10 of the Most Beautiful Bridal Bouquets

10 of the Most Beautiful Bridal Bouquets

Find inspiration in these 10 beautiful bridal bouquets.

Whether working with a floral designer or arranging the flowers yourself, beautiful bridal bouquets are a wonderful representation of the romance, beauty, and joy of a bride's wedding day.

The choices of arrangements, material, flowers, and greenery are abundant. Narrowing down the perfect bouquet for you may feel a bit overwhelming. But, we hope our top ten beautiful arrangements here will help you choose the perfect bridal bouquet for you.

Cascading Bouquet

A cascade bouquet is one of the most traditional styles accompanying a bride down the aisle. Although this arrangement style has been around for a very long time, it experienced the height of fame as a bridal bouquet when it was used in the wedding of Princess Diana.

Any type of flower, though larger size ones are a popular choice, form the bulk of the bouquet. Those flowers are framed by foliage and smaller flowers that seem to trail, or drip down the bottom of the bouquet, creating a cascading effect.

For a contemporary twist on this style of bouquet, consider using non-traditional materials such as cotton blooms, sweet peas, dusty miller, or seeded eucalyptus leaves.

Presentation Bouquet

A presentation bouquet brings the focus in on the arrangement rather than the shape. It can be quite a stunning accessory while walking down the aisle. Because a beautiful bridal bouquet arranged in a presentation style can be incredibly unique and intricate, many brides choose this style to compliment a simpler, minimally designed bridal gown.

Presentation bouquets come in a variety of shapes and sizes, featuring a lot of different kinds of flowers and foliage—such as hypericum berries, sage, and jasmine vines—within the bouquet itself. Presentation bouquets can be as unique as the bride herself and used as a tool of unique expression on her wedding day. The presentation bouquet is a favorite among many contemporary floral designers.

Round Bouquet

Although not as prevalent as other bouquet options, round bouquets are stunning in their simplicity and modernity, definitely qualifying as one of the wedding trends for 2018. These perfectly shaped spheres of flowers typically feature small to medium bloom size, often consisting completely of one flower variety such as tea roses. Monochromatic themes are most popular using just one color palette, but they can be just as stunning when made from flowers in a variety of bridal colors.

When considering what kind of flowers to arrange in your round bouquet, make sure they are the kind that can stand up to a lot of manipulation and handling. A perfectly round bouquet takes time to construct, and a sturdy flower will hold up much better than some of the more delicate ones that are better suited for a free-form arrangement.

Pretty Peonies Bouquet

While it can be a delicate flower, peonies are a stunningly romantic way to celebrate a wedding. Choosing peonies brings focus in on the femininity and beauty of the bride on her wedding day. They can be arranged together in a gorgeous peony-only statement bouquet, or with other accent flowers as part of an ensemble of flower color and texture.

If you live in an area where peonies are in season around the time of your wedding, you'll have no problem finding these beautiful blooms at their peak. They're a perfect choice for outdoor garden or vineyard affairs.

Here Are 10 of the Most Popular Wedding Flowers Ever

Here Are 10 of the Most Popular Wedding Flowers Ever

Having trouble choosing your blooms with so many options? Start with these tried-and-true favorites.

Picture yourself walking through a glorious garden with every flower at its peak. Which flowers would you go with for your wedding: something classic or trendy? Colorful or neutral? Large or minimal? If you're answer is something along the lines of, "I don't even know where to start," we'll help you narrow down your flower options before you meet with your florist. Begin with the basics, aka the top 10 most beautiful, timeless and popular wedding flowers.

Roses

Long considered a symbol of beauty and love, roses figure into many myths and fairy tales. Romantic writers and poets have used the flower as a metaphor for emotion, beauty, passion and true love. An all-star in the world of weddings, the rose is far from boring, particularly when it comes to color—roses are available in solid hues and bicolor varieties—there are even striped and tipped roses as well. More than 3,000 varieties of roses are grown commercially, and many are available year-round and are surprisingly affordable. And though roses are associated with luxurious fragrance, not every rose is scented. Three main types of roses are most popular for wedding flowers: hybrid tea roses (the classic, uniformly shaped commercial roses generally seen at your local florist), spray roses (a rose with five to ten small heads on each stem and a "natural, garden-grown" look) and garden roses (expensive, old-fashioned varieties with bushy, open heads and delicious scents).

