The answer is, it is a little of each; these qualities come together to enacapture the human soul. It is for this reason that flowers are associated with love. Ever since Shakespeare compared his beloved to a rose, flowers have symbolized romance. That is why they are the focal point of one of the most important days of our lives: weddings.

Sweet pastels lend a delicate cornucopia of pinks, lavenders, blues and yellows. This deli- cate clutch of Roses, Hydrangea, Freesia and Gloriosa Lilies is reminiscent of flowers handpi- cked from a garden in springtime. Silk rosettes echo those of the blossoms.

Here are some things to consider when working with floral arrangements before and after the celebration:

• Your choice: what do you want? It’s your wedding. Before you listen to anyone else’s opinion, ask yourself and your fiancé what flowers you would both like to use. Is there any type of flower in particular that is memorable to you as a couple? Or is there a color that has a special meaning in your relationship? You will find it helpful to know what you want as this helps limit your choices to the ones that really count.

• Do the research. When choosing a florist, seek recommendations from friends and recently married acquaintances. Add to your options by searching the Net or visiting the shops of reputable florists to see their displays. When you have gathered enough ideas for – and pictures of – floral arrangements, you can start deciding how you would like yours to look. Feel free to use your imagination; combine ideas from your own research with your own ideas.

• Look for bargains. Florists get their flowers from wholesalers. Think of how much you could save if you purchase the flowers for your wedding from a wholesale flower supplier. Have the arrangements done before your wedding. Doing your own flower arrangements will give your wedding a personal touch you can be proud of. But before letting your hands do the work, you may find it useful to read some books on the craft of arranging flowers, or ask around for tips and hints.

• Availability of flowers. Since several varieties of flowers are grown in greenhouses and are imported from other parts of the world, you can get them even if they are not in season. However, choosing seasonal flowers is a wise decision since these flowers are expected to be fresher and less expensive than those out of season. But if you are determined to use a certain variety that is out of season around the planned date of your wedding, bear in mind you may have to reset the altar date according to when the flowers you wish to have our available. Otherwise, be prepared to pay more for the flowers.

• Be aware of holidays. Don’t set the date of your wedding on days when the demand for flowers is high – such as Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day – since this means that the prices for flowers will soar, and there is the possibility that the flowers you want won’t be available.

Other sensible ideas:

Have a garden wedding. Cut down on expenses by choosing an outdoor location, preferably a garden filled with flowers, for the ceremony. There will be little or no need to obtain more flowers for ornamentation, and you will only need flowers for you and your entourage. In addition, when the rites are through, the reception can be held at the same venue!

Explore other options. You can use other items aside from floral decorations and still achieve a dramatic effect. You can opt for candles, which are romantic, and at the same time, economical. Fruits can serve as a creative and meaningful centerpiece, and can be very functional, too.

Recycle. Arrange to have the flower arrangements at the church taken to the reception. Another practical, and symbolic, idea is to decorate the church and reception area with potted plants, since you can bring them to your new home, where they will blossom.

Preserve. Preserving your bouquet can give you much fulfillment, and create additional memories for an already memorable event. Here are some hints for preserving your bouquet.

1 Let the bouquet dry as is, or take each stem apart if you want to turn pressed flowers. You can make pressed flowers by keeping each stem inside a book until it has dried. (Don’t forget to protect the book pages with special paper!)

2 Make a replica of bouquet using silk flowers.

3 Save the parts of your bouquet that can still be used as cuttings from which new plants can grow.