I am after an elegant type of look but don't want the bouquet to dominate the gown. At this stage, I haven’t picked any colours at all for theming.
A - Stick with a white bouquet for yourself, it seems you have enough detail in the dress and you wouldn't want the flowers to be overpowering. A round natural stem bouquet of white roses at 1/2 bloom with little to no foliage throughout the centre of the bouquet would look very simple but elegant.
Q - My dress is a two piece gold creation - a straight skirt with a little fullness at the back. My favouirte flowers are stargazer and casablanca lilliums. My bridsemaids are in straight long shoestring strap black satin dresses. I am a healthy size 14 -16 and am wondering if there are any styles that will suit my figure (I am only 5ft 4inches) but I am wearing fairly high heels! I tend to like loose bouquets and if I had lilliums in my bouquet what then do the mens corsages and buttonholes consist of?
A - There are many different options available to you. A few factors to consider when choosing your bouquet is whether you like modern or traditional styles and also whether or not you would like some colour added to your bouquet. My favourite design for a dress as you have described is a modern, informal style trail bouquet using Casablanca lilies, a few large bold leaves a touch of dodda vine used throughout the bouquet and as part of the trail of the bouquet. For the bridesmaids, keep the same style however change the shape and use the red stargazer lilies. The buttonholes for the male members of the bridal party can consist of a flower type with a similar form and texture to the lilies used in the bouquets for example, hyacinths & also include the dodda vine in the design. Otherwise you could use a different type of flower, but match the colour to that of the girls bouquets i.e., white for the groom and red/white for the groomsmen.
Q - What looks best in terms of flowers when the bridesmaids dresses are different colours? I am wary of making things look too `busy` but I want bright colours for my bouquet so I`m a bit stuck. So many people are giving me different opinions. My bridesmaids dress colours are hot pink, turquoise and royal purple.
A - I think what looks best when you have multicoloured dresses, is to have each bridesmaids flowers shades of the colour she is wearing, i.e. the hot pink dress to have different shades of pink flowers from hot pink to a very pale pink and so on with the other girls. As you are aware, when you start to mix & match flower colours it can go terribly wrong. For your bouquet, I think your flowers should be the same colour of your dress, however, if you want colour in your bouquet perhaps you could use one of the pastel tones of the girls colours.I think the flowers types for all the bouquets should be the same so that there is a "link".
Q - I am wearing a dusty gold wedding dress, with a couple of cream roses in my hair. I don't want to carry a bouquet. Instead I just want to carry a little bag made out of the same fabric as my dress. Is this ok? My Matron of Honour does not want to carry a bag in the same fabric as her dress, she wants to carry a bouquet, but I don't think that will look right. Are there any alternatives to this that you could suggest?
A - How about a bag made of flowers or a small rectangular basket covered in the same fabric as the dresses you are wearing with some flowers in it?
Q - I live in a rural country town with one florist who is very, very expensive. I have chosen gerberas as the flowers with camelia leaves for greenery. I would like to do the flowers myself as i am only having posies. Can you give me few pointers in doing my own bouquets and how to make them last all day. Do I need to wire them?
A - I would definitely suggest you wire all the gerberas in the bouquet as they will stand up a lot longer and last a lot better. When you get your gerberas put them in water with preservative added to the water. Keep them somewhere very cool and free from draughts, a bathroom would be ideal.
Q - I'm getting married in January and am having trouble with flowers. We're getting married on a Sunday and the only florist who opens on a Sunday gets the flowers in on Fridays. My bridesmaids are wearing navy blue and the groomsmen have a dark red shot taffeta vest. I was wondering if you have any suggestions of flowers that will last from the Friday through to the Sunday lunchtime and still look good. I wanted to have half a dozen roses in a base of hydragea.
A - Your bouquet should last the entire day as long as the hydrangea is supported with foliage. The roses will last and will also need to be support wired.However, if you are still uncertain, perhaps you could replace the hydrangea with a mass of lavender grouped, to frame the roses.