Tulips

Although tulips are most often associated with the Netherlands, this flower is actually a native of Persia. Representing "consuming love" and "happy years," the tulip can be a meaningful wedding choice. This flower is grown in a wide range of hues, including white and cream, pastels (pink, yellow and peach) and vibrant shades (magenta, red, orange and purple). Available during much of the year, the most common tulips are very affordable, though rare varieties can be expensive. The versatile tulip can enhance both elegant wedding settings and more casual venues, and work well in almost any detail at a wedding—from bouquets and boutonnieres to table arrangements. Three main varieties are commonly used: Dutch tulips (typically seen at neighborhood florist shops and in gardens), French tulips (expensive and elegant, with extra-long stems and large tapered blooms) and parrot tulips (noted for their ruffled, striped petals in intense colors).

Calla Lilies

Also known as the arum lily, this elegant, trumpet-shaped blossom originated in Africa and symbolizes "magnificent beauty" in the language of flowers. The calla lily's distinctive form has been depicted in art nouveau and art deco works, in addition to 20th-century photography. Two types are commonly available: a large-headed variety with a long, smooth stem suitable for tall arrangements or presentation-style bouquets, and a miniature version ideal for small arrangments and boutonnieres. Creamy ivory is the most popular color, but calla lilies also come in yellow, orange, mauve pink and dark purple (a stunning choice for a slightly edgier or cold-weather wedding bouquet).

Wonderful Unknown Wedding Flowers for Hand Bouquets

Wonderful Unknown Wedding Flowers for Hand Bouquets

Mawar, Melati, Tulip are the names of beautiful flowers that we often hear and are a favorite choice to be used as a wedding bouquet. But did you know that there are several other types of flowers whose names you may not have heard of but are no less beautiful than those famous flowers?

Blushing Bride Protea

In addition to the type of pinchusion, there is another type of protea flower that is very beautiful and charming which, as the name implies, blushing bride protea, is very fitting to be in the grasp of a bride. The flower in the form of a bud and comes in white, ivory and blush has started to become a favorite of many bridal couples and created in a variety of wedding bouquets.

Pinchusion Protea

This South African flower has a unique form of fireworks! Combine four pinchusion protea flowers and you'll get a unique and exciting bouquet!

Gloriosa Lily

Or also known by its Indonesian name as Kembang Sungsang. This plant is common in the archipelago and is considered an exotic plant. Having a bright pink color and a unique shape, making breech flower can be one of the options to decorate your flower bouquet.

Muscari

Beautiful flowers that come in blue or purple are very similar in shape to grapes. No wonder he has another name for grape hyacinth. Tuck in a few muscari flowers to make your wedding bouquet sweet and charming.

Torch Ginger

This tropical flower in Indonesia known as Kecombrang has a bright color and is perfect for those of you who will be holding a wedding on the beach.

15 Gorgeous Winter Wedding Bouquets

15 Gorgeous Winter Wedding Bouquets

 Gorgeous Winter Wedding Bouquets

From crimson red blooms to festive greenery, here are 15 seasonal options

No matter what time of year you're tying the knot, carrying a beautiful bundle of flowers down the aisle is a must. Even if they're not technically in season at the time of your wedding, you can (and should!) have a bouquet of your favorite blooms on your wedding day. And if you want those pretty flowers to reflect your wedding season, then you're in luck because some of the most breathtaking color combinations are perfect for a winter wedding.

When thinking of seasonal arrangements, start with the colors that feel most reminiscent of the time of year. For the colder months, we love deep burgundy, crisp emerald green, snowy white, and classic blue. Select a bouquet that features a combination of these colors for a winter-inspired look that won't read like holiday décor. Another great way to "winterize" your bouquet is by selecting in-season additions, like evergreen sprigs, berries, or acorns. When deftly incorporated, these little touches help amp up the seasonal feel without screaming "winter wonderland!"

Ready to select your own winter wedding bouquet? Check out the 15 seasonally-inspired bouquets, below.

