All brides-to-be spend a good amount of time planning their perfect wedding ensemble. You try on dresses until you find THE dress. You find a hairstylist and makeup artist that can help you look absolute stunning on the big day. And you invest in a florist who will make a perfect bouquet for you to hold as you walk down the aisle to say “I do” to your fiancé.

The bouquet you and your florist dream up together should complement your dress, body, and the overall aesthetics of your wedding. It’s important that the focus of your wedding day be on your and your love, not on the flowers! With that in mind, I want to share a few tips with you that will help you hold your bouquet correctly in your bridal photos or on your wedding day.

Tip #1 Keep Bouquet Direction in Mind

It might sound silly to suggest that there is a right direction for your flowers to face on your wedding day. Aren’t all flowers gorgeous from any angle? Well, yes, but many florists construct bouquets in a way that there is a distinct front and back. Often there is a “flat” side of the bouquet, meant to be placed toward your body. You can ask your florist if they can mark the back of your bouquet with an extra pin or a small button to help you remember which side is meant to be angled toward your body.

Tip #2 Mind Your Angles

Your wedding day is likely to be a combination of nerves, excitement, and anticipation. That’s all normal! But that excitement sometimes means brides clutch onto their bouquets extra hard and way too high. As you hold your bouquet, try to keep your thumbs in line with your belly button. In most cases, this allows for the bodice of your lovely gown to be seen and for your flowers to be properly displayed in portraits. Of course, if you are either very tall or very short, you may need to adjust this height a little bit. But by keeping your arms slightly bent, you, and your dress, and your flowers can all be framed well in photos!

Tip #3 Know When to Set your Bouquet Down

This tip is pretty open to interpretation from each bride, but know that it’s totally okay to not hold your bouquet every second of your wedding day. It’s definitely not your average accessory and can be awkward or annoying to hold. Many brides keep a vase on their table at the reception where they can set the vase while greeting guests, while dancing, and while visiting with friends and family. Consider if the moment really requires your bouquet and if it doesn’t, it’s okay to set it down.