Q - I am having a rainbow wedding and I'm not quite sure what to do for the girls flowers. I like the idea of having a mixture of their dress colour with orange, blue, pink and yellow. I would really like to have gerbras for the girls flowers. Would the orange, yellow and pink bridesmaids dresses match the blue? My dress is cream, what flowers would you suggest for me?
A - With rainbow coloured dresses it can be tricky when it comes to choosing flowers. What looks best from past experience is to choose flower colours the same as the colour of each of the dresses the girls are wearing. I think you should stick with cream for your bouquet. The girls bouquets will look fine if you incorporate some cream in their bouquets. As you know gerberas don't come in blue, perhaps you could choose the cream gerbera and use other flowers types to add the blue colour to this bridesmaids bouquet.
Q - Is it essential that the bride’s and bridesmaid’s bouquet tie in with the Church and reception flowers? I am having a simple elegant dress and am looking at a florists suggestion of Lizianthus and orchids in whites and greens. However I am going for the tropical lush flowers for the other arrangements. Will this work?
A - I think this will work. As long as you incorporate the orchids used in your bouquet in the reception and church displays.
Q - My bridesmaids are wearing a "rose" red colour dresses. I have always wanted red roses as my bouquet. What colour flowers could i have for the bridesmaids?
A - You could go with creams, ivory and there is a rose called a Julia rose which is classified as a brown colour. A combination of these colours with red will look good with the girls dresses. another alternative is to go with bright colours, including yellow, oranges and reds.
Q - I'm hoping you may be able to help me with chosing a florist. What questions should I ask the florist when making enquiries? I have no idea other than how much do they cost. I'd appreciate any advice you can offer me.
A - Choosing the right floral designer can be difficult. What is most important is that you feel comfortable with your floral designer and trust that he/she understands what you want. Shop around because not all florists are floral designers and not all floral designers are wedding specialists. Ask to see their portfolio of recent weddings they have done, you will get some idea of their style and the quality of their work. Ask who will actually be constructing your bouquet, bridesmaids bouquets etc,. and ask if they will deliver and set up on the wedding day.
Q - I have heard a lot of different opinions about having tulips in a bouquet. I am getting married at the beginning of October. Will they stay closed or will they open? Would it be better to have tulips with another flower as well eg, roses or gerberas?
A - Tulips are fine to have in October as along as they are support wired and used in a tightly clustered bouquet, with some foliage supporting the flowers on the outskirts of the bouquet. A good foliage to use is camellia, laurel or magnolia foliage.
Q - I am leaning towards having a white dress and my bridemaids in black with a small amount of white at the top of the dress. What type of flowers go with white and black. I would like to make a statement but not an outstanding one!
A - Red would look great with black & white. Lovely round natural stem bouquets of red roses in 1/2 bloom with some camellia leaves throughout the design would definitely look stunning.
Q - I am having a rainbow wedding which will feature pink yellow orange and possibliy blue or lime green. What kind of flowers should I use?
A - You may need to use more than one flower type. Perhaps you could try using a different flowers type in the middle, the colour being the same as each individual bridesmaids dress colour and use the cream gerbera for the ring around the outside.
Q - I am considering purchasing my flowers from a wholesaler (friend of the family) and paying a florist to arrange them. How early prior to the wedding do florists usually require the flowers?
A - The florist will need to have all the flowers the day before the wedding day and most florists would prefer them in the morning. You should consult with your florist at least two months before the wedding to ensure they will fit you into their schedule.
Q - My wedding is in January, and due to the heat I am planning on using silk flowers. How can I make them smell nice using aromatherapy oils, or do you have suggestions for fresh flowers during summer?
A - You can spray artificial flowers with your favourite fragrance to create a lovely aroma. For a summer wedding you may choose fresh gardenias, oriental lilliums, field roses particularly David Austin roses, freesias.
Q - I would like a champagne coloured wedding dress and champagne coloured flowers. What do you suggest? Our table setting however will be white.
A - There is a rose called a "champagne" rose. However, I would strongly suggest that you take a sample of your dress fabric to your floral designer, that way he/she will be able to help you a lot more with flower types and colour. Even though the table settings at the reception venue are whit, you can still use cream flowers to decorate the venue. This can look very effective. Some other flowers that come in a cream colour are: lisianthus, tiger lilies, jonquils, gerberas, tulips.
