Choosing the right flowers for your wedding bouquet is crucial for achieving the perfect look while ensuring the practicality of your floral arrangements.
Some flowers, despite their beauty, may not be suitable for wedding bouquets due to various issues like pollen allergies, short lifespan, or sensitivity to environmental factors.
Let’s get straight to the point
When choosing flowers for your wedding bouquet, avoid those with short lifespans, high pollen levels, or strong fragrances.
Flowers like astilbe, chrysanthemums, and daffodils are problematic due to their tendency to wilt quickly or cause allergies.
Opt for durable, low-maintenance flowers and consult with a professional florist to ensure your bouquet remains fresh and complements your wedding theme.
Consider creative alternatives if you have specific needs or concerns.
Flowers to Avoid in Wedding Bouquets
When selecting flowers for your wedding bouquet, it’s important to consider not just their appearance but also their functionality. Here’s a detailed list of flowers that you should think twice about including in your bouquet:
Astilbe
Astilbe can add a lovely touch of colour and texture to your arrangements, but it has a significant drawback: its short lifespan. Once removed from water, astilbe wilts quickly, often within a few hours.
This short-lived nature makes it unsuitable for bouquets that need to last throughout your wedding day.
If you love the look of astilbe, consider using it in arrangements that can be refreshed with water regularly, such as centrepieces, rather than in your bouquet.
Chrysanthemums
Chrysanthemums, commonly known as mums, are easily recognisable and come in a variety of colours.
However, they are notorious for producing a large amount of pollen. This can be problematic for guests who have pollen allergies, causing sneezing, coughing, or other discomforts.
The high pollen production also poses a risk of allergy flare-ups, particularly in indoor settings where ventilation might be limited.
Therefore, it’s best to avoid chrysanthemums in your bouquet to ensure a comfortable experience for all guests.
Daffodils
Daffodils are often associated with spring and can bring a bright yellow hue to your floral arrangements.
Despite their cheerful appearance, daffodils are not recommended for wedding bouquets. The sap from daffodils is toxic to other flowers, which can cause wilting or damage if they are arranged together.
Additionally, touching daffodils can lead to contact dermatitis, commonly known as “daffodil itch,” which causes itching and a rash that can spread if touched and then rubbed on the face. To avoid these issues, it’s best not to include daffodils in your bouquet.
Hellebores
Hellebores, often celebrated for their symbolism of love and beauty, are another flower that may not be suitable for wedding bouquets.
These flowers have a short lifespan and can wilt quickly, which may affect their appearance during your wedding ceremony and photos.
While hellebores can work well in centrepieces or other arrangements where they can be refreshed with water, they may not be the best choice for a bouquet that needs to last throughout the day.
Hydrangeas
Hydrangeas are popular for their large, voluminous blooms and can add a dramatic effect to floral arrangements. However, they are highly sensitive to water deprivation.
Without sufficient hydration, hydrangeas can wilt within just a few hours. This makes them a poor choice for bouquets that need to hold up throughout your wedding day.
While hydrangeas can be a beautiful addition to centrepieces that can be regularly refreshed, they are less practical for bouquets.
Lilacs
Lilacs have a delightful fragrance and can evoke nostalgic feelings, but they have their downsides as well. Once picked, lilacs often do not open fully and can remain closed.
Their woody stems also require a lot of water, making them prone to wilting if they are not kept hydrated.
This sensitivity makes lilacs less ideal for bouquets, which need to remain fresh and open throughout the ceremony.
Peonies
Peonies are renowned for their full, lush blooms and are a popular choice for weddings. However, peonies are quite delicate and prone to bruising.
They are also relatively expensive, and their bloom period is relatively short. Due to their delicate nature and high cost, it’s advisable to use peonies in centrepieces or other arrangements rather than in your bouquet.
If you are set on including peonies, consider using them where they can be handled with care and not subjected to the same level of wear and tear as a bouquet.
Tulips
Tulips come in a beautiful array of colours and can make a stunning addition to any arrangement. However, tulips have a relatively short vase life and are prone to wilting quickly.
Their delicate stems are also prone to drooping, which can affect the overall look of the bouquet. Because of these issues, tulips may not be the best choice for a bouquet that needs to last throughout the wedding day.
For a similar effect, consider using tulips in arrangements where they can be regularly refreshed.
Conclusion
Selecting the right flowers for your wedding bouquet involves careful consideration of both aesthetics and practicality.
Avoid flowers that are prone to wilting, cause allergies, or require excessive maintenance. Focus on choosing durable, low-maintenance flowers that will remain beautiful throughout your special day.
Effective planning, working with a professional florist, and exploring creative alternatives can help you achieve the perfect floral arrangements for your wedding.
By being mindful of these factors, you can ensure that your bouquet enhances your wedding experience and contributes to the overall success of your celebration.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the etiquette for wedding flowers?
It is customary for the groom to cover the cost of the bridal party and church floral arrangements. It is customary for the parents of the bride to cover the cost of flowers at the wedding reception.
Flowers for the wedding party include buttonholes for the men, bouquets for the bridesmaids, and corsages for the mothers of the bride and groom.
How long can you keep wedding flowers?
Preserving your flower arrangements in the fridge helps extend their life.
The length of time that a bouquet of flowers will stay fresh after being cut varies with both the type of flower and the time of day that the flowers were picked.
If you put your bouquet in the fridge overnight, they should last for five to fourteen days.
How do you keep flowers fresh for a wedding?
Trim the stems, set the flowers in vases with chilled water, and spritz the arrangements every an hour to keep them looking their best for as long as possible.
Floral arrangements should be kept in water between photo sessions and the ceremony itself to prevent the flowers from wilting.
What happens to flowers after wedding?
Some florists may take blooms back to their workshops in order to repurpose them in new arrangements.
It’s possible for florists to team up with charities that can use flower donations after an event has taken place. It’s also possible that the flowers may be thrown away, which would be a terrible waste.
How far in advance can you make wedding flowers?
The bouquets of fresh flowers for a wedding should be made no more than 24 hours before the ceremony. Some flowers, however, can stay fresh for up to two days after being snipped.