Finding the Right Bridal Bouquet Size

Here’s how to pick a wedding bouquet that’ll match your figure, gown and reception venue perfectly.

Picking the right bouquet size is all about scale. While the bride’s bouquet is usually grander than those of her maids (or at least distinct from her maids’ blooms), fitting your wedding flowers with other elements of your wedding day isn’t so cut and dry. Here are some simple equations for finding the best bridal bouquet size.

 

Bouquet + You

Petite Bride: A tiny bride will benefit from a scaled-down bridal bouquet because it will accent her physique. A nosegay (a tightly packed mound of flowers about 16-18 inches in diameter) or a posy (shaped similar to a nosegay, but smaller) would work. You could even try a composite bouquet, which is made up of individual flower petals wired together on a single stem to create the illusion of one large flower (perfect for little hands!).

 

Voluptuous Bride: A larger bridal bouquet allows full-figured brides to project grace. Your best bet is a round bouquet. It’s bolder than a nosegay but less conspicuous than a cascade. For a more formal variation on this classic shape, try a Biedermeier bouquet, which features concentric circles of flowers.

 

Bouquet + Gown

Ball Gown: A gown with such a grand, impressive shape needs a bridal bouquet to match. If your bouquet is too small, it can get lost in a sea of fabric. In many cases, an easy rule of thumb is the bigger the dress, the bigger the bouquet.

Slim Silhouette: Sheaths are all about feeling light and airy, so carry a bouquet that embodies that same spirit. Consider a small nosegay or a posy. If your wedding dress has slender lines, a bouquet that is too big might hide your shape and weigh you down.

Embellished Gown: Bows, crystals, sashes, and other details can also play a role in how big your bridal bouquet should be. If you’ve got some sparkle at the waistline, carry a tight nosegay rather than a cascading collection of blooms, so that you don’t hide the decoration. If your gown features a lot of embellishment, opt for a simpler bouquet — your bouquet should be considered part of your attire, and your ensemble could look busy if there are too many blooms.

 

Bouquet + Venue

Ballroom: If you’re having your wedding reception in a large, elaborate space, a small bouquet might seem too insignificant. Avoid bitsy bunches of flowers and try an elegant round bouquet. Or, if you really have a flair for the dramatic, go all out with a grand cascading bouquet.

Loft: If city-chic is more your style, think pretty and petite — a large bouquet might overpower your space. If you have your heart set on a cascade arrangement, ask your florist to keep it simple. Cascade bouquets don’t have to be a mass of multiple types of blooms — they can be an elegant composition of just one flower. We love orchids or lily of the valley for a sophisticated look.
Outdoors: Competing with Mother Nature is a definite no-no. Big or small, you’ll want something that works with your surroundings. An intimate backyard gathering calls for a hand-tied bouquet for that just-picked natural look, while a reception near the beach (with the ocean as your backdrop) justifies something grander.

Knot Note: Big doesn’t always equal bold. Use other elements of your wedding bouquet (color, shape, wrap) to make a lasting impression on your guests.

– Heather Levine of The Knot

The Language of Flowers

As you begin making decisions about flowers for your wedding or as gifts to the special people in your life, consider each flower’s traditional meaning.   In the early 1900′s romance was often communicated with flowers.  A young man would present a red rose, which symbolized love, to a young woman.  She would return a purple pansy, which silently relayed the message “You are in my thoughts.”  Traditionally no words were spoken that would commit either party during this courtship, so knowing the language of flowers was of paramount importance if an accord was to be reached.  Today it is a charming idea to select flowers, and even herbs, that convey sentimental feelings between the bride and the groom or even between friends and family members.

acacia – friendship

agrimony – gratitude

ambrosia – love returned

anemone – expectation

apple blossoms – hope

aster – elegance

azalea – temperance

bay laurel – glory

calla lily – beauty

camellia – loveliness

daffodil – regard

forget-me-not – remembrance

freesia – innocence

gardenia – purity

ivy – fidelity

larkspur – laughter

laurel – peace

lilac – humility

lily – majesty

lily of the valley – happiness

myrtle – remembrance

orange blossom – purity

orchid – rare beauty

peony – bashfulness

rose – love

rosemary – remembrance

stephanotis – marital happiness

tulip – passion

Floral Expressions for your Wedding

Whether you choose to use trendy combinations of eye-popping, brightly colored flowers or opt for the natural look of grasses and wildflowers, your flowers communicate as much about your personality as your wedding dress will.  Consider these tips when hiring a floral designer. 

* Does the florist’s style fit with your own ideas?  If you view photgraphed samples, verify that they are of the florist’s actual work rather than just samples the florist says he or she can do.

* If you’re working with a smaller budget, ask how you can maximize your floral options.

*What flowers will be in season when your wedding takes place?

*Collect clippings of bouquets or arrangements from magazines that you find appealing.  This will help you and your floral designer determine your style.

* Has the florist done weddings at your ceremony and/or reception sites?  If so, he or she may have photographs of arrangements done at your site and will be knowledgeable about what sizes, shapes and colors work best in the space.

* What kind of time will the florist spend at your wedding site?  Will they simply deliver flowers for your wedding or will they spend time at the site setting up and making sure everything is in order?

* Are there other weddings the florist will be handling on the same day or weekend as yours?  Get definite answers on how much time will be spent on your wedding.

* Does the florist offer rental items such as vases, potted plants, arches, trellises, candelabras, or urns?

*Does the florist offer bouquet preservations?  If interested, make arrangements for your bouquet to be preserved after the wedding.

Article courtesy of Triad Weddings magazine – Spring/Summer 09