Q - What is your view on using silk flowers for the bouquet, do they look better or worse for photos?
A - There are some very good quality silk flowers available. I think there is always a slight difference in the look of silk flowers compared with fresh flowers. I would recommend that you request to view a sample if possible, before purchasing the bouquet, as will help you in making that decision.
Q - My dress is ivory and thought cream roses would suit it. My bridesmaids are wearing amethyst purple with a hint of gold. What flowers come in a rich dark shade of purple that can be mixed to incorporate into my and their bouqets? They don't have to be roses.
A - Some flowers that come in a rich dark purple include: violets, lisianthus, freesia, tulips and sweet peas.
Q - Which flowers are in season in August?
A - These flowers are available in August. - Gerberas, Roses, Orchids, Lilliums, Jonquils, Daffodils, Sweet Pea, Anemones, Ranunculus, Tulips, Freesia, Assorted berries, Hyacinths, Anthuriums, Eucalyptus flowers & foliages, Blushing Brides,Pierus, Poppies,Helleborus, Iris, Violets,succulents,Heliconias, Daphne, Kale, Rhododendron.
Q - I have to pick my flowers up the day before the Wedding. I would like to know what the best way to keep the flowers overnight would be as I have heard that you can refrigerate some flowers, but not others. The wedding is at 10.30am and the flowers being used are aram lily's, oriental lily's & tulips.
A - The best way to keep your flowers overnight is to keep them some where away from direct heat & sunlight. Place the bouquets (if they are natural stem bouquets) in a little bit of water, in a vase being careful not to wet the ribbon. I would recommend that you don't put the bouquets in the fridge as it will probably damage the flowers.
Q - I am having a country/bush themed wedding and would like to have a native Australian bouquet to fit in with the theme. I would prefer fresh flowers to artificial ones, but the hassle of preserving fresh flowers worries me. How expensive is it to preserve fresh flowers? Do natives preserve well? If I choose artificial flowers is there the availability to make a nice bouquet?
A - To have a wedding bouquet preserved, you would be looking at anything from $400. Native flowers do preserve very well, however there are a couple of flower types that are quite difficult to work with particularly, Flannel flower (can look a little droopy), and Geraldton Wax (tiny leaves and flowers are difficult to work with). If you choose to use artificial flowers, there is a very good selection available.
Q - We are having a garden wedding in April and I'm wondering about flowers for this sort of event. Are there flowers that are used primarily in autumn? Where would I get large floral designs for this sort of wedding for around the altar?
A - If you have chosen an Autumn theme for your wedding, you may like to use Autumn tones (red, yellow, orange, green) with some berries in red or green. Some flower types available in Autumn are: Tulips, November lilies, Hyacinths, Lisianthus, Cymbidium orchids. Your floral designer will be ableto help you with all your floral needs for your wedding including large floral displays for the church and altar area.
Q - Do the bridesmaids flowers have to match the bride and be carried on to the reception as well?
A - Most brides choose to have their bridesmaids bouquets and their reception flowers similar to their own bouquet, however there is no "rule" saying that it has to be that way. The flowers you choose will suit you and the style of your wedding.
Q - I am getting married in August and was wondering which Australian natives are in season.
A - Australian natives available in August are:
Wattle (late August)
Kangaroo Paw
Banksia
Grevillea
Eucalyptus foliage and nuts
Leptospermum (Tea Tree)
Leucospermum (native to South Africa)
Leucodendron (native to South Africa)
Protea (native to South Africa)
Q - I have ice blue bridesmaid dresses and I just don't know what type or colour flowers to have.
A - Some colours that are suitable: different pink tones, yellow tones, white, cream and blue. The pink tones look really good and so too do yellow tones with white.
Q - We would love to have silk flowers at the church so later we can use them in our home. Is this inappropriate?
A - This is fine. Some churches already have floral decorations organised, so perhaps you should check with your church to ensure that they will allow you to bring in your arrangements and then take them away again.
