Flower Power: Wedding flower ideas

Wedding flowers don’t stop at the bouquet; here are a myriad of ideas if you want your wedding to be a floral feast for the eyes.

Florals are an important aspect of your wedding day, and can be used to make a statement. “Large scale designs are very popular and a wise choice for creating an impact rather than lots of smaller displays that can often be lost in a venue full of guests,” says florist Louise Roots. “Consider the important areas that will be used throughout the day and where most of your photography might be. Depending on your venue, it might also be possible to repurpose a few designs for the reception.”

Under the archway

Floral archways are a great way to add some nature to your indoor ceremony, and the perfect backdrop to say ‘I do’. The best part about this is that you can have as many flowers as your heart desires. Depending on your style of wedding, you could have a circular, square or geometric archway all adorned with fresh flowers.

Using light, pastel-coloured flowers with plenty of greenery can add colour to a dark background. With dried flowers becoming increasingly popular, consider adding some dried wheat and pops of muted colour to your floral arch for a bohemian feel.

For the minimalist, opt for flowers at the corners of a square wooden arch and soften further with voile drapery. You could even include weaved floral garlands and wreaths around your wedding space for added floral interest.

Image by Shelby Ellis Photography, Louise Roots, louiseroots.com

Make an entrance

Use florals to add a statement feature to your reception's entrance; consider a voluminous floral entrance in a vibrant colour palette for extra impact, or a more elegant and understated display.

Louise Roots adds: “Whether you are dressing a pretty country church, marquee or stately house, the possibilities are endless for dressing your venue entrance. There are options for all wedding flower budgets, from large-scale floral and foliage archways (as popular with the Royals) to pretty urns of summer flowers, floral door wreaths or simple lighting.”

You could even consider adding florals to your ring bearer pillow. Louise Hartley-English of Louise Hartley-English Floral Design explains: “Adding small florals to a ring bearer pillow is a lovely way to add some botanical elements to your wedding without being too costly. Wedding rings can be carried on a floral pillow or box which can be transported by the ring bearer, usually a junior male relative or friend.”

Image by Ela Walenda Photography, Louise Roots

Adorning the aisle

If you’re after a picturesque aisle to walk down, consider using floral hedging. These hedges of flower bunches can add a soft, romantic feel to your ceremony, especially when paired with a white aisle runner. This can be perfect for an indoor or outdoor wedding; bringing the outdoors in with pops of greenery, or complementing the surrounding scenery with similar tones. For an understated, homely look, add sprigs of wildflowers to glass jars and hang them from the back of your guests’ reception chairs.

“Plinths with large flower designs dress the aisle creating a beautiful entrance for the bride and a backdrop for photography,” says Louise Roots. “The ceremony is always an area that I would recommend couples to consider when planning their wedding flowers. There is nothing like a beautiful ceremony for creating that lasting impression and memories.”

Running the table

A decadent table runner is a beautiful way to add pops of colour to your reception tables. Create a paired back, minimalist look with white linen and a few subtle hints of colour through choice florals, or go all out with cascading flowers that flow off the edges of the table. Floral runners look well paired with a wooden table setting. Keep colour to a minimum here for an authentic, rustic look.

Image by Zane Persaud, unsplash.com

The perfect backdrop

If you’re after a backdrop for your wedding photos, use a wooden lattice or trellis to create a flower wall. Using light wood lets the fauna take centre stage. Add small bunches of florals to the borders, and this becomes the ideal setting for photos with the bridal party and guests, adding a dreamy, bucolic vibe to your wedding day.

A modern bouquet

If you don’t want to carry around a large bouquet, opt for a flower hoop instead. Floral hoops come in all sorts of designs, from a sparse selection of flowers, to small, wreath-like foliage. You can even incorporate dried flowers and hang the piece in your home after the big day as a long-lasting memento. These hoops are versatile and add a dainty, feminine feel to your bridal look. A hoop with an abundance of flowers can look like a luscious, floral basket if you carry it on your arm.

Image by Getty Images

Man’s best friend

Whether they play ring bearer or have the privilege of walking you down the aisle, many couples are opting to include their beloved pets in their special day. Louise Hartley-English explains that dog collars are a great way to experiment with floral designs: “If you would like your dog to be involved in your wedding ceremony, they could wear a floral collar, too. There are two styles: a larger, looser kind, which could be a simple eucalyptus wreath, or one fitted onto a collar similar in shape and style to a flower crown.”

The finishing touch

A beautiful flower crown could be the perfect finishing touch to your bridal ensemble. While simple or minimalist gowns work particularly well with flower crowns featuring large and blousy blooms, bohemian dresses with detail work in harmony with the look too. Embellished dresses can also be complemented with less fussy flower crown designs, such as gypsophila or greenery-based styles. Consider your hair too; while sleek up-dos may not be a practical option for a flower crown, loose waves and half up-half down hairstyles can provide the perfect pairing. If you’re not sure, speak with your bridal boutique or dress supplier and ask them for their expert advice.

Trend alert: floating flowers and mass florals

“Ceiling flowers and floral clouds have been very popular and are set to continue into 2022," says Louise Roots. "Suspended ceiling flowers are a real statement and very on trend. In recent years, these have included lots of dried material and plumes of grass.

“Mass foliage is also a popular choice. Tall or high displays are not lost in a reception full of guests and allow everyone to see clearly across the room. Tall frames can be used to create this look where it is not possible to actually attach to the ceiling of your venue.”

Flower Power: Wedding Flower Ideas is featured in the winter edition of A Kentish Ceremony, available now.