Like music, flowers play a major part in setting the tone for your wedding.

You will most likely be shocked and amazed at the sheer volume of flowers it takes to adorn a wedding. Even more amazing is the cost, especially since you're probably only used to buying small bouquets from a local florist or grocery store. But the right botanical display is a breathtaking addition to a wedding.

More than decoration, the flowers you choose for your wedding symbolize all of your hopes for marriage -- love, friendship, abundance, and passion. But deciding which flowers to use can feel like an impossible task; it pays to enlist the help of a professional to help you sort through the possibilities and bring your vision to life.

Even if you plan to arrange your own flowers, it's still a good idea to consult a knowledgeable wedding florist who can offer advice and provide flowers that are not readily available to you. In addition, florists with wedding experience will know about the little things you might overlook -- from petals for the flower girl to scatter to powder-room arrangements to an extra, smaller posy for the bouquet toss.

If you prefer to hire a professional to help you conceptualize and execute the entire look of the wedding, consider finding an event designer, who is to a wedding what a decorator is to a house. With an event designer, you can rest assured that no detail will be forgotten.

When to Begin

A year ahead is not too soon to start exploring your options. Talk with recently married friends about their experiences, and ask your caterer or banquet manager for recommendations. You can also visit local flower shops to get an idea of different florists' work.

Budgeting for Flowers

It is common to allocate up to 6 percent of the total wedding budget to flowers, but you may choose to spend more or less, depending on your priorities. When you meet with florists, be honest about your budget from the very beginning.

The florist should be able to give you a good idea of what can be accomplished within your budget and offer you helpful advice and alternatives if your requests are unrealistic. If you're not satisfied with one estimate, shop around; prices can vary widely among vendors.

Meeting with a Florist

Your initial appointment with a potential florist should be dedicated to reviewing his/her work and discussing your vision for the wedding. Look at photos of weddings they've done before. If all the arrangements are spare and you prefer an abundant look, or if you're thinking of casual wildflower bouquets and the florist's work is very formal, keep shopping. In explaining your vision, it's helpful to have some pictures to avoid misunderstanding. Use our Florist Selection Worksheet to record the results of your initial meetings.

Very often, florists follow up these meetings with their proposals for the wedding; at this point, you should be able to decide who best suits your needs and budget. Once you agree to hire a florist and reserve the date, the next step is the actual planning.

Use the Florist Worksheet to record the contact information for the florist you select.

Deciding on the Details

If you are lucky enough to start planning a full year ahead, this is a great time to see the flowers that will be in season for your wedding, to have a sample bouquet made, and to discuss color schemes. The details can wait until a few months before the event.

Schedule planning meetings with your florist at the ceremony and reception locations. If visits to the sites aren't possible, have photos on hand instead so that you can discuss what will best complement what is already there. You may want flowers at the altar only, or around the doorway and marking the rows of seats as well. For the reception, make sure the centerpieces aren't too tall, or your guests won't be able to see one another while dining. For buffet tables, choose less fragrant flowers so that the scent doesn't compete with the food. Also, if you want flowers on your wedding cake, ask your florist to work with your baker so that everything coordinates.

Bouquets and corsages should complement the attire of the wedding party and featured guests, so provide your florist with swatches of fabric from the wedding gown and bridesmaid dresses, as well as an idea of what your mothers and grandmothers will be wearing.

The bridal bouquet dictates the colors and styles of posies and boutonnieres. Your attendants should have coordinating blooms for a processional. The flowers needn't be perfectly matched, as long as a common element unites them.

The Flowers Checklist will help capture decisions that are made during these meetings.

Extras

During your meetings, establish what other decorations the florist will provide. Some only handle flowers and accessories such as ribbons and vases. Others, especially event designers, may provide candles, light fixtures, and even aisle runners and table linens.

Wedding Day Procedure

Look ahead to the day of the wedding, and discuss who will be on hand to oversee the flowers' delivery and setup. Will the florist be there personally or send a trusted assistant? You might want to designate a friend or relative to supervise the deliveries, as well as the transport of flowers from the ceremony to the reception, if necessary. If you're getting married over a holiday, check your florist's delivery policy: Is the shop closed on that day? Can you arrange for delivery the day before and store the arrangements in a refrigerator at the ceremony and reception sites? Remember to ask that all bouquets, corsages, and boutonnieres be labeled so there is no confusion. Also, if your photos will be taken before the ceremony, have the florist deliver the flowers early.

To ensure proper placement at the ceremony and reception location prepare a "floral floor plan" detailing the location of each arrangement and decoration. Label each arrangement beforehand so florist and helpers will know what goes where.

Signing the Contract

Once the plans are made, you should have a chance to accept or revise the florist's final proposal. You should also always get a signed contract listing prices and specifying:

• © Details such as delivery and setup information; who will oversee the process; the dates, times, and locations for delivery; and the expected condition of the flowers (flowers should be fresh, blooms open).

• © Any unacceptable substitutes: If you don't want any orange flowers, or if you dislike daisies, the contract should indicate that.

• © Any accessories or decorative elements the florist is responsible for should be clearly defined, as should the delivery, setup, and cleanup of these.

• © Any deposit requirements and the payment schedule. Most vendors will ask for some amount, often 50 percent, at the signing of the contract, with the remainder due a week or two before the wedding.

You should request that the contract include an itemized breakdown, specifying the price of every bouquet and arrangement and the number and type of flower in each. This is a safe option. However, you might choose to leave the arrangements a bit loose to enable your florist to take advantage of spectacular flowers in the market the weekend of your wedding and make substitutions to include them. This will also free you from making every decision at a time when you have plenty of other things to think about.