A Guide to Wedding Bouquet Shapes and Styles | One Fab Day (2024)

Choosing your wedding bouquet is without a doubt one of the most fun elements of styling your bridal look. From picking blooms for their special meaning, to colours and textures, there's a lot going on to ensure your bouquet complements your gown, and the aesthetic of your wedding. But what people often forget to include in their wedding bouquet moodboard is shape, even though it's just as important a factor to consider when brainstorming with your florist. So if you don't know your nosegays from your shower bouquets,we're sharing the many wedding bouquet shapes and styles you can choose from.

Bouquet Shapes

A Guide to Wedding Bouquet Shapes and Styles | One Fab Day (1)
A Guide to Wedding Bouquet Shapes and Styles | One Fab Day (2)

Round Bouquet

Full and voluptuous, the rounded bouquet form is a timeless shape that goes with classic bridal style. Think a princess ball gown or a classic, formal wedding party aesthetic. The are usually made up of a variety of floral types, but also work beautifully with a single flower variety, such as roses. Stems are kept short, and flowers are tightly arranged together with no gaps and bound with a ribbon.

A Guide to Wedding Bouquet Shapes and Styles | One Fab Day (3)
A Guide to Wedding Bouquet Shapes and Styles | One Fab Day (5)

Posy & Nosegay Bouquet

Posy bouquets, are similar to nosegay bouquets, as they are both small handtied bunches, but there is one difference - a posy will usually focus on all flowers, a nosegay will often have greenery peeking through. These can be held in one hand, so they are the perfect size and style for bridesmaids and flower girls as a little sister of the main bridal bouquet, or are a great choice if you have a wedding dress that's difficult to manage. Tiny blooms like gypsophila (baby's breath), lavender and most Irish wildflowers are ideal for this type of bouquet, but petite posies can be created with almost any flower if the ratio is correct.

A Guide to Wedding Bouquet Shapes and Styles | One Fab Day (6)
A Guide to Wedding Bouquet Shapes and Styles | One Fab Day (7)
A Guide to Wedding Bouquet Shapes and Styles | One Fab Day (8)

Hand-Tied Bouquet

The vibe of a hand-tied bouquet is relaxed - as if they've just been freshly picked. These can be quite wide, and flowers are arranged at different heights, with lots of greenery adding to that wildflower feel. This wedding bouquet shape works really well when tied off with trailing ribbons or twine, and is perfect if you're looking to create a laid-back aesthetic, especially with boho or rustic themes.

A Guide to Wedding Bouquet Shapes and Styles | One Fab Day (9)
A Guide to Wedding Bouquet Shapes and Styles | One Fab Day (10)
A Guide to Wedding Bouquet Shapes and Styles | One Fab Day (11)

Garden-Style Bouquet

Just like the hand-tied bouquet there is a looseness to this type of bouquet that is free-form and romantic vibe. It often centres around a larger style of flower like peonies, dahlias or garden roses and paired with smaller flowers, leafy foliage and branches, that you might naturally find sitting alongside it in your garden, just as nature intended.

A Guide to Wedding Bouquet Shapes and Styles | One Fab Day (12)
A Guide to Wedding Bouquet Shapes and Styles | One Fab Day (13)
A Guide to Wedding Bouquet Shapes and Styles | One Fab Day (14)

Long-Stemmed Bouquet

Long-stemmed bouquets work exquisitely well with roses. Instead of shortening stems, wedding florists keep them extra long to create a bouquet that is chic and sleek, but carefree and with a touch of drama. This style complements the minimalist bride to perfection! For an extra touch of glam, ask your florist to wrap the handle in a satin ribbon!

A Guide to Wedding Bouquet Shapes and Styles | One Fab Day (15)
A Guide to Wedding Bouquet Shapes and Styles | One Fab Day (16)
A Guide to Wedding Bouquet Shapes and Styles | One Fab Day (17)
A Guide to Wedding Bouquet Shapes and Styles | One Fab Day (18)

Cascading Bouquet

Cascading bouquets are also referred to as shower, overflowing, or waterfall wedding bouquets are the ideal style if you want something that makes a statement. It gets its name as the blooms are meant to appear as if they are flowing over and down a bride's hands. This wedding bouquet shape can really tie everything together if you're using a lot of vines and foliage in your other flower arrangements. Mermaid and trumpet gowns complement this style bouquet as they accentuate the distinctive flow of these dress designs. A word of warning - these bouquets can become rather heavy simply because so many stems are required to make the shape.

A Guide to Wedding Bouquet Shapes and Styles | One Fab Day (19)
A Guide to Wedding Bouquet Shapes and Styles | One Fab Day (20)

Free-Form Bouquet

Oversized bridal bouquets also known as free-form bouquets are large in size and arranged in an airy and whimsical style. The beauty of these bouquets is that the shape can cascade in every direction, upwards, downwards and outwards! We have lots more inspiration here!

A Guide to Wedding Bouquet Shapes and Styles | One Fab Day (21)
A Guide to Wedding Bouquet Shapes and Styles | One Fab Day (22)

Pageant & Presentation Bouquet

For the bride who adores the appearance of long stems and wants a bouquet that is especially romantic, pageant bouquets are wonderful. Due to the arrangement's delicate form and long lines, these lovely bouquets have a classic, vintage mood and, when held properly, over the arm, add a bit of drama.

A Guide to Wedding Bouquet Shapes and Styles | One Fab Day (23)

What to Consider When Choosing Your Wedding Bouquet:

  • Dress Style: Complement rather than overshadown your dress with your bouquet style.
  • Season: Choosing flowers that are in season is more economical and sustainable.
  • Theme: Style, location, venue and season all feed into aesthetic details like textures, colours and size of your wedding florals.
  • Weight: You'll want to be able to carry your bouquet comfortably for the day.
  • Allergies: Mention to your florist if you have allergies!

