Bridal Bouquet 101

A bridal bouquet is easily one of the more intimate decisions that you will make for your wedding. While it’s easy to browse Pinterest and Instagram for inspo, it’s helpful to have some criteria to guide your decision. Flower type is the most obvious criteria for your bridal bouquet however it is not the only thing to consider.

We’ve put together some basic pointers on selecting a bridal bouquet to fit your style!

 

  1. Shape: Structured

Cascade

This traditional tear-drop shape is making a comeback in more contemporary styles. Luxe Phalaenopsis orchids and or flowing vines are currently being used to create softer, natural-looking draped bouquets. This style tends to be fuller and more classic.

Posy (aka Round)

Posy bouquets are timeless and one of the most requested bridal bouquet styles in our region. The compact shape suits more rounded florals such as Peonies, Ranunculus, and Garden Roses. Because of its simplicity, this style tends to suit most dresses and can be easily be petite or lusher depending on your preference.

 

  1. Shape: Abstract

Asymmetrical

This is the most contemporary shape with the bouquet being loosely arranged following the shape of the florals used. This style can be both modern or garden-y and suits a wide range of florals. Asymmetrical designs are often associated with a more bohemian and casual feel.

Hand-Tied

This shape is a simpler design which tends to evoke hand-picked florals. The shape tends to be more petite and casual and works with either single blooms or a mix of eclectic blooms depending on your dress and event.

 

2. Colour: Soft and Subtle

All Whites and Pastels

Soft romantic whites and pastel shades are most traditional for bridal bouquets. All white bouquets tend to easily blend with wedding dresses; despite being monochromatic, these styles can use a variety of blooms and foliage to create texture and movement. Pastel bouquets are predominantly pale and white with highlights of soft pink or peach shades; these bouquets provide subtle colour against a white or cream dress.

 

2. Colour: Neutral or Vibrant

Monochromatic Neutrals

These bouquets feature florals in taupe and cream shades. The solid colour of these bouquets easily suit most dress colours and styles. Neutral bouquets are most easily achieved with the the same blooms but can be artfully done with a mix of a few blooms.

Vibrant Hues

Vibrant bridal bouquets use an eclectic selection of florals in complimentary and or contrasting florals with pops of colours. These bouquets are often more bohemian in style and tend to suit day-time and or outdoor events.

 

3. Flower Selection: Mono or Garden-y

Mono Blooms

These bouquets are made up entirely of a single flower and typically feature Roses, Peonies, Ranunculus, or Freesias (naturally round flowers) with some supporting foliage. Mono bloom bouquets are usually round in shape but can also be done in a hand-tied or abstract style. Flowers that naturally drape such as Phalaenopsis orchids can be constructed into mono cascade bouquet.

Garden-Style Bouquets

Garden bouquets feature a mix of complimentary florals and are lush with a mix of foliage. The mix of florals and foliage makes each bouquet unique with lots of texture and movement. These bouquets feel classic yet effortless and can be done in a range of shapes and sizes.

 

3. Flower Selection: Non-Traditional Dried or Eclectic Mix

More brides are opting for non-traditional bouquets featuring all dried florals or a mix of fresh florals with dried and or dyed florals and foliage. These bouquets are often trendy and feature styling and florals that are popular at the time. Because of the unique selection of flowers, these bouquets are often abstract and looser in shape and structure. Dried bouquets or dried florals make a lovely keepsake.

 

4. Size

There is no hard and fast rule about how lush or petite your bouquet should be and this is entirely your preference! Some brides prefer the full and opulent look of a lush bouquet while others may opt for a more demure size because of the floral selection or dress style. Do keep in mind that fuller bouquets do weight a bit more!

 

5. Accessories

Accessories add a personal touch to your bouquet. The wrapping for your bouquet can include luxe silk ribbons that complement your dress or heirloom ribbons, silks, or lace from another dress. Luxe silk ribbons can be done in a traditional tight wrap or in a flowing cascade style, silk ribbons come in a range of colours that can add a pop of colour to your bouquet and dress. Some brides opt to add mementos to their ribbon tie usually in the form of a family pendent with personal or religious significance.

 

Pro Tips on Keeping your Bouquet Fresh!

  1. Always schedule to pick up your bouquet in person on the day of your event, this allows for any adjustments that have to be made.

  2. Your bouquet should never be stored in the fridge! A cool air-conditioned room away from direct sunlight is sufficient.

  3. Keep your bouquet in a small vase or sturdy cup filled with a little water when you aren’t holding it. Keep a small towel handy to blot the stems so you don’t get water stains on your dress.

  4. Each bouquet has a “face”, this is the best side of the bouquet and should be facing away from you towards the photographer

  5. Hold your bouquet just below waist height. This can get tiring so pass it on for a brief moment to give your arms break or lay it gently on its side.

Creating a Colour Story for Your Event

So let me let you in on a little secret… florists don’t just think about flowers… we also think a lot about colours! For us colour is never a secondary consideration to our compositions and how we use them definitely sets the tone for the florals and overall event. With our larger planned weddings we always start our clients out with a colour story to help anchor the overall feel of the event and to guide us in making decisions about other elements of décor.

For us a colour story is never just about one colour but a range of complimentary and contrasting shades, as you’ll see from the collection of purple and pink storyboards! The boards below were presented to our bride from The Botanical Affair—can you guess which she opted for based on the final event?

