What's the first thing your guests will see as they’re seated for your wedding ceremony?
Chances are, it's your stunning flowers.
But with so many options, how do you choose the right blooms to frame your "I dos"? This guide will help you answer that question and more.
Managing Costs
Before we dive into your floral options, though, let’s take a moment to talk about how much you’ll be able to spend, which will be guiding all of your wedding-planning decisions. Generally, ceremony florals make up 10-15% of most wedding budgets.
To keep ceremony floral costs from overwhelming your budget, focus first on the areas that will show up most in photos: the bouquets, aisle decor and the altar/chuppah area. Get the most impact by going a little bigger here first. For entry areas or windows/pews, you can go a bit more minimal with simple greenery, single blossoms, or more affordable filler flowers like baby's breath.
Another option? You can use potted plants, trees, or greenery like palm fronds to create a lush, living backdrop that may actually be more affordable than scores of cut floral arrangements.
Get creative by using minimal arrangements and enhancing them with candles, ribbons, or signs. Renting props like planters, pedestals, or other display pieces can help stretch your floral funds, too.
You’ll find that going with in-season flowers; more affordable blooms like carnations, daisies, sunflowers and zinnias; and using more textural greens can help cut costs as well.
Don’t be shy about talking about cost considerations with your florist. An experienced florist will help keep you on budget while maximizing the impact of your wedding flowers.
Your Bridal Bouquet
Moving on to the many flowers that you’ll be selecting for your ceremony, let's begin with the star of the show—the bride's bouquet.
This is often the biggest splurge when it comes to your floral budget. Popular options include lush, rounded bouquets with roses, peonies, ranunculuses and trailing greenery or more tightly gathered nosegays featuring garden roses, sweet peas, and eucalyptus.
Decide if you want to go big and bold or daintier and more delicate for your bouquet style.
Keep seasonality in mind, too. Peonies will be less expensive in late spring, garden roses more affordable in summer.
Discuss bloom sizes with your florist as well—you may be able to create a lush look with larger-headed blooms using fewer stems.
Do you have a family heirloom piece like lace, jewelry or a brooch? You can have it incorporated into your bouquet wrap.
Flowers for Your Hair
This year, increasing numbers of brides are opting to accent their hairstyle with fresh flowers.
This is an easy way to enhance your bridal look. One simple option is tucking in a few budding stems like baby's breath or a single peony or garden rose. You could also go for a flower crown or halo with lush greenery and delicate blooms like ranunculuses.
Bridesmaids' Bouquets
Your bridal party’s flowers are another chance to make a statement. You can stay cohesive with the bride's bouquet in terms of colors and flower varieties or mix it up a bit.
Quite a few modern bridesmaids go for smaller, simple bouquets like a few gathered roses or a handful of eucalyptus and trailing greenery. Another possibility is to embrace mixed bouquets brimming with texture and different types of flowers.
For Your Bouquet Toss
If you plan to include the tradition of throwing a bouquet, you don’t necessarily have to use your bridal bouquet. If you’ve been hoping to save your bouquet, you can make one bridesmaids' bouquet a toss-able piece (minus any pinned elements or jewelry). It's also becoming quite popular to have a designated toss bouquet made just for this moment. With less embellishment, these tend to be more budget-friendly.
Flowers for the Flower Girl
The flower girl's accessories are classic wedding touches.
A floral crown, wrist corsage or pomander ball (a kissing ball design carried like a mini bouquet) would all add a lovely, whimsical touch.
For the Men
For the groom and other gentlemen like fathers, groomsmen, and ushers, boutonnières are a must-have accessory.
These small bundles of flowers pinned to the lapel can be simple like a single ranunculus bud or clustered spray roses. Adding textural elements like crisp greenery or succulents adds a touch of personality.
Ceremony Flower Arrangements
The ceremony site itself offers many opportunities for beautiful floral decorating:
Entry urns or potted plants will create an elegant opening atmosphere as guests arrive. If you’ll be holding an outdoor wedding, these containers can line the aisle itself.
Decorative arches, chuppahs, or other structures can be accented with floral garlands or overflowing arrangements around the base or posts.
Pew ends or ceremony chair aisles can be marked with pretty clusters of blooms, greenery pieces, or pomanders.
Window boxes, hanging baskets, or other architectural details can be brought to life through florals.
We also encourage you to think about a statement piece like a floral hedge or garden "wall" backdrop behind the ceremony structure. It's lush, romantic, and creates amazing photo ops.
Also think about ways to decorate other ceremony elements with flowers: this could be your guest book table, unity candles, or an intricate floral stair runner leading up the aisle.
Suspended Installations
Suspended installations are big in 2024. These are floral arrangements that hang above the ceremony space, creating a dramatic and immersive atmosphere. They can take many forms, including:
-Floral chandeliers: These are elaborate arrangements of flowers and greenery that hang from the ceiling, often resembling a chandelier. They can be large and opulent or smaller and more delicate, depending on the desired effect.
-Floral clouds: These are clusters of flowers and foliage that appear to float above the ceremony space, creating a whimsical and ethereal feel.
-Floral arches or arbors: While traditional arches rest on the ground, suspended arches or arbors are hung from the ceiling, framing the couple with blooms.
-Floral garlands or swags: These are long strands of flowers and greenery that can be hung in a variety of ways, such as across the aisle or above the altar.
There are a few reasons why suspended installations have become so popular. For one thing, they add a wow factor to any ceremony space, creating a stunning focal point and a sense of grandeur.
Plus, they can be customized to fit just about any wedding theme or style, whether you’re going romantic and whimsical or modern and minimalist.
They make for beautiful photos and create a truly memorable experience for guests.
If you're considering a suspended installation for your wedding ceremony, there are a few things to keep in mind:
-Venue: Make sure your venue has a high ceiling or sturdy beams to support the installation.
-Budget: Suspended installations can be expensive, so factor this into your overall floral budget.
-Safety: Work with a professional florist or event designer to ensure the installation is secure and won't pose a safety hazard.
More Floral Trends
Additional popular ceremony floral trends to consider include:
Minimalist Designs
Less is more with this trend. Simple, elegant arrangements featuring one or two types of flowers in a single color are gaining popularity.
Dried Flowers
Dried flowers are making a comeback and can add a unique, rustic touch to your ceremony decor.
Sustainable Choices
Many couples are prioritizing eco-friendly options like locally sourced flowers and avoiding floral foam.
Bold Colors
While soft pastels are always classic, don't be afraid to incorporate brighter hues for a more vibrant and energetic feel.
When choosing your ceremony flowers, consider your personal style, wedding theme, and venue. Ultimately, your choices should reflect your tastes and style.
The Bell Tower on 34th, one of Houston’s leading wedding venues with a chapel, is committed to helping recently engaged couples realize their wedding vision.
Our venue, a short drive from downtown Houston, is designed to provide seamless transitions from ceremony to cocktail hour to wedding reception.
Contact us to schedule a visit.
The Bell Tower on 34th
901 W 34th St, Houston, TX 77018
(713) 868-2355