Add to it budget constraints and a myriad of styles, and you just might opt for walking down the aisle swinging your arms, rather than holding a bouquet. But what fun would that be? And keep in mind that flowers will wind up being one of your most beautiful accessories. Here are some tips to make choosing your perfect bouquet easy and fun:

A REASON FOR THE SEASON: Think hard about when you are going to be carrying those flowers. “Pick in-season blooms,” says floral designer Denise Herker of Leigh Florist in Audubon (856-547-1090; leighflorist.com). “You can get most flowers at any time, but the quality is never quite as good as when they are in season.” If you need convincing, think of the look of the first daffodils and tulips of spring, exploding out of the ground in yellows, whites, reds, and purples, or of crimson and orange chrysanthemums melding with the golds and reds of the changing autumn leaves. Bottom line: No one does it quite as well as Mother Nature.

WHEN THE PARTY’S OVER: Floral designer Michael Bruce of Michael Bruce Florist in Collingswood (856-854-6322; michaelbruceflorist.com) suggests asking yourself this question: “How important is it to have the bridal bouquet in reasonable shape at the end of the evening?” Bruce adds that, “Sometimes the most beautiful flowers are more ‘fleeting and ephemeral.’ For example, a bundle of white sweet peas or colorful poppies or stephanotis are more delicate than roses. For some brides, flowers lasting through the beginning of the reception are adequate, while others want perfection to the end of the night.” Your answer to this question will help decide your choice of blooms.

TRADITIONALIST OR TRENDSETTER? Are you drawn to all-white arrangements of classic wedding flowers like roses, lilies of the valley, or orchids? Or do a few big blossoms in bright colors, like shocking pink Gerbera daisies paired with blush-pink dahlias, catch your eye? Go with your instincts. Current wedding trends dictate that almost anything goes and it’s okay to be a little unique. However, there are a few things to keep in mind. “The color and choice of the gown material play into the composition of a bridal bouquet,” says Bruce. An ivory-colored spaghetti-strapped, slip dress in crushed taffeta, for example, will look great with a bundled bouquet of purple and pink-hued wildflowers, while a gleaming white, intricately beaded, silk princess gown may look best with a cascade of white calla lilies.

IT’S A TRUST THING: When it comes to choosing your bouquet and wedding flowers in general, Herker and Bruce agree: Find a florist with whom you feel comfortable and that you trust. Not only do they know flowers, but they can offer you suggestions and tips that are invaluable. Herker encourages brides to list what flowers they like and don’t like, the color ranges of their gown and their bridesmaids’ attire, and their preferred styles, but to also trust the florist’s judgment. “Be open to suggestion, open to the season, and flexible,” says Herker. “Sometimes gorgeous flowers come in at the last minute from a local farmer or grower.” A quick substitution can make your bouquet even more beautiful, fresh, and vibrant than you and your florist originally planned. Your florist is also knowledgeable about much more than flowers. For example, Bruce offers this sage advice: “Ever notice how so many of the bouquets you see in photographs are too big for the bride? Why is that? Typically, the bouquet stands between the bride and the camera lens. The bouquet is that much closer to the lens, so it appears much larger. Slightly downsize the bouquet. Though it may still appear bigger than it is, the downsized proportions will photograph better.” Great advice. Now, instead of an exercise in frustration, choosing your flowers will be like a walk among the daisies...or the dahlias...or the daffodils!

WHOEVER CAME UP with the slogan “Say it with flowers” was no dummy. The phrase was first used commercially in 1917 and now is a well-entrenched part of our lexicon. And for good reason: trees, flowers, and other plants have been used since ancient times to convey meaning. The lotus has long been associated with Buddha, while Hindus believe that the god Brahma was born from a golden lotus, representing mother earth. The rose’s meaning, one of the most enduring and beautiful symbols of love, can be traced back to Greek and Roman mythology. However, no place in history was the meaning and symbolism of flowers more revered than in the Victorian era where “the language of flowers” had its heyday.

During this period, flowers and herbs, often gathered into a small bouquet, wrapped in a lace doily, and tied with satin ribbon or presented in a ornate silver holder, were used to secretly say what a suitor may be too shy to say directly to the object of his affections. The giving and receiving of these bouquets, called nosegays or tussie mussies, became quite the pastime of discreet Victorian ladies and gentlemen. To decipher these secret messages, many types of flower dictionaries were compiled and published, offering lists of blooms and their meanings. However, the difference between joy and disappointment was based solely upon whether or not the receiver used the same book as the sender. Because of this, many flowers now represent several, sometimes contradictory, meanings.

This charming, romantic custom can be incorporated into today’s ceremonies, adding another layer of meaning to your wedding day. “We have definitely included rosemary in bridal bouquets—it’s traditionally considered a sign of remembrance and fidelity in Victorian terms,” says Sue Nairn Smith of The Romantic Garden in Morristown (973-898-7200; romanticgarden.com). She adds that the modern version of the tussie mussie is a unique alternative for mothers of the bride or groom to carry, instead of a corsage or wristlet.

Consider choosing several types of flowers and herbs to make a statement. What mother wouldn’t love to carry a small bouquet of snapdragons, sage, and yellow tulips (translation: gracious lady, strength, wisdom, great respect, and “There’s sunshine in your smile.”)?

White and delicate, sweet-smelling orange blossoms represent eternal love, marriage, and fertility, since it is one of the only plants that blossoms and bears fruit simultaneously. A floral must-have at Victorian weddings, Queen Victoria herself wore a wreath of orange blossoms in her hair and trimmed her wedding dress with the same.

Not only the type of bloom, but the color, plays a significant role in floral symbolism. John Villari of Delaware Valley Wholesale Florists in Edison (dvwf.com) agrees. “Colors of flowers relate to emotions, particularly in roses,” he says. A red rose is the singularly most recognized symbol for passionate love, while yellow can signify jealousy or friendship, and white represents innocence and purity.

So remember, on your big day, when emotions may overcome you and words may not adequately express what is in your heart, don’t stress—just let your flowers do the talking.

Flower Power:

The Victorians would swoon over this moss “purse,” filled with pink and purple roses and stephanotis, made by Donna O’Brien of Beautiful Blooms in Philadelphia. Below is a sampling of commonly accepted flower and herb meanings—some may surprise you!

Calla Lily: magnificent beauty
Daisy: innocence, loyal love, “I’ll never tell.”
Dill: lust
Freesia: innocence, trust
Forsythia: anticipation
Ginger: strength
Hyacinth: white—loveliness, “I’ll pray for you”; pink—playfulness, joy
Lavender: love, devotion
Marjoram: joy, happiness
Poppy: red—pleasure; yellow—wealth, success
Primrose: “I can’t live without you”
Ranunculus: “I am dazzled by your charms”
Rose: coral—desire; lavender—fascination; red and white together—unity
Stephanotis: marital love and happiness
Stock: bonds of affection, promptness, “You’ll always be beautiful to me.”
Tuberose: dangerous love and pleasure