Spending hours and hours looking for Melbourne wedding flowers ideas on Pinterest may be fun, but if you want your special wedding day to be a roaring success, you need to engage with a good florist & get down to business. Though you might consider choosing your reception flowers to be an easy process, there are certain traps every couple should be aware of.
Allergies to pollen & sensitivities to fragrant flowers can cause distress among some wedding friends and family. Here, we provide you with a list of flowers that will be perfect for your wedding day, and also a few popular flower types that you might want to keep clear of.
The only sniffling that you want to have happen at your wedding day is from happy tears at the ceremony, not from people reacting to your chosen flowers.
First, make sure to chat about your flower allergies (or those of your friends and family) with your florist before making choices for your centrepieces & bouquets. And the safest option is often greenery or you could even choose an alternative like fruit or fabric centrepieces.
Flowers Not To Pick For Your Melbourne Wedding Flowers
Though it is not a complete list, we have narrowed down the worst flower choices. Here is what they are & why they should not be used for your wedding.
Astilbe
The experts agree that astilbe can add a really nice pop of colour & texture to a bouquet, but it may not stay together throughout the wedding. This is another seasonal flower to keep clear of, as it does not do good out of the water & can wilt unexpectedly.
Calla Lily
Calla lilies are a gorgeous offshoot of the lily family. The flower is a delicate cup of solid white holding a rich yellow pistil. They are a great pick for a wedding flower; provided you won’t have any kids or pets at the ceremony. Beautiful as they are, calla lilies are really toxic, possibly fatal, if swallowed. If your little nieces & nephews or your aunt’s Pomeranian are on the guest list, calla lilies should not be.
Chrysanthemums
Chrysanthemums are cute little puffballs, as easy to look at as they are hard to spell. But they, along with goldenrod, are really bad flowers for allergy sufferers due to the huge amounts of pollen they exude. You might risk them at an open-air ceremony, but in an indoor environment, the sound of sneezes may drown out your wedding vows!
Daffodils
Bright daffodils look great in our fields, but they should not be used as wedding flowers because they can be harmful to other flowers. The professionals say they release a toxic sap that kills other spring flowers like tulips when they use the same water, so they are not the best pick for adding into table centrepieces either.
Daffodils, which have creamy yellow blossoms, are a gorgeous choice for a table centrepiece or ceremony arch arrangements. Just do not put them in the bouquet. Handling of daffodils can lead the way to contact dermatitis, or skin irritation, which is known as the “daffodil itch.” It can lead to a nasty rash on your hands which can spread if you wipe your eyes or face–definitely not a memory you would want to capture for your wedding photo album!
Hellebores
Hellebores may be synonymous with romantic charm & elegance, but this spring flower can be temperamental & wilts quickly. While it is a nice seasonal choice to add to the centrepieces, it is not always the best choice for a wedding bouquet.
Hydrangeas
Hydrangeas are fragile flowers that only last for about three hours without water. This makes them a really bad choice for wedding flowers. They might be good as table centrepieces for the wedding reception, where they can stay in the water, but they are a bad choice for boutonnieres & bouquets. By the time you get through the lead-up to the wedding & the ceremony itself, a hydrangea bouquet will not survive until photo time.
Lilacs
Lilac is a nostalgic & wonderful smelling spring bloom, but they are not great for bouquets because they do not continue to flower after harvest. They have woody stems that heaps of water, so they can become droopy quickly in wedding bouquets that are not in water most of the wedding day.
Peonies
Even though peonies can be one of the most sought-after wedding blooms, our experts generally don’t suggest using peonies in your bouquet. As Kim, owner of Wandin florist & gifts, points out, you will be putting down your bouquet frequently & peonies bruise easily-since peonies can be a pricy (even in the spring!), you would not want to see them damaged. If your heart is set on them having an appearance at the wedding day, Kim suggests choosing sturdier blooms for your bouquet & splurging on peonies for the centrepieces.
Poppies
There is no denying that poppies can provide a stunning contrast against a white bridal dress in wedding pictures; you should think carefully about using them. In Kim’s experience, the pollen can easily stain a bridal dress, which simply is not worth it.
