Finding The Perfect Wedding Flowers

Wedding flowers are one of the biggest parts of any wedding budget, so saving money on them should be a top priority for any bride and groom. To save on money and to keep within your budget you should consider buying the flowers wholesale. Especially when the flowers are in season like spring it is a great time to purchase wholesale because of the stock of flowers. Remember to check your arrangement in a mirror with you holding it so you would picture how it would look like to someone else’s view. This is a new generation and silk wedding flowers are the rage.

White wedding dresses come in a wide variety of shades of white; you want to make sure that the flowers that you choose will coordinate with your wedding dress so you should match it with a swatch. Professional florist know accent the flowers just so, so they will attract attention to you in the way that you want. There is no shame in learning from the success and failures of others and doing so will generally save you a lot of grief. Your florist will help you with which flowers are seasonal if you are still unsure as to what to go for. Your local florist can recommend the many colorful options available. You are in for a pleasant surprise at your local florist. Florists can customize flowers to what ever you like, these fresh flowers with professional cutting them will make your bouquet outlast any store bought flowers.

The bouquets can be the same color as the bride's bouquet or a different color. Bouquets can also be fashioned by keeping in mind the family tradition. Any good wedding florist should have at least a few sample bouquets they can show you. If no live bouquets are available, however, be sure to look through the photo book the florist has. Ensure that gift bouquets are ordered for the mothers. Problems arise because of last-minute flower substitutions due to weather or transportation issues, which may be more expensive. Women find themselves making last-minute decisions about changes to their arrangements, often without seeing what the revised bouquets will look like. Spring flowers make attractive centerpieces for tables and rooms. Bridal bouquets can be prepared with them.

The best way to evaluate how and where to allocate your wedding budget is to determine exactly what your priorities are. These days, 4 out of 5 couples pay for their own wedding and it helps to know how your budget should be broken down. It is with the budget that you can set realistic goals for your wedding and whether or not if your budget is realistic to your finances.

Since summer is the most popular time for weddings, it is very important to decide in advance the type of wedding flowers wanted by the bride. Since the florists are bound to be busy with many other weddings, the bride should be sure of her choices. Florists will also deliver all the flowers to your destination. Flowers in the center of the table always makes a good center piece, your guest will want to take these home and make your wedding day memorable. Most wedding florists will have a portfolio of photographs from past weddings, and they should be happy to share this portfolio of past work with potential customers. Most established florists are not one-man shows but a huge network of florists in different places.

Birthday Flower Arrangements

Your friend's birthday is coming up. What should you give her? A box of chocolates? A new scarf? A new shade of lipstick? Why not give her a bouquet of fresh, colorful flowers? That will surely make her day. If you are not exactly certain on what to give your friend or family member on her special day, flowers can be a great idea. Everybody else will bring her food, a piece of clothing, or even a makeup set. So be different. Express your love and friendship through something that really symbolize them. She will definitely be moved by your thoughtfulness.

However, if you do not know how to choose flowers appropriately, leave it to the florist. He will simply ask you questions and information about the birthday celebrator and he will be the one to pick the flowers accordingly. Besides beautiful flowers and bouquets, floral shops and websites also offer gift baskets like fruit baskets and personal care baskets for birthdays.

Another great thing about flowers is that they can be specific to the celebrator's birth month. If she was born on January, send her carnations; on February, violets; on March, jonquils; on April, sweet peas; on May, lilies; on June, roses; on July, larkspurs; on August, gladioli; on September, asters; on October, calendulas; on November, chrysanthemums; and on December, narcissus.

For young girls and teenagers, your flower arrangements may depend on the theme of her birthday party. You can make large paper blooms of sunflowers or other flowers, do up T-shirts with flowers as designs, and get the guests and other people to carry cake and confectionery bouquets.

Birthdays are a special occasion. Make it memorable for the birthday celebrator by giving her a gift that comes from the heart. This will show her how much her friendship means to you. Yes, flowers may fade in a couple of days, but the sentiment they bring will forever remain.

