Basic information about bridal bouquets

The most basic, traditional types are listed.

Round and tight, a nosegay

Spray or loose, hand tied

Arm spray, made to fit into the curve of her arm

Cascade, the traditional teardrop shape


From there, you can go to the simple—one stem with leaves and agreat ribbon—or to the more complex—a Biedermeier arrangement, which is concentric circles of different colored flowers.

This detail is for the florist or floral designer to get into, but you at least need to know the basics so you can get the process started. Now we’ll discuss factors that help determine what flowers are appropriate.



Formality
Flowers should be in keeping with the nature, character, and formality
of the wedding. At a very formal wedding, the bride in a long
gown carries a cascade of flowers or a prayer book, with
or without flowers attached.

The bouquet, usually white, may be a single variety of flowers, or a combination. Orchids are definitely a formal flower and look best with a formal gown; an orchid arrangement would be appropriate for decorating a prayer book or satin purse.

Calla lilies, probably the most formal flower, often are stunningwith a satin or velvet gown with severe, simple lines. They’re often arranged against a background of dark, shiny leaves for contrast.



Cascades are fine for the less formal wedding. The bouquet may be made up of almost any variety. Stephanotis is appropriate and available in any season; it can be a prominent flower or a filler. A mixed cascade of, for example, seasonal flowers such as lily of the valley, stock, and roses may be best for the informal wedding.


Size
The size of the flowers should be appropriate for the size of the bride. A loose spray of feathered chrysanthemums, for example, might be appropriate and stunning with a tall bride wearing a long, flowing
gown, but would overpower a petite bride in a street-length dress.

Calla lilies, large orchids, gladiolas, and long-stemmed roses are appropriate for the tall bride. Smaller blossoms, like lilies of the valley, violets, or sweetheart roses in a smaller bouquet or cascade would be better for the smaller bride. Weight is also a consideration. Make certain the bouquets aren’t too heavy for the bride or bridesmaids to carry.

The Dress

The style of the arrangement should complement the style of the
dress. For the more old-fashioned look—such as a high-necked and
long-sleeved gown—an old-fashioned bouquet of roses or other delicate
flowers would be appropriate. With a more modern look, rather
than a flowing, romantic gown, an arrangement of white anthurium
(a tropical flower) would be striking.

The texture of the dress also should be considered. Some flowers, such as camellias and gardenias, with their shiny, dark leaves, work well with a brocade or satin material.

Sweet-peas or daisies would work better with cotton. For tulle or
organza, carnations or chrysanthemums might be best. You’ll find a list of many flowers and fabrics that work well together. The flowers listed in the table are those usually chosen for wedding bouquets. Use this information as a guideline when choose the type of flowers you want for your bouquet.


Color
Today, the standard white is no longer standard. This break from tradition is done if the bride wears a pastel dress, in which case it’s often wise to have the flowers complement the gown. A stark contrast, such
as red roses in a winter wedding, can be both dramatic and beautiful.


Not all weddings are alike and, consequently, not all flower requirements are alike. For an informal morning wedding, the bride could wear a corsage, but may carry a small bouquet or prayer book.


The bride has the say concerning the bridesmaid’s flowers; so choose some unifying element. You could carry red roses and your bridesmaids could carry white roses. The bride could do an arm spray of calla lilies and the bridesmaids could each carry one calla lily, with the same greenery. They also could carry baskets of flowers
that would be used later at the reception.

You need to keep in mind two things—the budget and how it will look in pictures.

Mother's Flowers

Talk with the mothers and get their suggestions. Some individuals don’t like to wear corsages and prefer to carry something small. Try to keep some unifying concept. The bride’s white rose can look great with gardenias in a corsage. Make sure you’ve also checked about including grandmothers, special aunts, people who are doing a reading for the ceremony, or another honored guest.

Children's Flowers

The key thoughts here are to keep it charming and in proportion to
the children’s size. Instead of the usual basket of flowers, how about a
wreath or a pomander ball hung at the waist by a ribbon? If the site regulations don’t allow dropping petals, give them something to hold. If the children are old enough, let them hand each guest a
flower as they go down the aisle. They may give one to everyone, or
at random, depending on the number of children and guests. As for the boys in the bridal party, a smaller version of the ushers’ flower is appropriate.

The Men

Regardless of the season or formality and size of the wedding, a boutonniere of some form is always appropriate for all key men in the family.

A boutonniere is the flower accessory for the male members of a wedding party. There’s no fixed rule on what the boutonniere should be. At a wedding using mainly red roses for the women’s flowers, all the men could wear a single red rose. The groom’s boutonniere should be different from those of the other men. For example, he may wear a flower from the bride’s bouquet, while the other men wear lily of the valley, a rosebud, or a carnation.

The groom may choose any of these or something like the traditional stephanotis, as long as it’s not the same as his attendants.