What importance do flower's have at a wedding?

Is a bride's bouquet the finishing touch to style? I am a florist and surprised that brides spend so much money on the out fit but want the cheapest flowers possible. To me the flower bring it all together and is the finishing touch. It is the first thing that people see, generally it is large and has color so it draws everyones I to the bride and then they look up to her face and back down to the gown. The trends seem to have changed.....

What importance do flower's have at a wedding?
It just a matter of taste and priorities. I can tell you are passionate about flowers but for me, I could care less. In fact, my bouquets are going to be pine, berries, crystal beads, with just a few red lilies mixed in (Christmas wedding if you couldn't guess!). Plus, at the reception the bouquet gets tossed on a table or put in a holder and forgotten about for the majority of the night. Just my opinion though.
Reply:Well the tradition of carrying a boquet at a wedding comes from this:





In England in the Middle Ages, people would bathe just once a year, in May. It's mad actually because the whole household would share the same bath, starting with the men, then the sons, and then the women and daughters, and finally the babies. by that time the water was so dirty that the babies would quite often disappear in the murky water...hence the saying 'don't throw the baby out with the bath water'. Marriages were usually held in June, so by that time the bride was starting to smell a bit - hence the boquet of flowers to mask the smell.
Reply:Flowers are expensive and they die. Yes, you could dry them, but then what do you do with them? Stick 'em in a box in the attic or basement. Nobody would be able to re-use them.


At least with the dress, you can use it afterwards - - your child may want to wear it at their wedding or you could take it apart and use the fabric for other purposes such as a pillow, a blanket, or for a child's christening outfit.


I'm planning on doing a pillow or blanket with mine. Maybe both since there is so much material to it.





In my case, my dress was under $250 and my flower budget is $500. I want nice flowers, but I *hate* the outrageous price tags that go along with them.
Reply:I went to 2 florists this week for my wedding. Both of them had entirely different ideas for my wedding. When I got home, my future mother in law asked me how it went and I said, "The second one shared my artistic vision, but I think he'll be too expensive." She said that if he shared my vision, I should go with him. But what I said is this- and I think it will answer your question- "Flowers are beautiful anyway. Either one would be fine." So, why spend a fortune on expensive flowers, when the cheaper ones can be just as lovely? Besides, most people would look at a bouquet and only notice that it is blue/pink/orange etc. , not what types of flowers are in it.
Reply:I disagree with you, but I am not a florist, so I don't have a vested interest in the flowers. I am the wedding coordinator at my church, so I can tell you that, for the most part, the women carry the flowers because it's part of the uniform. They are expected to, and as long as they are relatively pretty, they don't give much thought to them at all. I certainly don't notice the guests saying anything about the flowers either.
Reply:Brides generally want to get the best deals possible with everyone. Weddings are expensive and all the little details add up. You are just one in a pile of expenses that brides have to budget.





Your question reminds me of the truth that whatever each of us is passionate about becomes the most important thing in the world in our own eyes. While you see flowers are the most important, the bride has to look at the budget and sees the whole picture or she won't be able to afford her own wedding.
Reply:I agree! Fresh flowers were a priority for us. I like simple bouquets, but they must be real and fresh.


Sometimes, a bride will ask for ideas for what her bridesmaids can carry other than flowers, and that just perplexes me - Flowers add life to everything!
Reply:It is crazy. I think it's because a bride can keep her dress but flowers die. Maybe if florists combined drying and framing w/ the cost of the bouquet, brides would be more inclined to dish out some cash.
Reply:The issue with flowers is that they die. I also intend on not going overboard with the flowers for my wedding day. I can find other uses for that money (nicer favors, nicer bridesmaid gifts).
Reply:Flowers die. So why bother spending a load of money for them. That´s why I didn´t bother with flowers like the cake flowers or gift table flowers. Why spend all that money? Nobody notices anyways.
Reply:Maybe if florists wouldn't charge such an absurd amount of money for bouquets brides would have more elaborate ones.
Reply:Its just another decoration. Something to add to the mood and stlye, they are soft and pretty. To save money buy in season flowers or even silk ones can be very realistic now and last forever!
Reply:the importance of the flowers was to show fertility and all that wonderful medivel stuff.
Reply:May be the styles are chenging.
Reply:Just take an MP3 player with you to the wedding so you don't get bored!
Reply:I think flowers can be very important, I wish I had a bigger budget in general so I could get more flowers. I think they bring a freshness to the room and the colors can't be matched are are true beauty. I only spent 200 dollars on my dress and that included 110 in alterations! ( I love to find a good deal and this was it!) I'm using hydrangas and roses with a few other flowers and am doing it because i love the shapes and colors of these flowers. I think it really depends on the bride and her situation and knowledge of flowers and other aspects. Maybe if guys bought more flowers for their girlfriends then the girls would have more of an association between flowers and romance for a wedding!