Mother's Day Flowers

The flower - a cherished symbol of love, loyalty, gratitude and so many other different emotions - has a special significance for Mother’s Day, too. In 1908, one of the first services in the memory of Anna Jarvis, who created the Mother’s Work Day, was organized in a church in West Virginia. At this service, Anna Jarvis’s daughter, also named Anna, handed out white carnations. White carnations were her mother’s favorite flowers. These flowers assumed a special significance for Mother’s Day when, in 1913, the House of Representatives adopted a resolution with regards to the Mother’s Day. The resolution made it mandatory for the officials of the federal government to wear white carnations on Mother's day. Therefore flowers, white carnations and all, remain significant, to this day, in the celebration of the Mother’s Day.

Gifting flowers is one of the most popular ways of saying ‘I love you and I care’ to your loved ones. Your mother has nurtured you like her most precious flower. It’s time you express your feelings to her by gifting her some beautiful flowers that speak, in their own language, of the degree of love and esteem in which you hold your dear mother. For centuries, flowers have been the more effective carriers of emotions and feelings than the human tongue can ever hope to be. So, let a beautiful bouquet carry the message of love to your mother on Mother’s Day. Like Anna Jarvis’s daughter, you could choose your mother’s favorite flowers. Set in a crystal, a decorative pot or an elegant basket, these flowers will bloom up your mother’s Mother’s Day. A box of candies would be an ideal accompaniment to a beautiful bouquet and is sure to delight your mom.

Funeral Flowers

In this day and age where almost everyone is so busy with work or other unavoidable engagements, attending a funeral or a wake can be quiet difficult. Buying funeral flowers is a very good and appropriate way for those who are too tied-up to send their condolences to friends or family who are mourning. Buying funeral flowers for the deceased will ease any negative feelings of those who are grieving.

Buying funeral flowers to give to a grieving family is the best way of saying that you sympathize with them. Funeral flowers also have the effect of silently saying to the bereaved that you will include in your prayers the wish of eternal peace be granted to whoever has passed away.

There are many kinds of funeral flower arrangements. The most popular is the wreath. The wreath is a circular floral arrangement made of various flowers and greens. It was believed that the funeral wreaths circular shape symbolizes eternal life. Another kind of funeral flower arrangement is the floral stand. The floral stand is a floral arrangement that is put on a stand; its only visible side is the front. A very common floral stand design among Christian's is the cross shaped design. Another popular funeral flower arrangement is the casket spray. Casket sprays are usually ordered by the deceased's family.

Funeral flowers have a very personal and caring way of comforting those who are mourning the loss of a loved one. At the same time it has a very solemn effect of saying goodbye to those who passed away. Buying funeral flowers often display to the family members how important and how other people cared for the individual who passed away. Because of this, funeral flowers have the effect of lessening the pain of losing a loved one.

The Ultimate Guide to Buying Romantic Flowers for Your Lover

Is there anything quite like a romantic gift of flowers to brighten your day, bring a smile to your face, and make you feel really special? Whether you’re a man or a woman , giving a flower or a bouquet to your sweetheart is one of the best, most inexpensive ways possible to add a little spontaneous, old-fashioned romance to your relationship.

Flowers are one of the few romantic gifts that require such little thought and yet still go a long way to making your lover feel amazing. Flowers are easy to obtain, inexpensive to buy, beautiful to look at, smell wonderful and can serve as a fresh reminder of your love for days. And with so many different options to choose from when it comes to individual flowers or creative bouquets and arrangements, you could get your lover flowers every week and make them seem new and unique every time.

If you’re a person who only buys your lover flowers on special occasions like anniversaries or birthdays, my question is this: why? Sure, an ornate bouquet may be a little too expensive to buy more than a few times a year for most people, but a single flower once a week can fit into anyone’s budget. There are few other gifts that you can spend only a couple bucks on and get such great returns from when it comes to making your lover feel more romantic and appreciated.

