Wedding Floral Inspiration and Tips
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Color Palettes
Perhaps the most important decision in the design process is choosing a color palette you’ll absolutely love. This goes hand-in-hand with the aesthetic of the wedding you’re going for. Timeless, moody, neutral, colorful, muted, textured, classic minimalist, whimsical, or extravagant…so many options to choose from.
Timeless weddings go for white florals for that elegant romance with roses, ranunculus, peonies, baby’s breath being the most popular buds for this color palette with assortments of greenery. My personal favorite is the anemone which adds that nice, subtle touch of black.
Bright, bold, jeweled tones are making a comeback. These colors are not just for summer – they’re perfect year round. Sometimes you are limited by the availability of blooms but sometimes you can find a florist who’ll artificially dye your stems for the look you want. Just remember this in your budget costs. This can go either way in terms of being moody or bright.
If you’re not into bold colors, maybe the more subtle ones will do. Pastels will always be in and add a bit of playfulness and joy to your romantic day. Think soft pinks, lavenders, blues, hints of terracotta to round it out. Sometimes having contrasting colors add that wow-factor you are looking for.
Incorporation
There are so many opportunities to incorporate florals into your big day. My first tip to couples is to establish a budget that way you can work with a florist to determine what your biggest priorities are for florals. The bridal bouquet isn’t the only star of the show. The ceremony arch, aisle runners or walkway pieces, sweetheart tables, reception space, groomsmen boutonnieres, bridesmaid bouquets, cocktail and bar tables, welcome tables…the possibilities are endless. For 2024 it looks like there are quite a few popular wedding floral trends that have couples captivated. My personal favorites are ceremony floral pillars and hanging floral installations during reception.
Wholesale for the DIYers
Couples typically allocate 10-15% of their wedding budget to florals. Sometimes the budget isn’t their to hire a florist or maybe you are having a DIY wedding. As a DIY bride myself I was thankful for website like Flower Moxie: a website that helps DIY couples choose wholesale wedding florals and educated them on how to build the arrangements themselves. From floral theme and bud selection, to prep, care, arrangement, storage and transportation for your big day – flower moxie is the one-stop-shot for the DIYers. They have in-depth pdf guides that contain the recipes and miscellaneous supplies you need and also have step-by-step arrangement videos. By the end of it I wondered if I could become a florist – a dream short-lived because I am obviously now a wedding photographer!
They have an abundant amount of options to choose from color themes to the size of the package. They have small packages which are the essentials: 1 bridal bouquets, 6-7 bridal bouquets ,10-15 boutonnieres and corsages. I personally opted for the medium package which includes the small package plus about 10 centerpieces. I used the extra florals instead to fill smaller bud vases and greenery for runways. The large package includes the small and medium package plus florals for 2 large ceremony installments. The best part about flower moxie is you can buy a-la-carte and they have recipes for these arrangements if you need more floral installments.
You could also just contact your local wholesaler for flowers. My favorite in Sacramento is floral fresh. I would also recommend DIY for the smaller festivities: bridal showers, bridal parties, any party really!
As much as I loved DIY part of me wished I hired a florist and had the budget for it. Nothing will replace their expertise and the care they give you. Plus you dont have to spend the extra 1-2 days before your wedding prepping your flowers. I will always highly recommend a florist before suggesting someone going the DIY route, but I am aware all couples have different budgets and needs.
Pro tips from your photographer
I think the most common question I get asked in regards to florals is “do you know how to put on a boutonniere?”. The answer is yes – and here is a video which easily explains how to:
Essentially you want to attach a boutonniere to the back of the jacket’s lapel and weave the pin through the jacket, bout, then back through. For heavier bouts you’ll repeat that process but make a giant “X” with the pins.
My favorite florists in California:
About the Author
Arianna Maddox is a California wedding photographer based in Sacramento, specializing in capturing your love stories with a blend of digital and film photography. She emphasizes natural and timeless images with hints of editorial flare, ensuring each wedding is documented with care and creativity. Whether it''s local or a destination wedding, Arianna brings a personalized touch to every moment.
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