Types of Wedding Bouquets

When you think of your wedding bouquet, do you know how you want it tied? Do you know if you want cascading or nosegay? Did you even know that the word nosegay existed? Yeah…neither did we. There are so many technical details in this industry that until you are in it, no one would ever know about. We usually know a general style, or maybe a trick or two, but we’re here to tell you about the eleven (ELEVEN!) different styles of wedding bouquets. I know, a couple years ago, we could have listed maybe three.

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ROUND
Perhaps the most well known of the bouquet styles. The round bouquet is quite simply, round. I know, mind blown. This style of bouquet contains very little greenery, with flowers bunched tightly together to create a very stiff, round shape. Most greenery in this bouquet is on the outskirts, used mainly to frame the round shape. This is the most popular of styles for today’s brides as the classic look is really very elegant and photographs beautiful.

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CASCADING
Easily my favourite type of bouquet! The cascading bouquet is known for its old style of elegance. Usually composed of various types of flowers and a lot of greenery, this bouquet is shaped like a teardrop, large and full on top and moves to a finer, more delicate point at the bottom. One of the most difficult to make, and quite heavy to hold, this bouquet never fails to stand out! The cascading style has been around for decades, but it was most recognized after the wedding of Prince Diana in 1981. The Princess’ bouquet was so large and extravagant because after the Queen’s wedding in 1947, her bouquet was so little that it barely showed in photographs, so the Queen re-dressed during her honeymoon with a larger bouquet to take new photographs.

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NOSEGAY (or posy)
The nose gay bouquet (also known as posy) is a small bouquet very typically given as a gift. Nosegays were typically very tightly wound with little greenery peeking through, though now they are essentially mini versions of your typical round or hand tied bouquet. They were most popular in the forties, used as fashion accessories, the same way we would use a handbag today, and tied with a doily or fabric to match one’s outfit. Nosegays were very symbolic as the flowers chosen would usually be sentimental or serve meaning to the person holding the bouquet.

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BEIDERMEIER
The biedermeier bouquet is incredibly intricate and beautifully done. The Beidermeier bouquet is shaped just like the tight, round bouquet we know so well– but the flowers are lined in perfect concentric circles. There is only one type of flower in one colour used in each layer. The Beidermeier is difficult to construct, but it eventually looks like a piece of art upon completion.

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COMPOSITE
A composite bouquet is intended to look like one massive flower, but it is constructed using the petals of various flowers (usually using glue) to form one larger head. Often, the centre of the composite bouquet is in fact one large flower, but it is expanded and added to with various other flowers and petals.

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HAND TIED
We might have lied earlier, this could actually be our favourite. The hand tied bouquet is incredibly popular right now. The style is very open to interpretation and works for any bride. Various flowers, textures and greenery are used to loosely hold this bouquet together with a fabric ribbon to finish it off. The hand tied bouquet is supposed to have a wild, casual look, without any particular shape or style.

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CRESCENT
The crescent bouquet is a very different style for modern brides. Its unique crescent shape means that the flowers are tighter in the centre, then greenery and smaller heads flow outwards to create its half moon shape.

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CONTEMPORARY
In a contemporary bouquet, there isn’t a particular shape or form that is mandatory. Various floral shapes and greens are used, sticking out at random angles and positions, usually forming a very intricate and complex bouquet. Exotic and rare flowers, often in the succulent family, work wonderfully in these bouquets. This style requires an out of the box thinker, with a very unique style and unconventional wedding.

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SINGLE STEM
This bouquet is exactly what is sounds like– one flower, one large bloom is all this bride needs. A simple but elegant look for a low maintenance affair. This bouquet can be completed with ribbon or decorative accessories such as charms or hanging photos of sentimental value.

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POMANDER
The pomander bouquet style is, quite simply put, a ball of flowers. Though we often see this bouquet with flower girls, it is becoming increasingly popular with brides or being used as the toss bouquet. This bouquet does limit the style of stem that we can use, as it requires a stiff and strong flower to keep the intended shape.

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PRESENTATION
Remember the bouquet you received at graduation? This is the same idea. A presentation bouquet is traditionally a bouquet that is presented to a recipient, but is now also being used in weddings for an elegant look. The bouquet is intended to nestle in the crook of the arm and is not intended to be held with two hands in the middle of the body. It photographs beautifully and provides a wide range of options for the types of florals we can use.

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Now that you know about the different types of bouquets, do you have a favourite? We love to create bouquets and we know just how important they are for any wedding day. Even if you’re not sure what style works best with your dress, or if a cascading bouquet it just too tall for you, or maybe you can’t bear the thought of carrying an extra few pounds around with you all day– let’s talk options! There are plenty of ways to pull together the look you’ve been imagining since you were little– or maybe since you got engaged. Either way, let’s figure it out together.

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Some images have been sourced from google images and are not the property of Lilacs & Lace. No copywright intended.