Leslie Ray, owner of The Hidden Garden in the John Marshall Hotel, said the flowers a bride chooses should be dictated by the style of her dress and her wedding. Sit down with a florist and decide together what flowers will be best to achieve your look, with your budget and your location. Remember that the floral season in Virginia only lasts for four or five months and during the off season, everything is brought in from somewhere else. A bridal bouquet you see in a magazine can be replicated, but be prepared to pay the price. Traditional flowers that do well in bridal bouquets include roses, stephanotis, carnations, lilies and freesia.
Hydrangeas are extremely popular, but they run the cost up.
Gardenias don't do well in hot weather. Keep in mind the length of time you expect the flowers to look fresh out of water. Some photographers like to take pictures hours before the wedding, so you have to take that into consideration when choosing flowers. Bill Swineford, owner of Swineford Florist, said brides should count on having one or two flower arrangements in the church and more at the reception depending on the size of the wedding. One way to cut down on costs is to use the flowers from the church at the reception.