Where Have You Looked?

A few months ago, I was talking with a bride-to-be who was lamenting the fact that she could not find the exact look she wanted for her wedding and wedding reception. None of the flowers, floral arrangements or decorations that she had found in her colors were what she really wanted to use. I asked her where she looked for ideas, and she shot back a look at me that seemed to say, “Well aren’t you stupid.” Of course she had poured over bridal magazines and consulted a florist and even a wedding planner and bridal consultant. None of that had helped in her quest for what she considered the perfect flowers and decorations for her wedding.

Perhaps she wasn’t really asking for my advice. After all, it had been many years since I had a huge formal wedding. But since I have planned many large events myself over the years – for church, for clubs and for sales organizations – I couldn’t help but offer these ideas for finding the right flowers or decorations.

To find flowers:

1) Look through seed catalogs. The pictures there are always great places to find what flowers might be available.

2) How about garden magazines? They always show all kinds of plants and flowers and how they might be used inside and outside the home.

3) Decorating magazines or regional magazines often have floral arrangements in the pictures of dining or living rooms, or even in the bathrooms. Have you looked at those?

4) If you have time, why not visit a few model homes? Their designers often have created some beautiful arrangements.

To find other decorations:

1) Those garden and decorating magazines might help here as well.

2) Again, visiting model homes might help. Or, does your town have a design center where all kinds of local remodeling contractors, designers, and construction type vendors have showcased their ideas and wares in one location? Some towns have these, and they’re great places for finding ideas, samples and color swatches.

3) And regular women’s magazines – the ones usually read by your mother, your aunts or grandmothers and found near the grocery store check-out line – often have decorating ideas in them. Who knows? You might just find something there. (You don’t have to admit to finding what you want in magazines whose readership is over 35!)

Still not finding what you’re seeking? How about contacting a local art school and asking for some help? The teacher might recommend a student who could sketch a few of your ideas, and that would help you present them to your florist or wedding planner.

Just remember this:

1) Bridal magazines and bridal consultants are not the only sources of information about flowers and decorations for weddings or other celebrations.

2) It’s your wedding, and that means you’re the one(s) who should have the final say in what flowers and decorations you use, even if it means doing something no one else has ever done.

Haven’t found what you want for your wedding décor? Well, where have you looked? Don’t give up until you’ve looked everywhere!

Marilyn Mackenzie has been writing about home, family, faith and nature for over 40 years.

This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.Prye.Com/ which is a site for Wedding Invitations.