Rhiannon Hendricks
Planning the floral arrangements for a wedding can be a complex process, and it's important to consider a range of factors when deciding what flowers you need. The size of the venue and the wedding party, the type of flowers, and the wedding theme will all influence the number of flowers and arrangements required. Flowers are typically needed for the bridal bouquet, boutonnieres for the groom and groomsmen, and corsages for the mothers of the bride and groom. They are also commonly used for centrepieces, flower walls, and to decorate the ceremony arch and aisle. When planning a wedding, it's essential to consider your budget and be mindful of the environmental impact of your floral choices.
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What You'll Learn
Bouquets and boutonnieres
When choosing flowers for the bridal bouquet, consider the colour scheme and style of the wedding. Popular choices for bridesmaids' flower crowns include baby's breath, roses, and daisies. For a rustic or bohemian look, incorporate leaves or twigs. The bridal bouquet is typically the most eye-catching, but don't forget about the mothers of the bride and groom. Corsages are a traditional way to honour them and add a touch of elegance to their attire. Orchids, roses, and carnations are popular choices for corsages, and you can personalise them with ribbon or pearls.
Boutonnieres are small flower arrangements worn by men on their lapels or collars, usually matching the bridal bouquet or bridesmaids' bouquets. Groomsmen's boutonnieres typically feature a single flower or two, such as roses, carnations, or orchids, along with some foliage or ribbon. They can also be preserved as a gift or keepsake for the groomsmen.
When selecting flowers, consider the size of the blooms. Flowers with larger blooms, such as hydrangeas and peonies, require fewer stems to create full arrangements. On the other hand, smaller blooms like roses or ranunculus may need more stems to achieve similar fullness. The wedding theme also plays a role in flower selection. A romantic and lush theme calls for more flowers and greenery, while a minimalist or modern theme may require fewer flowers with a focus on clean lines and geometric arrangements.
To save money, consider minimising floral arrangements, repurposing ceremony flowers for the reception, or creating simple DIY arrangements. Discuss your budget and priorities with your florist, and explore cost-saving alternatives. Remember that wedding flowers are fragile and perishable, so most of the work must be done within 48 hours of the wedding, including setup at the venue on the morning of. Transportation can be tricky, so ensure you have a large enough vehicle, and check if your venue requires business insurance or a professional florist for flower delivery.
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Corsages
Some popular flowers for corsages include orchids, roses, and carnations. These flowers can be complemented with other elements such as ribbon or pearls to create a more personalized touch. For example, you can incorporate a ribbon by using waterproof floral tape, which is necessary if you are creating a wrist corsage.
If you are using roses, a rose stripper can be used to remove the thorns and leaves in one go, or you can use snips to cut off each individual thorn. Additionally, consider using rubber bands to secure the flowers, and wire and wire cutters to shape and secure the arrangement.
When creating corsages, it is important to keep in mind the overall wedding theme and colour scheme. Corsages can be customized to match the wedding style, whether it is rustic, bohemian, or something else entirely.
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Floral crowns
When choosing a floral crown, you can opt for fresh flowers or dried flowers. Fresh flowers are typically more expensive, as they are usually designed within 48 hours of the wedding to ensure freshness. Dried flower crowns, on the other hand, are a more affordable option and can be purchased well in advance. They are also a great choice if you want to keep your floral crown as a memento of your special day.
The type of flowers you choose for your crown can vary depending on the season and your preferences. Some popular options include baby's breath, roses, eucalyptus, thistles, and wildflowers. You can also add pearls or other decorative elements to your crown for a more extravagant look.
When ordering a floral crown, be sure to provide the florist with the intended wearer's head size and any color or flower preferences. It's also important to consider the complexity and size of the arrangement, as these factors can impact the cost. Additionally, don't forget to discuss any budget constraints with your florist, as they may be able to offer cost-saving alternatives or bespoke designs to suit your needs.
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Ceremony arch and aisle
Wedding arches have become a popular choice for couples, as they create a romantic backdrop for exchanging vows and make for stunning photos. They can be used at the end of the aisle, or to add a romantic flourish to any space at your ceremony or reception, such as the entryway.
When choosing flowers for your wedding arch, consider the colour palette and style you wish to convey, as well as the seasonality and current floral trends. The arch should capture the aesthetic of your ceremony and reflect your unique sense of style. For example, a square arch may symbolise the home you will share, while a circular arch can represent the doorway into your new life together. The colour of the flowers can also carry symbolic meaning; red hues can represent fiery passion and romance, while white flowers can symbolise peace, serenity, and purity.
There are many different arch shapes to choose from, including square, rectangle, circle, triangle, mountain, hexagon, round, pointed, chuppah, partial, crescent, trefoil, solid, triangular, and triple arch. You can also decide how covered you want the arch to be; options include a floral corner swag, flowers across the top, flowers on the sides, a fully covered lush floral display, or several concentrations of flowers.
If you are looking to save costs, consider a foliage-based arch with spots and clusters of flowers in asymmetrical corners to mimic natural growth. The larger the arch, the more flowers it will need, which will increase costs. You can also save money by repurposing the arch flowers for home decor, or for birthdays and baby showers after the wedding.
In addition to the arch, you may want to consider flowers for the aisle. For a dramatic and unique look, arrange the flowers in an ombré or swirled pattern down the length of the aisle. You can also incorporate young family members, such as nieces and nephews, by giving them small floral accents like flower crowns or boutonnieres. They can also participate in the ceremony as flower boys or girls by tossing petals down the aisle before the bride's entrance.
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Reception centrepieces and decorations
When it comes to wedding flowers, the options are endless, and it's easy to get carried away. However, by focusing on a few key areas, you can create a beautiful display without blowing your budget.
Centrepieces are a key feature of your reception and can be designed to fit your wedding theme. They can vary in size, shape and style, depending on your budget and personal taste. Popular centrepieces include tall vases with cascading flowers, low arrangements with candles or fruit, or potted plants and herbs. You can also create a dynamic effect by mixing and matching different flowers and colours. If you're handy, you can even DIY your centrepieces using a few simple tools like floral tape, glue, wire and ribbon.
To save money, you could repurpose ceremony flowers for the reception. For example, petals from the aisle can be scattered on reception tables or the cake for a playful effect. You can choose petals that match the bridal bouquet or centrepieces, or opt for a contrasting colour or shape.
If you want to make a statement, consider a flower wall. It will create a stunning backdrop for your wedding photos and is sure to impress your guests. Discuss with your florist how you can reuse ceremony flowers for the reception to get the most out of your arrangements.
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Frequently asked questions
Popular flower choices for weddings include roses, peonies, hydrangeas, carnations, orchids, and lavender buds.
The number of flowers you need depends on the size of your venue and your wedding party. A good rule of thumb is to count the number of stems you want in an arrangement, then multiply that by the number of arrangements.
Here are some tips to save money on wedding flowers:
- Minimize floral arrangements
- Reuse ceremony flowers for the reception
- Choose flowers with larger blooms, such as hydrangeas or peonies, which will require fewer stems
- DIY simple arrangements
Flowers can be used in a variety of ways at weddings, such as:
- Centerpieces for reception tables
- Flower walls or backdrops for photos
- Floral arrangements for the cake table
- Flower petals scattered on tables or the ceremony aisle
- Flower crowns for bridesmaids
- Boutonnieres for groomsmen
Wedding flowers are fragile and perishable, so most of the work must be done within 48 hours of the wedding. Be sure to plan enough time and help into your schedule to get everything done, and consider the transportation and setup requirements for your flowers.
