Flowers are one of the most beautiful parts of any wedding. Naturally the centerpieces and ceremony decorations are important, but for brides, their bridal bouquet is the most special part of the wedding floral design. There are a few key things you must know about designing the perfect bridal bouquet, whether you do it yourself or choose to work with a florist. Learn how here…
The first thing that every bride needs to know is the general style of her bridal ensemble. The flavor of wedding gowns and bridal jewelry sets can vary tremendously, and the bouquet that is divine with a beaded trumpet gown will not suit a ’50s inspired tulle wedding dress, and vice versa. Many brides can define their general ceremony style in a word or two: dramatic, glamorous, modern, cutting edge, vintage, preppy, girly, and so forth. To find out what style of bouquet looks best with your bridal gown, pick up a wedding magazine or go online to see what other brides have chosen to do.
After you have a general idea of the bouquet style you prefer, get ready to choose a shape. A round nosegay is ideal for brides whose taste runs to classic bridal gowns and pearl jewelry sets. If your dream bridal gown is something extravagant, like a crystal-covered trumpet, you will need an equally striking bouquet, such as a waterfall. Getting married in a field? Try a loose handtied bouquet with a natural form that is not too shaped or manicured. If a satin ballgown is your style, consider a large crescent bouquet or a teardrop shaped arrangement.
Next consider the size of the bouquet. One thing that plays into this is your budget; obviously the larger the size of the bouquet, the more flowers and the higher the cost. That said, do not automatically rule out a large bouquet based on price alone– a creative florist can often find ways to cut the price of a bouquet by arranging less expensive flowers with the signature blossoms. The size of the bouquet must suit the sie of the bride. A petite bride should carry a smallish arrangement, while a tall bride will need something larger to get the same effect – it is much like shopping for bridal jewelry sets in that regard. A very dainty bouquet in the hand of a large bride will look insignificant, yet a very grand bouquet will swallow up a tiny bride. Be sure to remember that fuller or more ornate bridal gowns require larger bouquets for balance.
Finally, it is time to pick the flowers! Many factors will be important in the flower selection, including seasonal availability, color choices, style, hardiness, and of course price. Some of the most popular flowers include roses, lilies, tulips, hydrangeas, and peonies. The season of your wedding will immediately rule in or rule out certain varieties. Style also plays a big part in flower selection – classic flowers like roses pair well with timeless pearl bridal jewelry sets, splashy lilies are fabulous for tropical theme weddings, while orchids positively ooze sophistication and elegance. Price matters too when designing the perfect bridal bouquet, because a bouquet which is out of your budget is of no use to you. Your florist can help you achieve the style you want while still staying in your price range. They can suggest blossoms that will be in season at the time of your wedding, and give you ideas of similar-looking subsititutes for expensive blossoms. DIY brides will often be able to get the best price on their dream bouquet by ordering the flowers online or from a grocery store.
Last but not least is your wedding flowers’ color. There’s no right or wrong, so this is in many ways the easiest part of designing your bouquet. There are some easy color rules you can follow: white, pink, or red for a traditional wedding, purple or red for drama, yellow or green for fun, and hot pink or orange for a beach wedding. Then all that is left to do is choose your bouquet wrap, and you will have designed the perfect bridal bouquet!