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ON THE COVER

BY KAREN SKELTON

You may be the tomboy who refused to wear a dress on her first day of kindergarten or who still prefers Converse high-tops to high heels, but if you're selecting your wedding flowers, you're likely to find yourself caught in a web of feminine phrases like, "Should I do freesia or go with the stephanotis?"

No doubt, in the coming months, centerpieces, bouquets, and boutonnieres will be on your brain. And that's good, because few aspects of your wedding enhance ambience like your floral arrangements. Already you've probably discovered endless possibilities when it comes to what kind of bouquet to carry or what kind of centerpiece to put on your tables. When you work seasonal aspects into your arrangements, you make the day a more sensual experience for everyone-and, on the practical side, you might even save some money. For fall and winter brides, seasonal accents present an especially exciting opportunity to let your creative juices flow.

"Fall is my favorite time of year to do a wedding," says Candi Milliard of Candi's Floral Creations in North Branford, Connecticut (by appointment only; 203-430-8062; www.candisfloralcreations.com). "It gives me the chance to create with natural things like berries, gourds, and wheat. I've even used baby corn in bridal bouquets. I feel that people choose to have an autumn wedding because it gives them the unique opportunity to bring the outside in."

Indeed, when thinking about your flowers, consider the theme of your wedding in the most general sense; then think about specifics and how you can incorporate them into your event.

Ask yourself, "What does fall mean to me?" Do you hear the sound of rakes scraping through the grass? Or, are you in the kitchen seasoning fruit with cinnamon and sugar to fill a pie? Perhaps autumn reminds you of something more whimsical, like carved pumpkins with their flickering smiles, and visits to haunted houses where strange things lurk in dark and mysterious corners.

Actually, pumpkins and gourds are ideal for fall weddings. Consider carving these either with your monogram, a set of interlocking hearts, or-if you're having a more casual wedding-using the traditional gap-toothed grin. Dane Paciarello from House of Flowers in Mamaroneck, New York, (231 Mamaroneck Ave.; 914-698-2522) suggests creating a centerpiece using a pumpkin or gourd as a container for the flowers. "As long as the fruit is thick and hard-pumpkins are ideal for this design-you can hollow it out, place foam inside, and use it to hold the floral arrangement. There is such a great variety of autumnal flowers and greenery that can be used inside of the pumpkin. We could put sunflowers, circus roses, berries, and use ivy cascading down the side."

White Wedding

Winter makes you think of crisp, cool nights when stars sparkle above and the snow gleams underfoot. Play up this romantic, come-in-from-the-cold feeling by adorning tables with dark-green wreaths interlaced with glittering gold ribbon.

When picking your flowers and other decorations, think about more than just colors. Keep in mind things like texture, scent, and shape. A centerpiece made up of flowers that are all the same size and shape can be boring.

Evergreen branches and cuttings also reflect the season; just be aware that all evergreens are not created equal. Certain trees are known for their perfume, while others are known for needle retention. Another point: The needles of some trees are sharp and prickly (like those from a Scotch Pine), while others are much softer.

Lisa Plociniak, from A Touch of Elegance Florist in Wharton, New Jersey (45 S. Main St.; 973-361-4260; www.atouchofeleganceflorist.com), remembers a bouquet she recently made for a winter bride: "The bouquet we created was really interesting-it was made up almost entirely of ferns. Throughout the bouquet were sprigs of cedar that smelled fantastic and hung so prettily. We had also added some sprigs of boxwood, which goes well in almost every winter design."

With signs of fall or winter in your arrangements, your wedding is sure to leave a lasting impression on all of your guests. Shades of red, orange, and green will surely remind them of your big event-even if they still make you think of those old Converse high-tops.

For The Boys

Think fall and winter elements can only be worked into bouquets and centerpieces? Think again. Your guy's boutonniere is a great place to showcase the season's bounty. Here's how.

•Fall Guy: Use a deep, dark privet berry tied with raffia. The raffia is a thin and flexible grass that resembles ribbon. "A masculine look can be achieved by braiding the raffia around the berry's stem," says Hy Mayer of Cottage Gate Flowers in White Plains, New York (48 Gedney Way; 914-997-7892; www.cottagegateflowers.com).

•Berry Sweet: David Recine from Flowers by David Anthony in Monroe, New York, creates boutonnieres by taking some green wheat and backing it with an orange- or bronzecolored leaf, then adding an auburn-colored berry (64 Mill Pond Pkwy.; 845-762-7673; www.weddingsbydavidanthony.com).

•Winter Wonder: Try a combination of different greens for a winter boutonniere, such as pine, mistletoe, and ivy paired with winterberry, a white berry. Any kind of evergreen or pine is really popular because they have a great scent and can be used alone, says Diane Alonso of Flowers by Diane in Hoboken, New Jersey (105 Fourth St.; 877-293-4263; www.flowersbydiane.net).

•Oak Bloke: An unusual boutonniere idea comes from Arcadia Floral Company in Mamaroneck, New York, where they will treat an oak leaf so that it can be rolled to look like a flower, and can be backed with a green fern and accented with bittersweet berries (411 Mamaroneck Ave.; 800-272-2342; www.arcadiafloral.com).

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