Wedding bouquets: how many the day actually needs
A wedding rarely involves one bouquet. Alongside the main one the list usually grows to include a throwing bouquet, bouquets for the bridesmaids, buttonholes, wrist corsages and flowers for the mothers. Each is priced separately, and the total surprises anyone planning this for the first time.
Which suggests the first practical step. Write down everyone who will be holding flowers or wearing them, and discuss the composition afterwards.
What a typical order contains
The standard list looks roughly like this, and most weddings adjust from it rather than inventing their own.
- The main bridal bouquet.
- A throwing bouquet, if a toss is planned.
- Bridesmaids' bouquets, generally smaller and simpler than the main one.
- Buttonholes for the groom, the best man, the fathers, sometimes every man in the wedding party.
- Wrist corsages or posies as an alternative to bridesmaids' bouquets.
- Small arrangements for mothers and grandmothers.
The palette stays consistent while the complexity varies. Bridesmaids' bouquets are usually built on one or two fewer varieties so they do not compete with the main bouquet in photographs.
Timelines
Wedding flowers are booked well ahead for a technical reason. Stems are bought in batches against a specific date, several varieties are seasonal, and a last minute substitution changes the palette rather than just one stem.
The conversation normally happens in two stages. First the palette, the item count and the budget. Then the final varieties closer to the date, once availability is real rather than theoretical.
Assembly happens in the last twenty four hours, with cool storage until the ceremony. That is the only way to have the flowers looking new on the morning itself.
Count a wedding order by hands rather than by bouquets. Nothing gets forgotten that way.
Practical details
Buttonholes attach with a pin or a magnet. Magnets are kinder to fabric and unsuitable for heavy wool and for anyone with a pacemaker.
Wrist corsages are sized to the wearer and built on elastic or ribbon so they do not tighten over the course of a long day.
Flowers for mothers are usually presented during the ceremony, so they need a shape that passes comfortably from one pair of hands to another.
If the wedding is in Cuba with a venue outside the city, discuss transport and the unloading point. Bouquets travel in fixed boxes and need cool conditions on the way.
JFLOO lists wedding bouquets as a section alongside the rest of the wedding work. Start with the list of items, agree the palette next, and leave the individual varieties until last.
