Inspiration

A Calgary Bride’s Guide to Choosing Wedding Flowers

Flowers are not only one of the prettiest parts of wedding decor – they are also one of the bigger decisions, as they’re often a larger budget line in your wedding planning. So where do you start when it comes to choosing your Calgary wedding flowers? Let’s start with some basic 101 knowledge – below you’ll find types of bouquets, styles of blooms, as well as choosing for your bridesmaids, your groom, his groomsmen and how to dress those beauties up! Read on, Calgary brides! 

Types of bouquets 
Bouquets come in manyshapes, sizes, colors and styles: nosegays, cascading bouquets, pomanders, free form, wired and hand tied varieties. When considering the style and shape of your bouquet it is important to keep in mind the design of your dress and the overall style of your celebration.Also consider the fragrance (or lack of – if you prefer). For example, wouldyou like to hold something heady and perfumed like lilacs and hyacinth, or something herbal and fresh like lavender and mint?  Big luscious blooms like dinner-plate dahlias, hydrangea, peony and hyacinth are statement flowers that are experiencing a modern renaissance. Their boldness, heady fragrance andsophistication make them a romantic and fragrant choice for wedding flowers with timeless appeal

Local vs. Exotic Blooms 
Exotic flowers can make stunning arrangements and aresure to add drama to your decor. If exotic blooms are a part of your dream, be preparedto pay a little extra since they will likely have to be flown in. If exoticblooms are not in your budget, choosing local botanicals that are grown near where you plan to wedare a lovely way to establish a sense of place. This route is alsoenvironmentally conscious, as transporting local flowers leaves less of acarbon footprint.

Bridesmaid’s Blooms 
There are so many varieties of bridesmaids bouquets. Bridesmaids can carry smallermatching versions of your bouquet for a consistent and elegant look, or theycan contrast in unique and creative color combinations. Small posies ofdifferent flower types all in the same color will add interest withoutcomplicating your color scheme. Wrapping the stems with different coloured ribbon canadd an element of variety to an otherwise matched set. As a sentimental touch,try attaching a small gift to each of your bridesmaid’s bouquets, such as asmall brooch, or a small scrolled note with a meaningful sentiment written on it.


Corsages and Boutonnieres 
Use sturdy blooms, leaves andberries for boutonnieres as there will be a lot of hugging on yourwedding day and delicate flowers may not last the night. It would be beneficialto have a few extras on hand, in case some get destroyed. Bring a small spraybottle with you to spritz your blooms throughout the day, especially if it’s hot.This will ensure that your flowers stay fresh and fragrant for as long aspossible.

Gilding the Lily: Embellishments for Your Bouquet 
Bouquets can also incorporate beading, satin ribbon and even jewellery!This is a wonderful way to incorporate something borrowed, such as a brooch that may nototherwise fit into your ensemble. There are a multitude of options to transformyour blooms into jewelled marvels. Consider embedding a pearl pin into the throat of a blossom, orsimulating a row of pearls down the silk wrapped handle of your bouquet thatwill mirror the closure of your dress. 

Sources

Kaycee Ann Photography/Prairie Blooms Studio/Raraa Photography/Lil Mam Flowers/Emily Exon Photography/Flowers by Janie/Orange Girl/Fleurish Flower Shop