No one reveals the number of decisions there are in a marriage until you are in the middle of making plans for one. Now, the venue, the catering, the photography, the music, the styling and somewhere in the middle, the flowers. And for many couples, that's where things get somewhat confusing. Where to begin?

The great thing about wedding flowers is that you do not need to go through a complicated process while planning for them. It only takes a touch of structure, a little soul searching, and the right florist by your side. All the information you need to know, and in the order you will need it!

Recognize What Wedding Flowers Actually Cover.

It is easier to make plans when you are aware of what is included in the "wedding flowers" category. Most couples are surprised at the number of touch points they have throughout the day.

Bridal bouquets, bridesmaid bouquets, buttonholes for the groom/groomsmen, corsages for parents and structural flowers, which could be a full arch, a simple arrangement framing the ceremony area, or aisle flowers that direct the guests' attention to the altar, are all typical requirements for your ceremony.

Table centrepieces (and with a big crowd, they really do stack up), the bridal table arrangement, flowers for the cake table and maybe even some cocktail hour flowers or a big feature such as a hanging floral ceiling or a floral wall.

The finishing touches; flower crowns, floral confetti, flower pressed on stationery, flower cake decorations, can bring together the whole look.

If you know how much it will cost, you can have a real productive first conversation with your florist, and not find out half way through that you didn't save enough money for half the day!

Before the details, establish your vision

This is the one step that most couples overlook and is the one that creates the most confusion later on. Before making any choices about the flowers, colors, or bouquets, you should choose how you want the day to be.

Romantic and soft? Consider garden-style wedding flowers, including blush, ivory, and soft sage roses, ranunculus, sweet peas, and peony blossoms. Modern and architectural? Consider structural flowers, straight lines and contrasts. Natural and earthy? Dried native Australian flowers, elements and lush greenery. Maximalist and joyful? Imagine copious, multi-layered, colourful wedding flowers everywhere, in the most precious way possible!

It also depends on your venue. Your flowers should complement the existing architecture, lighting, and colour scheme, not detract from it. If you have a florist that visits or knows your event, they will take this into consideration from the beginning of their design planning.

Get Seasonal

One of the most important tips I can offer on wedding flower planning is this use your wedding flowers to play off the season.

Seasonal flowers are fresher, more fragrant, last longer, and usually are much cheaper than being imported or grown out of season. More than that, they have a quality that photographs to perfection: a lushness, an naturalness; sometimes out of season flowers don't have it.

The seasons in Melbourne are truly variable. Huge, warm coloured dahlias and foliage in autumn. Spring is the season for garden roses and pastel colors. In the winter there's the opportunity for dramatic natives and moody depth. From tropical statement flowers to an abundance of wildflowers, there's no end to the possibilities of summer.

If you're looking for flowers that will look amazing on your particular day and time of year, then you want to consult a florist who is clearly knowledgeable of the plant's season.

Make Sure you Give your Florist your Order Early (Yes, Early!)

Top wedding florist arrangements are in demand. Don't worry, this is no exaggeration, and in Melbourne the busiest florists can book up a year or more for their busy wedding season dates. When you see someone who is doing something you can relate to, don't wait.

When considering some florists for your wedding bouquet (which is highly important), look that goes beyond the portfolio. Listen to their communications. Do they pay attention to what you say in consultation or do they interrupt you? Do they ask about your venue, your colour palette, the feeling you're going for? Are they interested in your wedding or another client?

The best florists see every wedding as a creative brief and don't design by the formula. That inquisitiveness and investment is reflected in the final output.

On the day of your wedding, follow your Florist's advice.

The biggest secret here is that on the actual day of your wedding, you'll not be thinking about your flowers! You will be preparing, you will be nervous and excited, you will be with the most important people in your life. The wedding flowers will already be set up, arranged, beautiful — and all you'll need to do is walk in and feel everything that they've created.

It's a trust that can be earned during the planning process. If you know your florist has heard you, understood you and has the ability to bring that vision to life, you can drop all your responsibilities and just be there on the day.

A wedding flower when it is well done is one that you don't even have to think about as it is perfectly there doing what it was meant to do.