Bridal bouquets are typically one of the most classic, sophisticated, and meaningful flowers at a wedding. This piece should reflect the bride’s personality, but is often dictated by the style of the wedding, the bride’s gown, and the venue. The flowers are chosen not only for their beauty, but also their symbolism. For example, roses often represent love, and peonies represent good fortune. Once the flowers and greenery are chosen, the shape, size, and color are selected to enhance the overall appearance. The bouquet should be comfortable for the bride to carry, as she will be holding it for several hours.
Color is a big consideration here, too; pastel shades can create a whimsical, romantic look, while jewel tones make for a more dramatic statement. We’ll also think about how the color of the flowers will appear in the changing light as the day goes on, and how that will affect the look of your bouquet during the ceremony and beyond. At this stage, we may also use wiring and taping to hold the stems together and attach loose blooms and greenery to create a specific shape, whether that’s a classic round bouquet or a more modern, teardrop silhouette. Because this process can be quite time consuming, we do it as late as possible to ensure that your bouquet will remain fresh throughout the photo shoot and the wedding celebration.
In addition to the beauty of the flowers, the type of flowers used may also have cultural or seasonal significance which can add another layer of significance to the bouquet. For example, lilies can symbolize innocence, and orchids can symbolize a sense of elegance and refinement, which could be a way for the florist to incorporate a personal anecdote into the bouquet. The use of locally grown flowers is another consideration, as this is both more environmentally friendly, but also often reflects the couple’s interest in shopping locally and ethically.
Beyond the ceremony, when the bouquet is used for the tossing of the bouquet, or for some other method of preserving it so that it can be kept as a memento, some options include flattening the flowers in a press and encasing them in resin, or disassembling the arrangement to be re used in home decor. The bouquets care, such as keeping it hydrated and storing it, will also be communicated to the bride by the florist, so it remains as fresh as the wedding day. Ultimately, these efforts indicate that the bouquet moves beyond just an accessory, and is a symbol of marriage and of love.
The last thing you want to keep in mind when it comes to bridal bouquets is to have patience, be creative and have a mind for the ephemeral quality of nature. The world of bridal bouquets always offers more knowledge to be gained and though styles and trends come and go, a good foundation never goes out of style. With every flower hand selected and every ribbon knotted, each bouquet speaks a promise of strength and beauty and is a part of one of the most memorable days of life. Wedding flowers are what make the wedding ceremony truly unforgettable and they must be a reflection of the love the flowers represent.
