Choosing a flower 'theme' for your upcoming wedding can be an exciting prospect! There are a vast array of beautiful flowers, styles, and color schemes to pick from...the possibilities are nearly endless! However, with so many choices available, selecting a floral 'theme' can seem a bit overwhelming. To make things easier for brides, florists have organized floral themes into 6 basic categories: Vintage Garden, Country Garden, Woodland, Classic, Modern, and Tropical. Brides can select a basic theme (or combination of themes) and then, with the help of their florist, add their own flair to the design.
Below, I have listed general descriptions of wedding flower themes in order to give you an idea of the details (flowers, colors, accessories) included in each style. Which one appeals to you?
Vintage/Garden is one of my favorite styles - it's soft and romantic! Colors are dreamy pastels with mossy gray undertones. Think of flowers such as lush garden roses, anemones, fragrant sweet peas, viburnum, Queen Anne’s lace and freesia, in delicate shades of pink, green and creamy white, accented with asparagus fern and dusty miller foliage. Bouquets are lush and loosely gathered with beautiful ribbons. Tables look gorgeous dressed in pastel linens with crisp white embroidered runners accessorized with antique, milk glass vases filled with soft and romantic mixtures of flowers. Other containers that could be used on the reception tables are teacups and saucers...just like the ones your Grandmother has in her cupboard, or any vintage glassware.
Country/Garden has been very popular for years but has been updated with brighter colors. Vibrant purples, pinks, corals, yellows, greens and blues all blend seemlessly together for that “just picked” burst of color. Dahlia, Parrot tulips, stately larkspur, lisianthus, euphorbia, phlox, hydrangea, and kale give you plenty of variation and lots of texture. Antique metal tins and blue or green glass vases add color without taking away from the flowers. Bouquets are again, soft and loose gathered with ribbons. Arrangements can be accented with jewel-encrusted butterflies, dragonflies, or bumblebees. In this setting, a fairy wand would be a fun and whimsical choice for the flower girls to carry instead of the traditional flower basket. Veggies and fruits, such as artichokes, asparagus, and pears make great accompaniments for the flowers and add further visual interest while maintaining the Country Garden theme.
Woodland/Rustic themed weddings are increasing in popularity every year. Green foliages & flowers become the base for the arrangements and can be accented with lavender, blue and wine hued floral materials. Adding grasses and succulents in varying sizes and shapes, along with lots of decorative greens, bring in “touch me” textural elements. Birch branches, curly willow, fern curles, and reindeer moss incorporate organic touches to recreate the feeling of a serene, woodland setting. Crates and Mason jars are excellent containers for centerpieces, especially when surrounded by lots of candles. Rustic lanterns can also serve to hold flowers or candles as well. The addition of aromatic herbs like mint, sage, and thyme include something for the senses. Bouquets and boutonnieres have a natural look and feel, and wouldn't the flower girl look so cute with a halo of seeded eucalyptus and herbs resting on her flowing tresses?
Classic/Elegant is a timeless look that never goes out of style. A bouquet of roses is simple, yet elegant and crystals can be added for extra sparkle. Phalaenopsis orchids lend a regal air to bouquets and boutonnieres. Arrangements and bouquets have a clean and uncluttered look. Orchids attached to deco wire spiraled in 30” cylinder vases with submerged lighting give you that all-important “wow” factor at your reception.
Festive/Modern weddings are so much fun to attend! Colors are bold and exciting - hot pink, lime green, mango orange, sunny yellow and passionate purple. Gerbera daisies, Kermit button mums, Spider mums, craspedia, Trick dianthus and carnations are fun flowers with lots of personality. Centerpieces can be created using uniquely shaped, colored bottles in varying sizes, which are then grouped in clusters and adorned with single stems of flowers. Pomander balls make eye catching aisle markers and centerpieces, and are quite adorable for the flower girl to carry. Accents of deco wire and brightly colored beads add to the flirty-ness of the flowers.
Exotic/ Tropical weddings usher in the biggest and boldest blooms possible! Statuesque callas such as Green Goddess or its smaller cousins, Mango and Black-eyed beauty, add amazing drama to the affair. Alone or paired with other tropicals like orchids, anthurium, Birds of Paradise, ginger and the increasingly popular pincushion protea, they make a striking statement. Even the large, lush greenery of the tropicals can be used to create stylish elements; Aspidistra leaves can be rolled and used in bouquets, Fatsia and Philodendron leaves, along with Equisetum, also add visual interest to floral arrangements. Bouquets are more artistic in nature. Fruits are a hit here...limes, lemons, kumquats, and kiwi; they all add texture and interest.
When choosing a possible floral theme for your wedding, here are some things to consider before finalizing your decision.
The overall look and feel of your wedding. If you are planning an elegant, nighttime wedding in an upscale hotel, think twice before choosing a casual, Woodland/Rustic theme. Your floral theme needs to match your overall wedding theme.
The venue choice. Orchids, crystals, and silver urns will look out of place in a “country” setting such as a barn or ranch. Let your floral choices compliment your ceremony and reception site.
The color scheme. A fun, tropical wedding needs bright, bold colors. Pastels won't work here. If you have your heart set on a more ethereal color scheme, choose a theme that lends itself to softer colors like the Vintage/Garden or Woodland theme.
