The Bridal Bouquet

The bridal bouquet is one of the most important elements of the bride’s attire and deserves special attention. Start by selecting the color and shape of the bouquet. The bridal bouquet should be carried low enough so that all the intricate details of your gown are visible.

Options: There are many colors, scents, sizes, shapes and styles of bouquets to choose from. Popular styles are the cascade, cluster, contemporary and hand-tied garden bouquets. The traditional bridal bouquet is made of white flowers. Stephanotis, gardenias, white roses, orchids and lilies of the valley are popular choices for an all-white bouquet.

If you prefer a colorful bouquet, you may want to consider using roses, tulips, stock, peonies, freesia, and gerbera, which come in a wide variety of colors. Using scented flowers in your bouquet will evoke memories of your wedding day whenever you smell them in the future. Popular fragrant flowers for bouquets are gardenias, freesia, stephanotis, bouvardia, and narcissus. Select flowers that are in season to assure availability.

Things To Consider: Your flowers should complement the season, your gown, your color scheme, your attendants’ attire, and the style and formality of your wedding. If you have a favorite flower, build your bouquet around it and include it in all your arrangements. Some flowers carry centuries of symbolism. Consider stephanotis—tradition regards it as the bridal good-luck flower! Pimpernel signifies change; white flowers radiate innocence; forget-me-nots indicate true love; and ivy stands for friendship, fidelity, and matrimony—the three essentials for a happy marriage.

No flower, however, has as much symbolism for brides as the orange blossom, having at least 700 years of nuptial history. Its unusual ability to simultaneously bear flowers and produce fruit symbolizes the fusion of beauty, personality, and fertility.

Bridal Bouquet Basics

A beautiful and fragrant bridal bouquet is the perfect compliment to your bridal attire. The bridal bouquet should enhance the beauty of the gown, not overpower it.

A “traditional” bridal bouquet is designed with all white flowers so that it does not draw attention away from the bride and her wedding gown. However, there is an increasing trend toward adding color to the bridal bouquet from soft pinks and pastels to fuchsia and ruby reds.

The bridal bouquet should compliment the personal style of the bride as well as the overall theme and atmosphere of the wedding. If hot pink suits your personality, there should be nothing stopping you.

Bridal bouquets now come in all colors, shapes and styles. Here are some of the basic designs for bouquets.

The Cascade Bouquet —The most traditional and formal style for the bridal bouquet. As the name implies, it resembles a cascade or waterfall with the flowers flowing downward. Traditional wedding flowers used in the cascade bouquet are white and include roses, stephanotis, white or calla lilies, and mingled with some greenery. The bouquet has the appearance of being loose and free flowing.

The Nosegay or Round Cluster Bouquet —Round in shape and usually smaller than the other styles. It can be created with a single type of flower or a mix. A popular version of this bouquet is the tight round cluster in white or pastel pink roses. This type of bouquet usually has very little greenery.

The Hand-tied or Lose-tied Bouquet —A little less formal than the others. It gives the illusion of a “just picked” bouquet of spring flowers tied loosely with delicate ribbon or lace. The bouquet is put together with a variety of different types of flowers. In this bouquet, the flowers can actually have some movement, or just the appearance of being free flowing. It all depends on the preference of the bride.

Tips for Choosing A Bridal Bouquet

Select flowers that are in season

• This will keep costs down tremendously. Consider purchasing silk flowers if you have your heart set on a flower that is not in bloom.
• Some brides choose silk flowers because they are often less expensive than fresh flowers and the bouquet can be kept and displayed in their home after the wedding.
• Select flowers that will hold up for the entire day . Particularly if you are taking pictures before the ceremony or outside, you want to make sure that you select flowers that will hold up to the sun and wind and still look gorgeous when you walk down the aisle. Another option is to use a bouquet holder, which will keep your flowers hydrated with water for most of the day.
• Don’t let your bouquet overwhelm you . A beautiful waistline will be covered by a large, cascading bouquet. If you are petite, the weight of a large bouquet could become a problem during the ceremony. Consider your gown and your stature before making selections.
• Show the florist what you like . Don’t just tell your florists the gowns are “pink”... bring in fabric swatches if at all possible. (There are more than 50 different shades of pink and you will want the flowers to match as closely as possible so be descriptive.) You can also cut out magazine pictures of bouquets you like and some that you don’t. This will give your florist a feel for your particular tastes.
• Select flowers with special meaning. Most flowers have a specific meaning. For example, ivy means fidelity, friendship and marriage, violets mean modesty and hope, zinnias mean thoughts of absent friends, jasmine is for happiness and tulips mean enchantment.