1. Dress: It may sound strange to consider your Wedding dress first, but you want to make sure that your Bridal flowers compliment your dress rather than stealing the show. You should consider the style of your dress too; is it a vintage 1950’s dress with a sweetheart neckline and mid-calf length flare skirt? Is it a figure-hugging, strapless modern dress with a lot of detailing? Florists will often ask you what your dress is like so that they can advise you on what will suit you best, why not take a photo along with you to the consultation.

2. Shape & Size: The most common shape and size of a bridal bouquet is a 12” diameter posy or nosegay, but this can vary. The general rule is to ensure the diameter of your posy is smaller than your hip span, this is so that the bouquet does not detract from the Bride’s dress. You can pick a cascade bouquet that will lead the eye down and looks most elegant, whilst a hand-tied arrangement of 4-6 flowers can look stylish and chic with a modern gown. There are even some alternatives like a pomander with a loop of ribbon or a circlet of flowers to leave the Bride’s hands free altogether.

3. Colours: Not everyone has a colour scheme as part of their wedding, but if you do, the Bridal bouquet is a great opportunity to show this to your guests. You could go with a classic red rose bouquet to represent love and passion. You could use pastel shades and a variety of green foliage for a vintage style instead. You could represent your country in your flowers and pick native species from where you grew up or choose colours that match your Nation’s flag. Or why not match your bouquet to your Bridesmaids’ dresses and have their bouquets match your dress?

4. Season: Creating your Bridal Bouquet from seasonal flowers and foliage is a great way to save some pennies. Don’t think that by choosing to go seasonal that you won’t get the look you were after, your florist will be able to advise you on what will be available and show you the vast range of options available and how they will look when put together. Perfect for a Spring, Summer, Autumn or Winter Wedding; seasonal flowers and foliage will reflect the colours of not only your special day but also the natural world around you.

5. Comfort: Consider the bouquet’s form, the way you are going to hold it, some options may be more comfortable than others. If you are happy to hold a domed nosegay or upright posy, then go with that style of bouquet. If you want to hold a bigger arrangement, you could choose a cascade or shower spray that will trail downwards and make a big impact. You could also look at the presentation bouquet or arm sheath if you would rather display long stemmed flowers across your arm.

1. 6. Advice: Whatever you decide to pick, remember to ask your florist for advice if you have any queries, they are more than happy to help you choose the flowers, arrangement and help you visualise how they will look on your big day.