There are 5 major components to your wedding flower needs. This depends on the size of wedding you choose, of course. They are:

 It is easiest to make decisions when your attention is focused on each item in the same order they are listed. Once decisions are made on Bridal and Bridesmaids bouquets, many of your other decisions become much easier.

 Making decisions on Bridal and Bridesmaids bouquets, can be a daunting task but, does not necessarily have to be that way. It helps if your wedding color theme has already been chosen. This can suggest certain varieties of flowers that would best compliment the color of the gowns. The biggest component is to choose the style of the bouquet.

Generally, Bridal bouquets are larger and more elegant than the Bridesmaids bouquets. A Bridal bouquet can also be a completely different style than that of the bridesmaids. Think of all of your flowers (bouquets, corsages and boutonnières) as accessories to your outfits. The bride would not purchase shoes the same color as the bridesmaids dresses if her gown is a different color. Additionally, the Father of the Groom would not pick shoes that go with the bridesmaids dresses. This is why it is perfectly acceptable to have an entirely different style of bouquet for the Bride than the Bridesmaids. It is also why it is ok to introduce a different color when choosing corsages and boutonnières for some members of the wedding party. Often however, the Bridesmaids bouquets are a smaller version of the Bridal bouquet but with a different color scheme.

OK, enough of the nuts and bolts of making decisions. Use the links on the left to view some of the different styles of bouquets that are available. Keep in mind that it is impossible to take a picture of every possible combination. The pictures are meant to help you visualize what your bouquet might look like. Think of the bouquets as recipes for cookies. A basic format will be followed but things can be added or deleted to accommodate your specific tastes and desires. A professional florist is especially skilled at this.

Once you have made some basic decisions, you will want to contact a live person who can help answer some of the remaining questions you have or, make suggestions on availability of specific varieties that will enhance your color theme. It is best to make an appointment for this type of consultation as it can take as little as 15 minutes for a small wedding to as much as an hour and a half for a large and formal one. You should never have to pay for consultation time. If your florist insists you do, they are likely also charging high labor rates for all of the components of your wedding.