Tulips
When you see tulips planted in a garden, you would think tulips are a tempting pick for your wedding day. They are available in a brilliant array of vibrant colours atop graceful, light green stems; it seems like they would be the perfect choice for a wedding bouquet. Unfortunately, tulips do not live long out of the ground–certainly not long-lasting enough to survive the whole day of the wedding. Those graceful stems will droop, the blooms will wilt & the petals will drop off. So it is best to leave the tulips in the dirt where they can thrive.
What Information You Need Before Picking Up A Bucket Of Flowers For The Wedding Flowers Melbourne Arrangements.
This has led to more & more brides inquiring about buying loose flowers in buckets to create flower arrangements for their wedding day.
Wedding Flowers Do Have Temperature & Humidity Needs
Another thing to consider with cooling areas for flowers is the relative humidity. Florist coolers are set to constant humidity & temperature. For instance, most different types of flowers require a temperature of 36-38 degrees & relative humidity of 90%; however, this temperature is too cold for tropical flowers such as birds of paradise, ginger, calla lilies & orchids, which require 50- to 55-degree temperatures.
Check out our wedding directory, Wedding Services Melbourne to book all your wedding suppliers in the one place.
Do Select Long-Lasting & Hearty Wedding Flowers Melbourne
Because you likely will not have a cooler to keep your wedding flowers Melbourne fresh, consider selecting long-lasting & hearty types for your flower arrangements. Some blooms fit the bill nicely, such as calla lilies, coloured orchids, daisies, mums, carnations, baby’s breath & bells of Ireland. Try to not use lilies, lisianthus, daffodils, tulips, gerbera daisies, gardenias, stephanotis, magnolias, lily of the valley, peonies, hydrangea, & certain varieties of roses.
Keep in mind that cut white blooms of all varieties tend to brown fast once in the open air, so there has to be a careful balance between storage time & wedding day. Using live plants as centrepieces on the wedding day is a fantastic way to avoid the complications that can come from not having a cooler. They can be potted well in advance & require very little design work.
Do You Have Helpers To Arrange Your Yarra Valley Wedding Flowers
Couples have so much on their plate in the lead up before the wedding. To have your wedding flower arrangements finished in the 24 hours prior to the wedding, you need to get someone to lend a helping help.
We do not recommend getting a parent or bridal party member, because they, too, will have lot’s of things to do.
Rather, choose some close friends or relatives who are “crafty” & have the time to lend a hand on the day. In fact, the more helpers, the better, because designing flowers can take a lot of time.
Do Buy Bucket Flowers From A Local Skilled Florist
When a skilled florist sells a couple of loose flowers or something that was named bucket flowers, we do heaps more work than putting them in water & handing the flowers to you. We make sure the blooms come in-store on Wednesday, but no earlier as we want them the freshest for a Saturday wedding reception day to start the processing. Every variety of flower has a different processing procedure to keep it’s freshness.
To give you an example, roses must have their stems cut & soaked at room temp for 30 minutes to 60 minutes, with the correct amount of flower food, then placed in the cooler to harden for another 60 minutes. If you want to have full, open rose heads for design purposes, they must later be unwrapped & set out at room temperature & placed back in the cooler to avoid over-maturing.
Some flowers, such as lilies, come from wholesalers with there buds tight, so they need to be left out for a larger period of time for the blooms to open & be de-pollinated. A skilled florist will take care of this little-known & difficult task for the couple. When you leave with your wedding flowers, they will be open, hydrated, conditioned, fed & ready to design.
Do Have Helpers To Design Your Wedding Flowers
Couples have so much on their plate the day before the reception. To have your reception flower arrangements completed in the 24 hours prior to the wedding, you need to enlist someone friends or relatives to help.
We don’t recommend relying on a parent or bridal party member, because they, too, will have heaps of things to do.
Rather, choose some close friends or relatives who are “crafty” and have the time to help out all day. In fact, the more helpers, the better, because creating flowers arrangments can take a lot of time.
Common Wedding Flower Mistakes To Keep Clear Of
As many married couples can tell you, choosing your wedding flowers is not an easy task at all, and there are a few common mistakes you can keep clear of with proper professional tips.
Lack of Research On Your Melbourne Wedding Flowers
Since you are reading this, it seems as if you have already avoided one of the common reception flower mistakes! But do not stop here. A lot of florists are shocked by how many couples who do not at least do some research before they shop. To begin, you should first look at various floral arrangements & saving photos of the ones you like most. While you probably do not want to replicate an exact design, it is a fantastic starting position for when you start talking to a florist.
