Types of Wedding Flowers You’ll Want for Your Wedding

The flowers you choose for your wedding will be a reflection of your style, personality, and hope for a bright future together. So it’s important to give this aspect of your wedding decor a lot of thought. There are many different ways flowers show up in your wedding besides in bouquets and on tables. Here are some different types of wedding flowers the floral experts at Columbus Weddings think you may want to include.  

First, a good suggestion is to choose in-season flowers that work well with your wedding color palette and make some decisions about where you’ll want flowers placed during your ceremony and reception. If you can make these choices and decisions before visiting your florist, you’ll have a much more productive conversation and be far more likely to enjoy the flowers you’re thinking of on your big day. 

Here is an inclusive list of ways you can use flowers in your wedding:

Personal Flowers

Orange and Magenta floral bouquet

Bridal Bouquet

These are flowers that you, your wedding party, and those closest to you will either wear or carry during the wedding. 

  • Bridal Bouquet: This is your bouquet. It should stand out from the rest, accenting your wedding colors and style beautifully. 
  • Bridesmaids’ Bouquets: These can be smaller versions of your bridal bouquet or different, yet complementary. 
  • Groom’s Boutonniere: Choose a favorite bloom from your bridal bouquet and accent with fresh greenery to match or complement your bouquet.
  • Groomsmen Boutonnieres: These can be smaller versions of the groom’s boutonniere for continuity.
Purple Orchid Boutonniere

Purple Orchid Boutonniere

  • Mothers/Grandmothers Corsages: Some brides choose a complementary corsage for the maternal figures in their families as a way to honor them on such a special occasion. 
  • Boutonnieres for Fathers/Grandfathers/Officiant: Boutonnieres are a great way to also honor the paternal figures, including the officiant of your ceremony.
  • Corsages/Boutonnieres for other special guests: If you have special guests, like cousins, for example, who won’t be in the actual wedding party, it’s not uncommon to recognize them with a corsage or boutonniere, as well.
  • Flowers for hair: You may consider including live blooms in your hairstyle, or in those of your bridesmaids.  
Floral Hair Accent for Bride

Floral Hair Accent for Bride

  • Floral crown for flower girl: Flower girls can look extra-floral with a wreath of flowers that match your wedding in their hair. It also makes a great keepsake!
  • Petals to throw/scatter: Think about whether your flower girl will throw rose petals or something more similar to your wedding flowers.

Ceremony Flowers

Red and green wedding flowers in large vase on floor

Flowers in Vase

This category includes the flowers you’ll use to adorn your wedding ceremony venue. The type of venue will have a lot to do with what kind and how many flowers you display. For example, a house of worship may need more floral decor than a beach or botanical garden. Here are some areas for adding flowers:

  • Altar/Chuppah: This focal point of the ceremony will look beautiful decorated with your wedding colors. 
  • Arch: An archway can be covered with tulle, vines, ivy, or flowers and greenery… but we love flowers and greenery best!
Wedding arch with flowers

Wedding arch with flowers

  • Unity Candle Table: This is a beautiful spot to add flowers or foliage for a fresh, green look. 
  • Aisle flowers: Decorate the aisle with beautiful flowers, or use flowers to indicate rows saved for special guests, like family members. 
  • Aisle Runner: Your florist can most likely provide you with your aisle runner and the petals your flower girl will throw. 

Reception Flowers

Table Arrangement

Table Arrangement

Your reception is a great place to showcase your flowers and sense of style. To save costs, think about ways to recycle your flowers by moving bouquets and arrangements from the ceremony to the reception. 

  • Guest Book Table: This is an excellent place to include flowers that show off your personality as guests enter the reception area.
  • Centerpieces for each table: Consider the height of your table centerpieces to allow your guests to see each other as they socialize. 
  • Cake Accents or Cake Table: You may want flowers on your cake or scattered around the cake table. 
  • Buffet Table: If there will be a buffet, small arrangements of your wedding flowers will add to the ambiance in the entire room.
  • Bar: Include a bouquet at the bar to help tie the room together. 
Bridal and Brides Maid's Bouquet

Bridal and Brides Maid’s Bouquet

  • Throwaway Bouquet for tossing: Choose a smaller throw-away bouquet to toss at the traditional so you can preserve your real wedding bouquet. 
  • Restrooms: Don’t forget to include beautiful blooms in the restrooms to freshen the space.
  • Getaway Car: Along with ribbons, shoes and some shoe polish, beautiful flowers will help you and your partner getaway in style. 

There’s certainly a lot to consider when it comes to wedding flowers. Remember, your florist can’t read your mind; bring along some photos of your dress, your venue, and floral arrangements that catch your eye. Your florist will get a better picture of what kind of style you want for your wedding day and can make suggestions accordingly.

Also, know where and how you plan to use flowers before visiting your florist to discuss the details. If you have questions or want more advice about choosing your wedding blooms, talk to the experts at Columbus Weddings. We’re here to help you choose blooms that exude your style and personality perfectly.