Colour
In earlier times the bride's bouquet was composed of white flowers to symbolise her purity. Although some brides still choose to have a white bouquet, many choose colours which complement the bride and bridesmaids' dresses as well as the general colour scheme of the wedding.
When choosing flowers it is worth taking a sample of fabric from the bride's dress to the florist. This can be a great help when matching colours. This applies even if the bride has a white wedding dress and wants a white bouquet because whites can vary in their shade and intensity.
Shape
There are several classic shapes of bouquet and good florists should have a selection of photographs to demonstrate them. The florist should also be able to advise on which flowers match the chosen shape bearing in mind the colour scheme and seasonal availability.
The choice of your wedding bouquet depends of the style of your gown. Bouquets can range from the just-picked-from-the-garden look, to the tailored-stylised formal look. You should always get a sense of balance between your gown and your bouquet. A fresh-picked bouquet from the garden may look out of place with a very formal gown.
The bouquet size should be proportion to the bride. Too large a bouquet would simply overpower the bride and clutter her elegant dress.
There are seven main shapes to consider:
Cascade: Large, tear-shaped arrangement in which flowers gracefull spill downward
Nosegay: Round in shape, in a tightly bound cluser of small flowers
Arm Bouquet: Graceful crescent shape designed to be cradled in one arm
Biedermeier Bouquet: Concentric circles of flowers in different flowers
Hand-Tied Bouquet: A simple cluster of long stems, tied with a ribbon
Spray Bouquet: Usually a triangular shaped cluser of flowers
Pomander: Ball of flowers suspended from the wrist by decorative ribbons
The most popular designs include the "trailing waterfall" shape and the round "posy" of tightly arranged flowers.
The "trailing waterfall" shape draws the eye from top to bottom and can therefore have a slimming effect. However, it can overshadow a petite bride if its too big. The cascading shape of bouquet best complements a full length skirt. It can result in an unbalanced look with shorter skirt lengths.
The posy style of bouquet draws attention to the middle of the body. It may not be suitable for brides not wishing to draw attention to their hips and also for very tall brides.
The bouquet is held just below waist level. If this is likely to obscure a feature of the dress which the bride particularly wishes to be seen then she can choose a bouquet which lies across the arm.
As a general rule large bouquets suit formal, long dresses while smaller bouquets or even a single bloom are more in proportion with a knee-length dress.
The bouquet ribbons are tied at the ends into knots to symbolise unity.
Preserving the Bouquet
There are several ways of preserving the bouquet as a souvenir.
The bouquet can be dried and kept whole or dismantled and a collage made from the dried, pressed flowers or a replica of the bouquet can be made from silk flowers. Alternatively suitable shoots can used as cuttings to grow new plants.
Headdress
Some brides choose to wear floral headdresses. A well chosen headdress can create a spectacular effect. The florist should be able to give advice on matching the headdress to the dress and the bouquet.
Flowers by their nature are delicate and care must be taken not to disturb them through the day as this can spoil their effect. Additionally, advice should be taken from the florist on choosing flowers that will not wilt, particularly if it likely to be a hot day. One possible solution to this problem is to choose a headdress of flowers made of silk or some other fabric. These will look good all day and can be kept as a memento of the day.
