WeddingGuideUK.com - Choosing Your Flowers

Who keeps the key to the church
What equipment the church has, e.g. pedestals or other containers
Where the water source is
Where the rubbish is put and where cleaning equipment is kept, e.g. dustpan and brush
The times that access will be available to the people who will be decorating the church.

It is a difficult task to decide the number of flowers that are needed per arrangement. If you come across pictures of arrangements similar to the ones you intend to design, try counting the heads of flowers to give you a rough idea. It is in this area, as well as others, that some prior knowledge, or a skilled friend can be useful. When working out the quantity of each flower that you will need, break down individual arrangements into sections, to help you calculate the amounts required:

The focal flowers - these are the key flowers to which the eye is drawn.
The transitional flowers - these are the 'fill-in' flowers, which pad out the arrangements, usually smaller than the focal flowers.
The foliage - this is the greenery which complements the flowers.

Once you have designed the arrangements that you would like for your celebrations, sorted out the containers and floral content, you will need to purchase your flowers and foliage. Once bought, immerse the cut ends of flowers and greenery in water overnight, to stop them drying out. Try to keep the flowers as damp as possible, and make sure that any oasis used is well soaked. Give the blooms a good dose of flower food before the wedding, and remove damaged and unwanted leaves. Once your arrangements are in position, spray them periodically with water to stop them from drying out.

Some brides employ a florist to do the major arrangements, but make the buttonholes and corsages themselves. The amounts of flowers required are simpler to calculate, and the florist may be able to supply you with the flowers for you to arrange yourself. To make your own buttonholes and corsages, follow these simple steps:

Cut the flower to leave a stem of about 5cm/2inches.
Thread thick florist's wire through the base of the flower/top of the stem.
Push the flower about two-thirds of the way along the wire.
Bend the wire so that both ends are parallel with the stem of the flower.
Wind the longer end of wire around both the stem and the shorter strand of wire. Wrap green gutta tape around the stem and wiring.

Foliage or other flowers can be added after preparing them in the same way, and then tape the arrangements together with more gutta tape. To give leaves some support, use wire to make a small, horizontal stitch in the central vein at the back. Draw both ends of the wire down into the shape of a hairpin parallel to the stem, then twist one of the wires round the other end of the stem, and bind gutta tape around the stem.