Wedding flowers

A wedding without flowers would be like a beach without sand. They are an essential element of your big day, and come in a whole range of styles and arrangements. Aside from the bride’s bouquet, which may be uppermost in your thoughts, there are many other uses for wedding flowers that you may not have considered.

Types of wedding flowers that you may need to budget for

A bridal bouquet, traditionally in white or cream
Bridesmaids’ bouquets, to complement the bridal bouquet
Buttonholes for the groom and groomsmen, traditionally taken from the bride’s bouquet
Corsages for the mothers of the bride and groom that can be pinned to the dress or worn around the wrist
Arrangements for the ceremony to go on the alter, signing table, pews, entrance and window sills, if you are having a church wedding
Table centrepieces for the reception
A floral arrangement to decorate the cake table
Selecting and booking a florist
You will want to choose and book your florist around six to eight months before your wedding, and you will need to visit them to discuss the styles, arrangements and colour schemes you require. A good wedding florist will ask plenty of questions about the type of wedding you are having, as well as the style of your dress and the venue for both the ceremony and the reception, to make sure the flowers will complement these.

You will want to use a florist that is based near the wedding location so that the flowers are as fresh as possible when they arrive. This should also mean your florist is familiar with your chosen venues and will be able to tell you the types of arrangement that work best. Talk to a few different florists before you make a final decision, and ask to see photos of other weddings they have provided the flowers for.

Emerging trends in wedding flowers
Many brides are stepping away from traditional white roses or lilies, and choosing more daring bridal bouquets instead. The use of bold colours and accessories, as well as more unusual flowers such as dyed orchids, can make a stylish alternative, and really stand out against a white dress.

Using vivid colours is increasingly popular in wedding flower arrangements as well as in the bridal bouquet. Fashionable choices include reds, pinks, blues and purples, and single colour arrangements that incorporate a number of different textures and flower types are also in style.

Instead of traditional static flower displays, wedding florists are increasingly creating arrangements with natural flow and movement. Whether you are designing your bouquet, or a table centrepiece, flowers with long stems or a natural drape, such as vines, tulips and sweet peas can really add a natural touch to your wedding design.