Q - I am having a very simple garden wedding at the local open range zoo and the reception at our home. My dress is a strapless ivory straight gown, and I am not wearing a veil or head piece. My two bridesmaides are wearing a bright pink skirt and top. What sort of flowers can I place in vases around the house and outside on the trestle tables?
A - As the style of your wedding is very simple, keep the colour scheme and style of the bouquets simple as well. Perhaps you could go with lovely open roses, gardenias or freesias. A small round natural stem bouquet, made to look as if it was hand picked out of a garden would be lovely. Stick to one or two types of flowers as you don't want it to look too busy. The colours you should be looking at are, pink tones, possibly soft pink and ivory. For the home I would suggest using the types of flowers used in your bouquet and be sure to add a flower with loads of perfume, for example, oriental lilies, roses (be careful when choosing as some roses do not have a perfume), freesias, gardenias.
Q - My wedding gown is champagne and a classical medieval princess ball design, with elbow drapes, and rectangle neckline. The candles and chair bows are gold, a yellow rose in slim porcelain vase on the 25 tables with the wedding cakes 3 tiers swirl with yellow roses. I love yellow, and would consider mellow tones like cream, white and pale lemon colours as my bouquet but not sure. What flowers/ colours do you suggest and what style arrangement?
A - Your bouquet would be lovely with cream, champagne and a few pale yellow roses. I would suggest a medium to large sized round natural stem bouquet. If you do not like the idea of the stems showing, you could have your floral designer bind the stems with ribbon matching the colour of your dress with a gold edge, or the same fabric used in your dress.
Q - Just a quick question on how well frangipani's last for weddings. The month will be August.
A - Frangipani's are not a very long lasting flower, however if treated with care will last the day. The season for frangipani is from November through to March.
Q - Should the flowers in the brides bouquet be the same as those used for decorating at the reception?
A - There is no rule saying that this has to be the case. Sometimes it is more cost effective to follow through with the colours used in the brides, and also the bridesmaids bouquets, into the reception. The flower type used in the brides bouquet can be used as the focal flower for the decorations at the reception. If, for example, the brides bouquet consists of all white oriental lillies, at the reception the focal flower can be the white oriental lily complimented with other white flowers.
Q - I am getting married on a tropical island and the flight to the island leaves a day and a half before my wedding. I would love to have gerberas would they last or do you have any other suggestions?
A - Yes, gerberas will last as long as they are conditioned in the correct way, support wired and packaged correctly.
Q - My favourite flower is the frangipani. I am getting married in December and I know this is the season for them but I have heard they are not a good flower to use as they brown easily. Can you let me know if there is any way around this as I would love to use this flower in my bouquet.
A - Frangipani can be used in bridal bouquets. They are a very delicate flower and so need to be correctly conditioned and handled with care. They do become bruised, and go brown if the flower is handled incorrectly, is damaged or not fresh.
Q - My wedding dress in an ice blue and my bridesmaid's have decided on a light pink for their dresses. I was wondering what suggestions you have or what type and colour flowers to have? I like gerbras but am looking at having a romantic theme and don't know if they would suit.
A - With the colours you have chosen for the dresses, be sure to have a sample of the fabrics when going to see your floral designer as it will be important for him/her to see the colour tones in order to advise you on the most suitable colour/s to use for the bouquets. I would suggest a combination, or preferably one to three of the following colours: pink, blue, mauve, cream, yellow, lime green or white. You could go with either bright or pastel tones. For romance, I would suggest either a monochromatic colour scheme (using different tones of the one colour, e.g. hot pink, light pink, palest pink), or pastel tones. Red is obviously the most romantic colour, however, I'm not sure that it would suit the colours of the dresses. The types of flowers suitable for a romantic theme: open roses, freesias, lisianthus, liliums, orchids.
Q - I am thinking about getting my bouquet made from red poppies and red roses. My biggest problem is trying to find out what I'd expect to pay for poppies. Also what do you think about having poppies as a wedding flower- should I not do it because it is traditionally linked to the war dead?
A - Poppies are generally a less expensive flower, and will definitely be cheaper than a rose. As to the exact price you will pay, that will depend on the style, size & shape of the bouquet you want. You will need to speak with your floral designer about all the specific details of your bouquet and then he/she can give you an exact price. Traditionally the red poppy is linked to the war dead, however that doesn't mean it can not be used as a wedding flower. If you really like it, and it is what you really want, then you should be able to have what you want on your wedding day.
