The Bridal Bouquet

A professional florist will ask the style of the bridal gown and the color of the bridesmaids' dresses. Take a swatch of material from your gown and a picture of the gown with you. There are so many colors of white, about 17 shades, the florist will want to match the color.  Also bring pictures of the bridesmaids' dresses.

The florist will also take into consideration the style of the bride's veil or headpiece, the color scheme of the wedding, the season of the year and the degree of formality of the wedding.

Cut out pictures of bouquets that you like and take those with you. This will give the florist an idea of the style you prefer.

The bride's bouquet should be in proportion to her size. It should not overpower her or be undersized to her body type.

The basic types of bridal bouquets are:

Spray

This is a cluster of blossoms arranged in a triangular shape.

Nosegay

A nosegay is round and consists of a tightly bound cluster of small flowers. It comes in various sizes.

Cascade

A cascade is a tear-shaped arrangement that looks like the blossoms are spilling downward.

Crescent

This is a curved arrangement, designed to be held on one arm.

Biedermeier Bouquet

This is an intricate design consisting of concentric circles of flowers, with each circle being a different color to distinguish it from its neighboring circles.

Hand-tied Bouquet

This is a simple cluster of long stems, tied together with a ribbon.

Pomander

A ball of flowers suspended from the wrist by a decorative ribbon.

Not all brides carry bouquets. Other possibilities are:

An heirloom fan

A family Bible decorated with flowers and/or satin ribbons

A flower filled straw basket