Most brides have a bridal bouquet even if they are not having a traditional wedding. Many brides are now opting to keep their bouquets instead of throwing them (or throwing a small "toss-bouquet"). The bouquets can be preserved and used as a centerpiece or rearranged and displayed as a wreath or in a shadowbox. Contact your florist for preserving techniques such as freeze-drying.

You might choose a smaller version of a wedding bouquet to go with your dress. As far as style of bouquet, it's up to you as there are many such as traditional, cascade, nosegay, arm, or hand-tied. Flowers, colors, and design should be discussed with your florist.

As every flower lover knows, flowers have a language of their own. Every sentiment is expressed in one form or another by these fragile blooms. Of course, even the experts disagree on the "true meaning" of many flowers and most have different meanings to different people. So, while all flowers convey thoughtfulness and love, here are some of the more traditional meanings, according to one source. See, if you agree.

ACACIA -	Concealed Love, Beauty in Retirement, Chaste Love
AMBROSIA -	Your Love is Reciprocated
AMARYLLIS -	Pride, Pastoral Poetry
ANEMONE -	Forsaken
ARBUTUS -	Thee Only Do I Love
ASTER -	Symbol of Love, Daintiness
AZALEA -	Take Care of Yourself for Me, Temperance, Fragile Passion, Chinese Symbol of Womanhood
BACHELOR BUTTON -	Single Blessedness
BEGONIA -	Beware
BELLS OF IRELAND -	Good Luck
BITTERSWEET -	Truth
BLUEBELL -	Humility
CACTUS -	Endurance
CAMELLIA (PINK) -	Longing for you
CAMELLIA (RED) -	You're a Flame in My Heart
CAMELLIA (WHITE) -	You're Adorable
CARNATION (GENERAL) -	Fascination, Woman Love
CARNATION (PINK) -	I'll Never Forget You
CARNATION (RED) -	My Heart Aches For You, Admiration
CARNATION (PURPLE) -	Capriciousness
CARNATION (SOLID COLOR) -	Yes
CARNATION (STRIPED) -	No, Refusal, Sorry I Can't Be With You, Wish I Could Be With You
CARNATION (WHITE) -	Sweet and Lovely, Innocence, Pure Love, Woman's Good Luck Gift
CARNATION (YELLOW) -	You Have Disappointed Me, Rejection
CATTAIL -	Peace, Prosperity
CHRYSANTHEMUM (GENERAL) -	You're a Wonderful Friend, Cheerfulness and Rest.
CHRYSANTHEMUM (WHITE) -	Truth
CHRYSANTHEMUM (YELLOW) -	Slighted Love
CROCUS -	Cheerfulness
CYCLAMEN -	Resignation and Good-bye
DAFFODIL -	Regard, Unrequited Love, You're the Only One, The Sun is Always Shining when I'm with You
DAISY -	Innocence, Loyal Love, I'll Never Tell, Purity
DANDELION -	Faithfulness, Happiness
FERN -	Magic, Fascination, Confidence and Shelter
FIR -	Time
FLAX -	Domestic Symbol
FORGET-ME-NOT -	True Love, Memories
FORSYTHIA -	Anticipation
GARDENIA -	You're Lovely, Secret Love
GERANIUM -	Stupidity, Folly
GLADIOLI -	Give Me a Break, I'm Really Sincere, Flower of the Gladiators
GLOXINIA -	Love at First Sight
HEATHER (LAVENDER) -	Admiration, Solitude
HEATHER (WHITE) -	Protection, Wishes Will Come True
HOLLY -	Defense, Domestic Happiness
HYACINTH (GENERAL) -	Games and Sports, Rashness, Flower Dedicated to Apollo
HYACINTH (BLUE) -	Constancy
HYACINTH (PURPLE) -	I am Sorry, Please Forgive Me, Sorrow
HYACINTH (RED OR PINK) -	Play
HYACINTH (WHITE) -	Loveliness, I'll Pray for You
HYACINTH (YELLOW) -	Jealousy
