The wedding flowers are probably the most crucial part of any wedding ceremony or reception. Flowers play an essential role in almost any wedding, from the bridesmaid bouquets to the centerpieces on the tables. Here, you’ll learn about different types of flowers that go into the bridal bouquets, bridesmaids’ bouquets, corsages, and boutonnieres of your wedding party. The info below will help you choose how many flowers to use in each area so that your wedding day will be beautiful from beginning to end!
Wedding Flowers 101: A Breakdown of Different Types and Quantities
Let's take a look at the required quantities for different wedding flowers.
Bride's Bouquet
The bride's bouquet, often referred to as something old, something new, something borrowed, or something blue, is the most critical part of a wedding. Brides typically choose flowers for their bouquets, ranging from one color to several colors. However, the quantity depends on the size and shape of your bouquet and your personal preferences. In general, 24 to 36 stems are required for the bride's bouquet. You also may want to add more flowers if you're using larger blooms, such as roses or peonies, rather than smaller ones, like ranunculus or stock. If it looks good and feels comfortable in your hand, anything goes!
Bridesmaids' Bouquets
The bridesmaids’ bouquets are usually smaller than the bride’s, but they can still be quite large. Bridesmaids' bouquets typically have 12 to 18 flowers. This is because more people walk down the aisle with her than her bridesmaids. Bouquets for both the bride and the maids should all match each other in color. When designing their arrangement, consider what type of flower best complement each woman's skin tone or eye color. For example, if you choose between a mix of roses and daisies, consider which variety would look better on your brunette friend versus your blonde friend. You want to ensure every bridesmaid feels beautiful when she walks down the aisle!
Boutonnieres
A boutonniere is a miniature flower pinned to a suit jacket's lapel or left breast pocket. It's typically worn by the groom, best man, ushers, and other wedding party members. In older times, it was common for men to wear a single flower in their buttonholes, but today it's more common for them to wear a boutonniere on one side. Bridesmaids often wear a corsage that looks like a larger version of the traditional boutonniere. The boutonnieres are more extensive arrangements carried by the bride during her wedding ceremony and any photographs taken before, after, and during the event. The average boutonniere consists of around 1 to 5 stems of flowers.
Corsages
A corsage is typically worn by a woman on the right or left arm, with the flower resting just above the elbow. It's often given to a date or another person attending the wedding. Traditionally, corsages are made from fresh flowers such as roses. But they can also be made from artificial materials if they are unavailable. The bride usually wears her bouquet on her right-hand side during the ceremony. At the reception, it is tradition for the bride and groom to switch sides to have their scents in their right hands while dancing. The number of flowers for corsages will depend on how many people attend your wedding. If you're having one hundred guests attend your ceremony, you would need around two flowers for corsages for each guest.
Flower Girl Basket
A flower girl is a junior bridesmaid who carries a basket of flowers at the ceremony. Flower girls typically have white roses or baby's breath in their baskets. But you can also use other flowers, such as dahlias, carnations, or daisies. It is common for there to be one flower girl for every ten guests, so if your guest list has 20 people, it would be two flower girls. If you have more than that, it's not uncommon for three or four flower girls. You can use 18 to 26 stems for each basket.
The youngest member of the wedding party should always be picked first when choosing who will be the flower girl. It would be best if you tried to ensure the flower girl is old enough to walk steadily down the aisle. For example, most states allow children to serve as flower girls until they are six years old. Once a child turns seven, they may no longer serve as a flower girl.
Garlands and Wreaths
Garlands and wreaths are a great way to add color, texture, and style to your wedding décor. They come in many shapes, sizes, textures, colors, materials, and types. Some popular choices for garlands and wreaths are made with fresh flowers grown locally or vintage flowers preserved. Other options include dried or silk flowers that can last much longer than their new counterparts. You can also choose from pre-made garlands, or you can get creative and make them yourself!
The number of wedding flowers needed for wreaths should be 15 to 18 stems. Your garlands must have 48 wedding flowers of different types.
Centerpieces
A wedding centerpiece is one of the essential elements in a wedding because it typically sets the tone for the entire event. Centerpieces can be as simple or complex as you want them to be, depending on your taste and the amount of time you have to put into them. They are often made up of several types of flowers in varying quantities, including roses, tulips, lilies, and hydrangeas. The amount of these flowers should be between 12 to 25.
Your choice of flowers should reflect the season your wedding will take place. They will die faster if used during winter months than if they are used during spring or summer months. For instance, the average lifespan of an eryngium flower is about six weeks when it's placed in water. But its average life span, when cut off from water and preserved by air, is around nine months!
Aisle Decor
An aisle decor is a way to set the mood for the ceremony. The aisle will allow you to use creativity to make the ceremony beautiful. Here are some popular styles of aisle decor and their quantities:
- Bridal bouquets: one per person or couple in attendance
- Bridesmaid bouquets: Four bouquets per bridal party (eight total).
- Groomsmen boutonnieres: six boutonnieres for groom's men
- Aisle runner: two runners, but it depends on how long the aisle is. There should be at least one per fifty feet. Two seems safe, so if your corridor extends more than fifty feet, you might want to get three.
Conclusion
The type of flower you choose for your wedding is about personal preference, with a few exceptions. For example, if you are allergic to pollen, you would want to avoid lilies or flowers with lots of pollen. Some flowers come in different colors that might be better suited for the style or theme of your wedding. What's important is to research the types of flowers so you can make an informed decision when it comes time to order them. Listed below are some popular types of wedding flowers and their quantities.
- Bridal bouquets: 24-36 stems
- Bridesmaids’ bouquets: 12-18 stems
- Boutonnieres: 1 to 5 stems
- Corsages: 2 stems for each guest
- Flower girl baskets: 18-26 stems per basket
- Corsages: 1 small bloom per guest
- Boutonnieres (bouquets: 1 large bloom per guest
- garlands: 48 stems
- Wreaths: 15-18 stems
- Centerpieces: 12 to 25 stems for each centerpiece