Wedding Bouquet Colors: Do They Need to Match Your Theme?

Question
Hello,
I need advice!
I really love peonies and want hot pink peonies in my bouquet for my wedding (june 2010), but my theme colour for my wedding is lavender and green. Will the hot pink over power my lavender theme? I don't think so, but my florist seems to think it will. Does the bridal bouquet have to match? As I'm completely fine with it not matching, but I don't want it to look bad.

My wedding colour theme is lavender and green. I'm going to have lavender seat sashes, the groom and men in the wedding party will have lavender ties and the maid of honour will be wearing a black dress with a lavender sash. Each table setting will have a green orchid on it.

Any help is appreciated!
Thank you  

Answer
Hi Nicole!
Flowers go with any color. That's the beauty of mother nature.
You have a few different options with this.Tying everything together can be done by adding a few green orchid blooms and a few lavender blooms in with your peonies. Then, be sure to have your groom with some hot pink in his boutonniere (whether just a ribbon or a sprig of some waxflower or freesia, or maybe a perfectly sized peony bud!), and the rest of the wedding party in either a mix of all three colors or just one or two.
The fact that the maid of honor and the guys will be in black makes anything go.

Here are some images of the colors your are talking about (pink with green orchids)(copy and paste into a new window if need be)

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=pink+and+lime+green+flower+bouquets&FORM=BIF...


Here is a pretty bouquet with green, hot pink AND lavender in it:

http://a80.g.akamai.net/f/80/71/6h/www.interflora.co.uk/kernel/imageload?ttl2=30...

Alternatively, if you want to carry JUST the pink peonies, why not wrap the stems in the Lavender colored ribbon?.. as long as the color elements carry on through all areas, you'll be fine.
I've never yet seen any flowers "clash" with any other colors. Impossible! :) You can tie all your elements together in a few different ways:

-ribbon colors
-filler flowers (smaller, less distinct blooms)
-beading or wire work on your bouquet

If you want to carry the hot pink, then pull in some lavender somewhere.. either by ribbon (simple enough) or small blooms interdispersed among the peonies. Then blend the colors that those with the lavender DON'T have (ie: hot pink or green or both) in with them. So everyone matches. Don't worry about your reception set up. That's a whole separate area. It will be dim, and your floral/wedding photography will primarily be done by then, assumingly. The focus on the reception can be slightly different than the actual wedding ceremony. That's perfectly acceptable.

Keep in mind too, that if your florist seems to be fighting your choices, then perhaps they're not the right choice for your needs. You do have a right to say what you want to go. If they're unhappy about your choices, chances are you won't get the best service from them. Be careful.

Bottom line is, its your day and you can have anything you desire for floral and attire colors. You can make it all tie together with very little effort. You simply need a florist with an open mind and an eye for color tone.

If you need any further ideas, photo links or advise, please don't hesitate to contact me further!
All the best with your planning! (Peonies are my fave too! )

Melanie