How to Choose Your Dream Bridal Bouquet: The Ultimate Guide for Brides

Your wedding bouquet is one of the most iconic elements of your bridal style. This gorgeous floral arrangement will star in all your photos and videos as you walk down the aisle on your big day. Choosing that perfect bouquet to complement your wedding vision is such an exciting part of planning!

But between all the options for flowers, colors, sizes and shapes, the bouquet selection process can also feel a bit daunting. Where do you even begin?!

Not to worry, brides. I'm here like your virtual BFF, ready to spill all my floral wisdom to help you design a showstopping bridal bouquet you'll treasure forever!

Match Your Wedding Colors and Style

Your bridal bouquet helps set the tone for your entire wedding day look and feel. Carefully select flowers that allow you to incorporate your wedding color scheme.

Popular wedding bouquet flowers like roses, ranunculus, dahlias, peonies, tulips, and calla lilies come in a gorgeous range of hues - so you can definitely match your chosen wedding palette.

Aim for a cohesive look with your bouquet coordinating seamlessly with your colors and theme. But don’t go overboard trying to match every single detail. A little variation in tones and textures adds depth and interest.

If your wedding style is modern and sleek, a contemporary bouquet with unique exotic blooms would be perfect. An outdoor garden wedding calls for a loose, wildflower-inspired bouquet. Make sure your flowers complement the venue and dress to tie everything together beautifully!

Consider Different Bridal Bouquet Shapes and Sizes

Bridal bouquets come in so many shapes and sizes to suit your style vision. Cascading bouquets have a dramatic waterfall shape that flows down for a whimsical look. Posy bouquets have a rounded, compact shape - ideal for smaller weddings. Arm sheaf bouquets are long and narrow, elegantly draped over the forearm.

For size, oversized cascading or garden bouquets make a gorgeously bold statement, especially on the dance floor. But a smaller posy or nose gay allows greater mobility if that’s important to you. There are no strict rules here - just choose the bouquet shape and size that complements your stature, dress and venue.

Incorporate Flowers with Special Meaning

Add one or two special flower types that hold nostalgic meaning or memories for you. For instance, you could incorporate:

• Roses from the centerpieces on your first date
• Lilacs that remind you of childhood springtime walks
• Sunflowers symbolizing joy and sunshine

Weaving a few of your favorite blooms tastefully throughout the rest of your bouquet adds those sentimental little touches. Just be mindful of how they fit into the floral colors and vision you have in mind. A few favorites here and there is lovely, but going overboard with too many disparate meaningful flowers can look mismatched.

Accent with Complementary Greenery and Foliage

Greenery like trailing ivy, ferns, and eucalyptus are fantastic for adding texture, freshness and visual interest to your bouquet. These softer green hues complement and balance out vibrant or pastel flower colors.

Accenting your flowers with diverse greens and foliage helps unify all the floral elements into a cohesive lush vision with depth. An added bonus - greenery tends to be more budget-friendly than expensive blooms, so incorporating greenery allows you to get more bouquet for your money!

Mind the Seasons for Your Chosen Flowers

Some flowers are only available certain times of year. Peonies just scream “spring wedding!” while dahlias and mums point to fall. Do your research to see what will be in season when you get married.

If your heart is set on a flower that will be out of season, talk with your florist early about options. See if they suggest suitable, cost-effective in-season floral substitutions with a similar look and feel. But they may be able to source your dream flowers specially too (for an additional cost).

Take Inspiration from Bouquets You Love

When watching movies, attending other weddings, looking at magazines/blogs, or even seeing flowers at the market - if a bouquet catches your eye, take a picture or jot down notes! Compile these inspirational images and ideas to share with your florist. It helps articulate the colors, flower types and visual style you’re drawn to.

Pinterest and Instagram are amazing resources for floral inspiration too! Search hashtags like #bridalbouquet for endless stunning examples to spark ideas.

Trust Your Talented Florist

An experienced, creative florist knows how to perfectly execute your vision while keeping seasons, pricing and availability in mind. Bring 2-3 photos of bouquets you love, your color scheme, and notes on special flowers you’d like used.

Then trust their expertise in suggesting gorgeous options that check all your boxes! Be open minded to their recommendations for in-season blooms that may not have been on your radar but complement your vision beautifully. With your inspiration and their skills, your dream bouquet will come to vibrant life!

Choose Flowers with Lovely Fragrance

Scent memory is so powerful and nostalgic! Be sure to bury your nose into those sample bouquets and inhale deeply when making decisions. Your bouquet’s fragrance will infuse your wedding day with an extra layer of sensory magic.

Notes of fresh white floral, sweet peony, citrusy gardenia, or spicy ginger flower should transport you. Choose blooms whose scent elicits sheer joy, romance and beauty for you personally. Your bouquet’s fragrance should feel like “your scent” when you reminisce years later!

Design a Bridal Bouquet That’s Uniquely You

Trends change constantly, but your wedding is all about embracing and celebrating your individuality. While keeping these helpful tips in mind, remember there are no strict rules. You have the freedom to dream up a bridal bouquet that makes your heart sing!

Select shapes, sizes, colors and flowers based on what you genuinely adore. Let your gorgeous bouquet reflect the essence of your love story and your personal flair. You and your soon-to-be spouse deserve wedding flowers that wow you both.

With this advice, you can confidently design your dream bridal bouquet and walk down the aisle radiating bridal bliss! Get excited to carry these meaningful flowers on the magical day you say “I do!”