Think Monochromatic

Love tone-on-tone? Consider using white blooms in a variety of textures, as this bride did. In winter months, we're huge fans of Queen Anne's lace (if you look close, it looks like a cloud—or, ahem, lace!) because the seasonal bloom can add a delicate texture to any style bouquet.

Go for Greenery

We associate evergreens with winter for a reason. Take a cue from the season and do your own take on greenery by incorporating other seasonal blooms, such as protea, in a greenery-filled base. This bride did just that, carrying a dramatic bouquet of king protea, Queen Anne’s lace, and lots of textured greenery.

Lily of the Valley

Lily of the Valley

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With tiny bell-shape florets dangling from a thin stem, the lily of the valley is sometimes called "the ladder to heaven." The fresh, perfumed scent from its petite flowers is unmistakable. In Norse mythology, the flower is linked to Ostara, the goddess of springtime—but you likely remember it from Kate Middleton's royal wedding bouquet in 2011.

 And while most plentiful during the spring, it remains available—though quite pricey—most of the year. So while a fistful of lily of the valley might be your dream, a more affordable alternative may be to use just a few stems to infuse a bouquet or centerpiece with its wonderful fragrance and delicate texture. Most people know of the white variety, but lily of the valley also comes in a very rare rosy-pink.

January Wedding at Bangor Wine and Oyster Shed

January Wedding at Bangor Wine and Oyster Shed

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Early January, and the first wedding of the new year was at Bangor Wine and Oyster Shed at the northern tip of the Tasman Peninsula area in Dunalley.  Bangor is is a stunning spot, on a hill surrounded by vineyards with water views in seemingly every direction.

Bangor Wine and Oyster Shed

Bangor is known for exceptional quality local produce, so any wedding celebration would be sure to please the guests! Its location is really special too - another reason many people choose to travel to Tasmania to tie the knot.  

The bride was going for a vintage/bohemian look with the colours of sage green, champagne and ivory.   Such a gorgeous, subtle palette.  Protea White Ice flower throughout the year here in Tasmania and in summer they tend to be more champagne coloured, with are darker central mass.  I built the design around these proteas.  

The Brunia Albiflora were ready picking earlier than usual this year, so I was able to use them with their soft grey-green tones.  Each bouquet also had a hydrangea variety called Paniculata in a white and green colouring.  Maui Sunset Leucadendron are a gorgeous mix of olive and grass green tones with pink tips in summer. They were scattered through.  I also used some old-gold Banksia Formosa (formally Dryandra Formosa)   They added a warmth and richness to the mix.

Soft and beautiful flowering gum in an off-white were used, as well as gum nuts, still green,  from a Corymbia.  I also used some Leucadendron Discolour and their cones.  The last few remaining Berzelia can be seen peeping out from each bouquet too.  They are usually all gone before January so it was a treat to be able to add them.

Foliages were really important for these bouquets.  I used some silvery grey-green Eucalyptus Crenulata, as well as some Risdon Peppermint.  

Branches covered in little lime green seed pods were foraged from a native plant growing at my local beach.  They were prolific in producing seeds this season and the colour and texture was so beautiful!  Also foraged were some local ferns.  Fishbone Water Fern are at their best after the new leaves have hardened off.  

I also used native Coral Fern which I love using in bouquets.  It sits so well around the edges of the bouquet.  

The groom had a combination of foliages - the Crenulata, Coral Fern and foraged seed pods (I haven't been able to find a name for them yet!) along with some of the last Berzelia, a Leucadendron Discolour and a green Corymbia gum nut.  

The rest of the boutonnieres followed the theme!

  

For decorating the venue, I did some large urns with lots of texture.  I used white hydrangeas, tea tree, fluffy white flowering gum, and some Berzelia.

Leucadendron Discolour, green with a pink blush, Pink Ice Protea, and Brunia Albiflora were the larger flowers.  The cones are the beautiful dried cones from the Leucadendron Silver Tree.  They are such beautiful things!

I also added more Hydrangea Paniculata too.  The greens included the native Fishbone Fern, Eucalyptus Crenulata, the foraged seed pods, and the gorgeous draping Coral Fern.  

I really enjoyed the colour scheme of this wedding - pared back and subtle and packed with interesting textures and shapes.  As always, a pleasure to be involved!

