Ideas for Calla Lilly Wedding bouquets and Centerpieces

"Calla" doesn't mean "white" anymore, though. And even brides who love tradition are going nuts for the deep hues of mini-callas in shades like mango, gold and burgundy.

Here are some interesting treatments we're seeing:

Callas and bare-branch arrangements combined (tall, imposing, great for Asian-tinged or contemporary autumn weddings).

Callas are costly, so they're used more sparingly than some other blooms. Expect to pay almost $5 a stem for the big, traditional kind, even if you're buying in bulk. Mini-callas come cheaper: close to $2.50 or $3 per stem.

Partly due to expense, callas tend to draw DIY'ers. They're relatively sturdy. They're available all year round. They enjoy a long vase life, and they're simple to prepare (especially compared to fussy, wilt-prone flowers like hydrangeas, tulips or shasta daisies).

But keep in mind that mini-callas — the kinds with color — are just that. Mini.

More than a few brides ordered their callas online ... and were a little shocked when they found those mango beauties on their doorstep smaller than they imagined.

The sky's the limit when it comes to color choices for minis, but if you need really big blooms for things like tower vases and centerpieces, you'll want to stick to white (minis come in white too, though, so be careful).

Tight mini-calla posy bouquets with a romantic rose collar (white callas ringed by pink roses, for example).

Mango mini-callas with black magic roses. Combined with hypericum berries, it's a super-dramatic fall look.

Calla lilies sure have legs when it comes to wedding trends. In fact, they're not really a trend ... they're more of an institution.

Why? Because calla lilies express major directions in fashion ... and weddings. The body-conscious wedding gowns, the emphasis on fine fabrics, the movement toward a stripped-down look in wedding cakes  ... all these sit square in the center of the modern white wedding. Right next to our favorite bloom!

As a result, callas appeal to brides who prefer to push the envelope,   who love all things traditional ... or as we focus on here,  who are brave enough to do-it-yourself!