Where You'll Need Florals on Your Wedding Day
For so many of our couples, the flowers are a huge part of their design! But it’s not uncommon to wonder where you’ll need florals on your wedding day. Flowers can be added to so many elements of your wedding day. So, before you speak with a florist, it’s helpful to acquaint yourself with the most common areas to feature floral displays. We’ve got them all listed here, plus some tips to help you avoid stress and save your hard-earned coin!
Bouquets & Boutonnières
If you’re planning on having a wedding party, then you may want them to hold bouquets as they walk down the aisle or pin boutonnières to their attire. Prior to speaking with a florist, make sure you know how many bouquets and/or boutonnières you’ll need. For example, some want their father, brothers, or other VIPs in their life to wear boutonnières in addition to their wedding party. Others skip boutonnières altogether for a more clean and minimalistic look. It all comes down to the vibe you want your day to have!
In addition, if you would like to honor any moms, grandmothers, or other close family members who will be present, you may opt to have several corsages made. These are small bundles of flowers traditionally worn by the couple’s mothers, but they can be worn by anyone close to the two of you. The wearer can pin their corsage to their dress or tie it around their wrist.
Ceremony Arch, Chuppah, or Ceremony Focal Point
Consider if your venue provides a focal point for your ceremony. Maybe they have a gazebo, an archway, or another piece that would serve as the perfect endpoint to your walk down the aisle. Or, maybe their space is on the barer side and suited for DIY clients who are willing to rent a piece to achieve their desired aesthetic. No matter what, keep in mind that ceremony pieces can quickly eat up the finances you’ve allotted for florals. An archway covered in a dense layer of flowers is going to cost much more than the same piece adorned with a few smaller accent arrangements.
Floral Chandeliers or Hanging Arrangements
A top trend for 2023 and 2024 weddings is hanging floral arrangements. These add color and texture to any space, and will wow your guests! They look amazing hanging over reception tables and the dance floor. Be advised that they can be a bit costly since they require installation. However, you can always forgo large centerpieces on your tables, allowing the hanging arrangements to be the focal point.
Sweetheart Table or Head Table
Here, you need to consider whether you prefer the look of decor on the table or behind it as a focal backdrop. For example, if you’ll have a head table, you have two options. You can utilize a ‘running’ centerpiece that will adorn the length of the table, and seat your VIPs on both sides. Or, you can opt to seat everyone on the same side of the table, and place your decor behind them so that it faces out to the rest of your guests. Don’t forget that you will need room on the table for glassware, flatware, and plates. So, be sure not to overcrowd your head table!
You can also adorn your sweetheart table chairs with flowers for a nice decorative touch. Try adding greenery or even larger arrangements that complement your reception hall decor. The same applies to the aisle chairs at your ceremony, which you can decorate to match your chuppah or archway.
Cake Table, Card Table, Signage & Any Accent Tables
These details can be easy to forget, but they’re important to the overall look and feel of your space! Some fresh florals on or surrounding your cake are a charming touch, as is a dainty floral detail to enhance your card box table. In addition, you may choose to accent your guestbook or favor table with some bud vases or running florals. Large pieces of signage such as seating charts and welcome signs can also be jazzed up with a garland of delicate florals or greenery. All these little details will help you create an eye-catching space with a cohesive aesthetic!
Moreover, the bar is a great place to repurpose your wedding party’s bouquets. Ask your florist to provide a vase or two, then place the bouquets inside to add a subtle floral accent. Another popular trend is to garnish your cocktails or champagne with edible flowers for an elegant touch! You can also add small arrangements or greenery to the tops of your high-boy tables during cocktail hour.
Staircases, Fireplaces & Other Statement Areas
If your venue features a piece of architecture that really stands out, such as a statement staircase or fireplace, it’s great to accent that! It’s likely that you’ll take photos in that area, so why not spice it up and make it that much more gorgeous?
Planning Call Tips
Before you get on a call with your florist, it’s crucial to know your financial comfort zone! That way, you’re setting yourself up to have realistic expectations and to communicate clearly about what you can and can’t afford. In addition, be sure to know which of the above areas are most important to you. You may, for example, decide to allot a larger portion of your floral finances to your ceremony arch and less to your sweetheart table. Moreover, it’s a good idea to have the above list handy while you’re on your call. It’s always okay to expand the list, but it will ensure that you at least cover all the major bases!
Keep in mind that your florist may offer more than just florals. Many also offer decor items such as hanging installations, backdrops, and candles—we love Thistle Bee the Florist for these! So, if you let your florist know about all your decor needs and wants, it’s possible that you can stick with one wedding professional instead of hiring a rental service. Another way to keep things cost-effective is to ask your florist which of your floral pieces may be repurposed. Ceremony decor and wedding party bouquets are often among these kinds of pieces since they can easily be repurposed as sweetheart table/general reception decor.
If you’re choosing to hang any floral installations from light fixtures or ceilings, be sure to ask your venue if that is allowed. If so, send your florist any specific guidelines or policies that the venue may have. And, when in doubt about anything regarding your florals, just ask your florist! They don’t know what you don’t know, and can only help you if you communicate with them.
Finally, don’t dismiss a florist just because they haven’t worked your venue before. Odds are, they’ll be super excited for a change of scenery and the opportunity to create in a new space! At the end of the day, they’re a professional for a reason, so your choice of venue shouldn't deter you from booking them.
We hope that our quick tips and list of where you’ll need florals on your wedding day have given you the confidence to forge ahead with your planning call! Here at Weddings with Verve, we thrive on reducing our clients’ stress through every stage of the wedding planning experience. We would love to be your go-to resource from the very beginning of planning to the moment you say ‘I do!’ To get started working with us, just drop us a line.
