Less is more

A florist once told me that a bride's bouquet should never upstage her dress. He said, "Flowers should make a statement, but act as an accessory."

Bouquets should be proportioned to a bride's body. Certainly, if a bride is below average height, a bouquet half her size will not be flattering. The florist's point was to allow the dress to do what it is designed to do and to let the flowers do their job. When a bride enters the church or ceremony area, most people gasp at the dress. If most people see the flowers first, the bouquet is not right.

Flowers can become a big cost to the total cost of the wedding. Be prepared to spend a significant amount of money on high-ended flowers like out-of-season flowers and orchids. I have found that a "hint" of flowers is elegant and serves the purpose nicely. I would suggest that brides-to-be create a variety of shapes of bouquets with some inexpensive flowers from the Dollar Stores. Stand in front of a mirror and have someone take a photograph of you. The shapes of these bouquets will give you an idea of the how the real bouquet will look. Take photographs at a distance and closeup. This exercise will give you an idea of how large the bouquet needs to be. Remember, the flowers act as an accessory and should not overpower your body or dress.

Less is more.

Happy planning!