By Chris Christen

The brighter, the better. That’s the trend report from floral designer Laura Milder of ProFlowers. Whether you’re planning an elaborate affair or keeping it simple, there’s nothing like a blast of color to proclaim your love and add visual drama to your wedding day.

Pick Your Palette

“A bride has to be comfortable carrying color,” says Dennis Vraspir, a wedding consultant with Hy-Vee Food Stores in Omaha.

Every season and every bloom has its own natural beauty, he says.

“There’s no such thing as an ugly flower,” says Rebecca Partmentier, floral manager for Hy-Vee at 35th and L Streets. “Roses are always elegant but brides want other flowers mixed in.”

Floral designers are obliging with orchids, Gerber daisies, tulips, sweetpeas and calla lilies.

Bright yellow and pink, stunning against black and white, are the hottest colors of the moment.

This fall, look for big, bold sunflowers to take their turn in bridal bouquets and centerpieces.

Vraspir and Partmentier recommend collecting photos of floral mixes that appeal to you. “It’s for me to work the magic,” Vraspir says. He’ll suggest ideas you may not have considered. “The majority of brides change their minds about what they want,” he says.

Partmentier’s tip: Select your wedding date, ceremony and reception sites and colors before meeting with your florist. “A floral designer needs all of that information to best advise you.”