Check out our Q&A section for some interesting information!

Dear Everyone at Norfolk Wholesale Floral, My father-in-law, a renown florist in Madrid, Spain, who provides for royalty and the theater, cinema circles, and who is a brilliant artist with flowers, could not have found any fault with your work! His work is renown, but your artistry of flower choice, color, ribbon and delicacy of arrangement could have made any royal princess joyful. The rather complicated directions of the different flowers to be placed at different places in the church an club were followed perfectly. This alleviated any mix ups.
Thank you for your work and care. Many people commented on the beautiful flowers, including our guests from Europe, who were able to see firsthand the ability of a dedicated American florist.
Sincerely,
Anne-Marie Rodriguez
 
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GLOSSARY
How to finesse the floral lingo:

BOUQUETS

Biedermeier
A tightly arranged nosegay consisting of concentric circles of various differently colored flowers.
The blooms are wired into a holder, with one flower variety per ring.

Cascade or Shower
A waterfall-like spill of blooms, often composed of ivy and long-stemmed flowers, that is wired to cascade gracefully over the bride's hands.

Classic bouquet
A dense bunch of blooms that can be anchored in a bouquet holder, wired, or hand-tied.

Composite
A handmade creation in which different petals or buds are wired together on a single stem to create the illusion of a giant flower.

Crescent
Composed of one full flower and a flowering stem, often orchids, wired together to form a slender handle that can be held in one hand. Designed as either a full crescent --  half circle with a central flower and blossoms emanating from two sides -- or a semi-crescent, which has only one trailing stem.

Nosegays
Small, round bouquets, approximately 16-18 inches in diameter, composed of densely packed round flowers, greenery, and occasionally herbs.Nosegays are wired or tied together.

Oasis
Special foam used in flower arrangements. Oasis fits in a bouquet holder and retains water like a sponge, hydrating flowers for extended time periods.

Pomander
A bloom-covered ball suspended from a ribbon. Ideal for child attendants.

Posies
Smaller than nosegays but similar in design, posies often include extras like ribbons or silk flowers. Perfect for little hands.

Presentation
Also known as the pageant bouquet, this is a bunch of long-stemmed flowers cradled in the bride's arms.

Taped and Wired
Arranging technique for bouquets, boutonnieres, headpieces, and wreaths. The head of a flower is cut from the stem and attached to a wire, which is then wrapped with floral tape. Taped and wired flowers are more easily maneuvered into shapes and styles.

Tossing
This copy of the bridal bouquet is used solely for the bouquet toss ritual.

Tussy Mussy
From the Victorian era, a tussy mussy is a posy carried in a small, metallic, hand-held vase. Today, the term is often used in reference to the holder itself.

OTHER FLORAL TERMS

Boutonniere
A single bloom or bud (or several small buds) attached to the left lapel of the jacket. Boutonnieres can be worn by grooms, attendants, ushers, and the bride's and groom's fathers.

Candelabra
A floral centerpiece created at the base, neck, or top of a multi-armed candelabra. Such a centerpiece is usually touched with flowing greens or ribbons,depending on the wedding's style.

Corsage
A single bloom (or small cluster of blooms) arranged against a lace or tulle doily and/or accented with ribbon. Corsages come in pin-on, wrist, and hand-held styles and are typically worn by mothers and grandmothers. Orchids and gardenias are popular choices.

Dais
The centerpiece at the head table (where bride and groom are seated), which drapes to the front of the table for visual effect.

Fish bowl
Low centerpiece style that consists of flowers clustered in a glass bowl.

Garden
Centerpiece featuring abstract wild flowers. The composition is airy and less full than other designs. Lisianthus, hollyhock, rambling roses, digitalis, and smilax are well suited to this arrangement style.

Garland
Elaborately woven rope or strand arrangement, typically used to adorn pews and doorways.

Huppah
A wedding canopy decorated with flowers that is an integral part of the traditional Jewish ceremony.

Ikebana
Japanese-style flower arrangements that are aesthetically in unison with space, size, earth, and air.

Topiary
Flowers or foliage trimmed into geometric shapes, often resembling miniature trees or animals.

Trellis
A woven wooden frame used as a screen or support for climbing plants and flowers.

Wreath
A ring of flowers or other decorative materials that can function as centerpiece, headpiece, or door hanger.

Top 10 Wedding Blooms

Having trouble deciding from the thousands of varieties available? To help you narrow down your bouquet and centerpiece choices before your consultation, we offer this overview of the most popular wedding flowers.

Rose Long considered a symbol of beauty and love, the rose figures into many myths and fairy tales. Romantic writers and poets have used the flower as a metaphor for emotion, beauty, passion, and true love throughout the ages. An all-star in the world of weddings, the rose is far from boring, particularly when it comes to color -- the rose is available in solid colors and bicolor varieties, and there are striped roses and tipped roses as well. More than three thousand varieties of roses are grown commercially, many available year-round and that are surprisingly affordable. And though roses are associated with luxurious fragrance, not every rose is scented.

