It's wedding season...

 

When it comes to choosing your wedding flower, although really exciting, it can be extremely hard and this is because there are a lot of factors to think about. It isn’t just as easy as picking your favourite blooms, you have to think about the time of year, colour scheme and so much more. Throughout this post we are going to talk you through the necessary steps to picking the right flowers, as well as giving you individual flower inspiration.

1. Create a mood board

One of the best places to look for inspiration is Pinterest. It is a free online photo platform where you can search for almost anything. It covers all bases on the original search and then as you begin to save photos or boards it will direct content to you that it thinks you will like to see. It is the easiest way to create inspo boards for all parts of your wedding, so this is a must! If you have already booked your wedding venue, we suggest using the colours and surroundings of the venue to influence your floral decisions.

2. Make a list of all the flower arrangements you need

Unless you are sticking simple and just going for bouquets and centrepieces, there are other floral arrangements that you will need to think about. Flower backdrops, garlands, aisle markers and altar arrangements are others to consider. Before visiting a florist, it’s a good idea to have a list of what you want and then with their professional advice, you may find yourself simplifying it. One way to make sure you are covering all bases, without breaking the bank, is to recycle your wedding flowers throughout the day. For example, the bouquets that the bridesmaids hold could become table centrepieces!

3. Budget & Florist

Once you have your inspiration board and your list of floral arrangements, the next thing you need to sort out and prioritise when finding your floral bouquets or centre pieces it to look for a florist that you like and can afford. Before approaching florists, it is always important to have in mind how much you want to be spending. This will help both you and them.

4. Think about the season

Dependant on which season your wedding falls into, the types of flowers you would prefer for your wedding, may not be available… be prepared to spend more money or consider similar alternatives. Using in-season wedding flowers is one way you can be more cost effective as those flowers are more abundant and easily sourced around the time that you’re getting married.

5. Incorporating flower symbolism and meanings

Although this is more specific in detail, if you are looking for a way to add more of a personal touch, symbolism behind blooms can be very important. There are many different meanings behind flowers for example red roses are a declaration of love and passion, while orchids symbolize refinement and beauty. Although this isn’t as common nowadays, flowers that remind you of loved or lost ones will make the floral arrangements a whole lot more meaningful.

Rose:

Roses are the most popular wedding flower of all time and this is partly because of their versatility as they can be used for bridal bouquets to dramatic ceremony arches. They are beautiful, fragrant and will fit perfectly at any wedding, no matter the style. You don’t need to worry about fitting your colour palette because they come in a large variety of hues including orange, pink, purple, red, white and yellow.

Ranunculus:

Everyone always says that summer brides have their pick of the best wedding flowers, but we're here to let you in on a little secret: If you're tying the knot between January and May, you'll have easy access to one of our favourite bridal blooms, the Ranunculus. According to floriography, Ranunculus symbolizes charm and attraction. So, the next time you want to tell someone you are “dazzled by their radiant charm,” give them a bouquet of Ranunculus blooms! The white colour of the flower is also what attracts a lot of brides to use them as they look great on their own and stand out well against black suits.

Peony:

If you want a flower that’s larger in volume, this lush flower with cloud like petals is the perfect type of wedding flower. This flower has a limited growing season, so depending on when your wedding is, it may not be best suited to you… however this does make it desirable and many couples believe it is the best wedding flower despite the price. The charm peony is extremely popular, which is identifiable by the bloom’s yellow centre. They work well as flowers that form part of the wedding bouquet as well as using them for table centrepieces.

Hydrangea:

For flower installations like arches and flower wall backdrops, the hydrangea with its puffy fullness makes for a great choice of wedding flower. They bring drama and volume to any arrangement as they can grow up to 80cm tall. coming in a variety of colours such as white, blue, pink and green, these flowers are recognised to represent heartfelt emotions such as gratitude and this is why they are so popular amongst bridesmaids.

Dahlia:

Dahlias have one of the most stunning petal structures. The variety of colours it comes in makes it an amazing wedding flower that will fit any style. Cactus and pompon dahlias are two especially popular types of wedding flowers. Dahlia is a symbol for 'forever yours' and the Victorians considered it to represent a lasting bond and lifelong commitment between two people. They are commonly picked for autumnal weddings because the variety of them means they can be chosen all year round.

Calla Lily:

Calla lilies have a lot of historical and religious meaning. Not only is Calla the Greek word for beauty but Lily, depending on the colour can represent many expressions. White lilies typically express innocence and purity, where as yellow lilies symbolise gratitude and pink refer to romance and beauty. In 19th century, Calla lilies are offered to the recipients with passionate messages without the use of words. It was the way to express hidden symbols as it resembles femininity. They are mostly used by brides because they are known to bring good luck.

Orchid:

Orchids refreshing appearance add a touch of exoticness to any occasion. They are flowers that symbolise beauty and timelessness which therefore make them ideal for weddings. The ability they have to be used in many ways is what makes them ideal, from bridal bouquets to table centrepieces. As well as this they are a stand out flower so can easily be displayed on their own, as well as amongst a range of flowers. Some people who are religious believe that the spots on an orchid represent the blood of Christ, so using them during the ceremony will bring them many blessings.

Gardenia:

Gardenias hold romantic meaning, they symbolize purity, love, hope and beauty. The white Gardenia specifically symbolizes purity and gentleness. They work beautifully in floral arrangements such as wedding bouquets and boutonnieres and are most typically used during late spring and summer weddings, when they are in full bloom and easier to get hold of. They are known for their wonderful fragrance.

See below for some floral arrangement inspiration...