10 Types of Bridal Bouquets

When planning your own wedding there is so much to think about, the dress, the guest list, the menu and cake. However, no one aspect of the planning process seems as foreign, to most, as the bridal bouquet. When speaking to your florist it can feel like they are speaking a different language. This may leave you feeling insecure about whether or not you are getting the type of bouquet you have been envisioning.

To help combat this common problem, it is always good to understand some of the more common styles of bridal bouquets available before you go into a consultation. Not only will this help you understand what your florist is saying, it will help your florist to better understand what you are looking for as well.

A nosegay is a small arrangement that consists entirely of one type of flower. This arrangement contains no greenery between the flowers but often has greenery around the base. Sometimes nosegays may be placed in a small, and often silver, cone called a tussy-mussy. This was particularly popular in the Victorian era making it an excellent choice for a Victorian themed wedding.

A posy bouquet is a small round and tightly packed bouquet with nothing trailing off of the arrangement. You will often see these simple bouquets in wedding magazines as they are very modern and elegant as well as versatile.

The image at the top of the page is a posy bouquet. You can see how it is easily held in one hand and is wrapped neatly with a ribbon around the base. It is easy to see why these bouquets are a popular choice among modern brides. They easily fit into any theme and are beautiful but understated allowing the bride to remain the highlight of the event.

An arm sheaf, also called a presentation bouquet, sits in the nook of your arm when carried. Alternatively you can carry it like the bridesmaid shown in the picture. This arrangement contains several long-stemmed flowers bound together lightly with a ribbon. Alternatively, an arm sheaf can be one dramatic flower, like a calla lily. This style of bridal bouquet is ideal for a couple on a budget or to create a dramatic impression.

A composite flower is a very interesting bouquet. It consists of hundreds of flower petals all wired together to create the look of one very large flower. Due to the amount of work such an arrangement takes, this choice can be a costly one. However, if you are striving for something interesting and truly unique, this may be the choice for you.

A cascading bouquet typically contains a wide assortment of blooms and greens. The front of this arrangement falls toward the ground giving it a waterfall, or cascading, look. Once again, due to the amount of work and the large number of flowers this takes, it may be a more costly option than a simpler bouquet. However, a cascade is optimal if you are looking to send a message of romance and ornateness.

A pomander is perfect for a spunky and nontraditional sort of bride. A pomander is comprised of one type of flower, attached to a form, to create a perfect ball of flowers. The pom is then carried by a ribbon. Pomanders are frequently used as décor or for young flower girls as well as brides.

These bouquets can be a variety of shapes and sizes. The real differentiating feature is the tulle and netting the surrounds the bouquet. While this may sound a little odd at first, you can see in the picture that the result can be quite stunning.

This tightly packed and European influenced arrangement is very carefully planned to create circles of flowers. In the center is one color surrounded by a ring of another color.

Round bouquets are among the most common type of bridal bouquets. They are very round and can be a wide variety of sizes. They may contain only one type of flower or several different blooms. Sometimes these arrangements will contain greenery, other times they will not.

A hand-tied bouquet is ideal for the do-it-yourself bride or for a more casual affair. These arrangements can contain any number of flowers and greenery. They are loosely bound together with some ribbon and have a very free-form look to them. Often, these arrangements look as if you just picked the flowers out of the garden as some blooms sit higher than others.