Soft Pinks and Greens for a January Wedding

Soft Pinks and Greens for a January Wedding

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January Wedding Bouquet

Soft pinks and mint greens were the colours for this January wedding.  The bride loved eucalyptus and gum nuts and wanted something soft to compliment the bridesmaid's dresses in mint.  January was challenging this year with warmer than average temperatures and much lower rainfall than usual.  It meant that there was some unusual timing with some of the blooms, but we managed to come up with some pretty colours and textures to suit the theme.

White Ice Proteas flowering earlier than expected were happily snapped up to suit the theme.  Some rare January Pink Ice were also used.  Beautiful Brunia Albiflora was looking fabulous and is always a great addition to a bouquet no matter what the colour scheme.  

You can also see some Red Protea Compacta.  Smaller filler flowers used were Ozothamnus, a native that grows in the bush here.  If picked at just the right time it can be a beautiful filler flower, a relative of the Rice Flower.  I also used Elderberries for a rich purply-pink contrast.  

Used in the bouquets and more prominently in the boutonnieres are these silvery white cones with a purplish tinge.  They are the cones from the Leucadendron Pisa plant which are in season in the summer months.  I removed the outer bracts from these cones, which are lime green at this time of year.  The result was a pearly cone perfect for the focal point of the boutonnieres.

Vintage barely-pink lace was used as the binding for the bouquets and boutonnieres.  The brides dress had a tiny touch of pink to its colouring and this lace was perfect for the job.

Foliage used included the beautiful Leucadendron Silver Tree, ready earlier than usual thanks to the weather conditions.  Some Agonis Flexuosa with its whispy foliage and delicate white flowers made a great addition for the draping, cascading effect.  A mix of other eucalyptus foliages was also used.

In the boutonniere gum leaves also featured.  Some local native tea-tree and Leucadendron Jubilee Crown cones were used too.  I love the pink blush of the Jubilee Crown in summer.  A great little addition to bouquets and boutonnieres.

A close up revealed some very early Banksia Occidentalis.  These flower in late summer and early autumn and these were the first pick of the season.  Banksia Occidentalis is a bright red flower but needs to develop its colouring on the bush.  If picked early the flower is fully formed but the colour is not as intense and provided a dusky pink addition to the bouquets.  This picture also shows the purplish tinge that the L. Pisa cones get - such a pretty Leucadendron.

These arrangements were used on wine barrels for decorating the ceremony.  I used all the same ingredients as for the bouquets.

Chelsea Parsons Photography

The happy couple! 

January Flowers

January Flowers

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I often get asked what is available at different times of the year so I've decided to do a few blog posts about what's available when, month by month. I'll add lots of pictures of the flowers to each post, as well as pictures of what I've done with them.

So, what's available in January?    

Leucospermum (Pincushion) Fountain

This Pincushion called "Fountain" is a January flower here at Swallows Nest Farm.  When the flowers first open, they are lighter in colour - a peachy or apricot colour.  As the flowers age on the plant, they develop a deeper orange.  

Leucospermum Fountain

This picture shows the flower after it has aged on the bush - a deeper pinkish red in the centre with the "pins" a rich orange.  Depending on when the flowers are used, and what they're teamed up with, they can create a surprising range of colour schemes.

Clockwise from top left:  Leucospermum Fountain, Flowering Curry Plant, Leucadendron Pisa, Leucadendron Inca Gold, Leucadendron Safari Sunset, Centre: Leucadendron Maui Sunset

This range of colours and textures can all be found in January.

January Wedding Bouquet by Swallows Nest Farm

This bouquet was made using the flowers in the photo above.  The Pincushion Fountain is used in the earlier lighter stage of flowering.

Bouquet by Swallows Nest Farm - Photography by Rosie Hastie

The same Pincushion, Fountain, is used in this January bouquet.  In this one, its teamed with a small red King Protea, some different pink proteas, some pink Kangaroo Paw and an early Brunia Albiflora which are ready for early picking in January.

Brunia Albiflora

Flowering Gum (Corymbia Ficifolia) buds

Also in the same bouquet you can see (bottom left at front) some gorgeous flowering gum buds.  I love to use them for their texture, but they often have quite a lot of colour too.  This gum, reclassified as  Corymbia, usually flowers in summer but the timing can vary.  It has a range of colours from rich reds, through pinky reds, tomato red, oranges, corals, peaches and through to pale pinks and almost white.  Depending on the season the flowers will also be available.  

