Everyone hopes to have a picture-perfect wedding day. Getting to that point takes untold amounts of time, money, energy and patience. Even the tiniest detail cannot be left unchecked, if we have any hope of eluding Murphy's Law. These days, brides-to-be must even consider potential allergic reactions to their flowers, in addition to the more traditional details. It's enough to crush the faint of heart.

The flowers for the church, the wedding party and the reception are a big item on the wedding plans list. If this goes wrong, it can be a real disaster. So many problems can crop up in this area: flowers not being delivered on time, not fresh, or not the flowers the bride ordered. Just try to send the flowers them back or get new ones when your perfectly orchestrated color scheme is ruined because the wrong colored flowers arrived. The ambiance of the wedding is ruined, and we probably have a bride in tears. Take certain precautions to avoid this disaster.

The first detail to be attended to is the color scheme you are choosing. Be sure to decide this well advance, or you will guarantee yourself a headache. You will usually base the colors of the flowers on the colors of the bridesmaids' dresses, so decide on that before you start to look at flowers. Stick to your color scheme and then pick flowers in that color scheme. Be definite about the color. Some flowers are available in just about every colors, while others are limited. Don't try to pick a specific type of flower, it may not work with that color scheme, just start with the color. Bring swatches and be ready to complement rather than match. Before that first crucial meeting with the florist, certain steps will prepare you.

Paying heed to the season is, of course, crucial. Certain flowers and/or colors are intrinsic to each season, and your florist will have to work within those limitations. The overall mood, too, must be considered. It's not enough to know that you're having a summer wedding. You need to discuss the type of wedding that you're planning to have, as well. For instance, a formal church wedding will call for statelier flower arrangements, whereas a wedding on the beach will need something far less formal.

Take your total wedding budget into consideration when you are planning the budget for your flowers. The rule of thumb is to spend ten to fifteen percent of your budget on your flowers. Anything higher will break the budget, or cause you to skimp on other more important items. Be sure to discuss your budget and its limitations with your florist at the very beginning. He is the expert, and can work with you to explore different ideas that will make your day perfect without breaking the bank.

You also have to consider the size of the bouquets for both you and your bridesmaids, the shade of your gown, if you are going to have an additional bouquet to toss, and the temperature of the season, if you will be outdoors for any length of time. (Many flowers react badly to very cold temperatures.) And as if that is not enough to worry about, you need to worry about pollen that may stain your gown. (For example, lilies should have stamens removed because of this problem.) Be flexible, and make sure you take the advice of your florist. He wants your day to be perfect too.