Roses are beautiful and might be the perfect compliment for your relationship’s style, but there are dozens of other types of flowers available at your neighborhood florist that can bring a smile to your lover’s face. Stopping by the flower shop after work or on your way home from a business trip only takes a moment, and with little more than the change in your glove box you can bring home a wonderful surprise to go along with that big hug.

And remember: flowers weren’t made just for men to give to women! A lot of boyfriends or husbands may feel a little awkward receiving a flower from their girlfriends and wives, but there’s no reason to. Flowers can be presented in a way that’s a little less feminine for men (you know, get rid of the pink bows and stuff!), and women shouldn’t shy from occasionally buying their lovers a gift of flowers to show how much they care.

So if you’re only giving flowers on anniversaries and at funerals, you’re really missing out on a chance make your relationship more exciting, romantic and special. Start making it a tradition to bring a single flower to your lover once a week for no reason at all, and you’ll be amazed at how much magic you’ll add to your life.

But what kind of flowers are best to introduce into your particular type of relationship? Are some flowers better than others for different people and circumstances? You’re the only one who can make that decision, but classically, different flowers do carry different meanings. Below is a list of some popular romantic flowers and their meanings. But remember: when it comes to flowers, it really is the thought that counts!

Gift Baskets for those Special Occasions

While gift baskets can be a great way to give presents, they lose some of their charm if you overuse them. However, there are many other basket-like containers that you can use instead, to save the baskets for the really special occasions.

For wine, you can put the wine in a special wine bag, decorated with wine patterns and sealed at the top, although this has the disadvantage of instantly giving away what your present is (although you could always surprise the person by putting some other nice drink in a wine bag!). Wine can also be given in a special presentation box or case, and many expensive ones come with one for this purpose, as do sets of 12 bottles.

Chocolates can be very well presented in a chocolate box, wrapped in wrapping paper with a bow delicately tied on the top – gold wrapping is lovely on chocolates, because of the way it complements the browns. If you are buying chocolate from a confectioner’s, you may be able to get them to wrap it this way for you.

Although it can seem a little clichéd, flowers often work much better in a bouquet than they do in a basket, for the simple reason that a bouquet of flowers can be easily transferred to a vase and kept for longer. Bouquets of flowers also tend to be easier to find than baskets, so you will a wider selection of different kinds of flowers to choose from.

None of this is intended to put you off giving gift baskets – but it’s best to save them for a really special occasion, like moving home, getting a promotion, Easter or birthdays. Good baskets don’t come cheap, and when you do get one, you want to be able to go all-out, not do things in half measures.

The Language and Meaning of Flowers

Sweet flowers alone can say what passion fears revealing
Thomas Hood poem, The Language of Flowers

Flowers and bouquets of flowers have a meaning of their own. Most of us know that a dozen red roses means, “Be mine.” But did you know, for example, that a primrose means, “I can’t live without you,” or that a purple hyacinth means, “Please forgive me,” or that a pink carnation means, “I’ll never forget you,” or that a gladiolus means, “Give me a break?”

Flower meanings have been used to convey ideas, feelings and messages for centuries. The word, floriography, has been coined for the assignment of meaning to flowers. There is a meaning to colors of flowers, to numbers of flowers, and to groups of flowers. It is a silent language that has been largely lost to us through lack of use.

In addition to the obvious choices of color and variety, the language of flowers also includes the way flowers are worn or presented. Presenting flowers upright conveys a positive meaning, but if they are presented upside down the meaning is the opposite. If a ribbon is included with the flowers and is tied to the left then the meaning of the flowers refers to the giver, but if the ribbon is tied to the right then the meaning refers to the recipient. Also, flowers can be used to answer questions. When they are presented with the right hand the answer is “yes,” but when presented with the left hand the answer is “no.”

