When it comes to wedding flowers and decorations, the best way to pulling off a look that works really lies in the planning. Since there are no rules when it comes to wedding flowers, it really is all about what the couple, well mainly the bride, wants and can afford. Decorating options are limited only by the imagination and even the most outrageous floral images can be made to fit practically any budget, if you're willing to research the many options and ideas that are out there.Your bridal party can get involved to help generate new ideas which you probably have never thought about. Besides, being a help to the bride is part of their responsibilities so why not get them involved. Don't expect the groom to help. Begin planning your wedding flowers well in advance of your wedding date. Six to 12 months in advance is the best time to begin preparation. Most brides want the wedding flowers to complement the overall color scheme and wedding theme, so you will want to keep your floral choice in mind when making decisions about the wedding attire. Great places to look for ideas for your bouquet are bridal magazines. They are full of pictures of creative bridal bouquets. Also think about the types of flowers that will be in season at the time of your wedding. Flowers that are in season will be readily available and will help to keep the cost down.Remember, besides boutonnières and bouquets for the wedding party, you can also make flowers and decorations part of the wedding ceremony and wedding reception. Bows for the pews, altar arrangements head table, cake table and gift table, as well as centerpieces for all the guest tables should be considered. These will definitely add to your costs, but they're also areas where you can really get creative.If cost-control is an issue, why not have the bridal bouquet do double-duty as head table decorations or perhaps the gift or cake table? This is a great way to use the bouquets which are usually put down once the formal photographs are over. Using less expensive balloons or candles as centerpieces is another way to reduce cost. Making your own pew bows can be fun and a cost saver even if you are not good at crafts. Reducing the number of flowers in your arrangements will also lower the cost on your arrangements. Using greenery, baby's breath and tulle as fillers can reduce the number of flowers you use in your arrangements which in turn will cut your floral cost.It is clear that it all in the planning. Once you've got the wedding flowers and decorations figured out, you just need to find a florist capable of turning your thoughts into reality. It's important to select a florist early on because there's a limit to how much even the best florist can handcraft. When you sign a contract with the florist you choose, make sure that you read over the contract carefully. Things to look at are the number and type of arrangements you agreed on, the type of flowers to be used as well as the details on the delivery. Make a record of the amount of the deposit as well as the payment schedule.