Florists usually defer to a bride's wishes when it comes to flowers. Floral consultants may advise and guide, but ultimately the decision is the bride's.

"For years, brides dream about their wedding, and they usually have very specific ideas for their flowers," said Scott Wieler, owner of Maud Baker Florist in Decatur. "With Martha Stewart in the wedding business, there are so many ideas and design styles for brides to see. It's our job to help them, but the final decision belongs to the bride. After all, it's her day."

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BEST BLOOMS While it's possible to get any flowers year-round, florists cite these spring and summer favorites: • Roses • Tulips • Calla lilies • Peonies • Hydrangeas • Lilies of the valley

Some brides choose elaborate bouquets; others prefer just a few stems of their favorite flower with a bit of greenery.

One popular flower is the elegant calla lily, Wieler said.

"Callas come in so many colors and are very popular with brides," he said. "They use them in their bouquets with other flowers or alone. A bouquet of burgundy callas with antique green/purple hydrangeas can be stunning. The mini-callas are even used for boutonnieres."

Most of the flowers used by florists come from Holland or South America. With overnight shipping and greenhouse growing, almost any flower is available any time of year for the right price.

"Flowers have jumped in price because of petroleum, not only because of shipping costs, but also the cost of fuel to keep the greenhouses heated," said Larry Hammack, owner of Foxgloves & Ivy in Virginia-Highland. "However, we can get just about any kind of fresh flower less than 30 hours after it's been cut at the grower."

Tulips are the most popular flower for spring weddings, which come in a variety of colors. Dutch tulips are smaller, with gentle bud forms; several blooms come from each bulb. French tulips produce one blossom per bulb; they're larger and more expensive.

"We use tulips all year, as long as they fit with the bride's idea of the wedding," said Robert Long of Robert Long Flora Design in Buckhead. "The flower choices depend on the feel of the wedding, so we look at the venue, the entertainment and the catering."

Other factors include photography and the style of the wedding gown.

"I think about photography when advising a bride about flowers," Hammack said. "For instance, if she has a very ornate dress, I suggest using a tailored bouquet. If the gown is elegant and simple, the flowers may be more showy.

And this is where colors come in. A white bouquet against a white dress doesn't photograph as well."

Florists say that, most of the time, they deal directly with the bride or the wedding couple, instead of parents.

"About 90 percent of our brides are paying for their own weddings, or the couple is sharing the cost," Hammack said. "Since they're getting married after they've left home and lived on their own, they're the decision-makers."

The cost of flowers can vary, depending on the size of the wedding party, the location and whether there's a separate reception. The average price of a bridal bouquet is about $300.

Selecting flowers that are in season and planning early can help contain costs, while choosing premium flowers, such as peonies, lilies of the valley or out-of-season gardenias can be costly.

"The flowers a bride chooses really depend on the budget," Wieler said. "Sometimes a bride would rather spend a little more on her dress than on flowers, but it's really all about what the bride wants on her day."