Have A Tropical Wedding (even if you’re not in the tropics)

We may not be in the tropics, but that doesn’t mean we can’t fake it.

Griffin’s Floral Design has been following the trend to adding big, bright palm leaves to bridal bouquets, reception tables and altars with great interest. It’s a fresh, inviting look, offering you and your wedding guests the sense of being transported to somewhere else. These days, it doesn’t matter what climate you’re in—if you want that vivid, vaguely exotic tropical vibe to your wedding, you can have it. Naturally, we think that spirit is best achieved by drawing from the incredible spectrum of frost-sensitive flora. You don’t need to have a destination wedding to achieve a destination feel; you just need to get creative.

Below are our picks for your best floral bets if you’re feeling inspired to style yourself a tropical wedding.

Statement Species

What better way to set off a white gown than with a big, bold, colorful statement flower? Anthurium (otherwise known as laceleaf or flamingo flower), bird-of-paradise and hibiscus—a pretty stellar flower, given its humble start as a bush—are all uncommonly pretty flowers that make a strong impression. Single out one and make a bouquet of it, backed by some glossy greenery, or make a mix, with one of these beauties at the center.

All The Orchids and Lilies

Orchids, with their delicate, rare beauty, prefer humidity, making them a wonderful choice for a tropical bouquet. Whether you choose mokara for its vibrant spray of petals or cymbidium, with its larger, intricately-flecked tongue, orchids lend an otherworldly note to your bouquet. There’s a rainbow of lilies available to the tropically-inspired bride, too, from lily-of-the-valley to calla to Easter lilies. Stargazer, with its showy, exploding center casts an enchanting fragrance.

Vines, Trees & Pleasing Plants 

Bougainvillea is most often spotted crawling up an exterior wall or gate in warm-weather locations, since it’s a flowering vine. In fact, what we think of as flowers are actually leaves. They look stunning when draped from a bouquet, as does the sleek, bell-shaped jacaranda, with its soft lavender hue (and they’re so beautiful, you might just want to get married under a jacaranda tree). Plumeria, another highly-fragrant choice, features thick, waxy petals that look as though they’ve been painted. This flowering plant looks beautiful by itself or in a mixed bouquet.

Palm Leaves Please 

Caladium, philodendron and other palm leaves large and small are really enjoying a moment in wedding motifs of all kinds. But if you’re having a tropical wedding, palm leaves will be an important piece of the decor. Whether you weave them into the altar look, use them as garland on the tables or fold them over into a wedding bouquet as a vibrant supporting element to the flowers, they always add a lush, exotic air.

 

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