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First Things First
Don't even think about visiting a florist until you've chosen what both you and your bridesmaids will be wearing for the ceremony. Your gown style and the colors of your bridesmaids' dresses will help your florist get a sense of your personal style and enable her to create bouquets and arrangements that will enhance, rather than detract, from the main event -- you.
Collect magazine photos of images you like and don't like, and show them to your wedding/floral consultant, said Jennifer McGarigle, owner of FloralArt in Venice. She'll be able to help translate your personal style into the visual and experiential vision you have for your wedding.

Color Clues
We've come a long way from traditional white wedding bouquets. Nowadays, anything goes, from bright orange to deep red to dramatic purple. Monochromatic or tone-on-tone combinations are a big trend right now, McGarigle said. (Think pale pink hydrangeas paired with deeper pink roses and bright pink asters.)
"Purple is a big hit ... but be careful how you use it," she said. "It works best when there are bleeding shades of purple -- from lavender, to purple, to violet. Use crisp white, soft gray or celery green as a contrasting accent."
Remember that color can come from more than just the flowers themselves. Incorporate accent colors with ribbon or beaded wire in your bouquet and with vases and tablecloths for your table arrangements.
"My favorite combination right now is monochromatic white with antique gold and beige or chocolate brown accents," McGarigle said. "The gold can come from either the fabric of the containers or linens, like a gold matte satin cloth."

Let's Get Practical
Choose flowers carefully if you or other members of your party are prone to allergies, said Judith Sherven, co-author of "The Smart Couple's Guide to the Wedding of Your Dreams" (New World Library, 2005). Gardenias and some lilies, for example, are very pungent and can cause headaches or other symptoms, even for your guests, she said.
You'll also want to be sure that your blooms will hold up for the duration of your event and be easy to transport if you'll be reusing ceremony arrangements for the reception (a great way to save money). Sharing your wedding day itinerary with your florist will help her in guiding your floral choices.

Money Matters
Be up-front with your florist about your budget, McGarigle said, and always get a proposal that itemizes and describes each area of décor. If you're on a budget, prioritize, she said. "Choose the areas you do and do them well."
If you have your heart set on pricier flowers, like orchids or calla lilies but can't afford to use them in large quantities, think in terms of simple, elegant arrangements, Sherven said. Use your most expensive flowers in your hair and bouquet (where they'll be front and center in photos and during the ceremony) and less costly blooms for site decoration. You can also use potted plants and flowers from friends' gardens to expand on your use of florist arrangements, she said.

Style and Shape
"The biggest trends in flowers right now are modern but not minimalist arrangements," McGarigle said, "meaning the lines of floral decor are clean and streamlined but lush in color, texture and abundance.
"Mix vases and other containers in varying shapes and sizes for a more eclectic, interesting look," she said, "but create unity with common shapes, whether round or square. A centerpiece grouping, for example, could combine vases of varying heights in round and cylindrical shapes. For flower combinations, three- to five-bloom variations that complement one another make for cleaner looking arrangements with impact."

Be Size Wise With the Bouquet
Don't get stuck carting a bouquet that's heavy or awkward. It may not seem unwieldy at first, but keep in mind that you'll be holding it for the duration of your ceremony and through all your pictures. Keep both your body shape and dress style in mind when choosing your blossoms. The three main types of bridal bouquets are:

• Round posy -- either hand-tied (stems are bound and tied with ribbon) or wired (stems are removed to eliminate bulk). Hand-tied bouquets are versatile and work well with all types of dresses. Wired posies make for lighter bouquets and are a good choice for petite-size brides.
  
• Trailing/shower. Elongated bouquets like cascades/showers (which resemble waterfalls) and trailing bouquets (which are full at the top, then taper to form a tail at the bottom) are good choices for fuller skirts and/or taller brides.
  
• Overarm. Long-stemmed flowers (roses, orchids or calla lilies are popular choices) are tied with a ribbon and held along the inner crook of your elbow. This style suits a modern, slim dress and draws attention to an ornamented bodice.