It is often thought that the flowers that the bride chooses for her bouquet are simply selected for their color or because they are the bride’s favorite flowers, but there is a great deal more to it than that.

It is no accident that one of the world’s leading chains of florists uses the words “Say It With Flowers” in their advertising, as flowers are symbolic and a variety of very specific messages are attached to a wide range of flowers.

For as long as anyone can remember it has been customary for a man to send a woman roses by way of a gift and it is well known that roses carry with them an unwritten message of love. But roses are not the only flowers that convey a message and a variety of different flowers are often chosen for wedding flower bouquets not for their appearance, but for the message that they carry.

As well as the ever popular rose, two other flowers often used to convey a message of love at a wedding are forget-me-nots and myrtle which symbolize true love and the constancy of love respectively. But love is not the only message that brides traditionally carry before them to the alter. Lilies are another favorite expressing purity and innocence, while lilies of the valley speaks to the bride’s feeling of happiness and gardenias to her sense of joy.

Many brides also like to mark the qualities that they bring to the marriage such as beauty portrayed by orchids, purity and fertility in the form of orange blossom and faithfulness demonstrated through blue violets.

Yet other brides seek to bring good fortune into their marriage by way of apple blossom, fruitfulness by way of baby’s breath, good luck by way of a four leaf clover or stephanotis and strength by way of ivy.

In many cases of course a mixture of flowers will be used, encompassing many of these different symbols, and these symbols may also be seen in the bridesmaid’s flowers and in the boutonnierès and corsages worn by other members of the wedding party.

For many couples choosing their wedding flowers seems at first sight to be a simple matter of choosing what you like and what you think will look pretty, but the reality is that the flowers you choose will speak volumes not only to you as the couple getting married, but to other members of the wedding party and to your guests. This is especially true when it comes to wedding flower bouquets, so take the time and trouble and use this opportunity to speak to each other from the heart in the presence of your family and friends.

While most people enjoy both giving and receiving gifts, it is a party tradition that can be both burdensome and costly. Rather than stressing over what gift to purchase for someone or how much money to spend, consider an alternative to traditional birthday gifts. There are several ways you can give creatively (while spending less) and for those hosting a birthday party, there are many ways you can encourage others to think creativity rather than spending unnecessarily.

If you find yourself attending a party in which you feel bringing a present would be necessary, consider avoiding your normal retail store and thinking of a more creative way to give. Often times if you simply think about the recipient, it will be easy to come up with a creative idea. Are they a tea lover? Perhaps a few exotic tea bags in a thoughtful card would be fitting. Are they an outdoors person? How about an initiation to go hiking together- you’ll pack the lunch? Do they love fresh flowers? How about a bouquet of their favorite blooms? The key is to think about what that person would really enjoy and use a bit of creativity.

Another way to give a thoughtful gift without spending a fortune would be to give to a charity in honor of the birthday person. There are so many organizations in need of help that you are sure to find one fitting for the occasion and the birthday person. Plant a tree, give to a children’s charity, donate to a library; really the options are endless. Write a note to the recipient in a nice card explaining what you gave and how they inspired you. Giving on behalf on another person is a very thoughtfully and inspiring gesture sure to be appreciated and remembered for years to come.

If you are hosting a birthday party, you are in the perfect position to set the tone as far as gifts go. If you (or the birthday person) would rather gifts be avoided, make sure to let guests know. Writing “No gifts please” in a party invitation is a very appropriate statement. Being direct about your no-gift preference might actually be welcomed by guests who are struggling over what to bring. An alternative to asking for “no gifts” would be to ask guests to bring something specific that will be donated later. You can ask guests to bring a book, pair of shoes, or packaged meal and then donate them to the appropriate charities and organizations. Not only will this solve the gift dilemma, it will also be sure to inspire that act of giving in all who attend and take part.

You can personalize the gift and make the gift more alluring and attractive. Thus, birthday gifts make feel someone as special.