Hi, my name is Bisli Vazquez and today we will be discussing the process of selecting a wedding bouquet in our bridal bouquet guide to wedding. If you are looking for tips and a guide on improving your big day, then you have come to the right place.
Here, I am sharing part of my experience in how brides select the perfect bouquet for them.
Let’s begin our discussion on selecting a wedding bouquet. When deciding what style of bouquet will make you smile and feel confident on your big day, it is always good to have some idea as to why you like that one.
Preparation
What is the reason why you like that bouquet? The first question we must ask in our bridal bouquet guide to wedding. Because of the color of the flowers, the particular bouquet style, the size of the bouquet, the aroma of the flowers, or simply because it complements your wedding dress. Your bouquet should not take away from you or your beautiful dress; it must complement it.
The bridal bouquet should not cover the waistline because it will cover her beautiful silhouette.
If you are a visual bride, it will be a good idea to have a mock-up of your bouquet months before your wedding. You must understand that you have to pay a fee for this service, but you will have peace of mind knowing that your bouquet is the right weight and size. This is so you won’t be uncomfortable going down the aisle because it is too heavy, too big, or too small for you.
Many brides have difficulty carrying the bouquet during the ceremony because they choose the look over comfort. On the wedding day, they discover how heavy and uncomfortable it is.
Others choose a large bouquet that looks like walking flowers because it covers a significant part of the bride’s body. Be careful when selecting the bridal bouquet.
Some Popular Bouquet Styles
There are a variety of styles that you can choose from when selecting a wedding bouquet. In our bridal bouquet guide to wedding these styles include…
Tussie Mussie Style
One of them is the Tussie mussie style. It is a mini bouquet made with flowers and fragrance herbs. This style became popular in the Victorian era. It is also known as a posy or nosegay.
An example I can point out is a nosegay bouquet that was carried by Meghan Markle when she wed Prince Harry. The size of this bouquet makes it very easy to hold. Usually, smaller bouquets are more popular among the bridesmaids, but when choosing the bouquet it is essential to consider the bride’s height and weight to complement her shape. A too-small or too-large bouquet will look out of proportion.
This bouquet will look great on a petite bride because it will complement her figure. The smaller the bouquet, the better to use smaller flowers to keep them in proportion. The tissue mussie can be made with any color of flowers, but it will look better with one hue adding shades, tones, and tints of the primary color.
Garden-Style
There are also garden-style bouquets. They are arranged naturally, such as when you pick up flowers from the garden and gather them together. This look is most prevalent in country-style weddings. A garden-style bouquet is very relaxed and informal.
The garden-style bouquet is a composition of large blooms mixed with some lines of flowers and foliage. My favorite flowers for a garden-style bouquet are garden roses, peonies, dahlias, and spikes of larkspur or stock. It will be wise to add a good amount of a combination of eucalyptus, such as the silver dollar, seeded, and gunni, and for more texture, the willow eucalyptus will work great.
Cascading Bouquet
Another style of bouquet in our bridal bouquet guide to wedding is the cascading bouquet. It is an elongated bouquet trilling down. I believe it is quite a piece of art. The perfect example of the formal cascade bouquet is the one carried by Princess Diana on her wedding day. It can be formal or semi-formal.
Cascade bouquets come in different widths and lengths and can be as elaborate as you wish or as simple and less ornate. The formal cascade bouquet is longer and broader, while the semi-formal is shorter and can be narrow or wide. It can have foliage or just a variety of flowers to make it look more elegant and add texture.
Many people get confused with the cascading bouquet because sometimes it is called a teardrop for its formality. The formal cascade bouquet or teardrop has a more defined form. It can be as long as you wish or be knee-length.
Round Bouquet
The Round bouquet, another style in our bridal bouquet guide to wedding, was the most popular until a few years ago. The Round bouquet is still the favorite of so many brides for its romantic look. This bouquet style is hand-tied, and the stems are often left exposed after securing and covering the mechanic which holds all the stems together. Other brides love to cover all the stems with ribbon or fabric that matches their dress’s color and texture.
