Flower Power

A BOUNTIFUL ARRAY of beautiful blossoms creates an atmosphere of romance! On your wonderful wedding day, pretty posies tell the world how you feel about each other!

FLOWERS SPEAK a language all their own - WE use them to say so many things: "I love you," "Im sorry. or "Get better soon. Every flower holds meaning all its own - take the time to choose the kinds and colors that express your personal sentiments.

Flowers play a major role at your wedding; arrangements may be as simple or elaborate as you desire. A professional florist's advice is invaluable - working together, you can achieve the perfect ambiance for your wedding.

Choose your florist three to six months before the big day. He may wish to visit the wedding and reception sites to view the layout. Provide photos and fabric swatches if possible from your wedding gown and attendants' dresses. Details on the groom's and mothers' attire are helpful in planning your wedding decorations.

Decide if you wish to use fresh or silk flowers. Fresh flowers add fragrance and a more natural look to the ceremony; silk flowers hold up better in hot weather and are available in any color. A combination of the two utilizes the best of both worlds.

Descriptions of floral arrangements should be written into your contract. Total cost should also be included - make sure the document is complete before you sign. Take care to choose a reputable, talented florist - one who can express your deepest feelings through the language of flowers.

You'll want to carry a bouquet that complements your wedding gown and is scaled to your proportions. Traditional bouquets are composed of all-white blooms, usualIv in a cascade style - roses, orchids, stephan-otis, lilies of the valley and gardenias are commonly used. Today, brides often carry bouquets in colors taken from their wedding palette.

One currently popular style is the natural-look bouquet - an airy arrangement which may include wildflowers with stems showing. This type of bouquet can be held in front or draped over the bride's arm. Other favorite arrangements include a round or crescent-shaped bouquet, a nosegay, a single flower or a flower-covered prayer book

BRIDE'S THROWAWAY BOUQUET

Although some brides may toss their actual bridal bouquet, most prefer to keep that arrangement. At the bouquet-tossing ceremony, a detachable section or another small bouquet may be thrown.

FLORAL HEADPIECES

Brides often wear headpieces of orange blossoms or other light flowers, which may be real or silk. These headpieces are usually cres-cent-shaped, fitting across the head like a headband, or a circle that sits on the crown. A veil can be attached to this ornament.

BRIDE'S GOING-AWAY CORSAGE

After changing into traveling clothes before leaving the reception, it is sometimes customary for the groom to present a small corsage to the bride to wear while traveling.

Another option: have your florist blend a honeymoon corsage into the bridal bouquet.

BRIDAL ATTENDANTS

Bridesmaids and maid of honor usually carry similar arrangements; the maid of honor's may be more elaborate. Attendants may carry traditional bouquets, or alternative arrangements: baskets of blooms, long-stemmed flowers over one arm, or a single, perfect rose.

If the bride wears a floral headpiece, attendants may wear a single bloom, spray or wreath of the same blossoms.

GROOM AND MALE ATTENDANTS

The groom and each male member of the wedding party, including fathers, customarily wear a boutonniere in the left lapel.

Traditionally, the bloom was a white rose or carnation, but as bridal bouquets have become more colorful, so have boutonnieres. The groom's boutonniere should differ from the others - he might wear a lapel spray, or a flower from the bride's bouquet.

YOUNG ATTENDANTS

Flower girls traditionally carry baskets of loose petals to be strewn in the bride's path, but may also carry a miniature bouquet in a basket or a small nosegay. They also might wear a spray or wreath of flowers in their hair.

The ring bearer should wear a boutonniere just like the groomsmen. You may wish to decorate the ringbearer's cushion with a sprig of flowers

MOTHERS, GRANDMOTHERS AND OTHER VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE

It is customary to present the mothers and grandmothers of the bridal couple with flowers to wear at the wedding. These arrangements may be made up of flowers that coordinate with their dresses; personal preferences should also be considered. If grandfathers are present, they, too, would receive boutonnieres.

A corsage or boutonniere is a perfect way to honor others who contribute to your wed-ding. The guest book and gift table attendants are examples of special helpers to thank.

CEREMONY SITE

Flowers at the ceremony vary considerably depending on location and style of the wed-ding. If the marriage takes place in a church, at least one arrangement should decorate each side of the altar. Adorn the end of each pew with ribbons and flowers,

If your ceremony is held at a private home, club, hotel or other secular location, flowers and greenery are especially important. The arrangements serve as a romantic back-drop, taking the place of the church altar, and can be used to mark aisles.

RECEPTION SITES

Some brides may wish to use the altar arrangements from the wedding to decorate the reception area; this is perfectly acceptable. Others feel ceremony and reception flowers should be considered separately.

Church flowers should relate to the ceremony, arranged in a more serene, subtle fashion, while reception flowers would promote an unrestrained air of celebration. This is strictly a matter of personal preference.

As more time is spent at the reception than at the ceremony itself, many brides elect to concentrate the majority of their decorating efforts on the party facility. Centerpieces contribute greatly to the visual impact of the reception festivities.

Dinner and refreshment tables may hold anything from a few fresh blooms to an elaborate silk floral arrangement. Candles, baskets and topiaries are often part of centerpiece arrangements

Head-table centerpieces should sit low; the view of the bridal party must be unobstructed. Place potted plants and ferns at either end of the receiving line to add to the ambiance of warmth and welcome as guests arrive.

Bouquet Beauties

Some brides have an absolutely specific floral arrangement in mind, complete with the coloring and types of flowers, when they choose a florist for their wedding. Most others are overwhelmed with today's choices of bridal bouquet styles. Arm yourself with a little flower-know-how before you visit your florist and you'll be better able to explain the flowers of your dreams!

hand-tied: a method of arranging the flowers into a rounded shape and tying the stems together, covering the string with a nice ribbon - the stems are trimmed to an even length and are allowed to show

nosegay: a rounded cluster of flowers hand-tied or gathered in a bouquet holder

cascade: a bouquet that is anchored in a holder, with blooms, ribbons, pearls or greenery pouring over the front side

arm bunch: think of Miss America - a bouquet almost looking like it was pulled right out of a garden and draped across the bride's arm, often tied with ribbon to hold the long stems together 

pomander ball: many flowers and greenery are attached to a ball shape, and are held by an attached ribbon