Trends in bridal bouquets + boutonnieres

What does a modern day bride look for in her bouquet? According to Bernard Beckles from La Tropicale flower shop in Trinidad,“ less is more” seems to be the mantra of the brides who come to him for a floral consultation.

Pinterest is the “ go to” website for brides looking for design ideas and inspiration.

While some brides still prefer that organic, just picked, loosely arranged bridal bouquet, what’s making a comeback says Bernard, is the more traditional cascading bouquet, reminiscent of Princess Diana and Kate Middleton’s bridal bouquets.

Whatever type of bouquet you choose, be it a single long stemmed cala lily or rose tied with lace or a daisy flower ball with lots of baby breath, or loosely arranged flowers tied with raffia or burlap, make sure that it complements your dress.

If in doubt, walk with or save a photo of your dress on your smart phone or tablet, when you go to your florist. That way they have a visual of your dress to work with, and can advise you what will look best.

Silk is in! Budget conscious brides are opting for silk flowers which last forever and are more affordable than the fresh flowers , which look amazingly beautiful and are pricey.

Popular bridal flowers like English roses, hydrageas, cala lilies and other flowers are flown in, hence the reason why they are more expensive than silk.

If, like me, you love fresh flowers, you can choose instead to use locally grown, elegant anthuriums and exotic orchids. They look just as beautful as the imported blooms.

Do it yourself brides and budget brides are also buying “ready made” bouquets, to save themselves the money, time and stress of visiting several floral shops, chatting with multiple floral designers,discussing, choosing and placing a customised order.

When it comes to the colour palette, it’s always best to choose colours that are in sync with your décor colours.

What’s trendig now is blush pink paired with ivory. So too are colours like lilac and lavender.

In addition to your bouquet and those of your Maid of Honour, bridesmaids and flower girls, it’s also expected that both the mother of the bride and groom wear wristlets or corsages. After all, they are wedding VIPs too!

Then there are the boutonniers for the groom and groomsmen. According to Bernard, the clean look is in..a simple bud wrapped with a leaf or a touch of greenery , is what the groom and his groomsmen are wearing.

Tip. The flowers used in the groom’s and groomsmen boutonniers usually are the same as those used in the bridal bouquet.

This article was written by Kathleen Maynard, CSEP

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