The beauty of the round bouquet is that you can use different techniques. Two top-rated mechanics are the bouquet holder or simply gathering the stems and securing them with wire, ribbon, or any other items you choose. If what you used to ensure all the stems are together is not spelling to the eyes, cover it.
The round bouquet has been the number-one choice for wedding ceremonies for many years. Roses were the central flower or, many times, the only flower in the bouquet. Crystals, brooches, and other details were added to embellish the bouquet. Later, other textured flowers were added so the bouquet didn’t look too plain.
Single Stem Bouquet
Moving along, we have the single-stem bouquet. For this bouquet to look good, it should have a large flower to make a big statement. It should use flowers containing florets like hydrangea so the bouquet looks its best. Greenery can be added to the flower for texture and to beautify it.
Flowers that are well used for single-flower bouquets are standard calla lilies, hydrangeas, garden roses, peonies, phalaenopsis, orchids, and standard roses, to mention a few. When choosing this bouquet style, make sure the flowers make a grand statement and don’t get lost in your hands. A collar of baby’s breath can be added to make the single-flower bouquet look pretty.
The one-flower bouquet is more popular with the bridesmaids and the mothers’ of the couple. When the one flower bouquet is chosen, most of the time, it is because the couple’s budget is insufficient to make a larger bouquet for everyone. The most used flower for this type of bouquet is the standard calla lily, the rose, a ribbon, and/or foliage.
Arm Bouquets
Another bouquet on our list is the Arm bouquet. Arms bouquets are simple but elegant bouquets that wrap around your arm so they will not slip away from your dress. Arm bouquets are becoming very popular with a particular group of brides that care about being the main attraction during the ceremony. If you want to try this style, then defínetely a tryout will be needed so you are comfortable with it.
Another way to carry an arm bouquet is to have a few flowers in it. Hold the flower on your arm with the flower’s head upward and the stems downward. The stems of the bouquets are left longer than the other styles. One type of flower is often used to keep the elegant form. If you wish to add greenery, I recommend adding Italian or Israeli ruscus continuing with clean lines.
This type of bouquet can be made with foliage if the bride loves greenery. Flowers are mainly used to create this bouquet, and hints of green are added for texture or contrast. Some brides like to add thrilling pieces of ribbon for a romantic flow. I love to have a combination of dendrobium orchids mixed with phalaenopsis and touches of mojarra orchids. Besides being romantic, this combination is sophisticated and lightweight.
Freeform Bouquet
Our next bouquet, the Freeform bouquet, is one where you tell the designer what you want and they create the free-form bouquet out of your vision. The freestyle bouquet showcases the bride’s personality, which is very important. Usually, it has an informal shape and can be large. If the bride wants it to be smaller than usual, then she must tell the designer.
This style of bouquet is loosely arranged and has a whimsical look. They are larger than other bouquets and have a variety of flowers and greens. This bouquet can be done as the client wishes. All she needs to do is tell the designer the form she wants and that it must be a freestyle. Most of the time, this form of bouquet can have the linens upward or sideways instead of cascading down. It has an informal round shape, and it looks informal.
After the pandemic of 2020, many pre-pandemic bridal bouquet styles were archived to welcome new trends, from boho and rustic. In these trends the dry flowers play a huge role to romantic, bold, and chic. The dry flowers, colored, an abundance of greenery, bleached flowers, and foliage are being used without measurements. The bouquets are out of shape, and the sizes are as large as the hands could hold them. Many of these styles are freestyle.
Now that you know more about selecting a wedding bouquet, you can decide which one is your favorite.
If you want to design your own centerpiece and don’t know where to start, check out my blog on how to create your own floral arrangement.
Deciding On The Size Of Your Bouquet
Some brides have dreamed of having the most enormous bouquet they can carry. Some like the medium size that is an easy-to-hold bouquet. Other brides like it is petite so that the bouquet does not take over the meaning of the occasion.
There is no wrong or correct size. The answer is whatever makes you happy as an individual, but deciding what is important is essential. If a large bouquet is what you want, then go for it.
Make sure it won’t take away from you and your dress. Sometimes, the bride can’t even hold the bouquet because it is so heavy that it hurts their hands. Be sure to consider this as well because on your special day, you do not want to be focused on it.