HYDRANGEA -	Thank You for Understanding, Frigidity, Heartlessness
IRIS -	Fleur-de-lis, Emblem of France, Your Friendship Means so Much to Me, Faith, Hope, Wisdom and Valor, My Compliments
IVY -	Wedded Love, Fidelity, Friendship, Affection
JONQUIL -	Love Me, Affection Returned, Desire, Sympathy, Desire for Affection Returned
LARKSPUR (PINK) -	Fickleness
LILY (WHITE) -	Virginity, Purity, Majesty, It's Heavenly to be with You
LILY (YELLOW) -	I'm Walking on Air, False and Gay
LILY (CALLA) -	Beauty
LILY (DAY) -	Coquetry, Chinese Emblem for Mother
LILY (EUCHARIS) -	Maiden Charms
LILY (TIGER) -	Wealth, Pride
LILY OF THE VALLEY -	Sweetness, Tears of the Virgin Mary, Return to Happiness, Humility, You've Made My Life Complete
MAGNOLIA -	Nobility
MARIGOLD -	Cruelty, Grief, Jealousy
MISTLETOE -	Kiss me, Affection, To Surmount Difficulties, Sacred Plant of India
MONKSHOOD -	Beware, A Deadly Foe is Near
MOSS -	Maternal Love, Charity
MYRTLE -	Love, Hebrew Emblem of Marriage
NARCISSUS -	Egotism, Formality, Stay as Sweet as You Are
NASTURTIUM -	Conquest, Victory in Battle
OLEANDER -	Caution
ORANGE BLOSSOM -	Innocence, Eternal Love, Marriage and Fruitfulness
ORANGE MOCK -	Deceit
ORCHID -	Love, Beauty, Refinement, Beautiful Lady, Chinese Symbol for Many Children
ORCHID (CATTLEYA) -	Mature Charm
PALM LEAVES -	Victory and Success
PEONY -	Shame, Happy Life, Happy Marriage
PETUNIA -	Resentment, Anger, Your Presence Sooths Me
PINE -	Hope, Pity
POPPY (GENERAL) -	Eternal Sleep, Oblivion, Imagination
POPPY (RED) -	Pleasure
POPPY (WHITE) -	Consolation
POPPY (YELLOW) -	Wealth, Success
PRIMROSE -	I Can't Live Without You
PRIMROSE (EVENING) -	Inconstancy
ROSE (BRIDAL) -	Happy Love
ROSE (DARK CRIMSON) -	Mourning
ROSE (HIBISCUS) -	Delicate Beauty
ROSE (LEAF) -	You May Hope
ROSE (PINK) -	Perfect Happiness, Please Believe Me
ROSE (RED) -	Love, I Love You
ROSE (TEA) -	I'll Remember Always
ROSE (THORNLESS) -	Love at First Sight
ROSE (WHITE) -	Innocence and Purity, I am Worthy of You, You're Heavenly, Secrecy and Silence
ROSE (WHITE AND RED MIXED) -	Unity, Flower Emblem of England
ROSE (WHITE-DRIED) -	Death is Preferable to Loss of Virtue
ROSE (YELLOW) -	Decrease of Love, Jealousy, Try to Care
ROSEBUD -	Beauty and Youth, A Heart Innocent of Love
ROSEBUD (RED) -	Pure and Lovely
ROSEBUD (WHITE) -	Girlhood
ROSEBUD (MOSS) -	Confessions of Love
ROSES (Bouquet of Mature Blooms) -	Gratitude
ROSES (Single Full Bloom) -	I Love You, I Still Love You
SMILAX -	Loveliness
SNAPDRAGON -	Deception, Gracious Lady
SPIDER FLOWER -	Elope with Me
STEPHANOTIS -	Happiness in Marriage, Desire to Travel
STOCK -	Bonds of Affection, Promptness, You'll Always Be Beautiful to Me
SWEETPEA -	Good-bye, Departure, Blissful Pleasure, Thank You for a Lovely Time
TULIP (GENERAL) -	Perfect Lover, Frame, Flower Emblem of Holland
TULIP (RED) -	Believe Me, Declaration of Love
TULIP (VARIEGATED) -	Beautiful Eyes
TULIP (YELLOW) -	There's Sunshine in Your Smile
VIOLET -	Modesty
VIOLET (BLUE) -	Watchfulness, Faithfulness, I'll Always Be True
VIOLET (WHITE) -	Let's Take a Chance
ZINNIA (MAGENTA) -	Lasting Affection
ZINNIA (MIXED) -	Thinking (or In Memory) of an Absent Friend
ZINNIA (SCARLET) -	Constancy
ZINNIA (WHITE) -	Goodness
ZINNIA (YELLOW) -	Daily Remembrance