When planning your wedding there are so many details to consider it's easy to get overwhelmed - but Kisses is here to help! Our mission is to be your online resource for expert advice bringing you valuable insider information just by visiting our site. And this post is all about flowers! From your bouquet to boutonnieres to arrangements for the ceremony and reception, flowers often serve as the signature of the bride and your very special day. To give you some helpful tips, Kisses consulted with Savannah Floral Designer, Colony Bay Florist so now you know what to keep in mind when selecting the flowers for your perfect day.

According to Susan Brown, owner of Colony Bay Florist and floral designer for 30 years, there are three main points to consider when choosing your flowers: color, style and texture. "Those three points help us focus on what will work best to complement the entire wedding day," says Susan, "but of course the fourth and perhaps most important is budget; we want to be sure to provide beautiful arrangements that still remain within budgetary requests."

Meeting with your florist should take place approximately six months prior to your wedding day if possible. At that first meeting you should bring the following items:

- A photo of your dress

- Date and season of your wedding

- Color of bridesmaid dresses (a fabric swatch if possible)

- Location information

You can also bring photos of any arrangements you have seen in magazines that you like, but you'll want to keep this piece of good advice in mind to ensure your utmost happiness on the big day, "Most importantly, brides must be willing to bend just a bit according to what flowers are in season and what can most closely replicate a photo if the exact flower is not availble." Often floral suppliers dictate what is and is not available as your wedding day approaches and if an exact flower you requested is not available, it's important to have a plan B in mind that both you and your florist agree on so there are no surprises and you have the perfect arrangements you envisioned. "We do our absolute best to give each bride exactly what she wants, but we also look at an arrangement as a whole, not just an individual flower, and ultimately it is our job to recreate the overall feel of the look rather than simply provide one particular flower type," adds Susan.

Trust is also a huge factor in the kind of floral experience you have. It's important to discuss your preferences and show pictures with your designer but you also must ultimately trust them to know what flowers will do best according to the season, the weather and the venue. "It's a huge responsibility to make a bride happy but we are thrilled to do it and always want to exceed expectations," Susan says with sincerity.

Perhaps trust is never more important than when planning a destination wedding and Susan has had quite a bit of experience when it comes to putting an out-of-town bride at ease. "We work with local wedding vendors on a routine basis and once we know we have a bride in common, we come together as a team to make the best recommendations as a network of dedicated professionals," comments Susan. And because the wedding industry is largely referral based, it is in the best interest of every vendor involved to always give 110% so that mutual referrals will continue.

In the end, flowers are a very important detail that can be thought of as the perfect accessory to your big day. The photographs may be the source of your biggest memories, but flowers are often a close second so choose with care and most of all - have fun!  Take a moment to look at the photos below from Colony Bay Florist as well as some other ideas from Savannah area wedding photographers to get you inspired!

Kisses for now!