3 Tips for Finding The Right Flowers for Your Wedding

Guest Blogging with Eli of Majestic Images

Ask any bride, and she will tell you that her flowers are one of the most important parts of the wedding. She has spent hours, days, or even years picking out exactly what kinds and colors of flowers should be in her bouquet, at the ceremony, and on the tables at the reception. But how do you know that the flowers you choose will look their best immortalized in your wedding photos? Eli Allen {founder of Majestic Images in Philadelphia} and his good friend, Carl Alan {from Carl Alan Floral Design in Philadelphia} have some rules of thumb:

Above Photo Courtesy of Carl Alan Floral Design

1. Make sure the flowers arrive at least an hour before the photographer. One of the worst situations I ever found myself in was when I arrived to take photos of the bridal party and there were no flowers!  We took some photos without the bouquets, but the bride and her attendants didn't know what to do with their hands.  They stood around awkwardly and you could tell in the photos that they weren't comfortable.  When the flowers finally did arrive, we wasted 30 minutes looking at them and then getting the girls lined up again.  On the day of the wedding, there's just no time for that.

2. Pull back on the right colors. Too many times, I've worked with brides that wanted a whole slew of really bright colors in their bouquets. While tempting, it creates a situation where the flowers totally dominate the shots and the bride's pretty face becomes the secondary focus. If you really like bright colors, incorporate them into your reception decor. Or choose one or two for the bouquet surrounded by other, more subtle flowers.

Above Photo Courtesy of Eli Allen, Majestic Images

3. If you're petite, skip the cascade. A cascading bouquet can be really beautiful with the right dress and the right bride. But if you're on the smaller side, resist the urge. Cascading flowers totally overwhelm short or thin brides, making them look even shorter and thinner. This sort of bouquet can also completely block the petite bride's dress.

Eli Allen, founder of Majestic Images in Philadelphia, has been a photographer for more than 30 years.