No matter which style you choose, remember to use lots and lots of candles. You can never have too many candles!
By Tammy G Barton, Owner, Designer at the Flower Boutique
Below, I have listed general descriptions of wedding flower themes in order to give you an idea of the details (flowers, colors, accessories) included in each style. Which one appeals to you?
Vintage/Garden is one of my favorite styles - it's soft and romantic! Colors are dreamy pastels with mossy gray undertones. Think of flowers such as lush garden roses, anemones, fragrant sweet peas, viburnum, Queen Anne’s lace and freesia, in delicate shades of pink, green and creamy white, accented with asparagus fern and dusty miller foliage. Bouquets are lush and loosely gathered with beautiful ribbons. Tables look gorgeous dressed in pastel linens with crisp white embroidered runners accessorized with antique, milk glass vases filled with soft and romantic mixtures of flowers. Other containers that could be used on the reception tables are teacups and saucers...just like the ones your Grandmother has in her cupboard, or any vintage glassware.
Country/Garden has been very popular for years but has been updated with brighter colors. Vibrant purples, pinks, corals, yellows, greens and blues all blend seemlessly together for that “just picked” burst of color. Dahlia, Parrot tulips, stately larkspur, lisianthus, euphorbia, phlox, hydrangea, and kale give you plenty of variation and lots of texture. Antique metal tins and blue or green glass vases add color without taking away from the flowers. Bouquets are again, soft and loose gathered with ribbons. Arrangements can be accented with jewel-encrusted butterflies, dragonflies, or bumblebees. In this setting, a fairy wand would be a fun and whimsical choice for the flower girls to carry instead of the traditional flower basket. Veggies and fruits, such as artichokes, asparagus, and pears make great accompaniments for the flowers and add further visual interest while maintaining the Country Garden theme.
Woodland/Rustic themed weddings are increasing in popularity every year. Green foliages & flowers become the base for the arrangements and can be accented with lavender, blue and wine hued floral materials. Adding grasses and succulents in varying sizes and shapes, along with lots of decorative greens, bring in “touch me” textural elements. Birch branches, curly willow, fern curles, and reindeer moss incorporate organic touches to recreate the feeling of a serene, woodland setting. Crates and Mason jars are excellent containers for centerpieces, especially when surrounded by lots of candles. Rustic lanterns can also serve to hold flowers or candles as well. The addition of aromatic herbs like mint, sage, and thyme include something for the senses. Bouquets and boutonnieres have a natural look and feel, and wouldn't the flower girl look so cute with a halo of seeded eucalyptus and herbs resting on her flowing tresses?
Classic/Elegant is a timeless look that never goes out of style. A bouquet of roses is simple, yet elegant and crystals can be added for extra sparkle. Phalaenopsis orchids lend a regal air to bouquets and boutonnieres. Arrangements and bouquets have a clean and uncluttered look. Orchids attached to deco wire spiraled in 30” cylinder vases with submerged lighting give you that all-important “wow” factor at your reception.
Festive/Modern weddings are so much fun to attend! Colors are bold and exciting - hot pink, lime green, mango orange, sunny yellow and passionate purple. Gerbera daisies, Kermit button mums, Spider mums, craspedia, Trick dianthus and carnations are fun flowers with lots of personality. Centerpieces can be created using uniquely shaped, colored bottles in varying sizes, which are then grouped in clusters and adorned with single stems of flowers. Pomander balls make eye catching aisle markers and centerpieces, and are quite adorable for the flower girl to carry. Accents of deco wire and brightly colored beads add to the flirty-ness of the flowers.
Exotic/ Tropical weddings usher in the biggest and boldest blooms possible! Statuesque callas such as Green Goddess or its smaller cousins, Mango and Black-eyed beauty, add amazing drama to the affair. Alone or paired with other tropicals like orchids, anthurium, Birds of Paradise, ginger and the increasingly popular pincushion protea, they make a striking statement. Even the large, lush greenery of the tropicals can be used to create stylish elements; Aspidistra leaves can be rolled and used in bouquets, Fatsia and Philodendron leaves, along with Equisetum, also add visual interest to floral arrangements. Bouquets are more artistic in nature. Fruits are a hit here...limes, lemons, kumquats, and kiwi; they all add texture and interest.
When choosing a possible floral theme for your wedding, here are some things to consider before finalizing your decision.
The overall look and feel of your wedding. If you are planning an elegant, nighttime wedding in an upscale hotel, think twice before choosing a casual, Woodland/Rustic theme. Your floral theme needs to match your overall wedding theme.
The venue choice. Orchids, crystals, and silver urns will look out of place in a “country” setting such as a barn or ranch. Let your floral choices compliment your ceremony and reception site.
The color scheme. A fun, tropical wedding needs bright, bold colors. Pastels won't work here. If you have your heart set on a more ethereal color scheme, choose a theme that lends itself to softer colors like the Vintage/Garden or Woodland theme.
No matter which style you choose, remember to use lots and lots of candles. You can never have too many candles!
By Tammy G Barton, Owner, Designer at the Flower Boutique
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