Year after year, millions of excited brides-to-be leaf through pages of glossy bridal magazines and scour the internet in search of fabulous ideas for their fairy tale wedding. Narrowing down choices takes away half the wedding day stress. Even picking the perfect colors can be a chore, but finding inspiration does not have to be difficult. Listed below are some wedding ideas and tips to help ease the minds of brides and grooms as they march down the aisle on their way to happily ever after.

Flowers

Flowers are a major asset to any wedding. From floral arrangements to the bridal bouquet, only the most extraordinary blooms will do. A lot depends upon the venue and style of gowns to be worn. Brides must be careful not to choose a bouquet that is overpowering. After all, the wedding gown is just as much a centerpiece or focal point as anything else. In fact, it is one of the most anticipated items guests are eager to see. The bride’s gown cannot be seen in its full glory if it’s hiding behind a bunch of petals and baby’s breath.

For the bouquet, cascades are popular and traditional picks while blossoms with lots of foliage left on the stems are deemed romantic. However, for a more modern and sophisticated touch, simple can also equal elegant. Long, clean stems wrapped in ribbon with a single bloom such as calla lilies are an excellent choice, plus they work well as an arrangement inside the church, reception hall or any other wedding venue. Aside from budget restraints, consider the space and style of the venue to determine how much to use or how to make the floral décor stand out. Many floral designers recommend that brides carry two bouquets – one for the ceremony and one for the reception.

Lots of brides opt for their favorite colors when it comes to choosing flowers for themselves and the wedding party. Of course, the colors should complement each other and not match the outfits. This causes a blending effect where it can be hard to tell one thing from another and could ruin photos.

Cakes

Wedding confections should be a work of art that also satisfies the sweetest tooth. For those who favor carrying a bouquet of cascading flowers may want to keep the theme going by having a wedding cake with flowers flowing down each tier. Another favorite is to have sugar flowers positioned between each tier to give the cake height and drama. Sugar flowers are made from a type of sugar paste using special cutters and veining tools. Some flowers, such as the peony, are made up of several individual petals that must be dried before being pieced together to make a flower. The flowers are steamed to set the colors and then placed on the cake.

Although using fresh flowers can be less expensive, couples should be cautious about those that are overly fragrant or potentially poisonous. However, there no reason to not use both. A cake decorated with sugar flowers and placed in a bed of flowers is a clever design. The nice thing about sugar flowers is that they can be created during any season. Sugar flowers will last for a very long time so long as they are maintained in cool temperatures and kept dry. They can be reused to decorate cakes such as the first wedding anniversary or baby christening cake.

Roses are timeless and never go out of style. Simple flowers such as roses, gerberas and dahlias displays a sleek and modern atmosphere. Soft flowers such as hydrangeas and baby’s breath convey a traditional summer garden-like feel.

As to whether or not wedding cake flowers should match the bride’s bouquet, centerpiece or décor, experts agree the decision is entirely up to the bride. This is her special day. While there is no official rule in that regard, the coordination of a matching theme may look much better. Trends may come and go, but the traditional tiered cake remains as popular as ever. Craftsmanship is a key factor when it comes to decorating a cake with flowers. These days, many women are leaning towards cakes that are contemporary and architectural in structure. Although the designs may be less fussy and more simplistic, they do tend to be a little graphic and may include pearls and tiers varying in heights and shapes.

One good thing cakes and décor have in common are flowers. Since these fragrant gifts of nature play such an important role in a wedding, flowers should capture the mood of the atmosphere and reflect the heart of the bride.