Q - I am getting married in August and was wondering if it is possible to have a bouquet of frangapani's. Are they available at that time of year and if so are they suitable for a bouquet? I would appreciate it if you could let me know and if they are not suitable what would you recommend instead.
A - Frangipani are available from November through to March, so unfortunately they will not be available for your wedding in August. Some other flowers suitable that are available in August and are similar to a Frangipani are: freesias, daffodils, early cheers & jonquils.
Q - What style of bouquet do you suggest for a bride with a fuller figure?
A - I do believe that the bouquet the bride is holding should compliment not only the colour and style of dress the bride is wearing but also the size of the bride. For a bride with a fuller figure I would suggest a bouquet that is fairly loose in it's design, something soft and flowing. Perhaps a lovely bouquet with long flowing trails and beautiful lilies as the focal flower, and pastel tones.
Q - Do you have ideas for button holes other than flowers? We have both sets of parents wishing to wearing something to identify them and our witnesses as well.
A - A couple of ideas are, use of small eucalyptus nuts, chillies, berries, small limes, a cluster of small leaves (e.g Nandina foliage).
Q - We are on a very tight buget, I am having 3 bridesmaids only. I was wondering apart from wands (ie: cinderella) what is a cheap unique but eyecatching alternative to flowers for my bridesmaids?
A - A simple alternative would be perhaps a few arum lilies in an arm spray. They look lovely and are very elegant.
Q - I really love gardenias and would like to have them as my main flower. I am concerned that they will yellow & bruise before the day's end. Should I be considering another type?
A - Gardenias are OK to use in your bouquet. They are a very delicate flower and so need to be handle with extra care. They should last the entire day, however if you are going to be concerned about them being discoloured, perhaps you could choose another white fragrant flower, for example, freesias or open field or garden roses.
Q - I'm planning to get married in November and I would like red flowers and berries. Could you tell me what is in season.
A - The following is a list of red flowers and berries available for November:
Gerberas; Roses; Freesia; Ranunculus; Tulips; Vanda orchids; Anthuriums; L.A lilies; Oriental lilies; Leucadendron; Banksia; Chrysanthemums; Gladioli; Carnations; Geraldton wax buds - berries; Pepper berries
Q - I'm getting married in Febuary which tends to be quite hot. I have a two hour drive to reach the paddock that I'm getting married in at my future parents property. Can you please give me some ideas on which flowers I should be looking at. They need to stand the heat and trip there. Do you think I should use artifical flowers?
A - You can still have fresh flowers if the day is going to be very hot. I would recommend you choose a natural stem bouquet that is quite tight and compact and ensure that the flowers in the bouquet are support wired to prevent them from wilting. The advantage in having a natural stemmed bouquet is that your florist can have your bouquet in water in the coolroom until it is time to have your bouquet delivered to you, so that you receive it fully hydrated and therefore it should survive well in the heat. Also, when travelling to the paddock you should consider an air conditioned car, if possible. Another point to consider would be to avoid whites, creams & pastel tones because they tend to go brown quickly in very hot and dry conditions. Perhaps you could consider flowers that are brightly coloured e.g reds, bright pinks, purple or orange. Some flower types suitable are roses, gerberas, tiger lilies, natives e.g proteas, Banksia,leucadendron, eucalyptus nuts.
Q - I am very confused about the colours of wedding flowers that I should have for my wedding in September. My bridesmaids are wearing 3 different colours - bright yellow, bright aqua and fuchsia. I definitely want to have gerberas as the wedding flowers, but am VERY confused about the colours. I am thinking that I will hold an arrangement of 5 different colours (red, yellow, pink, purple, orange) and my bridesmaids will hold an arrangement of orange gerberas. What do you think?
A - The colours all sound wonderful and will work extremely well as long as the flowers compliment the dresses each of the girls are wearing. I think you should keep it simple. My suggestion would be as follows:
yellow dress - cream, pale yellow & yellow
aqua dress - cream, pale aqua & blue
fuchsia dress - cream, pale pink & fuchsia.
