At Petals & Paperie, we know just how pivotal florals can be in creating the mood and enhancing the atmosphere of your big day. Some of my clients know exactly what flowers they want on their day, whilst some have an idea, but would love some gentle guidance. With so many blooms to choose from, where do you start? We’ve put together a go-to guide for choosing wedding flowers that feel like you.
Start with Your Vibe
At this point in your planning journey, you’ll likely have chosen your wedding date and venue. Now’s the time to dive deeper into what you want your day to be. Think about the look and feel of your day, what’s the vibe? Is it relaxed and rustic? Romantic and soft? Sleek and modern? How do you want your guests to feel as they experience your wedding?
Gather Inspiration
Look everywhere for floral inspiration! Great places to start are Pinterest, Instagram and wedding fairs but I often find it helps to look past flowers and weddings too. Take a look at your home, your clothes, the things you own - what colours and styles are you instantly drawn to? What makes you smile. Explore real gardens and spaces. Your flowers should reflect you, not just what’s trending. Save all your ideas or create a moodboard. When you’ve had a few days to look at them, go back and refine your selection. Is there anything that you’ve changed your mind on?
Think Seasonally
Seasonal flowers are fresher, more sustainable, and usually more affordable. Some focal flowers by season are:
- Spring: Tulips, Ranunculus, Lilacs
- Summer: Peonies, Hydrangeas, Roses
- Autumn: Dahlias, Amaranthus, Cosmos
- Winter: Anemones, Hellebores, Tulips
With an understanding of seasonality, we can guide you towards the best flowers for your chosen wedding date.
Choose Colours, Not Just Specific Flowers
Think about the colour palette for your wedding. What colours are you drawn to? Will the colours in your venue influence the colour scheme? Some venues have a striking paint colour, or a dominant feature which works well with a certain colour palette. Once you’ve focussed on a colour palette, we can design around this to suggest specific blooms that are perfect for your style and that are available seasonally around your wedding date. If you have a specific tone or shade of a colour in mind, you can send or show us a sample of your colour so that we can match styling elements and florals to it as closely as possible.
Make It Meaningful
Weddings are all about meaningful moments, and this should flow into your flowers too. Think about how you could add a personal touch:
- Include a favourite flower from childhood such as your grandma’s favourite flower
- Include colours or flowers that remind you of a special place for you and your partner.
- Add a family heirloom Incorporate your ‘something blue’ such as a specific flower, a natural silk ribbon or a family heirloom.
- Create a floral tribute for someone you’re missing
At Petals & Paperie, we’re always thinking about how we can weave meaningful moments into your wedding story.
Go Beyond the Bouquet
Flowers aren’t just for bouquets and buttonholes — they can add magic all over your wedding space! Here are some of our favourite floral ideas:
- A romantic floral arch for your ceremony
- Relaxed aisle meadows that look like you're walking through a garden
- Whimsical hanging flower installations or chandeliers
- Flower crowns or hairpieces
- Statement arrangements at your bar, welcome table, or cake table
In order to help your florist define your floral designs, collate photos of wedding elements you love. From bridesmaids dresses, to tablescapes and stationery, it all helps to paint a visual picture of your dream wedding aesthetic.
Compliment Your Venue
Flowers aren’t just for bouquets and buttonholes — they can add magic all over your wedding space! It’s important to think about your venue and where your ceremony and reception will be. Some wedding venues, such as white marquees, have more of a blank canvas, whilst others have a feature wall colour or statement design style.
Consider All The Senses
When thinking about your flower choices, discuss all the senses with your florist, especially scent. Scent can transport us instantly back to a time and place, so using floral stems such as fragrant herbs, or garden roses can help recreate a sentimental scent that you and your guests will remember for years to come.
And there you have it - a handy guide to beginning your wedding flower journey! At Petals & Paperie, we are with you each step of the way and love to work collaboratively with our couples. So always bring your ideas, however big or small to your initial consultation with us. Whether it’s Instagram saved images, Pinterest boards or physical moodboards, it helps the collaborative process as we guide you from inspiration to reality.
Our job will always be to create beautiful, wild and romantic countryside florals that celebrate you. Ready to begin? Enquire today here and let’s start planning!
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