Photography by: Corynn Fowler Photography Flowers by: Ashley Elaine Florals — Photography by: Corynn Fowler Photography
Flowers by: Ashley Elaine Florals

If you plan to order one thing from a florist for your wedding it’s likely going to be a bouquet. It’s the piece that is typically front and centre with you, being carried during the ceremony and making an appearance in many of your wedding day portraits. So how do you choose the right one? How do you hold it in photos and when you walk down the aisle? What about keeping it fresh on the wedding day? These are all great questions, so we reached out to local florists Rachel of Euclid Design Co, and Ashley of Ashley Elaine Florals to get their advice on the topic of bouquet care. Just a little something to tuck into your wedding folder for when you get back to planning your wedding!

Photography - Right: Daring Wanderer, Left: Julie Harmsen Photography Flowers by: Euclid Design Co. — Photography - Right: Daring Wanderer, Left: Julie Harmsen Photography
Flowers by: Euclid Design Co.

How do I select the right bouquet for me?

Rachel: I think that selecting the right bouquet is usually based on your taste and what inspires you. Some people prefer a larger, looser bouquet, and others prefer something smaller and a bit tighter in design. From the conversations that I've had with brides, some things to keep in mind include:

1) How tall/small are you? You may want a bouquet that isn't too big to distract from your face.

2) What style dress are you wearing? A bouquet with lots of wild, wispy bits, and lots of trailing details, might hide the beautiful lace or beadwork on your dress.

3) What's your colour palette? I like to recommend brides embrace colour for their bouquets so that the contrast between their dress and flowers makes both of them pop.

4) Who will you be walking down the aisle with, if anyone? A pageant-style bouquet that rests on one arm and trails over your elbow might be gorgeous but might not work as well if both Mom and Dad are walking with you.

Ashley: I would suggest you start by searching for some inspiration. Whether it be online, in a magazine or maybe even past weddings of friends and family members. Look up what different bouquet styles exist and see if any of them really stand out to you. It’s such a personal thing so take the time to consider what you really like. It’s also a good idea to take into account the overall style you’re going for, your dress, the season and the types of flowers available. From there, have a conversation with your floral designer and get their advice as they will be able to share their experience with you.

Photography by: Frances Beatty Photography Flowers by: Ashley Elaine Florals — Photography by: Frances Beatty Photography
Flowers by: Ashley Elaine Florals

How should I hold my bouquet?

Rachel: Every bouquet that I design has a definite "front", but it's also designed to look great from the sides, too. I always knot your ribbon in the front so that you know which side is which. Floral designers have different preferences when it comes to stem length but I usually trim them short so it's easier to hold your flowers close to your body. I generally tell brides that it's best to hold their bouquet with their thumbs at belly-button level. A lot of people unconsciously start to hold their bouquets too high because of a very natural sense of nervousness -- your shoulders come up, your elbows come in, your flowers get hoisted near your face. Keeping your thumbs and belly-button in line will drop your shoulders, help you relax, and keep your flowers from blocking your beautiful face!

Ashley: This can depend on the style of bouquet and each designer’s personal tendencies so it’s always good to get this instruction from your florist if you aren’t sure. While both sides of a bouquet will look great, I tend to design it so that there is one side that is intended to be the front. To make sure you can tell the front from the back I typically have a few decorative pins to secure the ribbon in the back which you can feel with your thumb when you hold the stems. If you have long streamer style ribbons, I recommend making sure that the ribbons fall over top of your hands holding the bouquet so that they can freely move in the wind - which looks amazing in photos! I also like to keep the stems trimmed fairly short so that you can comfortably hold it closer to your body and slightly tilted forward so the flowers really shine. When you are ready to walk down the aisle, take a deep breath and relax your shoulders and arms so that your bouquet is resting, comfortably in your hands, just above your hips. We have a natural tendency to inch our shoulders up when we’re a bit nervous or excited and that means you might end up holding your bouquet just under your chin! So try to remember to take a moment or ask your MOH to give you a little nudge, and make those small adjustments before you start walking so that you don’t hide your face or your dress!

Photography by: Sara Monika Flowers by: Ashley Elaine Florals — Photography by: Sara Monika
Flowers by: Ashley Elaine Florals

How can I make sure my bouquet lasts throughout the wedding day?

Rachel: Interestingly enough, I think that making a bouquet last all day starts in the planning and design phase. If you're able to talk through how the day is going to flow with your floral designer, and when you'll have your bouquet with you in photos, this can help your designer gauge how long your bouquet might end up out of water. If I know that a bride is going to have a long, hot afternoon of photos before her ceremony, I'll try and select materials that do better out of water or that tolerate heat. However, if a bouquet is going to be delivered right before a short ceremony, with a sunset photo session right afterwards, more delicate flowers might work. Overall, I'd advise that a bouquet should be kept in the vase that it's delivered in, out of direct sunlight, until you need it for a photograph. (On that note -- it's also handy to have a paper towel or small towel on hand to dry off stems as you take them out of the vase. Something that I'm going to provide every bride or photographer with starting this year!)

Ashley: As florists we do our absolute best to ensure that your flowers look amazing and fresh throughout the day. This starts with flower and foliage choices and includes the processing and care of the flowers before they’re arranged and delivered to you on your wedding day. In order to get the most from your bouquet, after they have been delivered, there are a few things to remember. If you aren't using them right away, keep your bouquets in a cool spot out of the sun and away from any vents until you need them. If your photographer is taking detail shots while you’re getting ready, just make sure it goes back in the water until it’s needed again. I deliver all of my bouquets in glass vases that can be used throughout the day to hold the bouquets when not in use. When planning your day, particularly if you are doing a lot of photos ahead of the ceremony, consider when you’ll be able to let your bouquet “rest". Your bouquet will be designed to be able to handle being carried out of water for your ceremony and for the number of photos you will take however it is still made of a perishable product and taking the time to pop it back into a vase of water to hydrate will keep it looking great, that much longer.