For our first in the ‘floral fortnight’ series with Sue from Bramble and Belle we are covering one of my favourite topics. Bouquets and personal flowers!
The moment the bouquet arrives and is delivered to the bride is one of the best! As the most photographed floral pieces at your wedding it’s got to be pretty special. We’ll be talking through colours and styles to consider for your bouquet and of course Sue’s best tips. Let’s dive in!
Choosing Colours
First off, remember that your florist is your best person for advice on where to start with choosing colours for your bouquet and types of flowers. They know what complimentary colours are going to look the best and what is going to be in season on your wedding day.
Let’s start with deciding on the colours for your bouquet or your flowers throughout the day. You might have already chosen your colour palette so it’s a good idea to bring this and a mood board to the meeting with your florist. When I’m styling and creating a colour palette I take inspiration from lots of places including the venue but I also always consider the flowers that are going to be available and recommended by the florist.
You should think about how the colours are going to look in photos, darker colours like burgundy can become black in the camera. By adding different shades and steps through the colour wheel they can blend nicely.
Bouquet Styles
Hand tied bouquet; these are very popular and on trend at the moment, you might be thinking they are too loose and wild for you but there is a huge scale to choose from and they can be tight and formal right through to completely loose.
Shower bouquet: traditionally these bouquets are fully wired and structured in a teardrop shape with a handle underneath. They need to be created by a skilled florist as each flower in individually wired and once it’s in place there isn’t any going back. A bouquet like this is going to take your florist time and skill so they can cost more but the overall effect is quite beautiful.
If a formal cascade bouquet isn’t quite you or in your price range then it is possible to create a similar style and shape with a cascade bouquet that is hand tied. The piece is created using an armature and chicken wire, which makes this type of bouquet more flexible. A hand tied cascade bouquet has more movement than the traditional shower, it’s still elegant but less formal and more natural. It’s best to leave the choice of florals to the florist for this one though so that they can carefully create the exact look you want.
Don’t scrimp on your bouquet, it’ll be the most photographed floral piece of the entire day.
Sue’s bouquet tip
What flowers should you have in your bouquet?
You might have a favourite flower and know that it’s going to be in season at the perfect time of your wedding day, if so then make sure to mention it to your florist. This way they can plan the bouquet around it. Lot’s of flowers can now be bought out of season but this might cost more if they need to be imported from Europe.
If you don’t have any must have types of flowers in mind then it’s always better to let your florist decide. Your florist is the expert and will have your best interests in mind. Nearer the time of your wedding, when they are buying the flowers it’s best to have flexibility so that they can purchase the best flowers in the current market. Florists with the flexibility to choose flowers nearer the time will also be able to choose flowers that are in season, with a good head size and quality that is going to withstand the summer heat.
What’s on trend now?
I’m not really one to recommend going with a trend, just because it’s in fashion now. If it’s not really YOU then don’t do it. But it can be interesting to see what is on trend, see if you like it and take inspiration.
Natural cascades are being requested a lot at the moment. Moving away from the rules is becoming popular, loose and mixed with different flowers. Garden style is particularly sympathetic to the loose bouquet styles and means your florist can choose british flowers.
Should you consider your dress when choosing a bouquet?
You might consider the details on your dress because a large bouquet might hide the details like sequins and lace. It’s also a good idea to consider your size and choose a proportional size bouquet.
As a florist Sue isn’t sure that you should or should not choose a bouquet just because of your wedding dress. Don’t compromise on what you really want.
A quick note on personal flowers
Bridesmaids bouquets should be smaller versions of the bridal bouquet. This will create continuity making for cohesive pictures. Practically it also helps with buying the same flowers making it cheaper for you.
Buttonholes are created using the same or similar flowers as the bouquet, but you can get creative with bold statements such as a large floral single stem. It’s also a nice idea to create a slightly larger, different or more special buttonhole for the Groom.
I hope that this has helped you feel confident about meeting up with your florist and choosing your bouquet style. There really isn’t anything to be worried about, the only problem is there is too much choice! Really trust in your florist, take their advice and make sure you choose what you love.
If you have any more questions about bouquets or personal flowers then feel free to email me below, or drop me a message on instagram. You can also find expert advice from Sue here:
www.instagram.com/brambleandbelleflorist
We’ll be back shortly with help for your floral statement pieces.
Emma x
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