Traditional wedding ceremonies are beautiful and priceless events.

A traditional wedding is also society's way of teaching a new couple and their families how to deal with a crisis.

The right florist can prevent both emotional and financial turmoil.

Here are some more tips for finding the right wedding florist:

Get references from potential florists

Ask for references and check them!

Just seeing some pictures of work they've done isn't enough. You need to talk to at least a couple of past customers about how satisfied they were.

Anyone who promises to do twice as much as anyone else or do the same for half the money is suspect.

Be realistic about the cost of wedding flowers

Wedding flowers are expensive. Go for fewer and better over more and cheaper.

No amateur wedding help!

A traditional wedding is too complex an event to trust to anyone put professionals. Photography, flowers and food are best left to people who have had experience dealing with the unexpected.

Amateur photographers will take some great shots but will miss more than a pro. Amatuer florists might make some great arrangements but not every one will be first class.

If you have an amateur"helping" a professional photographer make sure he or she is stationary. The reason is if you have two people moving around they will get in each other's shots. The same will happen with who's flowers go where.

Styles of food and styles of floral arrangement can clash in similar ways. Apple pie clashes with gumbo. Ikebana clashes with western floral arrangement.

Schedule some informal events and let your friends and family pitch in when any mistakes and faux pas will only be a fond and funny memory.

A good wedding florist will have a good plan

Here is an example of an outline from an experienced wedding florist's site:

• Planning the flowers for your wedding-A wedding without flowers is like a room without windows. Like a silent entourage, your floral decorations should evoke an ambiance that reflects your personality and creates a mood where you feel relaxed, comfortable and happy.
• Colours and connotations-Soon-to-weds may have met their perfect partner - but it's not the end of matchmaking just yet. Coordinating the colours of floral arrangements and wedding outfits is the next step.
• Flowers for the nuptial couple-Throughout the ages, brides and grooms have worn floral accessories. Garlands representing fertility and new beginnings were a favourite with the Romans, while in other ancient cultures the bride carried a posy of herbs and garlic to ward off evil spirits. Today's couples tend to forget symbolism and superstition, opting instead for an expression of their individuality in hues that match their wedding colour scheme.
• Flowers for your special guests-Now that you've thought about the floral accessories for you and yours, it's time to consider the other important members of the wedding party. Of course, flower girls and bridesmaids will be carrying their own special arrangements, but there are parents, grandparents, ushers and the best man to think about too&
• Flowers for the ceremony and the celebration-With the outfits and accoutrements in order, it's time to start thinking big: venue decorations. Before you get too carried away, though, make sure you've got the go-ahead from the powers that be. Sometimes church wardens, registry officers and venue owners can be very prescriptive about what is and what isn't allowed.