Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — If there is a single rule when it comes to wedding flowers, it is that every bride is different.

Some brides do not have any idea what they want when they come into Steamboat Floral and Gifts, owner Cathy Vogelaar said. Others know exactly what they want right down to the number of roses and pieces of greenery.

"There is not much in between," Vogelaar said. "It is very much one way or the other."

Janet Hayes, owner of The Blossom Shop in Meeker, agreed that no bride is the same, but had suggestions on what brides should know when they come into her shop.

"It is always helpful for brides to come in with color schemes, to kind of know what the dresses are like, what kind of flowers they really like and what is in their budget," Hayes said.

Vogelaar said it also is helpful, but not mandatory, for brides to have met with the photographer or even the person who is making the wedding cake, so flowers can be coordinated with pictures and decorating the cake.

From the bride's bouquet to a rose-covered lattice, flowers play an important part of setting the mood for the wedding. Styles of the wedding -- elegant, rustic or romantic -- often can be conveyed through the flowers used whether they are lilies, wildflowers or roses.

And no matter what the bride has in mind when she comes into the flower shop, Vogelaar said, the staff never tries to talk a bride out of what she wants, although suggestions can be made.

Vogelaar has a wedding contract already prepared for brides who come into her shop and said her wedding consultants will typically meet with the bride twice before the big day.

Vogelaar said it is important for brides to allow enough room in their budgets for flowers. The average range spent on flowers for a wedding in Steamboat is between $600 and $6,000, Vogelaar said. Although, she has had brides spend as little as $60 and as much as $20,000.

"Flowers are the biggest asset to a wedding, Vogelaar said. "They should have a big impact and I don't think for the most part (brides) even realize what flowers cost now."

The price varies depending on where flowers are used. Flowers are mostly used for bouquets, boutonniÃres, corsages and decorations in the ceremony, at the reception and on the cake.

Vogelaar said flowers also may be used for the rehearsal dinner and for a bride's breakfast.

Despite being in a dry climate at a high altitude and almost 200 miles from a major city, Steamboat florists say the possibilities are endless with the flowers that can be used.

Flowers can be flown in from Holland, Ecuador and Australia.

But seasons should still help in deciding what flowers to use, meaning no tulips in October and no mums in May, Vogelaar said.

"Seasons still dictate," Vogelaar said. "Very much go with the season."

In recent years, Vogelaar said she ahs noticed a trend toward more tropical flowers, such as orchids.

But for years the most popular choice of flowers have been the wildflowers.

"I still think we do the wildflower look above any other weddings," Vogelaar. "Brides love the columbine, the delphinium. They just love the natural look."

Local florists recommend making reservations for their weddings at least six months in advance. June, July and August are the busy season, Vogelaar said, with two to three weddings being booked in a single day.

Other pieces of advice florists pass along: it can be hard to match the exact color of flowers with dresses or icing on the cake because the natural color of flowers can vary from the dye and brides should also try to be flexible and keep in mind Colorado's unpredictable weather, especially for outdoor weddings in the summer.

And most importantly, Vogelaar said, "don't take the fun out of the wedding."