Bride - a combination of pastel tones.
However, gerberas do not come in all the colours mentioned above. Perhaps you could incorporate other flower types into the design of the bouquets, but have the gerbera as the focal flower in all the bouquets.
Q - My dress is white, and I want to know if it is OK to have white roses with some green foliage around it. My bridesmaids dresses are Fushia. I wanted a mixture of white and pink lillies for them, and I can imaging that that would look quite nice, but how would this suit my roses? Can you suggest any other flowers that would go with the pink and white lillies for my bouquet? Should I just stick with white lillies for myself? My wedding is in October.
A - I think you should stick with the white lilies for you if your bridesmaids are having the pink & white lilies. Alternatively, if you are set on having white roses for your bouquet, then the bridesmaids could have some white and/or different pink tones in their bouquets. Whether you go with lilies or roses, it's still going to look good. Remember it's your day so choose the flowers you like for yourself, and have your bridesmaids flowers compliment yours.
Q - I am wearing a champagne coloured gown and my bridal party are wearing watermelon. The orange/pink makes my gown look very creamy. I would love to use tulips as our wedding is in early October. Is it possible to get cream coloured and/or orange/pink-ish tulips?
A - Yes, tulips do come in cream, as well as orange tones and pink tones too. When discussing your requirements with your floral designer, it would be a good idea to bring along a fabric sample of your dress as well as the bridesmaids dresses so that your floral designer can advise you on the most suitable colour tones.
Q - I am getting married in the Blue Mountains in April. I am wanting to keep the wedding simple and sophisticated so I have decided on arum lillies for my bouquet. As I have mixed reports on whether these are available or not can you please advise me if they are or what alternatives I can use.
A - Usually there are very few arum lilies around at the beginning of April as they are only just beginning to come into flower, however I would not rule them out totally, but I would suggest you have a second option in case they are not available. Some flowers that will be available, which will be suitable to the style of your wedding are listed below:
Cattelya Orchids
Phalaenopsis Orchids
Oriental lilies
Tiger Lilies
Roses
Forget - me - not
Nerines
Iris - (these also come in white)
Q - How much can I expect to pay for my wedding flowers?
A - Prices range from $200 to $5000 plus, depending on your needs. You may have a very small, simple wedding ceremony, or on the other hand, you may have a very large, extravagant wedding; how much you spend will reflect the style and size of your wedding.
Q - Who do I need to get flowers for?
A - The following is a list of the people that may require flowers on the wedding day. Some cultures or traditions require more flowers, so perhaps it is a good idea to speak with parents, relatives or grandparents & get their views and opinions before making your decision.
- Bride
- Matron of Honour /Bridesmaid/s
- Flowergirl/s
- Groom
- Bestman/Groomsmen
- Pageboy/s
- Parents
- Grandparents
- M.C
- Special Guests (perhaps friends/relatives who have come from overseas)
- Godparents
- Aunts/Uncles
- Brothers/Sisters (not in the bridal party)
Q - My wedding dress is white. Is it OK to have white flowers for my bouquet?
A - A white bouquet can look gorgeous with a white dress and is a very classical, stylish look. It would be wise to ensure that your floral designer does include some foliage in the design so as to "break up" the colour a little, that way your flowers will look better in the photos.
Q - What do I need to do with the flowers when they arrive on the day?
A - Firstly, you should always check that you have received everything in good order on arrival. The flowers are packed appropriately in a box and should be left that way until your photographer arrives or it is time to leave. They should be kept somewhere cool, away from direct heat & sunlight, a bathroom is a good idea. Your floral designer will advise you whether or not it is suitable to mist the flowers with water.
Q - When do I need to book a floral designer?
A - Once you have chosen your dress and the bridesmaids dresses it is time to find your floral designer. When choosing the right person do not just look at price, but choose someone who you feel most comfortable with, which in most cases is the person who can understand you and your needs. To avoid disappointment, as soon as you feel comfortable with that person do not hesitate to book them, as most good floral designers will get booked - out very quickly!
Images Provided By: Vesna Grasso Floral Designer
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