A. First, don't rule out all flowers yet. Some people with allergies can still tolerate waxy flowers like lilies and tulips (the pollen on these flowers is too heavy and sticky to float into the air and cause major headaches) or blooms like sunflowers, which possess few allergens. Ask your florist for other recommendations. If your hubby-to-be sneezes around these allergy-friendly flowers, there are still plenty of natural ingredients that'll make great centerpieces and bouquets: Branches of berries and small fruits can be tucked into a bouquet with interesting greenery for a harvest-like look. Greenery of every type, fruits and vegetables, nuts and stark branches can be used in centerpieces and arrangements. For instance, a golden pedestal bowl overflowing with ruddy apples and champagne grapes would be simply stunning for a formal wedding, or try stark branches in glass cylinders for a sleek, sophisticated look. Or go totally allergy-free on the centerpieces. Some couples skip having a single multitiered cake and instead place a beautifully decorated cake on each table as a centerpiece. Try goldfish swimming in a gorgeous glass bowl, or the old standby—candles, whether in candelabras, votives or hurricane lamps. Just be sure you allergy-test your ideas on your hubby-to-be months ahead of time—you'll both breathe easier on your wedding day.

A. White flowers bruise extremely easily, explains floral designer Diane Jamison of Jamison-Wilbanks in New York City. "Your florist will need to buy extra flowers to make up for those that bruise from handling, so he has to charge you for those additional ones." But if the pure-white bouquet is what you want, why not splurge? If you decide to stick with all-white flowers, keep the fragility of the blooms in mind—if you intend to preserve it, you'll want to treat it gently at the wedding. (Order a mini-bouquet of hardier flowers if you're planning to do the toss.)

A. Talk to your florist about using hardy blooms like daisies, dahlias, sweet peas, roses and geraniums. Any of these cut flowers should last through the reception if well hydrated (fresh-cut stems should be placed in big tubs of water for 24 hours before being arranged). Or, instead of using cut flowers, decorate with blooming potted plants, says Julie Hollis, of Julie's Flowers of Geist in Indianapolis. She recommends pots of gardenias, freesia, mini roses, hydrangeas or calla lilies.

A. If a metal detector by the exit door seems like overkill, try a subtler approach. "We usually anchor any must-not-take centerpieces to the table with Stickum, a pliable floral adhesive," says wedding coordinator JoAnn Gregoli of Elegant Occasions in New York City. "If anyone tries to remove the container, it won't lift off easily—that's a good deterrent." (Plus Stickum doesn't damage surfaces.) For a more upfront approach, Gregoli suggests making an announcement after the cake cutting, along the lines of "We'd like to invite the person at each table whose birthday is closest to the wedding date to take the flowers, but please leave the heirlooms—they're from the collection of the bride's grandmother."