by Erika Armyn

Created on: January 20, 2009   Last Updated: January 21, 2009

Choosing Flowers For Your 2009 Wedding

When it comes to weddings, flowers are truly what make the event sparkle, and that statement has never been more true than it is now. The past decade has seen cutting-edge floral innovations and sensational new interpretations of line, style and color. Gone are the days of bashful bridal clutches springing with white daisies and baby's breath. Today's wedding flowers dare to venture far beyond prim and proper.

Something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue. We're going to see lots of new colors in weddings this year, and blue reigns in shades of aqua, sky and turquoise. Flowers in orange and apricot shades are making a comeback. Consider them if your bridesmaids will be dressed in that electric new blue. When working with analogous color schemes such as orange and apricot, plan on assembling flowers that have engaging textures, like parrot tulips, hydrangea, stock, and zinnias, for arresting eye appeal.

Two years ago, chocolate rose to the forefront as the "it" color for weddings, often paired with ivory, mint, and robin's eggshell blue. In 2009, gray is chocolate's surprising new successor. Dusty miller foliage will pull this subdued color into focus. You can incorporate it beautifully with the above-mentioned apricot shades, or with a medley of lilac shades and eggplant hues.

Every year, there is one flower, one superstar that seemingly every bride wants to give prominence, and this year, the calla lily is the belle of the ball. If you love the look of callas but don't want to blow your budget, the miniature calla is, naturally, your best option. Available in a dizzying rainbow of colors from lemon meringue to deep cabernet, these lilliputian callas are versatile and just as classy as their pricier cousin, the standard calla.

Monofloral presentations endure. "Less is more" is the prevailing attitude in 2009, and limiting wedding bouquets to one type of standout flower ties in well with keeping it easy and effortless. A simple hand-tied bouquet of those sweet miniature callas or Oriental lilies is charming and chic. By simplifying and staying with quality flowers, you can't go wrong.

On the other side of the coin, the Bohemian Garden approach is attracting attention from ladies looking for the ultimate anti-cookie cutter ceremony. Inspired by the varicolored and abundant bouquets rendered in 18th-century Flemish oil paintings, the Bohemian arrangements are full and textural, spilling over with motley color

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