Hey, ladies! Congratulations! You’re getting married! This is such an exciting time that you might start feeling overwhelmed with choices.  English Gardens can help you create the wedding of your dreams.  

From the bridal bouquet to boutonnieres and centerpieces to other floral décor, flowers are one of the most important decisions to set the tone and mood for your event. Here are some steps to make it easier when choosing your flowers:

1. There is no right or wrong choice. This is your wedding, your choice and your budget. Whatever you decide will turn out absolutely beautiful and special. When you come in for a consultation, our expert florists will ask all sorts of questions to narrow down what you like and what you want. The first step is to realize that no matter what kind of flowers, your wedding is going to be beautiful and special.

2. Do Some Floral Research. Start looking through bridal magazines, books, and even gardening books for ideas. You can even create a Pinterest board of just flowers you find. Follow us on Pinterest and we’ll share some ideas too!

3. Capture the Theme of your Wedding. As you do your research, think about the theme to your wedding. Pick flowers to match your theme.  Your theme might even reflect the location of the wedding. In a religious setting, you might want some elegant flowers. If it’s an outdoor wedding, you might want colors to accent the setting. The containers for your wedding can also match the wedding theme, such as creative Mason jars or even classic mercury glass.

4. Define the Colors of your Theme with Flowers. Pastel colors and light colors offer an elegant option for a more classic wedding theme. Bright and vibrant colors are more contemporary and fun!

• White flowers are as pure and clean as a fresh snowfall. Use white roses for a winter wedding, or calla lilies at any time of year. White daisies are sweet in springtime, while white chrysanthemums and orchids can be used all year round.

• Pink flowers range from pale Asiatic lilies to vibrant hot pink gerberas and create a feeling of peace and harmony. A wedding table centerpiece might mix pink stock, larkspur and lisianthus with hot pink and light pink roses.

• Red flowers are beautiful and hold a meaning of deep passion and love. You can never go wrong with red roses in your bridal bouquet or in the centerpieces.

• Orange flowers are perfect for fall ceremonies, and include peach or burnt-orange roses, dazzling dahlias and coral-hued gerberas. Ask for them in centerpieces, accented with tiny pumpkins and a curl of golden ribbon.

• Blue flowers include lofty blue irises, puffy hydrangea and striking blue delphinium. Ask for blue blossoms in a bridal bouquet as your ‘something blue,’ or to cast a cool tone over an outdoor wedding reception.

• Yellow flowers are sunny and bright, and add a cheerful spirit to any celebration, use yellow lilies, lemon-yellow snapdragons or brilliant yellow sunflowers in the floral designs for your summertime wedding.

• Purple flowers are whimsical and unique. The rich purples of dahlias make a fanciful statement during a wedding ceremony, while pale mauve lilacs and lavender roses have an old-fashioned, artistic charm.

• Green flowers are unexpected and elegant. Use pale green roses to brighten up a centerpiece, or viburnum to accent a wedding bouquet. Light green cymbidium orchids bring an alluring drama to your wedding flowers, while light green gladiolus and green tulips are refreshing and fun.

5. Pick Flowers from the Season. Every season has flowers to match. Determine what season your wedding will take place and choose flowers from that season. There are also flowers for all year round. Those include: Rose, Hydrangea, Calla lily, Carnation, Orchid, Mum, Alstromeria, Lily, and Gerbera daisy.

For Spring, there are: Agapanthus, Amaryllis, Anemone, Birds of Paradise, Cherry blossom, Dahlia, Freesia, Heather, Hyacinth, Peony, Sweet pea, Tulip, and Zinnia.

Color trends for Spring are pastel pink, light shades of greens and blues and pastel yellow.

 For Summer, there are: Amaranthus, Aster, Chrysanthemum, Cockscomb, Freesia, Ginger, Gladiolus, Heather, Iris, and Lisianthus.

Color trends for Summer are aqua blue, coral pink, bright greens, and vibrant shades of red. 

 For Fall, there are: Daisies, Slipper Orchids, Calla Lily, Gloriosa Lilies,

Oriental Lilies, Sunflowers, Chrysanthemums , and Baby’s Breath.

Color Trends for Fall are darker shades of green, vibrant yellows and oranges and shades of brown.   

For Winter, there are: Amaryllis, Tulip, Gardenia, Narcissus Paper White, Oriental Lily, Star of Bethlehem.

Color trends for Winter are dark blues, browns and shades of white.

6. Think Texture and Shape. Tropical flowers, such as Asiatic lilies and hibiscus flowers, offer a tropical feel, whereas roses and hydrangeas give an elegant vibe to your wedding. Don’t be afraid to mix textures for a contemporary and elegant floral design. All flowers are beautiful and our experts will help to make your flowers look great! The latest trend in wedding flowers is mixing different sizes of centerpieces for different areas of the room.

7. Plan where you want floral decorations. Think about the wedding ceremony and the reception. Where do you want flowers? Flowers can be at the ceremony at the end of each row of seats, on windowsills, or as a wreath. Don’t forget the bridal bouquet! At the reception, you can have centerpieces on tables, in containers around the dance floor, or even hanging from the ceiling. Think about where you envision flowers to be at your wedding and write a check list.

8. Personalize! This is YOUR wedding. It’s all about you and the special someone you are marrying. Add details to these arrangements and your bridal bouquet that define you and your relationship. Make your bridal bouquet you by adding vintage jewelry or a symbolic keepsake. Create centerpieces with additional meanings from your relationship, such as attaching love letters to the vases of your centerpieces. Make your flowers your own.

9. Budgetize and Prioritize your Flowers! With every choice you make for your wedding, you must have them budgeted for. When you come in for a consultation with the florist, you can discuss options and work from there. 

10.Call the English Gardens Florist for a consultation. Call your local English Gardens Florist to book your free consultation. English Gardens has four full-serive florists in Dearborn Heights, Clinton Township, Royal Oak, and West Bloomfield.  Bring all the research you have done and the flowers you like. Our expert florists will be happy to recommend ideas and plan your wedding flowers with you.

Be sure to join us at the 2014 Fall Bridal Celebrations Show at the Palace of Auburn Hills on September 14, 2014 from 12pm to 5pm. For more details, click here.

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