When it comes to planning a wedding, there are tons of factors that brides need to consider: The date; the venue; the music; the décor; the food… But, of all of these things, there are two that most brides consider the most important – The dress and the flowers.

If the dress is the centerpiece of the wedding, the flowers are the accessories that make it bring a bride’s entire look together. Therefore, choosing flowers that work with the wedding gown is crucial. The flowers not only help to accentuate the bride’s look, but they also add ambiance and color to the affair.

If you are a bride who is trying to find the perfect flowers to match your wedding gown, here are some tips that will help you choose the best blooms to make you look absolutely radiant on your special day.

Consider the Shape and Size of Your Bouquet

The shape and size of your bouquet will play an important role in the way you look on your wedding day. You want it to enhance the gown, not overshadow it. For example, if the skirt of your dress is embellished with elaborate details, avoid a cascading bouquet that will cover up the details. On the other hand, if you have a long train or a bustle, but the front of your gown features less details, you may want to balance the look with a dramatic bouquet.

Consider the Flowers that are in Season on Your Wedding Day

No matter how much you may want to have a certain type of flower, you may have to accept that you won’t be able to have that specific type of flower for your wedding. Certain flowers just aren’t available at certain times of the year; for example, if you want hydrangea for a winter wedding, you may not be able to get it, since it is a summer flower – or, if you can get it, it may be extremely expensive. Knowing what types of flowers are available during the season your wedding falls in will allow you to avoid disappointment or paying a hefty price tag.

Take the Color of Your Wedding Dress into Consideration

Though your gown may be ‘white,’ there are so many different variations of this shade – cream, ivory, pure white – that color of your gown really does need to be taken into consideration when choosing your flowers. And, if you are opting to go non-traditional and wear a colored gown, such as pink, blue or even red or black, you want to take the color of your gown even more into consideration.

If your wedding dress is pure white, for example, pure white flowers will fade into the background of the gown and won’t make a statement. In order to make your flowers stand out, you might want to choose a more noticeable color, such as red, bright pink, purple or orange. On the other hand, if your gown is a different shade of white, or you are wearing a certain color, such as red or pink, white flowers will actually pop against the colorful background.

Take the Style of Your Wedding Dress into Consideration

Are you wearing a dress that is extremely formal, such as a ball gown or a mermaid gown? Or, are you going to be wearing something that is a bit less formal, such as an A-line or an empire waist dress? The formality of the gown really does need to be taken into consideration when choosing the best flowers to go with your attire.

Just like the style of a gown denotes its formality, so does the style of a flower. For example, roses and iris’ are generally thought to be more showy flowers, and as such, are better suited for a formal gown. However, flowers like daises and lilies are a bit less formal and would work well paired with a less formal gown.

In the end, the type of flowers you pick for your wedding really depends on your personal preference; there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ flower to pick. As long as you are happy with your selection, your wedding day will be absolutely breathtaking.