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Flower Power

Big, bold arrangements are cropping up

We’re in a bloom boom. Florals are showing up in every aspect of wedding decor, extending beyond bouquets and boutonnieres to setting the scene in major ways at ceremonies and receptions.

Photo by Ryan Manthey of Pure 7 Studios

Since 2020, the ways in which we use flowers have multiplied. Chelsea Finch, wedding specialist with A Country Rose Florist in Tallahassee, correlates smaller wedding sizes due to the pandemic with an uptick in florals.

“Couples were able to focus more of their energy and budget on those decorating details, and this set the bar high for floral design,” Finch said.

Photo by Sarah & Paul Photography

Angela Smith, wedding and events coordinator with SunQuest, noted that the number of weddings declined due to the pandemic, and supplies were often scarce. Returning to normalcy, couples want bigger, better celebrations that include grand floral statements. From ceremony to reception, they may include arbors, archways, tall risers, hanging installations, floral monograms, floral walls, floral rings, staircase installs and more.

“A floral installation adds an element of art to the wedding,” Smith said. “A large floral installation brings more than just decoration to the venue space. It also pulls out feelings of appreciation and awe from the guests.”

In most cases, if you dream it, florists have the capacity and creativity to do it. Musing brides have brought about inverted gardens, whimsical canopies of floating flower tendrils, human-sized wreathes and chandeliers made up of blooms. A look cropping up everywhere is the mix of modern and feminine. Some examples are rustic wooden beams wrapped in vines or steel structures strung with florals.

Moving beyond the altar, large installations are being further utilized
on the dance floor, at the cake table, over the sweetheart table and as reception photo backdrops.

In choosing flowers, color, depth and texture are all considerations.

Soft pinks, muted blues and light greens provide stunning contrasts to magenta, cobalt and sunflower yellow. A few years back, all white was all the rage, but today’s couples want bigger and bolder — and also brighter.

Photo by Lauren Newman Photography

Create depth by putting smaller flowers and greenery behind the stars of floral arrangements. Texture is supplied by the ruffled edges of peonies or the fluff of pampas grass.

Ellie Gunnels, florist with Missy Gunnels Florals, suggests using long-stem flowers such as snapdragons and delphinium as the base of large arrangements. Then layer in large flowers that act as statement pieces, she suggests.

Photo by Alicia Osborne Photography

“Peonies, ranunculus, dahlias, David Austin roses, anemones and some hydrangeas are at the top of the price list for their wow-factor,” Gunnels said. “Hydrangeas, mums, roses and daisies are beautiful and provide the most bang for the buck.”

Florals elevate weddings of all sizes. As Gunnels notes, statement florals are no longer reserved solely for large wedding celebrations.

Flowers symbolize romance and tender moments. Showcase your day — in full bloom.

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