Traditional Bouquet Styles

First of all, I'd like to apologize to any of you who may have noticed the mysterious lack of a wedding newsletter last month. As I'm sure you can imagine, Valentine's Day makes February one of the busiest months of the year for all of us, and the fact that it's a short month doesn't help matters at all! Anyhow, we're on to March now, and I want to talk about some of the different styles of bouquets available for you to carry down the aisle.

Posies: Traditionally, these small bouquets were used at morning weddings, but their sweet and informal nature perfectly suits many contemporary weddings, especially those that take place outdoors. Consisting of just a few blooms, cut short and bound with satin or left bare-stemmed, these easy-to-assemble bouquets can also be used in larger, more formal weddings, where they can be carried by bridesmaids, flower girls, or even the mother of the bride.

Nosegays: Slightly larger and more formal than poises, Nosegays are arranged in bouquet holders or tussie mussies (just like the ones we discussed in January!), and may be surrounded by a collar of lace, a few ribbons, or another decorative accent.  These round bouquets are not quite as dense as traditional bouquets, and can include almost any type of flower.

Biedermeier: A much more formal bouquet than either the posy or the nosegay, the Biedermeier takes its name and its emphasis on symmetry from a German style of design. Though it shares its essential shape with the nosegay, it is much more structured, with all of its flowers arranged in a carefully defined circular pattern. Because constructing a Biedermeier bouquet can require wiring many of the flowers, it's not a task to undertake lightly. Be sure to practice first, or leave this one to the florists!

Cascade: Named for its delicate, cascading shape, and also known as a teardrop, waterfall, or fountain bouquet, the Cascade has an undeniable sophistication. This style of bouquet is reserved for the bride, and is generally made all in white, with an abundance of blooms at the top, and flowing foliage or decorations tapering to a few wisps at the bottom.

Arm: Given the name, it shouldn't be too hard to guess how the Arm Bouquet is carried: nestled in the crook of the arm. You've probably seen these simple and elegant bouquets in pageants or old-fashioned or formal graduations, where they provide a dramatic effect while using only a few long-stemmed flowers in each girl's bouquet. Tie a ribbon bow around a few tall Calla Lilies or long stem Roses, drape it carefully across your arm, and you're done. 

While you certainly don't have to exactly re-create any of these styles, I find that the traditional bouquets can be quite inspirational, especially when you're just starting to imagine your wedding. For more ideas, I recommend looking in our Newsletter Archive, where you'll find lots of information about other styles and types of flowers. If you don't find the answers there, feel free to contact me directly; I'm here every morning, and always happy to hear from prospective brides, whether you have questions, comments, ideas, or just success stories.

Thanks for your interest in Flowerbud.com, and have a wonderful Spring!

Best Wishes,

Rachel Stephens
rachel@flowerbud.com
Event Flower Specialist
Flowerbud.com