Brides are deciding not to decorate their wedding. Rather, they are viewing their reception area and their ceremony site as opportunities to create the atmosphere of their choosing. Many work with event designers whose expertise and vision goes beyond flowers alone. Every aspect of the room becomes subject to change. Tables are frequently the focus of design.

The rules are gone. Casual elements may mix with formal. Tables may range from minimalist in design to opulence. Tall candelabras compete with massed arrays of humble votive candles. Custom tablecloths may be layered to create additional opportunities for design.

Each table may be viewed as a fresh opportunity for design. While some brides are choosing to have each table identical, others are choosing to have each table unique. Variations include the height of the arrangements, the mix of flowers or plants, the vases, the candles and the color scheme. No longer is it necessary to choose only one or two colors for a wedding. Each element may have its own color scheme reflecting its own atmosphere.

Style is a matter of taste, not price. More is not necessarily better; less is not necessarily better. Many items may be rented or borrowed. Collections may inspire unique settings. Atmosphere is the inspiration of the imagination.

Preston Bailey is an innovative artist who uses flowers as if they were oil paints, creating perishable works of art. "I'm not a florist," he noted, "but if people want to call me that, it's okay." Based in Manhattan, Bailey designs spaces using table settings, linens, antiques, flowers, picture frames, chairs, lighting sculptures and candles.

"It's important to have a floral story," he said explaining his designs. "You need different color schemes for each of the different areas-the ceremony, the cocktails, the reception. The story should grow and become more exciting and unexpected as the guests move from one area to another. The ceremony should be simple, there should be a little more at cocktails, and then the reception should be extraordinary.

Bailey has used as many as 200 to 300 flowers at each reception table. A secondary wreath of flowers frequently encircles the centerpiece. Flowers sit atop each napkin as part of his design signature. "It is important not to use flowers with a strong or overwhelming scent. It makes people uncomfortable eating. I usually avoid Casablanca lilies, nasturtium (paper whites) and gardenias because of their strong scent."

Bailey typically ignores many of the rules brides regard as unbreakable. No one color combination or color theme may follow guests through the evening. Bailey may mix and integrate strong, rich colors to compose unusual palettes. Bright reds and oranges complement each other in his hands. "It's a matter of knowing how to work with color," he said. "Don't be afraid of mixing colors. You have to be bold and have a sense of what's going to work. Flowers have different textures, sizes, colors and depth. I may use big flowers elsewhere, but never in a centerpiece. It's more exciting to use three smaller flowers that take up the same space as one large flower." Through the use of smaller, varied flowers, Bailey creates the brushstrokes for his floral paintings.

The carnal rule that all guests should be able to see each other across the table is also sometimes broken. "Realistically with music playing, guests can't speak across the table," he said. "While high or low arrangements are the safest, it's not a requirement." In a recent wedding he designed for Melissa Rivers, Joan Rivers' daughter, the centerpieces were original 19th-century antiques that stood four feet tall. Overflowing with gorgeous flowers and fruit, they completely obstructed any view across the table.

The rule that tables should match or vary in only modest, controlled ways is also commonly broken. Five completely different designs from the centerpiece through the tablecloth may enrich the setting. Each of the antique candelabras at the Rivers' wedding was distinctly and dramatically unique, while the remaining jewel-toned glassware and brocade tablecloths were kept constant. Bailey has no problems using silver and gold at the same table or adding grapes, miniature red apples or peaches to a floral arrangement.

In designing a room, he listens very carefully to the client. "I am in the service business. I try to understand what my client wants and I translate what she is saying. It depends a lot on the group of people and the impression they want to make. It depends on the circumstances. Most people want a party; they want an exciting room. Sometimes more is better. It depends on how you handle it. Sometimes brides want to overwhelm their guests; they want as much as possible. Then I recommend they pull back a little." One of the places Bailey pulls back is in the chairs. If the table is heavily laden, he will use plain, uncovered Chivari ballroom chairs with bamboo shaped design. When he uses chair covers to hide an ugly chair, he tries to avoid the factory-made look. "I cover only the back section of the chair," he explained. "It's the part most people see. I create a dressy sheer covering for the back. It's a design detail. Fabric on the seat can be uncomfortable. If seat cushions are used, I choose a color close to the color of the tablecloth."

For lighting, Bailey likes votive candles with or without frosted glass. "It's a relatively reasonable, inexpensive way to light a room," he said. "I get tons of them and just go crazy with them."

Not all of Bailey's brides want bold colors or lush floral environments. Some like Matt Lauer's bride want something simpler. A few want only white. "With white weddings, you have to be careful not to make it look the same," Bailey noted. "December and February are the worst time for flowers." At one winter white wedding, he used tall French tulips in clear crystal vases of varying shapes in a room hung with burgundy curtains. "If you are going to do white, address the whole room," he advised. "Don't do it in a boring way."

Bailey prefers simple white and cream hand-tied bridal bouquets that don't stand out from the dress. "The more classic the bouquet the better," he noted. "I'm not playful with bouquets. I like them to look like they were picked in the garden and tied together. I like understatement."

His flowers do not compete with the elegance and spirituality of the ceremony. In church, they may be limited to aisle decorations to avoid competing with the altar, their colors echoing the stained glass windows. Bailey also prefers to keep chuppas (Jewish wedding roofs) simple and grounded for stability.

"A bride should feel comfortable that she is going to be heard," he said. "There shouldn't be any surprises the day of the wedding. She should have comprehensive drawings of the table setting in detail. Although flowers may change somewhat due to the flower market, she should know the final selection at least a week before. Some venues require you to use their florist. Do your homework and interview these people before you decide if you really want to book the room." Bailey's wedding services start at about $20,000.