Your wedding bouquet is an integral part of your wedding look & should not only compliment your dress but also be something that you love. When choosing your flowers there are an overwhelming number of options, both in the types & colors of flowers, but also in how they compliment your theme of the day. If your venue is the same for both the ceremony & reception you may find it best to co-ordinate all the flowers, from the bouquets to the table arrangements, for a coherrent look. However if your ceremony & reception locations are separate then you can just co-ordinate your bouquet & your bridesmaids arrangements.

When choosing which blooms to have it is worthwhile considering the following:

Price

Which flowers are in season

Their scent - sweet peas & roses have a delicate fragrance but more exotic blooms like oriental lillies have a heavier fragrance, which could get right up your nose!

Remember that your bouquet will be out of water for a whole day so make sure your choices are upto the job & will last the day without wilting. A wired bouquet cannot be placed in water as opposed to a hand-tied one which could be placed in water at the reception to keep it fresh.

Take into account your dress when choosing your flowers. The type of fabric will help you determine the approriate flowers for your bouquet. If your dress is made of lightweight, floaty fabric choose delicate soft flowers for your bouquet. A heavy silk & velvet dress will require strong structured blooms which will ehnace the look.

The shape of your bouquet is also an important consideration.

There are three main choices:

1.Teardrop - combines a posy of flowers at the top with a cascade of foliage falling to a point.

2.Shower - is similar to the teardrop but has flowers all the way down to a single bloom at the bottom.

3.Posy or round - this is currently the most popular type. This bouquet is simply an arrangement of flowers in a rounded shape with the stems wrapped with ribbon.

Again your dress will help you to determine your choice of bouquet shape. A large ballgown should have a bouquet in proportion to it, a small posy will look quite meagre, whilst a large shower bouquet would compliment it perfectly. For informal weddings, small posies are popular or a simple bouquet of statement flowers. Also consider your height & shape. If you are petite a large bouquet could overwhelm your look. A good florist will be able to judge the right size & shape for you, ensuring cohesion between bride, dress & bouquet.

It is a good idea to practice carrying your bouquet before the big day, as there is a certain amount of skill involved, such as ensuring the stems are hidden from view, that it doesn't touch your dress & that your guests can see the bouquet & you behind it! Make a mock version from shop bought flowers so you can practice at home.

At the end of the day you will need to decide whether you will follow the tradition of throwing the bouquet or keeping it & getting it preserved as a memento. If you would like to do both, ask you florist to make a second, less expensive version you could throw for your female guests. Keeping your bouquet means you must try to keep it fresh throughout the day. Have a vase of water lined up at the reception & pop it in as soon as possible after you arrive. Some research online will give you details of companies which specialize in bouquet preservation either by drying, preserving or pressing the flowers & then framing them for you. If you are going on honeymoon straight after the wedding reception make sure you let someone know what to do with your bouquet & ask them to keep it fresh & arrange to get it to the preservation company for you.