Wherever fashion goes, there goes flowers. Good news for the modern bride who wants her bouquet and flower arrangements to be an extension of her vision for the day. Many things can create a mood, but flowers bring life and beauty to the occasion, whether it be vintagey, bright, green, romantic or unconventional–all trends in the new year.

With outdoor weddings ceremonies becoming more and more popular, wedding florist are looking towards creating an ambience that is visually stunning such as rose petal designs for the aisles and flower boxes lining the way.  Don’t be afraid to think outside the box and create something personal to your style.

Let’s Talk Vintage

We saw pearls used in the past year to a stunning effect, but that feel goes one step further with a trimming that has set the fashion world on fire…feathers.  For the right dress, feathers mingled into the bouquet and arrangements can feel fresh and vintagey at the same time. When using, look for colors in the pastel ranges to compliment such as creams, peaches, soft pinks, the palest of yellows and lilacs. Or you can go stark black and white for a lovely evening wedding. Choose lush blooms like anemones, gardenias, hydrangeas, roses and the hot flower of the year…peonies.

L-Roses, R-Anemones with Roses

For an added vintage touch, look for brooches that can adorn your bouquet and your bridesmaids (and then they’ll have an additional sparkly keepsake of the day.)

White Cattelya Bouquet with Brooch

Color Blocking with Flowers

London Wedding Flower Specialist, Gayle Evans, loves the look of clashing colors, “We used an iris as inspiration, with the yellow blooms matching the eyes…brides love to get creative with color–sometimes we will take out the colorwheel, pick two seemingly opposite colors and experiment. It’s amazing what works!”

Oprah's Party Guru, Colin Cowie, rocks color blocking in hot shades

Go Green

Earth tones are big this year with grasses, herbs, ferns, pine cones and flowers. Think lavender and artemisia for something wonderful to tie into this look which should remind you of wild flowers. Here you want the flowers to have a just picked looked and not be as tightly bound other bouquets are.  Going green, which is important to many brides today, can also mean locally sourced flowers. It may give you less variety, but they will be fresh and beautiful nonetheless.

A Rose by Any Other Name

Roses still remain the number one flower choice for brides, and why not? Roses come in a wide variety of colors and types that can fit any wedding style. Red roses might be considered the symbol of love, but why not go all in with “something blue” and purple. The purple and lilac roses are spectacular with the hydrangea and orchids, again from Colin Cowie. If you’re going with straight roses and the wedding is outside, why not add a few rented chandeliers as top wedding planners are to give it that extra unexpected wow.

Mix-matched

With the trend of reception tables having a less coordinated, more visually interesting feel by mixing square with round, this gives today’s bride a chance to do the same with the flowers. Two looks that come together whether it be through color palette or choice in flowers. This also gives you a greater variety with seating option. Large groups of family or friends can now sit together, and the smaller tables can work for other groups.

Mix of Fruit & Flower Arrangements

Royal Style

This is when the seating at the reception incorporates long tables or even one huge square table centered around a reflection pool or a center that your and your florist can create. What really works with this dramatic concept is it gives your reception a feeling of a giant feast where all the guests can see each other and feel connected in a really special way, especially with the bride and the groom. No one is left out or put at a “bad table.”  Flowers for this option should remain low so all sight lines are clear, and other aspect of the setting should bring in that feeling of opulence, even if it’s a day wedding. Look for the containers that the flowers are in to shine equally.

Royal seating under an arbor with orange orchids

Royal style with a modern flair can be so clean and beautiful in all white…

Seating in the Round

Again, thinking outside the box can be a beautiful way to go and why not be surrounded on all four sides by loved ones as you say “I do” to your beloved?

Getting married? Let us know how flowers are going to add to your special day.