As a wedding planner, it's my job to take the hassle out of the event. I believe that on her special day, the bride's single responsibility is to show up and have the time of her life. Flowers are a particularly tricky part of a wedding and the variables--from selection to costs to design to something as simple as keeping those blooms fresh--are exactly the type of headache that most brides are only too happy to avoid.

As a wedding planner, it's my job to take the hassle out of the event. I believe that on her special day, the bride's single responsibility is to show up and have the time of her life. Flowers are a particularly tricky part of a wedding and the variables--from selection to costs to design to something as simple as keeping those blooms fresh--are exactly the type of headache that most brides are only too happy to avoid.

Know What You're Getting Into

The first step is to familiarize yourself with all the challenges that floral designers must deal with in order to pull off fabulous dssplays. A good place to start is To Have & To Hold. Besides a dazzling array of stunningly beautiful bouquets, this guide also takes you behind the scenes to show you how it's done. There are tips on selecting the right roses, tulips and other specimens that will survive the ceremony beautifully. Easy-to-follow pictures show the art of French-braiding stems (pages 97 and 118). Detailed directions, again with illustrations, instruct on wiring orchids for a bouquet (page 159). Throughout the guide, there's a wealth of close-up photographs of dozens of popular blossoms--so you'll know your astrantia from your hellebore.

Think Moving Day, Only With Flowers

The first thing you must realize is that this is going to take real effort. Think of it as moving day--the stress, loading and unloading boxes, running around and wondering if everything will get done on time.

So make sure you have enough hands to make the job go smoothly. You might pick out the flowers yourself and you alone might decide the design of the arrangements, but on the days leading up to the ceremony, assign a buddy or two who will be completely committed to assist with the flowers. Just like moving day, unless you have the right kind of help, you'll work up a sweat--and for the bride, anything beyond a "glow" is a no-no.

The process leading up to the wedding day is work, too. For those buying their flowers directly from a flower market, expect a rough-and-tumble experience. It has all the jostle and intensity of a meat market, but instead of boxes of aged steaks and racks of ribs, you'll be hauling cartons of long-stemmed roses and gangly branches of flowering trees.

Jump Right In...With a Plan

It's never too early to ponder your wedding flowers--your budget, color scheme, favorite blossoms. It's also never too early to make a dry run to the closest flower market or farmers market. There, you can begin to determine costs, availability, and minimum purchases. It's also a way to become familiar with the vendors who will offer invaluable information when the time comes to make your final selections.

These adept professionals can tell you, for example, what will be in season come your wedding day. Take advantage of this great resource with some well-placed queries: "In three weeks, will you have lilacs?" "If I buy this blossom closed, how long will it take to open?" "How sturdy are these blooms once they go into a bouquet?"

Flower availability is a critical piece of knowledge because of the sensitivity of the product. What looks bright and fabulous at the beginning of June, for instance, can be a lackluster specimen two weeks later. In short, while it's good to know what you want, it's more important to know that what you want you can get.

Simple, Easy, Elegant

Don't hesitate to make floral fashion decisions that are simple yet elegant. One trend that has great possibilities is single-stem bouquets for the bride and bridesmaids (see page 42 of To Have & To Hold). A single long-stemmed peony, amaryllis, giant dahlia or rose is both easy and elegant.

Watch that Schedule

In the month leading up to the wedding day, set a schedule and keep your eye on the calendar:

Four to three weeks before:Go to the flower market and decide what you want. If no market is available to you, visit a local florist and ask them to order for you in bulk. Whether buying through a market or a florist, bring fabric swatches to match to flowers, decide how many stems of each flower you'll need, confirm availability, and calculate costs.

Two weeks before:Buy the items that will complement your flowers such as stem treatments, pearl pins, and satin ribbons. If you'll need to order something special, now is the time to do it.

Four to five days before:Buy lilies, roses or any other flowers that will need to open. These will usually still be in the box, while flowers that you see already standing in water are older. Warning: very tight rosebuds may stay that way, so look for blooms already starting to open.

Three days before:Tulips can be purchased. The blossom should be closed. Leave tulips wrapped in paper, standing in water--this will train the stems and prevent them from flopping downward.

Two days before:Buy all other flower specimens, including dahlias and hydrangeas.

One day before:Clear out a refrigerator that will hold arrangements overnight (but remember, never refrigerate orchids or other tropicals). Make arrangements, bundle stems, and place upright in refrigerator in water glasses.

Make corsages and boutonnieres. After wrapping stems, place inside small cellophane bags with a puff of warm breath, fold over twice and staple shut. Include a pair of pearl pins with each. Refrigerate all. Make two or three extra boutonnieres, just in case--to give to any long-lost friend who may show up and one for the groom, so he can change out with a fresh flower should his begin to fade.

Wedding day:Remove arrangements from refrigerator. Make stem treatments, leaving a bit of stems exposed at the bottom. Return to glasses, but with only enough water to reach the stems. Place arrangements in boxes, supported upright by crushed newspaper. Transport corsages, wreaths and boutonnieres in a cooler with ice packs.

Just before the ceremony:Distribute boutonnieres and corsages. Remove arrangements and pat dry the ends of stems so that water doesn't get on the dresses. (But if it does? Ladies, a little dampness is not that big a deal...especially compared to the plunge you're about to take).

Is do-it-yourself floral design right for you? For those who can navigate the difficulties, the result can be a rewarding nod to your artistic (and frugal) side.