Wedding flowers are expensive! When they are delivered they are in perfect shape for you and your big day, but they still need taken care of so that they remain in great shape for your photos and ceremony!

When the bouquets are delivered they will typically be in some sort of easy transport contraption. For OKOTA Floral Design, we deliver the bouquets in a long box with holes cut to fit glass vases of water. It is so important to KEEP THEM IN THEIR WATER for as long as possible! If you are getting on the party bus take the box of vases with you on the bus. This way you can keep the bouquets in their vases without the worry of the flowers wilting, water spilling out the vases, vases tipping over, or the flowers getting smashed on a crowded bus.

You should take them out of their vases for pictures and then get them right back in their water. Be careful when you take them out of the vases that the stems do not drip on the bridesmaid dresses. Crotch level water drops are a bummer :)

When holding the bouquets there is a proper way to hold them for pictures, which your photographer should show you, but in case they forget I’ll just let you know now :) The trick is to tilt them towards the camera. This will make them look fuller, will show off the expensive forefront flowers, and will hide the stems and mechanics of the bouquet. When holding the bouquet your forearms should rest on your hip bones. Making the bouquet about belly button height. This is the proper height, as it doesn’t cover the details of dresses, or make it look like your flowers are covering your neck and face. Also note that some bride bouquets are one-sided, or they may have a more intricate shape to them (ie. diagonal waterfall, egg shaped, cascading). In these special cases your florist should explain to you the best way to hold your bouquet to get it’s most flattering angle, and an angle that will work best for you and your dress.

Whenever you’re not taking photos again, get those beauties in water, and keep them out of direct sun. A cool, dark place like a hallway is ideal. (Make sure it’s not a spot that is outdoors or totally freezing for my winter brides, and make sure it’s not directly next to an AC unit blasting and freezing the blooms closest to it).

Lastly, the boutonnières and corsages… especially the boutonnières, just remind those wearing them to be mindful. It’s easy to forget that you’re wearing flowers. It’s not something people typically do on a daily basis. It’s super easy for a groomsmen to take off his suit because he’s hot and toss his jacket on a chair, totally forgetting there’s a flower attached to that jacket. Once the reception rolls around it’s really okay, but you don’t want them mangled for the ceremony photos!

So, to recap…

When the flowers arrive:

Put them in a cool, darker area out of direct sun, but not next to a blasting AC vent, or in the freezing outdoors if it’s winter time
Keep them in water as much as possible, but be careful when you remove them from their water so they don’t drip!
Utilize the transportation method your floral delivery person used! It makes keeps them safer when moving place to place throughout the day.
When holding the bouquets for pictures tilt them towards the camera and hold them low. Brides pay special attention if your bouquet has a more intricate shape to hold it the way your florist will have explained to you.
Be mindful of boutonnières and corsages so that they stay in tact for at least photos and the ceremony.

What To Do With Your Flowers When They Are Delivered...