UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- By the time the bridal bouquet is tossed to the crowd, many people paying for a wedding feel that they've thrown the baby's breath out with the bathwater ... in a financial sense. Nothing could be further from the truth, says a floriculture specialist in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.

"Unless the bride, groom or a close family member is a very experienced gardener or florist, wedding flowers presented by a florist will look better and more professional than anything you can do yourself," says Dennis Wolnick, associate professor of floriculture. "If you plan ahead, stay open to suggestions about availability and remain flexible about fashion and style, wedding flowers can be one of the most affordable parts of your wedding."

According to Bride's magazine the average cost of a wedding is $19,000. Floral arrangements, bouquets and other flowers account for about 5 to 10 percent of the entire budget.

Wolnick says couples can keep expenses down by careful planning and not sticking to preconceived notions of the type or amount of flowers needed for their wedding. "A professional florist can show examples of past work," he explains. "Florists also know when flowers are available and can price any special or exotic flowers in advance."

Wolnick says floral arrangements using flowers that are in season or that are commonly used in the industry can be less expensive. A variety of flower types exist to choose from. Sturdier flowers that do not have to be elaborately supported in arrangements or bouquets also are less costly. "Exotic flowers that are out of season or tropical flowers can add considerable expense," he says. "Also, a standard bouquet is always less expensive than a customized bouquet."

Wolnick says the floral industry offers a wide variety of flowers at any time of the year. Still, among the more popular flowers used in weddings are carnations, stephanotis, small sweetheart roses and two orchid varieties: cattleya and phalaenopsis. Currently popular bouquet flowers include peonies, hybrid lilies, miniature daisies, baby's breath, statice, pompon chrysanthemums and lilac blooms.

Wolnick says brides can take inspiration from bridal magazines, but they should be cautious about exactly replicating a particular look. "Bridal magazines are there to sell gowns and flowers," he says. "The flower arrangements in magazines are used to set trends, and can be a budget breaker."

Wolnick suggests bringing in several magazine clippings of bouquets or arrangements you like and working with your florist to create a similar look. He also recommends being flexibile when trying to exactly match flower colors to the color scheme of a wedding.

"Let's say the bridesmaid's gowns are a butterscotch color," Wolnick explains. "Flowers in the same butterscotch color may be hard to find for bouquets and arrangements, but many complementary colors -- such as orange, tangerine, peach, apricot, white, yellow and gold -- could work very well."

Wolnick says a wide variety of popular and long-lasting wedding flowers are commonly available these days, thanks to improved horticultural production and global marketing. Tulips and lilies are available in all seasons and come in a wide range of colors. Peonies are quite popular now, as are small spray roses and spray orchids, particularly in bouquets. "Most of these flowers are pleasantly fragrant and add to the romance of the occasion," he says.

Whatever you choose for floral displays, Wolnick says it's best to plan ahead. "A florist can do a good job with one month's notice," he says. "To get the best results, visit the florist three to six months before the event. They will be able to plan better and find better prices."

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EDITORS: To contact Dennis Wolnick, please call 814-865-6596.

Contacts: John Wall jtw3@psu.edu 814-863-2719 814-865-1068 fax