Usually by the time you are considering flowers you have selected your wedding dress and your bridesmaid dresses, but you may have not considered what the colour palette is for the entirety of your event. You colour palette includes all of the shades you want throughout your decor from pew arch decorations for the ceremony, through to linen and centrepieces at the reception. Whether you choose to stick to fresh green and white with a touch of sage, or mauve’s and purple through the burgundy, a defined colour palette will help you in picking a bouquet.

Flowers like fruit are seasonal and perishable. Because of this, if you select flowers that are abundant and in the season for your wedding day you are more likely to have luscious beautiful blooms, and often for a more reasonable budget! Although flowers are imported from all over the world often their shelf life is much shorter because of the time in transit, and the transport costs add up to a more expensive flower. Once you have your colour palette nailed down, start looking at what flowers are available in the month you are getting married and pick out a list of what you like and what you dislike. Speak to your florist and stylist if you can’t easily find a list online, and get googling!

Both the size and shape of your bouquet matter. As the bouquet sits as centre focus the size needs to be in proportion to you, and your dress. If you’re a petite bride, having a bouquet that’s extra-large in size could overshadow your dress in photographs. Have a think about what the structure of your bouquet will look like against the fit of your bridal gown. If you have chosen ball gown, the bouquet needs to be as impactful in size and colour. If you have a slim fit dress think about a medium posy shaped bouquet. Choosing the right size of bouquets for your bridesmaids also makes a difference in photographs. The rule of thumb is that the bridesmaid’s bouquets should be a smaller version of the brides.

Structured or unstructured, that is the question! There’s a number of different shapes to choose from, the traditional round and the classic cascade to the more trendy unstructured bouquets. It is always wise to consider your dress style and shape when you pick the style of bouquet. Think about how lavish or how simple you want your bouquet and what structure and shape would suit that look. It always helps to compile images of bouquets you love. If you’re worried about how it fits in with the remaining floral style at the wedding use your wedding invitation and colour palette for inspiration.

Most importantly think about being true to yourself. Take advice and input from the experts but always go with your gut. Make your bouquet personal, add little touches that will truly make it yours, a favourite flower, or a picture of a loved one, a family heirloom. The bouquet needs to reflect your personal style and taste, follow your heart and you can’t go wrong!