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See how the The Botanical Affair turned out Here!

Flower Flavours

We dug through our phone galleries to pull up some real-life floral combos that we’ve used for weddings. #throwback!

This was an interesting exercise for us to see the sort of floral mixes that were resonating with our brides. As you can see, the combinations are endless, and, over the years our brides have been getting bolder in their choice of florals (someone say hay?) and colours (check out the pops of black and burgundy!), which we love, love, love!

At the end of the day, there is no rule as to what wedding florals or colours should be. It’s your day so you get to pick your flavour!

If you’ve been an SF bride, do you know which combo’s yours??

A Few Tips From the Pros - Part 2

When we reached out to our brides asking them to share some tips for enjoying your big day they really came through! Since we got quite a bit of feedback we've spilt the post up into three sections. If you missed it, Part 1 is here.

As in the previous post, the comments have been minimally edited and left anonymous. 

Navigating a Guest List and RSVPs

“Putting a guest list together could potentially turn into a nightmare. There are so many factors to consider—Are kids allowed? Who gets a plus one and who doesn't? How many invites do you give your parents? It can easily become a very sensitive and stressful issue, and from experience, I learnt that pleasing everyone is impossible. We insisted on having an intimate wedding, and only invited close family and friends. When people asked if they could bring friends along, we said no. When people we weren't close with asked if they could come, we said no. We were put in so many awkward situations! But remember, at the end of the day, your wedding is about celebrating you as a couple, and not anyone else. So surround yourself with the people who you want to share this day with. Trust me, it will be worth it once you feel surrounded by so much genuine love and happiness on your wedding day.”

“RSVP's! They're VERY difficult to get, but make a big difference, especially when booking a venue that charges by head, or printing beautiful (but expensive) wedding invitations!”

 

It’s Not Just About Décor

"Hire a planner. You need help with all the details and someone to stay on top of everything. As a planner-bride, I began to realise how much more went into being a bride. No one tells you about all the wedding paperwork you have to do, oh and are you trying to furnish a house while planning a wedding? We managed the large chunk of our wedding design, but we still needed help on the ground to execute and pull things together. Seriously, hire a planner."

 

Eat, Nap, Hydrate! 

"Pre-empt all your quirks and craziness and make sure you create an environment that helps you stay chilled, relaxed, and excited! In my case, that meant scheduling a nap (best decision ever!!), making sure that there was a light buffet for the bridal party while they were getting ready so no one would go hangry (!) and of course, finding a cappuccino. It was also really important for me to have my girls close by, but at the same time have my own space (don't underestimate the power of space!) so we got adjoining rooms to get ready in."

"Make sure you eat and hydrate well on the wedding day. I made the mistake of ignoring food and paid the price for it. I became ill at part of my wedding (I actually threw up when I tried to eat later because our outdoor venue was quite chilly). So while you are getting ready (and throughout the day, actually) make sure you have a good hearty meal that will hold you up through the adrenaline."

A Few Tips from the Pros – Part 1

Oh, we don’t mean us. We mean our brides—the ladies who have walked through fire and lived to tell the tale! We jest.

After Rose officially became a bride, it dawned on us that putting together a wedding was a really, really stressful endeavor. Between negotiating official paperwork, ballooning budgets, and compromising on décor and first dance songs… it’s kind of shocking that brides still manage to keep their wits about them.

So, to help you cope with any impending nuptials, and just so you know you aren’t losing your mind, we’ve asked our brides to share some of their tips for keeping your marbles together. We’ve left comments as we received them and kept them anonymous so our lovely ladies could give you the skinny without being put on the spot. 

Getting, and Managing, Everyone Involved

“There are always so many people involved in planning a wedding; this is both good and bad. The good part is everyone wants to help make it a happy and stress-free day for you, so let them: delegate when you can, ask for help and don't sweat the small stuff. The tricky part is managing all the opinions thrown in your direction—this can get very overwhelming fast, but don't let it be. It's okay to consider some opinions and dismiss others, at the end of the day, do what you believe is best for you.”  

"What really made our wedding special to us, and to our guests too, was how much it felt like us! We wanted a warm, personal day filled with the things we love, and elements of our family and culture. Your personal touches are what make the wedding, so don't let anyone dictate how it should go, or do something just because that's the way it's usually done."

“You can't do everything alone. Learn to delegate, because even with a planner (and I had 2!) there was STILL a boat load to do. Task folks with the little things that you know are their forte. For example, one of my bridesmaids helped me out with my music selection, another was my therapist, and another was in charge of all things related to dress and shoes. Did I mention I had 8 bridesmaids? It truly takes a village!” 

“Trust the people you chose to work with and communicate with them during the creative process. Listen to everyone but know what you really want and can't do without. Collaborations are everything! Have a clear vision, do your research and have your own visual mood board, you might go in a different direction but it's great to have a good starting point for everyone to know what resonates most with you.” 

 

The Art of Compromise

“Try to make sure everyone goes into it happy! Be it family members, friends, planners, or vendors. It's a day that celebrates love and that goes for everyone!” 

“Different elements of the wedding will be more important to you and your groom so try to understand why something's important to each of you, meet in the middle and come to an agreement. Don't fight it out over something that will not be important in the long run. You just need to let some things go! You don't really NEED those napkins anyway…”