The main focal attraction at your reception, other than the bride and groom, are your flowers!  Many utah wedding venues require that clients use their own floral shop, but Western Garden’s two reception centers believe in giving the bride full freedom in who she wants to do her flowers.  We recommend, but don’t require, Hillside Flowers. Whether you choose a professional or do your flowers yourself, be sure to read these top 10 tips to know and remember as you plan your beautiful celebration!

1.  The Basic Wedding Flowers – bride’s bouquet, groom’s boutonniere, corsages for mothers, boutonnieres for fathers.

2.  Beyond the Basics for Wedding party – Maid of honor’s or matron of honor’s bouquet, bridesmaids’ bouquets, best man and groomsmen’s boutonnieres, hair piece and rose petals for the flower girl or girls.

3.  Reception Floral needs – table centerpieces, simplified bouquet for the bridal bouquet toss, flowers on a guest book table, and cake flowers.   Floral arrangements for a food buffet table may be considered. 4.  Your theme and colors often can be incorporated in the flower selection process.  Consider the types of flowers, colors, ribbons, greenery and accents to be used.  Your flowers will reflect your personality to your guests.  A bridal bouquet is the final touch of the bride’s gown completing the look.  Flowers also help capture the theme of a wedding albeit romantic, elegant, rustic, modern, extravagant to simple.  Whether you choose unconventional orchids to classic roses, your flowers will communicate to your guests a lot about you.

5.  Keeping the flower budget reasonable can be done by remembering that it is less expensive to select in-season flowers and if possible, flowers that are locally grown.  You may need to improvise and compromise to work with the flowers and colors in the season of your wedding, but this may help you afford more flowers for your beautiful day or help you spend more money in another area that is more important to you.  Being open-minded and willing to work with your florist can save a lot of headache and money. 6.  Considering your reception venue is important too.  Utah reception centers that already have some live greenery, won’t need as much floral design as a venue with only walls and floor.  Brides that book with Atrium Weddings and Ivy House at Western Gardens discover that they don’t have to spend as much on floral decorations as at other Salt Lake City wedding venues. This tends to please whoever is paying the bill.

7.  Choosing a florist that will assist you for both the ceremony wedding venue and the wedding reception center for your celebration.   This will help you deal with one single florist who can create one cohesive theme for your entire day.  These professionals guide and advise you about the best flowers to suit your needs.  Another technique is to supplement flowers with additional less expensive greenery, feathers, pearls, or artistic elements. 8.  Don’t forget to ask about vases.  Do you rent them from your florist?  Do you purchase them with the cost of the arrangements?  This is important to know as some brides send floral arrangements home with guests or wedding party members as a gift.

9.  Who does the setting up of the floral pieces?  Is this included in the price?  Do you need to arrange for a friend to pick up and set up the flowers?  Do you get a discount if you do arrange a friend to do this part for you?  If the vases are rented, how do you return them after the event?  Does the florist come take down the floral arrangements?   It is very important to know these details ahead of time.

10. Many brides dry or preserve their bridal bouquets. Ask if your florist provides this service.  Inquiring ahead of time and planning ahead will help preserve the bouquet while it is still vibrant and fresh.

Flowers are a vital part of your Utah wedding celebration.  If you choose one of Western Garden’s two wedding reception venues in Utah,  you can use their recommended florist or use your own.  Some brides have an aunt or a dear friend that love to do flowers and that is fine with us.  But whether you choose us or one of the many Utah wedding venues that require using their in-house florist, take heed of these 10 tips for a less-stress wedding day!