Ignoring The Big Picture
It is easy to get sucked into focusing on one flower arrangement at a time, but overall each flower arrangement should flow in a cohesive theme & go with the rest of the reception. For example, think about the dresses your bridesmaids will be wearing on the day, the layout & decor of the venue & your surrounding view. It will be helpful if you take photos of these elements to show the florist for reference.
Only Using One Colour Flower
Monochromatic arrangements can look quite beautiful but do not be scared to go with a variety of colours. Even more so, do not try to match the colour of the flowers with the colour of your bridesmaids’ gowns. If all your tones are too much the same, the flowers will not stand out & will make for bland pictures.
Strongly Scented Flowers
Although most flowers have some kind of scent, some have stronger scents than other flowers. These super scented flower varieties may compete with food being served, but even worse, may make some of the friends and family uncomfortable. People are becoming much more aware & accommodating to guests with allergies. Flowers are no different, as their powerful fragrance may affect some guests, causing them headaches, or some other form of an allergic reaction. Avoid this mistake by picking flowers & plants that are less intense or even minimal-to-no scent.
No Budget
It is very easy to be excited by all the beautiful choices for wedding flowers. If you start chatting to florists about what you want but go into the appointment without a budget, you will probably get in over your head.
Before you meet with a florist, think carefully about how much cash you have to spend on flowers. Be realistic about costs. To give you an example of flower prices, about 10 per cent of the wedding budget is often spent on flowers.
Planning a reception can be expensive. More budget-friendly couples might think saving on the floral arrangements seems like a good idea. Some couples might even try to create their own, which can be disastrous, adding more stress & cost to the final event! So, if you do not have a bridesmaid or mother with flower arranging experience, save yourself the hassle & add flowers to the budget. And if you decide to go with a florist, providing them with the budget will make their job much easier.
Refusing Expensive Melbourne Wedding Flowers
Again, it is important to create a budget & of course, stick to it. But do not completely rule out all expensive flowers. Some may be more expensive buying them in singles, but as a bundle could save you cash, especially the larger blooms that cover more space.
Ignoring Tips From Your Florist Yarra Valley Florist
No doubt that most couples have their own vision, even if it is just an idea of what they think their floral arrangements look like. However, florists are experts & their opinions should not only be heard & considered but trusted, too. Even if you have a great idea of what you want, take the time to listen to your florist’s ideas & do not be afraid to ask questions.
Not Ordering Early Enough
Not all blooms are grown in your area. Blooms come from all over the world, which means you might need to allow for more time for certain blooms to arrive in time for your special day. Get your order in early and ensure everything is in on time.
Not Shopping Seasonally – Melbourne Wedding Flowers
Flowers that are in fashion in your area will be a lot cheaper than those that are not because they will not have to be shipped in from somewhere else. If you would like to make the most of your flower budget, choosing blooms that are in season is your best choice.
Flimsy Flowers
Some flowers can be a lot more flimsy than other wedding flower choices. For example, dahlias & peonies can not go massive periods without water, which means they do not work well in bouquets. To avoid flower choices that could potentially wither or die half way through the wedding, it is best to choose hardier varieties. Tropical flowers are a good choice or even any type of flower that comes from a bulb.
Not Thinking Outside of the Box
Although the bouquets, table arrangements & boutonnieres are common for receptions, a lot of couples do not think outside of that. There are many different ways the flowers used to decorate the wedding. For example, you can create pretty strands of garland, craft floral decor for wreaths, flower back drops, plants in pots & more. Do not be afraid to get creative!
If you have got friends and family that have allergy sensitivities, perhaps skipping real flowers is your best option. Consider paper flowers, Fake flowers or wooden roses to avoid allergies altogether. You can also go for something that is not floral at all. Flowers are not an absolute necessity, so make the choice that is correct for you and your family and friends. However, if you choose to purchase them, make sure you are up on your flower terminology.
There is heaps that can go wrong with wedding flowers, but if you trust the experts & go in with an open mind, there is even more that can go right. Remember, none of your friends and family will know if your wedding flower arrangements are not exact copies of the ones you saw in that wedding mag.
Pictures by T-One Image
Blog is written by Wedding Services Melbourne
