Photo by Anna Clarke from WE ARE // THE CLARKES
As your bouquet is essentially the piece of floral décor that is likely to be photographed the most, and a certainly a key part of your bridal look, it’s a logical place to begin when considering what flowers you would like to incorporate into your wedding day as a whole.
There is a wide variety of bouquet styles to choose from, the most popular falling into the following categories: neat, compact and symmetrical; ‘hand-picked’ and rustic; statement and trailing; or ‘organic’, with little to no defined structure.
When it comes to bouquets for bridesmaids and keeping your florals cohesive, a smaller version of your own bouquet is a frequently favoured choice. I personally adore the idea of each bridesmaid having a different bouquet but still keeping within the colour scheme, or at least including one of the flower varieties from the bridal bouquet in their own arrangement. From a cost perspective, a delicate wrist corsage or a pomander use fewer blooms so are often considerably cheaper, whilst equally charming.
As well as the arrangement and selection of flowers you choose, there are many additional decorative ways in which you can personalise your bouquet; pretty ribbons, printed fabrics and colourful yarns can be used around the stems of your florals to add interest and potentially tie into other areas of wedding décor.
A popular and meaningful way to accessorise your bouquet is to add a locket containing the photographs of those whose memory you wish to celebrate on your special day, such as a grandparent or other close relative who can’t be with you. We also love the addition of trailing strings of sequins for those of you who wish to incorporate a smidgen of shimmer and subtle glamour.
In terms of caring for your bouquet throughout the day, there will be times when you are not holding it, so it’s always wise to have a vessel of water to hand for you to use. Some blooms are very hardy whereas others are distinctly more perishable, particular in warmer climates. A friend of mine placed pretty vases on a centrally positioned table in the post-ceremony drinks area for her and her bridesmaids’ bouquets. Not only did this make for a beautiful décor display but it also meant she and her best girls were able to mingle hands-free.
Advice and flowers by Emily Wisher (emilywisherartisanflorist.co.uk)
Advice and flowers by Karen Morgan (passionforflowers.net).
Bridal bouquet photography by Adam Crohill
Rock My Wedding: Your Day Your Way by Charlotte O’Shea is out now (Ebury Press).