History

The Turks in the 17th century seemed to develop flower meanings. In 1718 the wife of the British ambassador to Constantinople, Lady Mary Wortley, wrote a letter expounding on the “Secret Language of Flowers” that she had discovered during her visits to Turkey. Europe quickly picked up on the concept.

In 1819 Louise Cortambert, under the pen name, Madame Charlotte de la Tour, wrote and published what seems to have been the first dictionary of the flower language entitled, Le Language des Fleurs. It was a small book, but it became a popular reference on the subject.

During the Victorian era, the reign of Queen Victoria from 1837 to 1901, the meaning and language of flowers became increasingly popular. Victorian women especially picked up the silent language that allowed them to communicate feelings and meanings that the strict propriety of the times would not allow. Tussie-mussies, a bouquet of flowers wrapped with a lace doily and tied with a satin ribbon became a popular and valued gift of the times.

In 1884 a whole book on the subject and entitled, The Language of Flowers, by Jean Marsh and illustrated by Kate Greenaway, was published in London. It became popular and respected and has been the standard source for Victorian flower meaning ever since.

Selected Flower Meanings

Here are some selected flowers and their meanings, a short dictionary.

Almond flowers -- Hope
Anemone -- Forsaken
Aster -- Symbol of love
Balm -- Sympathy
Basil -- Best wishes
Bay leaf -- "I change but in death"
Bell flower, white -- Gratitude
Bergamot -- Irresistible
Bluebell -- Constancy
Borage -- Courage
Broom -- Humility
Campanula -- Gratitude
Carnation, pink -- I'll never forget you
Carnation, red -- My poor heart aches for you
Carnation, striped -- Refusal
China rose -- Beauty always new
Chrysanthemum -- Love
Clover, four leaved -- "Be mine"
Coreopsis -- Love at first sight
Cuckoo pint -- Ardor
Daffodil -- Regard
Daisy -- Innocence, new-born, "I share your sentiment"
Fennel -- Flattery
Fern -- Sincerity
Forget-Me-Not -- True love
Furze or Gorse -- Enduring affection
French Marigold -- Jealousy
Gardenia -- Ecstasy
Gentian -- Loveliness
Geranium -- "You are childish"
Hare bell -- Grief
Heartsease -- "I am always thinking of you"
Honeysuckle -- Bonds of love
Heather -- Admiration
Hyacinth -- I am sorry, Please forgive me
Ice Plant -- "Your appearance freezes me"
Ivy -- Fidelity, friendship, marriage
Jasmine -- Grace
Jonquil -- "I hope for return of affection"
Lavender -- Luck, devotion
Lemon Balm -- Sympathy
Lilac -- First love
Lily -- Purity, modesty
Lily of the Valley -- Purity, the return of happiness
Lily, Calla -- Beauty
Marigold -- Health, grief or despair
Marjoram -- Kindness, courtesy
Myrtle -- Fidelity
Oregano -- Joy
Orchid -- Love, beauty, refinement
Pansy -- Loving thoughts
Periwinkle -- Happy memory
Phlox -- Agreement
Poppy, red -- Consolation
Primrose -- I can't live without you
Rose, cabbage -- Ambassador of love
Rose, red -- Love
Rose, pink -- Grace, beauty
Rose, yellow -- Friendship
Rosemary -- Remembrance, constancy
Rue -- Contrition
Sage -- Gratitude, domestic virtue
Snowdrop -- Hope
Star of Bethlehem -- Purity
Sweet Pea -- Departure, tender memory
Sweet William -- Gallantry
Tuberose -- Voluptuousness
Tulip, red -- My perfect lover, Reclamation of love
Violet -- Loyalty, modesty, humility
Violet, blue -- Faithfulness
Wormwood -- Grief
Wheat -- Riches of the continuation of life
Willow, weeping -- Mourning
Wallflower -- Fidelity
Yew -- Sorrow