Flowers in all forms and colors add unique texture and enhance the mood of weddings. Whether it is in the church or reception, fresh wedding flowers are a great way of adding color and magic to an existing theme and location. Here are some ways you can use fresh wedding flowers to add elegance and magic to your wedding:

1. In the church, tie a bouquet of flowers by each pew so that when you march down the aisle, the scent of the flowers waft through the air and enhance the mood of the ceremony. Make sure to plan the colors of the bouquets to compliment the theme of your wedding.

2. Scattering rose petals on reception tables is a great way to design them and add a romantic feel. White rose petals will go with any color theme you have.

3. The bridal bouquet should be the highlight of all fresh wedding flowers. It should be more elaborate than those of the bridesmaids’, but unique enough to reflect the personality of the bride. Use soft lace to tie them together.

If your wedding is more casual or “do-whatever-you-want-to-do” type, holding a single stem of a nice, tall flower is also a good way of using fresh wedding flowers.

4. The use of fresh flowers can also enhance the look of the bride on the wedding day, by tying small flowers to her hair.

5. If you are having a beach or Hawaiian themed wedding, using fresh wedding flowers of Hibiscus or Plumeria, add to the beach feeling. Roses are more appropriate for formal weddings.

6. Use a 4 inch elegant satin ribbon to tie bouquets of fresh flowers to the back of chairs at the reception. This adds an elegant, romantic feel.

7. Casual weddings can make use of open, more colorful flowers such as daisies and carnations. Formal weddings can make use of the elegant feel that closed flowers such as lilies and roses add.

8. Flowers make a great centerpiece paired with candles. You can use large tall flowers in a simple glass vase for a minimalist design, or have shorter more elaborate combinations of flowers, depending on your location and theme. You can also combine both by putting a tea light in the center while using short flowers in vases to form a circle around it. One can be more dominant than the other, such as using taller candles and fewer flowers, or vice versa.

Couples focus on varying things in their weddings. Some will spend an exorbitant amount of money on flowers while others want to spend it on their invitations. Still more like to focus on crafting a certain theme or ambiance. The type and amount of flowers you use depends on what is most important to you.

There are other things you’ll want to think about to help you choose how much or how little you should invest. Do a site inspection with your florist for your ceremony and reception site. Keep in mind that you spend the most time at your reception site (unless they’re one and the same) so you should not invest an extravagant amount of money on the flowers for the ceremony. Unless, of course, you bring those arrangements and decorate the reception site as well. If the setting for your ceremony is a lush area with naturally beautiful flowers and foliage, you might just want to line the aisle with rose petals and decorate a few chairs. If your ceremony is indoors and very classy, flowers can dress it up and add some color.

The types of decorations, favors and centerpieces you choose can vary from simple to elaborate or sometimes none at all. Like many aspects in a wedding, there is no right or wrong way to decorate. Frequently, the more creative you are, the more enthusiastic you become about this part of your wedding planning. If you run out of ideas, wedding expos, magazines and online wedding sites are terrific for recommendations. When all else fails, keep it simple! You can either create your own favors and centerpieces, pay someone to do it for you or buy them pre-made.

Here are some tips to get you started:

1. Get a written estimate from your florist of the overall expense, along with payment dates and amounts.

2. If you’re looking for ways to reduce costs, concentrate your wedding funds where they will get the most attention (head table, etc.).

3. Lining the aisle with loose flowers is an economic method to add color and charm to the ceremony site. Plumeria, orchids and rose petals are all affordable options.

4. Have your florist use ribbons and other classy materials to add style and help lower the cost of flowers.

5. Be aware of busy flower seasons like proms and heavy wedding seasons. Make sure that your preferred flowers are in season.

6. Make sure your flowers arrive before any pictures are taken.

7. If you’re trying to reduce costs, think simple. The fancier the flowers and designs, the more you’re going to pay.

8. Ensure that the florist packed straight pins for the men’s boutonnières.

9. Think about silk flowers as a cost-effective alternative to regular flowers.

10. Use the arrangements and other pieces from the ceremony site for decor at the reception site.

11. Check out your your florist well. Do they have photos of previous weddings they’ve decorated? Do they have wedding bouquets or arrangements in the store that you could examine? Is the florist able to make pieces that will fit in the style and budget of your wedding? Is there an extra cost for on-site setup?