When we started planning the mandap, we assumed the bouquet would be the easy part. It turned out to be the decision we changed the most, and the one our guests still ask about.

Start with what is in season

Jaipur in November gives you marigold, tuberose and jasmine at their absolute best, and they cost a fraction of what imported blooms do. Ask your florist what is arriving that week rather than what is printed in the catalogue, and build the arrangement around it.

We paired deep orange marigold with cream garden roses and a little eucalyptus for movement. It photographed beautifully against red, and it survived four hours of heat without wilting.

Think about scent, weight and your hands

A bouquet you carry for a whole ceremony needs to be light enough to hold with one arm and small enough that it does not hide the embroidery on your outfit. Tuberose smells wonderful, but a tight cluster of it at close range can be overwhelming, so use it as an accent rather than the base.

Three combinations we loved

Marigold with cream roses and eucalyptus. Jasmine with a single blush peony. All-white tuberose with gold-tipped foliage for the reception change.

Whatever you choose, order one trial arrangement a month before the wedding. Photograph it in daylight and again under warm indoor light, because the colour can shift more than you expect.