Wedding are expensive events to plan, and alternatives to the traditional wedding bouquets can reduce your costs. With weddings costing an average of $20,000 to $25,000, every part of the wedding will come under scrutiny, and alternative cost saving measures sought. Wedding flowers average $1,100 for a wedding, and will fluctuate based on regional costs, how lavish the flower choices are, and whether the flowers are in season.
When you think of a wedding bouquet, two main choices come to mind---the traditional teardrop bouquet, and the round bouquet. There are many other choices when it comes to choosing a wedding bouquet, and we will address each one.
For simple, informal modern weddings, many brides will choose just a few flower stems. The bridesmaids might have only a single long-stemmed rose (with or without ribbon), while the bride might have three long stemmed roses tied with a ribbon. Simple, and elegant, this choice usually extends to the reception tables having a single long stemmed rose in a vase on each table. The long stemmed roses of the bride and bridesmaids are then able to be used on the head table to complete the look.
Smaller weddings allow for small bouquets, and in this situation the bride has a few choices. A circular posy or posy with ribbons is a nice choice. A posy is by definition a small bunch of flowers. A circular posy is when the flowers are arranged in a circular shape, or the posy can be a standard small bunch of flowers. Both posy styles can be accented with ribbon, or not, but most often a ribbon in the wedding colours accent the flower bouquet. These posy's can be used on the head table as centrepieces, and similar flower centrepieces can be used on the reception room tables.
Medium size weddings often work well with a spray of flowers. A 'spray' as they are referred to, are usually a bunch of long-stemmed flowers held sideways along the arm as the bride walks down the aisle. Flower sprays can be held upright, and either way, are usually accented with ribbon. Wedding reception flowers are usually the same as the wedding bouquet style chosen, so in this case the reception tables would have sprays of flowers in a vase. The flower sprays of the bride and bridesmaids can be used as decoration on the head table.
Larger weddings usually have a more extravagant flower bouquet, and the classic choice is the teardrop bouquet, or the trailing teardrop bouquet. The shape of this bouquet is like an upside down teardrop---large and full at the top, tapering down to just a few flowers. A trailing teardrop 'trails' down further than the classic teardrop shaped bouquet. When couples choose this type of bouquet, the wedding reception flowers tend to be equally extravagant with large trumpet vases holding lovely sprays of flowers.
These are the classic wedding flower bouquet choices, and budget is not the only factor in making this choice---the bride's height and build will also play a role. A petite bride will choose a smaller bouquet style than a bride who has a larger stature. The key is to find the right balance in the overall look. If a bride is choosing a simple flower bouquet, it allows her to have a more elaborate gown to create an overall look that is balanced and not competing.
Whatever flower bouquet choice the bride may make, the bridesmaids usually have a smaller version of the same bouquet style---but, as in all flower choices, this is not a hard and fast rule. There are many wedding florists and wedding floral designers who have created their own unique combination of these classic flower choices. When the bride is ready to hire a florist, it is important to have a complete list of the flower needs and a total dollar amount budgeted. When communicating this to the florist, they will make suggestions, and help the bride choose the perfect wedding flowers.
