October is almost here – it’s the new wedding month, you know – one of the busiest months of the year for florists.

Your florist has a world of flowers to choose from. Giving them the freedom to design all the pieces you need (within your budget) using their artistic discretion to choose what flowers and how many blooms per item – will serve you well in the long run.

Florists handle perishable goods which are affected by unforeseen conditions in growing, transportation, supply and demand. They can request a specific breed of flower for you but they really have no control over whether they receive that request – or what stage of growth or condition it is in when it arrives.

Usually everything runs smoothly but you’d be wise to let your florist understand the overall look you want for your day and then let them choose the best of what’s available on the global market during your wedding week – rather than have them searching the world for a specific flower that may not be the best for you.

This hand-tied bouquet of white hydrangea and Polar Star white roses was planned to be a dozen roses but the blooms were so large that 12 roses would have overpowered the hydrangea and would have been one heavy bouquet to carry for hours on end. Nine roses did the trick and the unused roses could be added to other designs to make them fuller.

Here the bouquet is accented with fall leaves and placed in an ivory ceramic pot with a water reservoir so the flowers can continue drinking. It can be displayed at the reception and the container can become a keepsake for the bridesmaids to hold onto.

Trust your floral provider to design coordinating pieces with colors and textures that offer a feeling of continuity between the floral designs and the other elements of your wedding. Here’s a not so often seen vertical centerpiece that coordinates with the bouquets, fills lots of space at the reception, and still allows guests to see each other while dining.

Before your wedding day think about how the flowers will be used throughout the day – where they will be seen the most – your florist can help you maximize your displays.

And think about what will happen to the flowers at the end of your reception. If you are having next day festivities your flowers can enhance that gathering. If not, you can plan to give them away at the end of the reception – to designated people who are special to you, or to random winners by placing a note, coin, or sticker under a chair, place setting or cup.

By trusting your floral provider, making them your partner in planning, letting them in on the overall desires for your special day, and then giving them the leeway to bring the best of themselves and their work to you – you and your guests will be surprised and delighted by the beauty that surrounds on your wedding day.