Love Blooms In Bouquets

(CBS)  Flowers have been essential to weddings since Roman times when brides carried bunches of herbs to ward off evil spirits. Today's brides and grooms use flowers, not as omens but as symbols to reflect their personal styles.

On Tuesday, party and wedding planner Colin Cowie along with florist Peter Cunningham help Lauren Anderson and Craig Shand decorate for their big day.

The sky can be the limit when it comes to flowers for your wedding, but the average couple can plan on spending about 8 percent of their overall budget on flowers.

This covers the bride's bouquet, bridesmaids' bouquets, boutonnières, corsages, and ceremony/reception arrangements. How much you actually spend depends on a variety of factors such as the size and complexity of arrangements and whether the flowers are in season. You should have the florist show you arrangements at various prices so you can see the difference.

How to find a florist:

Get recommendations from friends, or call the American Institute of Floral Designers for referrals. If you've been to a wedding or a party with great flowers, ask the host who did them. Once you've selected a location, the wedding site manager may also have names to recommend.

You reserve your florist anywhere from three to six months in advance. Allow more time if you're getting married during a popular time, like June.

You should do some research before meeting the florist so that you know what kind of "designs" or flowers or colors you like.

You should ask the florist for his/her design philosophy - whether it's traditional, edgy or modern. You should see if it matches your view. And always request to see photos of past floral arrangements or live examples. Another important question to ask is if the florist is familiar with the wedding site.

These questions will help you find the best person for your wedding.

Styles:

Today, nearly anything goes. Strewn rose petals can replace formal centerpieces or a single calla lily can function as bridal bouquet.

As for reception tables, consider matching the centerpiece, bridal bouquet, and boutonniers. The following are some style suggestions:

• Traditional: It indicates a more formal, conservative style.
  
  
• Country: Looser arrangements, using "wildflowers" instead of more formal flowers such as roses.
  
  
• Modern: Modern is pretty much anything goes...you may use "cube" vases instead of "crystal" or incorporate produce in your arrangements. Modern is more "urban chic" --minimal and clean.

And to give the wedding a lovely, garden feel, decorate the arbor at the site of the actual ceremony.

Note: C&M Flowers provides azaela, Irish Moss, and wooden boxes for the arbor and flowers along the aisle.
Contact information:
105 West 28th Street
NY, NY 10001
212-244-0081