Wedding Basics

When choosing a florist, find someone who is reliable and shares your taste. Look at florists' sample photos and discuss your ideas to make sure your florist's vision matches your own. Bring photos of your venue and swatches of fabric from your dress and the attendant gowns to your meetings. If you're on a tight floral budget, ask your florist for a chart of flowers that are in season. This should lower your costs considerably. You may also want to use greenery to fill out your arrangements.

The Bridal Bouquet
Wherever else you scrimp on flowers, don't scrimp on your bouquet, because it's really the essence of your vision of your wedding. The traditional bouquet is white or pastel, but use whatever flowers you feel define and express the real you. White roses, lilies of the valley, white lilac, and stephanotis are all popular choices. Choose a bouquet that matches your size; if you're small, a large bouquet may detract from your dress.

Flowers for the Wedding Party
Attendants' corsages should coordinate with their dresses, and with the bridal bouquet. If the gowns are ornately detailed, opt for a single stem, or accent simple dresses with a more intricate arrangement. Both mothers usually get a corsage to wear on the wrist or lapel, or to pin to a bag. Flower girls need a basket of petals to toss or a small bouquet to carry.

The groom's boutonniere is often pulled from the bride's bouquet. If the bride's bouquet is built around roses, then the groom could have a single white rose. All the men in the party get boutonnieres: the groomsmen, ushers, ring bearer, fathers, and grandfathers. A white carnation is the most popular flower for the boutonniere.

Flowers for the Ceremony
Check with your church or temple to see what their decorating policies are. You may want to skip a white aisle runner, since a white dress will stand out better against a dark floor, and an off-white dress may clash. You can cap the pews on every row, alternate rows, or just immediate family rows, depending on your budget. A cheap alternative is to use bows instead of flowers for the pews. You'll probably want several formal arrangements on the altar plus smaller touches on any tables to be used in the ceremony. To save money, consider renting potted plants instead of flowers for the foyer and steps outside the venue. Many florists use myrtle, an evergreen, as decoration for the trellis under which the marriage takes place.

Flowers for the Reception
Ask your florist if it would be possible to design the pew caps for the ceremony to double as centerpieces for your tables at the reception. Whatever centerpieces you choose, make them a reasonable size so they don't block conversation at the table. A cheaper alternative is to use balloons, candles, or greenery for centerpieces. Flowers for the cake table and the food tables are standard. Flowers for the restrooms and the guest-book table are a nice touch.

Music

Your music choice makes all the difference in determining what kind of ceremony and reception you'll have. For the ceremony some couples choose the church organ, some have a string quartet, others have musically talented friends sing and play. Make an appointment to speak to your wedding officiator. Some churches and temples don't allow secular music, so make sure that any music requests you have are approved by your venue. Talk with the musical director of the space about the kind of atmosphere you'd like to create, your musical tastes, and what the church or temple offers.

If you choose a band for the reception, make an appointment to listen to a live demonstration; if this isn't possible, at least listen to a tape. Specify in your contract the kind of attire you expect musicians to wear. If you hire musicians for the reception, let them know any special requests you have ahead of time. Make arrangements for them to set up their equipment at the ceremony and reception site.

Whether you choose a live band, a small orchestra, or a D.J., make sure the people you hire offer a wide range of musical selections to keep the guests entertained throughout the wedding. This includes any personal favorites and any ethnic selections appropriate to the family. No matter which type of entertainment you choose, the selection of music should fit your taste and individual music style. It's your wedding and you should get exactly what you want from your musicians; it's okay to be demanding.