Choosing your Bridal Bouquet

Getting married is an exciting time for a bride and there is a lot to consider and many decisions to make.

You have to find your dress, choose your bridesmaids, order a wedding cake and of course, choose and design your bridal bouquet. You want everything in your wedding to reflect your own personal sense of style, your life and the love of you and your soon-to-be husband – your bridal bouquet is just one of the ways that you can incorporate these symbols of your life into your wedding.

Your wedding photos are a treasure that you will cherish always, which is why you want to make sure that everything, from the dress to the bouquet, comes out perfectly and that means making a choice that reflects you and your mate. How do you choose the perfect bridal bouquet?

1. Don’t Be Afraid of Color in Your Bouquet

There’s no law that says you can’t have color in your bridal bouquet, or that color in your wedding is inappropriate. You could show up in a green dress if you wanted to and at the end of the day, you will still be just as married as if you wore a white dress. So, why should you worry about adding some color to your bridal bouquet? You shouldn’t and you should choose what you want for your wedding day without allowing others to tell you how it ‘should’ be. Choose flowers that make you happy and make you think of your future husband. You should enjoy your flowers on your wedding day, and for years afterward if you choose to have them dried and preserved to save. Don’t be afraid to step away from tradition and ask yourself what kind of bridal bouquet you want to hold as you marry and if that includes colorful flowers, then that is exactly what you should have.

2. Choose the Style of Your Bouquet Wisely

The style of the bouquet that you choose is just as important as the flowers that are in it and can completely change the look of your day and your dress. There are several styles to choose from, including a group of flowers bound together with the stems partly exposed, a small holders that allows a tail of a plant or flower, such as ivy, to drape down or a small nosegay. There are many more styles and choices than these, and if you can imagine it, a florist can design it for you. Don’t be afraid to ask your florist for advice and look at many pictures to get some ideas of the bouquet style that you want to carry down the aisle

Things to keep in mind as well when choosing your style – how easy, or difficult, will it be to carry with you for the day of your wedding, and whether you will be able to, or willing to throw it for the bouquet toss. If you don’t want to throw your actual bridal bouquet, you can have your florist make a tossing bouquet that looks similar to yours but is usually smaller or less fancy. You shouldn’t worry about appearances; many brides choose an alternate bouquet to toss for their day.

3. Opt for Green

If flowers aren’t your thing and you see yourself more as an ivy girl than a flower girl, consider choosing a green bouquet. Green bouquets are particularly great for outdoor weddings where there is a lot of color and other flowers to compete with. The simplicity of a green bouquet can be stunning, and can add contrast that you might not expect to see. Experiment with what you like and choose a bouquet that is right for you. If you like the idea of a bridal bouquet that has only greenery in it, then that’s what you should choose. If you want to add some extra contrast, consider adding a few small flowers in white or another single color, hiding amongst the greens with bits of color showing through – the outcome will be marvelous.

4. Work with Silk

If you have allergies or just don’t like cut flowers, you may want to choose a silk flower arrangement. You won’t have to worry about flowers breaking or wilting and you can purchase it well in advance to test how it looks with your dress and accessories. You can even take it with you to help match your color schemes. You won’t have to worry about late florists or a bouquet that was destroyed in transit and your flowers will always be beautifully blooming for you. Good silk flowers are strikingly realistic and people in the crowd won’t be able to tell they are silk from where they are sitting, and chances are, they won’t care anyway. Your wedding day is about you and your future husband and what you want and need it to be, and as long as the two of you are okay with silk flowers, everyone else should be as well.

5. Deciding on Symbolism

If you want your bridal bouquet to be symbolic, do some research on flowers before you talk to the florist. You may find that the flowers you love and enjoy the most are perfect for your bouquet or you may want to choose some new flowers based on your research. Red rose symbolizes passion, a white rose means purity, and a pink one signifies joy and admiration. One of the most popular flowers for a bridal bouquet is the marigold, because they follow the sun like sunflower does, closing their petals at night which signifies love and constancy in the floral world.

6. Breaking from Tradition

There’s nothing that says you have to carry flowers at your wedding and if you don’t want to, you certainly don’t have to. Bridal bouquets are a traditional part of a wedding, but just because it’s tradition doesn’t mean you have to do it. Carrying a bridal bouquet is great if that’s what you want to do. Don’t turn your wedding into something you don’t want or like just to keep from flying in the face of tradition.  You have many choices for your bridal bouquet and if you only want to carry one single flower that is fine. You will remember this day as the day that you married your husband, not the day you carried a bouquet of flowers.