Survey says roses remains favorite wedding flower

A recent public opinion poll conducted by FTD, Inc., the world's largest floral company, indicated that roses are the most popular flowers for the ideal wedding. Seventy-two percent of Americans polled associated roses with the ideal wedding, with carnations as the second choice (40%). Another thirty-four percent voted for lilies, twenty-three percent prefer daisies, and 19% favor tulips for the ideal wedding.

Flower petals have paved the way for many brides, but now a shower of flower petals is the most popular ceremony send-off. The poll indicates that when honoring the bride and groom as they depart the wedding ceremony, tossing flower petals is the best way to see the couple off. Twenty-one percent believe birdseed is the way to go when honoring the bride and groom,
while 20% feel the traditional rice tossing is still suitable. Fifteen percent of those polled would like to see bubbles blown, and 13% would release butterflies or doves to respect the newlywed couple.

While many celebrity weddings are created by wedding planners, the majority of Americans polled (84%) would rather plan their wedding themselves or with family and friends. Only 12% of those surveyed would prefer to hire a wedding planner.

Another wedding tradition that seems to be changing is the ideal location of a wedding. While 35% of Americans still believe the wedding should be held in the traditional spot, the bride's hometown, 39% feel the wedding should take place in the town or city where the engaged couple currently lives.

The time of day that a wedding is held and the number of guests at the ceremony can set the theme for the occasion. The majority of those polled believe afternoons are the most desirable time of day (56%). One quarter prefer evening weddings, and only 16% of those polled favor morning weddings. While the number of guests at a wedding can range from the bride,
groom and wedding officiator to a cast of thousands, the majority of those polled (53%) prefer to have fewer than 100 guests. Only 7% responded that the ideal wedding would include more than 250 guests. Younger people (ages 18-24) were the most likely of anyone to want a large wedding of more than 250 guests (14%).