If you enjoyed diving into the style and shape of wedding bouquets, there's more floral inspiration below!

  • An Essential Guide to Spring Wedding Flowers
  • An Essential Guide to Summer Wedding Flowers
  • An Essential Guide to Autumn Wedding Flowers
  • An Essential Guide to Winter Wedding Flowers

Now all you need to do is choose who'll make your bouquet come to life! Check out the best wedding florists in Ireland right here!

A Guide to Wedding Bouquet Shapes and Styles | One Fab Day (2024)

FAQs

What is a popular shape for bridal bouquets? ›

As one of the most traditional bouquet types, the round bouquet is a favorite for classic and formal wedding styles. Its rounded shape should be perfectly symmetrical when viewed from the side and above, with all of the flowers at an even height.

How many days before the wedding should I make the bouquet? ›

Fresh flower bouquets should be made within 24 hours of the wedding in order to keep everything perky and beautiful. However, some blooms can last 48 hours after being cut. So if timing is a priority, make sure to research the shelf life of each type of flower you plan to include in the bouquet ahead of time.

How many different types of flowers should be in a wedding bouquet? ›

It all depends on the kind of bouquet you want. It can be a single type flower bridal bouquet or a mixed flower one. A mixed bouquet is one that has one or more types of flowers. You can make it with 2 or 20 different types.

How do you make a bouquet guide? ›

How to Make a Bouquet for Any Occasion in 5 Easy Steps
  1. Step 1: Gather Your Materials.
  2. How to Pick Your Flowers.
  3. Step 2: Prepare Your Flowers.
  4. Step 3: Cut the Stems Evenly.
  5. Step 4: Arrange Your Flowers.
  6. Step 5: Secure Your Bouquet.
  7. Step 6: Decorate the Bouquet Handle.
Jan 3, 2021

What three shapes are most popular for bouquets? ›

Our 3 Best-Loved Wedding Bouquet's
  • 1.) Horizontal. A horizontal shape often has a concentration of flowers in the center with greenery and wispy blooms trailing slightly out, left and right, on both sides. ...
  • 2.) Upright. Straight up-and-down in style, the upright shape features flowers with vertical stems. ...
  • 3.) Cascading.
Mar 20, 2019

What color combinations look best in a bouquet? ›

Creams, blush, pink, and peach are flower industry staples for a reason. These shades bring out petal texture, allude to softness, and inspire a feeling of romance and sweetness. That said, tossing in some lavenders, pale greens, and yellow will always feel natural and cohesive.

Is it cheaper to make your own wedding bouquets? ›

DIY Wedding Flowers Versus a Florist: Why Should You Be a DIY Bride. Save money: Based on the comparisons above, this one is pretty much a no-brainer. The flowers are cheaper, and the arrangements will be, too, since you aren't paying anyone to do them — unless you slip the flower girl $20 to lend a hand.

When should the bride throw her bouquet? ›

Ideally, most brides opt to toss the bouquet towards the end of the wedding reception. For example, if you're having a four-hour reception, then plan the bouquet toss during the third hour. That way, everyone has had time to enjoy the co*cktail hour, eat dinner, and let loose on the dance floor.

Are you supposed to keep your wedding bouquet? ›

After the ceremony, the bride has two choices: she can keep the flowers or give them away. If a bride chooses to keep her flowers, it's believed that she traps that positive energy in the flowers.

How many centerpieces do I need? ›

How many centerpieces do I need? For round tables, one centerpiece should be plenty. However, use larger centerpieces for larger round tables. For rectangular tables, consider spacing out one centerpiece every 3 to 4 feet.

What does 5 flowers in a bouquet mean? ›

5 flowers: Happiness, goodness, and luck. There is even a saying, “Five blessings on your doorstep!” in some cultures that accompanies giving a five-flower bouquet. 10 flowers: Admiration; this number of flowers says, “You are ten times golden, and ten times beautiful.”

How do you shape a bouquet? ›

Use your scissors to cut your stems so that the length of each flower's stem is about the same, and be sure you cut the stems on an angle. An angled cut will allow the stem to draw up water more easily, lengthening the life of your bouquet. Cutting your stems under running water will lengthen the life of your blooms.

How many stems in a bridal bouquet? ›

For flowers that are between 2.5”- 3.5” in diameter, like roses, dahlias, or peonies, we recommend using at least 25 stems for a 9” bouquet and at least 35 stems for an 11” bouquet and add some greenery leaves. However, that's just the minimum. You can create elaborate arrangements with upwards of 45 stems.

How do you make a cascading bouquet? ›

Arrange the top flowers so they're pointing straight up, the blooms around the circumference of the holder so they're horizontal, and the longest, cascading stems so they're pointing downward. As you're arranging the flowers, alternate putting a few on the top, then a few on the sides, and so on.

What are the three most common types of bridal bouquets? ›

What are the different types of bouquets?
  • Cascade Bouquet. The dramatic cascade bouquets for wedding ceremonies look like a "waterfall" of flowers that drapes down the front of the arrangement. ...
  • Posy Bouquet. ...
  • Hand-Tied Bouquet.

What is trending in flower arrangements? ›

Posy arrangements

"People are increasingly opting to repurpose longer-lasting stems into posies or utilising flower presses to immortalise their favourite blooms," says florist Emma Forsey.

What is a traditional bridal bouquet? ›

The bridal bouquet is a collection of flowers held by the bride as she walks down the aisle. It's meant to be a complementary addition to the overall theme of the wedding and the style of her dress.

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