Bride's Bouquet Color   In the past the bride's bouquet was composed of white flowers to symbolize purity. Although some brides still choose to have a white bouquet, many choose colors which complement the bride and bridesmaids' dresses as well as the general color scheme of the wedding.   When choosing flowers it is worth taking a sample of fabric from the bride's dress to the florist. This can be a great help when matching colors. This applies even if the bride has a white wedding dress and wants a white bouquet because whites can vary in their shade and intensity.   Shape   There are several classic shapes of bouquet and good florists have a selection of photographs to demonstrate them. The florist should also be able to advise on which flowers match the chosen shape bearing in mind the color scheme and seasonal availability.   The most popular designs include the "trailing waterfall" shape and the round "posy" of tightly arranged flowers.   The "trailing waterfall" shape draws the eye from top to bottom and can therefore have a slimming effect. However, it can overshadow a petite bride if its too big. The cascading shape of bouquet best complements a full length skirt. It can result in an unbalanced look with shorter skirt lengths.   The posy style of bouquet draws attention to the middle of the body. It may not be suitable for brides not wishing to draw attention to their hips and also for very tall brides.   The bouquet is held just below waist level. If this is likely to obscure a feature of the dress which the bride particularly wishes to be seen then she can choose a bouquet which lies across the arm. As a general rule large bouquets suit formal, long dresses while smaller bouquets or even a single bloom are more in proportion with a knee-length dress. The bouquet ribbons are tied at the ends into knots to symbolize unity.