Tulip Although it's most often associated with the Netherlands, this flower is actually a native of Persia. Representing "consuming love" and "happy years," the tulip can be a meaningful wedding choice. The flowers are grown in a wide range of colors, including white and cream; pastels like pink, yellow, and peach; and vibrant hues like magenta, red, and purple. Available year round, the most common tulips are very affordable, though rare varieties can be expensive. The versatile tulip can enhance both elegant wedding settings and more casual venues, and work well in almost any permutation from bouquets to boutonnieres to table arrangements.

Calla Lily Also known as the arum lily, this elegant, trumpet-shaped blossom originated in Africa and symbolizes "magnificent beauty" in the language of flowers. The calla lily's distinctive form has been depicted in Art Nouveau and Art Deco works, in addition to twentieth-century photography. Creamy ivory is the most popular color, but calla lilies also come in yellow, orange, mauve-pink, and dark purple.

Lily of the Valley With bell-shaped florets dangling from a thin stem, the lily of the valley is sometimes called "the ladder to heaven." The fresh, perfumed scent from its tiny flowers is unmistakable. In Norse mythology, the flower is linked to Ostara, the goddess of springtime, and while most plentiful during this season, it remains available -- and very expensive -- most of the year. So while a fistful of lily of the valley might be your dream, a more affordable alternative may be to use just a few stems to infuse a bouquet or centerpiece with its wonderful fragrance. (We also have "silk" lily of the valley that you can't tell the difference!)

Hydrangea With its big bushy head and intense shades of pink, blue, burgundy, and purple, it's no wonder that the hydrangea represented "vanity" in the Victorian language of flowers. One of the most popular varieties changes in color as it grows from bubble-gum pink to sky blue, depending on the acid level of the soil. A stem or two of this moderately priced, scentless shrub flower helps fill out arrangements and bouquets, and a few sprigs make a charming boutonniere. You'll find the hydrangea in white and shades of green, pink, burgundy, and blue.

Peony The peony has a large, full head, strong perfume, and bright color. But despite this outward showiness, the flower acquired the Victorian meaning "bashfulness." Cultivated in Asia for more than a thousand years and developed further by the French, A bouquet made solely of peonies can be gorgeous; the flower can also be used to create beautiful centerpieces and arrangements. Grown in single- and double-flower styles, this expensive bloom is seasonally available from late spring to early summer but can be imported in the fall.

Ranunculus Looking for a cost-effective alternative to roses or peonies? Try the lush, multi-petaled ranunculus, a relative of the buttercup. First seen by Westerners in the Far East around the thirteenth century, this mild-scented flower features several blossoms on a stem with fernlike foliage. To carry ranunculus is to tell your partner, in the Victorian language of flowers, "I am dazzled by your charms." A natural for the bridal bouquet or bridesmaid nosegays, the ranunculus also makes a whimsical boutonniere and is available in many colors including white, yellow, orange, and pink.

Stephanotis The Victorian meaning for this flower is "marital happiness," making the dainty white Stephanotis an obvious choice for weddings. The star-shaped, waxy florets actually grow on a flowering vine; each must be individually wired or placed onto a special holder before it can be arranged. A bouquet of stephanotis blossoms is one of the most traditional a bride can carry, and a stephanotis boutonniere is a classic choice for a formal wedding. Mildly scented, moderately priced, and available year-round.

Sweet Pea The sweet pea, which signifies "lasting pleasure," was first brought to England from Sicily in 1699, and the English have had a love affair with this delicate flower ever since. Its candy-like scent and ruffled blossoms make this an old-fashioned favorite in bouquets for the bride and her bridesmaids. The sweet pea's many colors range from white to intense pinks and purples, and its scent can be strong and sweet.

Gardenia Surrounded by dark green, waxy leaves, the exquisite gardenia exudes a sultry, heavy scent. It was this intoxicating fragrance that captivated an English sea captain traveling through South Africa in 1754, prompting him to bring home one of the native plants as a souvenir. Gardenias are lovely tucked into a bouquet or floating in a low bowl as a centerpiece, and a single gardenia makes a wonderful scented corsage. But be gentle: the delicate, creamy ivory petals of this expensive flower can bruise easily. Large three- to four-inch blossoms, as well as a miniature variety, are available.

Listed below are some of the more common flower meanings:

Alstroemeria: Devotion
Babies Breath: Pure Heart
Carnation: Fidelity
Chrysanthemum: Cheerfulness, Truth
Daffodil: Joy, Devotion
Daisy: Faith, Simplicity
Gardenia: Joy
Gladiola: Generosity, Beauty
Iris: Promise
Ivy: Fidelity, Friendship
Lily: Purity, Innocence
Lily of the Valley: Happiness
Orchids: Rare Beauty
Rose: Love, Friendship
Rosebud: Beauty, Youth
Stephanotis: Happiness
Sweet Pea: Blissful Pleasure
Tulip: Perfect Lover

Our General Catalog

Society of American Florists Bride's Guide with Pictures
Wedding Bouquet Trends, Creative Ideas for Wedding and Reception Flowers, Working with Your Wedding Florist, Your Wedding Florist Agreement, Frequently Asked Questions About Wedding Flowers