When planning your upcoming wedding, remember that the second most important detail that will stand out in all your photos is the floral arrangements (you are the most important detail, of course!). It is critical you select wedding centerpieces and bouquets that truly express your style. If it seems a little intimidating, relax. There are Internet sites, such as New York flowers, that provide literally hundreds of ideas to match the occasion.

You first should settle on the wedding's theme. Will it be casual or elegant? A few close friends or will you need charter buses. It's all good, and every couple does it a little differently. Once you have a theme in mind, your next decision should be a color scheme that highlights the theme. Informal weddings benefit from muted colors and pastels; rich, elegant affairs do better with saturated colors. Your primary and secondary colors will then dictate your flower selection. An insider tip used by professionals involves the Golden Ratio, which is 1.6 to 1. This ratio has withstood the test of time for architecture, photography, and the fine arts. Order flowers in your primary and secondary colors in this ratio. For example, if you are have a formal wedding with a lot of family, you might choose purple and red as your primary and secondary hues – order 16 gallons of purple flowers for every 10 gallons of red.

You will be simply amazed when the photographs come back and you realize how the Golden Ratio has worked for you! There will be a sense of color perfection that will subtly translate into memories of a perfect event.

Now that you have your colors and the approximate amounts of each, you need to order flowers and make actual flower arrangement selections. Work closely with your florist so that you satisfy your color requirements with the freshest, most in-season flower choices. A good florist can fashion beautiful centerpieces and bouquets from just about any combination of flowers and leaves, so don't get too hung up on one particular flower, especially if it is not in season. Rather, let your color palette guide your selections, and give your wedding florist the opportunity to use your colors to best effect.