Corymbia Ficifolia

This year (2016)  the Corymbia Ficifolia flowered early and I was able to use this gorgeous red form in a Janauary wedding.  

January Vineyard Wedding by Swallows Nest Farm

The flowering gum went perfectly with the vibrant red pink and orange theme for this January Vineyard wedding.  You can just make out the flowering gum in the groom's boutonniere.  The bouquet uses another small Red King Protea, some different varieties of orange Pincushion, including Fountain.  It also uses the vibrant pink Kanagaroo Paw called Bush Pearl. 

Red flowering Corymbia Ficifolia, Corymbia Ficifolia buds,  Pink Bush Pearl Kangaroo Paw,  Wax flower, and Myrtle Beech foliage used in a January Floral Crown

 The same vibrant mix was used in the brides Floral Crown.

Leucospermum Pincushions - Mardi Gras Yellow,  Cordifolium Orange

In January, other Pincushion colours are available.  They start flowering in November and December but are still usually flowering in January.  The yellow is called Mardi Gras Ribbons - the "ribbons" referring to the little red ribbons that appear as the flower opens. 

Leucospermum Pincushion Scarlet Ribbons

Pincushion Scarlet Ribbons is a November and December flowering Leucospermum but there can still be a few available in January, depending on the season.  

Early January Wedding by Swallows Nest Farm

In the above bouquet from an early January wedding, you can see a Mardi Gras pincushion at the back of the bouquet.  There are also some Scarlet Ribbons, and the orange one at the front is called Cordifolium.  The red, yellow and orange in this bouquet was really summery and fresh.  

Leucadendron Jubilee Crown

You can also see tucked into the gaps in the bouquet some of these little ruby red Leucadendron cones called Jubilee Crown.  They are sometimes called Christmas Cones and are available in December, but usually linger into January.  They're great for texture and colour, and also for use in boutonnieres.

Boutonnnieres from a January wedding by Swallows Nest Farm

They looked great in these boutonniere for another January wedding with a soft pink, purple and green theme.  

Mid January Wedding by Swallows Nest Farm

You can also see Jubilee Crown in this bouquet from mid January.  The theme was pink, soft and mint. You can see White Ice Proteas, and some Pink Ice Proteas.  Pink Ice are available in varying quantities almost all year round at Swallows Nest Farm, buthey are in short supply for a couple of weeks in January.  I was lucky to be able to use some for this wedding.

  

Pink Ice Protea - in short supply in January but available all year round

You can also see I used some Brunia Albiflora in the same bouquet.  The silky mint looking foliage is a Leucadendron called Silver Tree which is gorgeous for use in wedding arrangements.

Leucadendron Silver Tree foliage - available towards the end of January

Agonis Flexuosa is a native Australian foliage that flowers over summer.  The little white frilly flowers are dotted along the arching stems in amongst the leaves and they look great in bouquets and wedding arrangements.  The name "flexuosa" hints at the weeping, arching effect of the branches and leaves of this plant.  

Agonis Flexuosa - gorgeous foliage with white accent flowers in January

January Wedding Swallows Nest Farm using Agonis flowers and foliage

In this bouquet form early January, you can see Agonis Flexuosa flowers at the bottom front of the bouquet, and the foliage is more noticeable at the top of the photo.

This bouquet shows Agonis flowers and foliage draping either side with the gum foliage.

Wax Flower available over summer

Another small native flower that is really useful for weddings is Wax flower.  The variety we grow at Swallows Nest Farm begins flowering white and fades to pink as the flowers age.  They smell delicious, and are useful for months from the time they bud in spring through to later summer when they change to pink.

It can be tricky to predict what will flower when, especially when you factor in the weather.  But on the whole, proteaceae and natives like those we grow at Swallows Nest Farm are very cyclic and will flower seasonally if given the right conditions.  We are also planting new things every season.  Variety is the spice of life, so they say, and we love variety so we're always adding new plants.  If you have any queries about flowers that you don't see mentioned here, just contact Grace via the blogger contact form on the right side-bar.