There are available today many different floral arrangements, of all shapes and sizes which can be used in a wide variety of settings. As table decorations, wedding bouquets or fun party pieces, floral arrangements are a great way to express your feelings and create a very special atmosphere at an event. In addition floral arrangements can be designed for all tastes and budgets, small three bloom posies or exotic floral arches can equally express your individual style.

Regardless of the event, all floral arrangements need a similar level of care if they are to remain in optimum condition. Fresh flowers require gentler handling than artificial flowers and will last for a much shorter length of time. Many fresh flowers need to be kept well watered and in a position away from artificial sources of heat, direct sunlight and extremes of temperature. Artificial flowers are extremely long lasting if given a little bit of care and as such are becoming extremely popular, especially silk flowers which give a lovely, natural looking display.

If you decide to design your own floral arrangements, it can be helpful to follow a few simple guidelines. Floral foam is often useful in creating a display as it enables you to place the flowers with greater precision and will keep your arrangement in place once finished. In general brown foam is used for artificial flowers and green for fresh. Bear in mind that the bottom of cut flower stems always need to be in contact with water if they are to remain fresh and so the foam needs to be thoroughly soaked in water before you begin your arranging and regularly topped up thereafter. For this reason also, it is inadvisable to re-use foam, as it will have holes from previous displays which could mean that the fresh flowers would be in an air pocket and unable to get water.

Cut fresh floral arrangements can be made to last longer if cared for properly. It pays to use a clean container and remove all leaves which will be below the level of the water. Using cut flower food really can extend the life of your display. For floral arrangements that you want to keep for a while, such as home decorations, choose flowers that are in bud or just half open and you will then be able to watch them open into full bloom. For those displays which require immediate, short term impact such as wedding floral arrangements or funeral sprays, use flowers which are almost fully open.

While artificial floral arrangements need a lot less attention than fresh, bear in mind that they will do better if placed away from direct sunlight; and a short blast of the hairdryer can easily remove dust. If you are designing your own artificial floral display, you may need to put heavy pebbles, sand or shells in the bottom to stop it from toppling over and these will also have the advantage of camouflaging the foam. To achieve a natural looking display, think of how a particular flower would move in the wild and mould each stem in that way before adding it to your arrangement.

For many of us however the idea of creating a large floral arrangement, particularly if it is for an important event like a wedding or funeral, is a bit too nerve wrecking. In these situations it is advisable to use a professional florist, who will be able to create a beautiful floral arrangement to your unique specifications. The first step is choosing the right florist and this can often involve a little research on your part.

If you do decide to use a professional florist, have a look at examples of their work beforehand and see if you can find anything in the design and style that you would like; if not it may be better to look for someone else. Work with the florist in creating an arrangement that will fit in with the event that you are organizing. This is especially true of wedding arrangements which need to be in keeping with the general mood of the wedding, be that traditional, modern etc and also to draw attention to the bride and her dress.