Wedding Bouquet Styles: Most Common Bouquets Explained

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Wedding Bouquet Styles: Most Common Bouquets Explained! Just as there’s no one kind of wedding dress, there’s also a variety of wedding bouquet styles. From whimsical and dried to traditional and hand-tied, there are so many types of bridal bouquets to suit every bride, style, and personality. But with so many wedding bouquet options, how do you know which best fits your overall wedding aesthetic and your wedding dress?

Do you look for ideas and inspiration on Pinterest and Instagram? Or do you choose your favourite blooms and greenery and ask your floral designer to create a wedding arrangement based on your selections? Choosing the right style of the wedding bouquet is as important as finding the right wedding dress silhouette. So without further ado, here’s a breakdown of the most common types of bridal bouquets.

Nosegay Bouquet

A classic style that goes back to Victorian times, nosegay bouquets are typically the smallest bouquet type. This is a classic choice that doesn’t require as many flowers as other options. Therefore, it is perfect to hold in one hand. These round-shaped bouquets tend to feature more greenery and leaves. Often they only consist of a few small stems of the same flower tightly packed and all cut the same length. You can wrap the stems in a piece of fabric, organza, lace, or ribbon for a uniform look. The nosegay also works well for bridesmaids, flower girls, or the mother of the bride bouquets due to their petite size.

Posy Bouquet

Posy is another classic wedding bouquet choice for brides. Very similar to a nosegay, this small wedding bouquet is perfect for the bride who wants all the attention on her wedding dress. With less greenery and mostly blooms of similar colors, you can easily hold posy bouquets in one hand. They can be loose with a hand-wrapped ribbon or lace, or by replacing the stems with florist wire, it can be more structured with one type of flower. Simple and elegant yet striking, this bouquet will complement any wedding theme. It is also a popular choice for bridesmaids and flower girls.

Biedermeier Bouquet 

The Biedermeier bouquet was named after a particular style of interior design found in the 19th century in Germany. This flower arrangement is similar to a nosegay bouquet. These bouquets are round and have concentric circles of a different type of flower and often with the stems exposed. You can have any number of circles, and each one can have a different colored flower or a different kind of flower altogether. The blooms are tightly structured for a uniform look and often wrapped in a piece of fabric.

A Biedermeier bouquet is for the brides who want to make a statement on their wedding day!

 

Round Bouquet

Round bouquets are a timeless classic! Featuring more flower blooms than greenery, the round bouquet is a bigger version of the posy. They typically consist of a single type of bloom such as roses and peonies, or different types of flowers in a single color arranged in a perfect dome. However, these types of flower arrangements don’t have to be monochromatic! Feel free to mix up the color of your wedding bouquet. The stems are often wrapped in a silk ribbon or delicate lace that coordinates with the wedding’s theme and colors.

This bouquet style works best for traditional or classic, formal weddings.

Pomander Bouquet

While this style of a wedding bouquet is traditionally for flower girls and children due to its cuteness and ease of carrying, pomander can be a unique addition to your wedding day! Literally a ball of flowers or a kissing ball, you can carry a pomander in a handbag-like fashion by a loop of delicate ribbon or lace. This bouquet can either have one type of flower or a mix of flowers in the same color or similar shades! But make sure to hide the stems inside the ball. You can also use this style of bouquet as decor for the wedding aisle, ceremony, or reception.

Pomander bouquets hang beautifully from the trees, tables, chairs, or wedding arch for an added pop of color and freshness to your wedding day.

Pageant Bouquet

Pageant bouquets also known as a presentation bouquet were traditionally used in pageant competitions but quickly became a staple wedding bouquet. These bouquets usually have longer stems so they are designed to fit into the crook of a bride’s arm (rather than held in her hands). Therefore they will work well in modern and contemporary style weddings. The modern bloom arrangements are meant to make a statement! Thus you will need to choose dramatic blooms like orchids, peonies, dahlias, gladiolus, or calla lilies.

Crescent Bouquet

A crescent-style bouquet mimics the shape of a horizontal crescent moon. Most of the blooms are usually located in the center of the bouquet and then extend out of each side into a more soft arch shape. Depending on your vision, it can be asymmetrical or symmetrical. Think ranunculus, roses, clematis, tulips, and calla lilies. This bouquet is a great choice for modern, bohemian, or rustic wedding themes.

Single Stem Bouquet

If all you need is one flower that has a huge impact, opt for a single stem bouquet. This bouquet is the most straightforward design out of all wedding bouquets. King protea, hydrangea, magnolia, dahlias, lilies, or peonies work perfectly for this bouquet style. The single stem is elegant and modest, so it’s perfect for the minimalist bride! This bouquet is also budget-friendly and is perfect if done well. Not only is this bouquet simple and romantic, but it can also create a real statement making them perfect for rustic, vintage, or alternative wedding themes.

Composite Bouquet

Composite bouquet, also known as glamelia bouquet or Carmen Rose, features individual flower petals, buds, and blooms. They are arranged to look like one large flower bouquet. This style is perfect for a vintage bridal bouquet! Since they were popular in the 1940s and 50s. However, this bouquet also fits beautifully in any wedding style! Constructed with hundreds of real petals wired together, this bouquet can be the most expensive simply because it is labor-intensive. Simple yet elegant and graceful, a composite bouquet will add extra drama to your wedding day.

 

Hand-Tied Bouquet

Hand-tied bouquets are popular for a number of wedding styles, but they are mostly used for boho and rustic weddings. They look exactly how they sound: a bunch of flowers hand-tied together with ribbon, fabric, or even twine. This gives the bouquet a casual and laid-back look from the loose stems showing at the bottom. Hand-tied bouquets usually feature a variety of blooms and greenery and feel less constructed and looser for a just-picked look.

They are perfect for brides who want to incorporate more colors, textures, and natural elements in their wedding bouquets. This design is very simple, and you can easily do it yourself!

Cascading Bouquet

Cascading bouquets look like a waterfall of blooms and lush greenery that literally cascades from the bride’s hands toward the floor creating a trailing effect. This floral bouquet is a fit for a bride who looks for something whimsical, romantic, and dreamy. Popular in the 1980s after Princess Diana’s wedding, this bouquet is making a comeback in today’s weddings. Any flower can work! But bold blooms like roses, lilies, and orchids (which have a natural cascade to them already) can bring even more drama! The form of the cascading bouquet can feel very fairytale-like, so they are an excellent choice for ballroom, cathedral, or garden weddings.

 

Now that you know everything you need about bouquet types, don’t forget to visit our guide, Ultimate Bride’s Survival Guide, for more inspiration!

Header Image Credit: @julianasabophoto