The bridal bouquet is more than a bunch of flowers that you carry down the aisle or use as a prop for your wedding photos. It’s a living, breathing symbol of a fresh start — the beginning of a beautiful, happy, and exciting new chapter in your life with your loved one.
That’s why picking the right arrangement is one of the most important decisions a bride has to make. But sometimes, finding a bridal bouquet with the right size, shape, colors, and flowers to match your wedding-day style is no easy task.
Need some help making sure your wedding flowers are a match made in heaven for your big day? Here are a few tips from the pros on how to choose a bridal bouquet that’s perfect for you and your wedding.
Selecting your bridal bouquet shape and size
The first step is to determine what shape and size bouquet will work best for you. “Brides should consider their size and body type along with the dress style when choosing the size and shape of the bouquet,” says Margaret Fleegal, owner and bridal director for Twinbrook Floral Design. “The bouquet should be appropriate for the overall vision of the wedding as well as proportionate to the bride’s size and height.”
There are quite a few different options for you to choose from when it comes to the size and shape of the arrangement, and each one complements certain body and dress types better than others. You’ll want to pick something that flatters you yet doesn’t draw any attention away from you.
Here are a few shapes to consider.
Teardrop
The teardrop bouquet is round at the top and pointed at the bottom, like an inverted droplet. It’s a great match for brides who are shorter in stature, since it creates the illusion of length. On the flipside, it’s also a good option for taller brides since it draws the eye downward and takes the focus away from your height. But because of its tendency to put the focus on the bottom half of your body, this arrangement should be avoided by pear-shaped brides.
Cascading
This bouquet is round at the top and has a waterfall of flowers that flows out from the bottom and over the bride’s hands. It works well for brides who have a full figure or a large, extravagant gown. But be careful: If all the beautiful details are in the skirt of your gown, you might want to steer clear of this bouquet shape since you don’t want to hide them. But if you have a long, dramatic train at the back of your dress, the cascade bouquet balances out the look quite nicely.
Nosegay
Small, round, and compact, these arrangements are the perfect way to add some height to a bride who is on the shorter side. But if you have a taller or wider figure, this tiny bouquet will only make you look bigger than you actually are, so opt for a larger arrangement instead.
Round
In a round bouquet, the flowers are arranged in the shape of a ball. Its circular shape harmonizes well with tall, slim brides with straight-lined dresses. It’s probably not the best choice if you have a rounder figure, however, because this bouquet will only accentuate your curves.
Arm sheath
This long-stemmed bouquet is meant to be cradled in the crook of your arm, like a baby. This is another great option for taller brides, since its length will detract from your height. It’s not a good pick, however, for shorter brides. Its big size will look too heavy and overbearing for anyone with a small build.
So, the rule of thumb is: Taller, more full-figure brides should stick to larger bouquets; shorter, more petite brides should go for smaller ones.
But there’s also one other thing to keep in mind when deciding between small bridal bouquets versus large bridal bouquets. “Brides should also consider their budget when choosing the size of their bouquets,” Fleegal says. “The size of the bouquet is directly related to the expense.” So, the bigger the arrangement, the more you’ll pay for it. If you have a tight budget, you may not want to go overboard when selecting a large bouquet. Plus, you need to make sure your bouquet is comfortable to hold! You don’t want your wedding-day blooms to make you hunch or tip over.
Your florist can better help you choose a bridal bouquet shape and size that matches your figure and your wedding dress, so make sure you show them lots of pictures during your first consultation. “We recommend brides prepare a virtual vision board with a collection of photos that they find appealing. Brides can also review bridal magazines, wedding websites, Pinterest, and other social media sites to assist with the look that they envision for their wedding," Fleegal says. "This is very helpful during the consultation process. We also discuss the style and color of a bride’s dress during her consultation, so a bride should supply a photo of her dress as well."
Choosing the flower colors and types for your bridal bouquet
Already having your wedding dress and bridesmaids dresses picked out makes choosing your favorite colors and flowers a lot easier. Wedding dresses come in many shades of white — and some even have accent colors — so if you know what you and your ladies will be wearing, then you’ll know what complementary colors to choose in order to make your flowers pop. Again, remember to bring photos of the wedding dress and the bridesmaids dresses. If you have swatches, those will be even more helpful to your florist.
There are quite a few routes you can take when it comes to your bouquet hue. Here are the four types of color combinations you can choose from.
- All white bridal bouquet
- Colorful bridal bouquet
- White bridal bouquet with touches of color
- Seasonal bridal bouquet (e.g., pastels for spring, bold colors for winter, warm colors for fall, and bright colors for summer)
Although you can go with pretty much any color theme you want, there are still some color pitfalls you’ll want to avoid. First, a solid white bridal bouquet held against a white wedding dress may not photograph well. So, if you’re leaning toward a white bouquet, consider adding an accent color or some greenery to make the arrangement stand out in photos.
Dark colors are also tricky. “We recommend avoiding receding colors, since they can appear as ‘holes’ in photos. Dark purple and dark blue would be an example of this.” Fleegal says.
Once your color theme is ready to go, you can start thinking about what flowers come in the hues you’ve chosen. Florists can give you an in-person demonstration of which flowers work well with your theme, as well as what different types of flowers look good together. “During our consultation process, we work with fresh flowers at the table to show the brides several choices,” Fleegal says. “This ‘live and in-person’ concept seems to assist brides in forming their floral visions.”
Even though your heart may belong to a specific kind of flower, keep in mind that a particular bloom may not be in season during the time of your wedding. Picking out-of-season blossoms can pose problems for brides. “Although flowers are available year-round (for the most part), when grown out of season, they can be small in size and of poor quality,” Fleegal says. “A bride should also always expect to pay premium price for flowers that are grown out of their traditional season.”
Working closely with your florist will help you avoid this problem. They’ll show you some alternatives that will still make you happy — without breaking the bank. “Our advice for a budget-conscious bride is to be realistic about the types of flowers that will stay within your vision but not destroy your budget,” Fleegal says. “We encourage most brides to make sure their bouquet is exactly what they want. After all, it is their special day! We can show them other areas to trim their budget so they can splurge on themselves.”
Picking a bridal bouquet with personality
You can also bring a personal touch to every bouquet your florist shows you. “Many brides will add a brooch, pin, or locket that has significance to their life,” Fleegal says. “Some brides choose to wrap their bouquet in lace from their mothers’ wedding gowns or add a specific flower that symbolizes a lost loved one.”
For a bridal bouquet with even more personality, accent it with some items that say something about you, such as seashells (if you’re a beach lover) or golf tees (if you love playing a few rounds on the big green). It’s your shining moment, so be yourself!
