Nicknamed "The Forest City," Cleveland, Ohio also may as well be "The Florist City." The wealth of talent provided by local florists puts Cleveland brides and grooms at an advantage. Deciding upon the right florist for your wedding flowers is an important decision, whether you're holding a small, private celebration or you're going for a wild time and renting out the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.

As you're planning your wedding flowers, give some thought to what boutonnieres and corsages you'd like your wedding party to wear. By including wedding flowers in your wedding colors, you can give unity to the group as a whole–even if your bridesmaids can't all agree on a single dress. You may also want to ask florists about creative, "non-floral" flower design ideas such as succulents, ferns, or ivy. Some florists also carry flowers that have not been treated with pesticides, which is a plus if the flowers will be rubbing on skin.

Cleveland florists are happy to help you pick wedding flowers that are as durable as they are lovely, which is a special consideration in wedding bouquets that will be handled often. As you meet with florists, be sure to describe your ceremony logistics as well as your budget and artistic vision.

Want to go native? The Cleveland Museum of Natural History provides a list of native Cleveland wedding flowers that are a must for any environmentally-conscious bride and groom. Using local, in-season blooms in your flower arrangements and centerpieces not only means that they'll often be fresher and more affordable; they're also guaranteed to make your wedding look more unique and exotic. Ask florists about Virginia bluebells, wild ginger, Christmas fern, Blue Vervain, silky dogwood, and other colorful Cleveland wedding flowers.