Merry Brides: Jun 20, 2007

CL) - Some say that a wedding without flowers is like a birthday without a cake. Without a doubt, flowers frame and enhance a marriage celebration in a very special way. But not everybody thinks this way, and many couples prefer to save on the cost of flowers and invest that money in the honeymoon. It is a question of taste or-in some cases-of limited budget.

Sometimes people try to save some money by buying the flowers, preparing the flower arrangements, and decorating the church and reception area by themselves. Although not a bad idea, it is simply not worth the risk for such a special and memorable event as a wedding.

It is highly advisable that a professional florist be hired to prepare the flower arrangements and decorate according to his or her judgment. Remember that flowers are delicate and demand certain conditions in order to remain fresh. Professional florists have the necessary equipment for this task.

In order for your flowers to stay fresh, they must be prepared on the day of the wedding. Will you and your family have the adequate time to carry out all this heavy work, and also make the bride look beautiful, radiant, and refreshed for the wedding? Almost certainly not, and trying to achieve this may turn into a nightmare and lead to bad memories of this unique day in your life. The only exception might be if the flower arrangements are so simple that they do not require professional labor.

Once you decide to hire a florist, there is a series of steps to be followed before dealing with him or her. The florist must be hired and notified at least four months before the wedding in order to ensure that he or she is available on the wedding day, as well as to give you enough time to discuss the details. Here are some timely, practical, and useful tips for making this important decision:

· If you are planning a wedding on a budget, you should get several estimates or quotes from various suppliers, including a breakdown of what items are included in the cost. There are many items that, although part of the decoration, do not belong to the bride and groom once the event has finished, such as candlesticks, vases, amphoras, tablecloths, and cutlery, among other things. Decorators often lend these items, or they may rent them. Therefore, if the bride and groom want their guests to be able take the centerpiece or flower arrangement home with them, they should make sure that they will not have to pay an additional amount later on.

· Select the florist through friends or family references.

· If you do not know the florist and do not have any references, you should ask for samples with pictures of decorations and flower arrangements from previous weddings. This will help you judge the type of work of which the supplier is capable, and samples will reveal his or her taste, talent, and-even more importantly-the quality of his or her work.

· In order to get a better picture, you should ask for the contact information of other couples who have hired this florist before. This will enable you to get references from a closer, more direct source.

· Most florists are willing to do some practice floral arrangements before the wedding, according to the bride and groom's taste and the details agreed upon.

· Do not forget to ask for recommendations regarding color combinations and flower selection. Remember that many flowers are seasonal and often more expensive if purchased outside their season.

Likewise, try to select flowers that tend to stay fresh and attractive longer

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