Wedding flowers will be one of the most frequently photographed features of your wedding. Finding the perfect bouquets for you and your bridesmaids, as well as church and table centrepieces, can be a very difficult task. Here are a few of the most common dilemmas faced by brides and the steps you can take to avoid them:

 Spiralling Costs 

The cost of wedding flowers can amount to as much as 10% of your total budget, a figure that leaves many brides unprepared. Flowers are a timeless part of any wedding, but without setting enough money aside, you might not get the flower displays you dreamed of. It is crucial to factor flowers into your budget from the very beginning, rather than just think of them as decorations. If you really want a truly spectacular flower display, you can make cutbacks elsewhere if necessary. 

One of the best budget-saving ideas is to move church flowers to your reception venue during the day. Most ceremonies last under an hour, and altarpieces make great table displays and centrepieces. 

Uninspiring Colours 

Tying together each separate design element of your big day can be a confusing, which is why many brides choose to have one colour running throughout. However, when it comes to matching flowers to your bridesmaid dresses, using the same colour can be visually disappointing. Consider choosing flowers which complement rather than match the fabric of each dress. Deep purple with pale blue, lime green against lavender, and nude pinks with dark purple are all contrasting colour schemes which emphasise the best in both dress and bouquet.

 DIY Disasters 

The DIY spirit is a popular feature of weddings today. Unfortunately, in an effort to save money, many brides overburden themselves with too many cost saving tasks in the run up to their already hectic event. Be honest with yourself about how much time you will have between dress fittings, hair and makeup trails, and a wedding rehearsal to spend on arranging flowers. If you attempt too much, you may end up paying a professional for a last minute flower delivery. 

Missing Out On Your Favourite Flowers 

For brides trying to stick to a tight budget, expensive flowers like peonies and calla lilies can seem totally out of reach. If you have your heart set on beautiful but costly blooms, don’t rule out the possibility right away. A single cattleya orchid will occupy far more space in a bouquet than a rose and will have a much more impressive impact than dozens of carnations. Consider using less expensive filler flowers like spray roses, bouvardia, or delphinium to complete the display. With careful planning, it is possible to balance cost with quantity. 

Wilting Flowers 

Every bride dreads wilting flowers on their wedding day. With hours spent outdoors taking photos and greeting guests after the ceremony, your bouquet might not make it to the reception. Fortunately, clever flower selection will reduce this risk. Lilies are difficult to manage on very hot days and hydrangeas rarely last longer than three hours out of water even in temperate conditions. To keep your flowers looking fresh all day, make an effort to keep them hydrated whenever possible. 

Ordering Flowers Too Late 

Undoubtedly the most common wedding flower dilemma. Preparing the perfect wedding bouquet takes a great deal of time, especially now that modern florists order their blooms from growers all over the world. Your ideal flower may need to be ordered from Holland, Kenya, or Malaysia over a month in advance. Even when ordering flowers online, it is best to make arrangements at least 8 weeks before your big day is due. 

Image credit:  Jenny Burtt Florist on Flickr