A well-designed bridal bouquet that doesn’t compete with you is the best. The size doesn’t matter if you can carry it, and when you are going down the aisle it doesn’t look like a bunch of flowers are replacing you because the guests will focus on the flowers and not on you.
You decide what bouquet style will work for you.
Choosing Trend Instead Of Comfort
Next on our bridal bouquet guide to wedding is choosing trend over comfort. When selecting a wedding bouquet, consider the comfort you will feel by carrying a bouquet that does not take away from you and is not that hard to carry.
Some brides don’t think about it. They just allow the trend to take over and forget about how important it is to be comfortable carrying their bouquet. There are bouquets that look beautiful, and there are some that have no sense of fashion.
On the day of the wedding, the guests are distracted by these bouquets. Instead of looking at the bride they focus on the flowers, and in many occasions it covers the beauty of the dress. Be mindful when choosing your bridal bouquet.
Remember that everything has to look cohesive. It’s not like the flowers are competing with each other but rather being in harmony for a romantic look.
Some brides are very organic, and that is ok. Not every bride is the same. For these brides, it is very important to choose the right flowers that go with your style, and it is imperative that there is clear communication with the floral designer on the look you are planning to achieve.
What Type Of Flowers Should Go In Your Bouquet
One of the most popular flowers for bridal bouquets is roses. Why? Roses are regularly associated with love by many people. Some roses are hardy and can stay outside water for a considerable time without deteriorating. Some Roses are very delicate.
The location plays a significant role in choosing the flowers. For example, if the wedding ceremony is outdoors in summer, the flowers must stay in that weather. Incorporating hydrangeas or any other flowers in your bouquet that will not do well in the heat will not be a bright idea.
If the look is romantic then roses, sweet peas, phalaenopsis, orchids, and peonies will be a great choice. Dry flowers would be excellent for vintage weddings, while fresh flowers mixed with dry will make a beautiful boho bridal bouquet. Various fresh greens and wildflowers arranged naturally would be a fantastic addition to get an organic look.
Choose flowers that stand the weather if you want a long-lasting bouquet. I like to use orchids, anthurium, mini calla lilies, tulips, carnations, ranunculus, and protea. If you choose a variety of delicate flowers, then make sure you have a water source to put your bouquet in when you don’t need to carry it.
Conclusion
The most important decision when choosing your flowers and the style of your bouquet is to be confident and happy with what you are choosing. It is essential to consider that weddings are romantic occasions, therefore whatever flower or form you choose, remember that it will be for a wedding.
Always check the weather. Many flowers are sensitive to heat, and others to cold weather because they are not in their habitat. Therefore, they will behave differently. Ask your floral designer what flowers will suit your chosen location and season.
Some Holliday’s increased the price of the flowers. So budget right if you plan to get married on any of those days, especially Valentine’s and Mother’s Day. Flowers come in various shapes, forms, essences, and colors. Choose the flowers that complement your style. Always consider if a member of your bridal party is allergic to some flowers when selecting the flowers. Thank you for reading our bridal bouquet guide to wedding.
If you want event planning services and rentals, contact me at bisli@bisli.com.
About Me
I am the CEO of an event service firm, Bisli Event Services LLC. I am also a published author of my book “Never The Mother Of The Bride”. With an introduction by the world-famous David Tutera, star of the hit show My Fair Wedding on WE Tv.
I also am the author of multiple floral arrangement decor courses online. I’ve been featured on Platinum Weddings, Top Chef on Bravo, Platinum Weddings on WETV, CNN, CNN Latino, MTV Latino, San Antonio Weddings Magazine, kens5, and The Knot.
I have been a Wedding planner, floral designer, event designer, speaker, and Luxury celebrations coach for almost three decades. I have also done events for celebrities such as Barack Obama.
Thank you for checking out my blog. You will enjoy your event much more filling your time up educating yourself on the various topics surrounding event design. We have even more content for you to enjoy and learn even more tips about event design and decor.
My office is located in San Antonio Texas. If you have questions about booking please contact me at bisli@bisli.com. We offer event planning and decor services.
Best of luck to you in your event decor and planning endeavors. See you on the next blog.
