Flowers are an integral part of any wedding celebration because they enhance the beauty and romance of the entire occasion. Depending on the time of year, there are literally hundreds of different flowers that are used at a wedding. Often times, couples choose seasonal types or classic flowers such as red roses and carnations. However, there is much more to wedding flowers than just knowing the types you happen to like. These include vases, arrangements, and all other sorts of wedding flower terminology that you’ll never need to know again.
Most people aren’t too familiar with floral arrangements and won’t ever need to know about them again. So, we’ve put together this guide to wedding flower terminology to help you. I won’t teach you about the worst flowers to pick for your wedding. However, use it to deal with your wedding florist and get exactly what you want for your ceremony and reception.
Standard Wedding Flower Terminology
- Architectural Arrangements: These arrangements use sculptural flowers to create a very modern look. Usually done in a clear vase, architectural arrangements usually are comprised of only one type of flower. Optionally, they can be used as an alternative to having a flower girl sometimes.
- Chuppah: Usually only temporary, a Chuppah is a little garden altar that is covered in flowers and sometimes fabric. A Chuppah is almost always included in traditional Jewish wedding ceremonies. It is meant to represent the couple’s first home.
- Corsage: Traditionally, the couple gives corsages to important female family members and their closest friends that have played a major role in their lives. Some couples match the corsages to the bridal bouquet, but this is up to the couple.
- Boutonnières: Boutonnières are the male counterpart to corsages, meaning important male family members and their closest friends that have played a major role in their lives. The boutonnière should always compliment the bridal bouquet. Also, readers and ushers should be given boutonnières so that guests may identify them as part of the wedding.
- Cascade: A type of bridal bouquet design that features woven flowers cascading down like a waterfall and hanging below your waistline.
- Dome or Nosegay Bouquet: A classic style of bridal bouquet, the dome or nosegay arrangement is shaped somewhat like a dome and often features a ribbon that trails behind. Typically, these bouquets contain only three types of flowers.
- Filler: Fillers are used to make an arrangement or bouquet appear larger than it is, as well as add a little color separation between flower varieties. Examples of fillers are ivy, baby’s breath, and ferns; all of which are relatively inexpensive.
- Freeze-Dried Petals: If you are having rose petals scattered down the aisle or having a flowers girl toss them as the bride enters, chances are that they’re freeze-dried. Freeze-dried petals retain their color and texture longer than fresh ones, so they are pretty much the industry standard.
- Pomander: A bridal bouquet that is in the shape of a ball with a tightly wrapped ribbon handle.
- English Garden Arrangements: A very colorful arrangement that is very fluffy and full in appearance as is less formal than a “romantic” arrangement. These are wonderful for your fall wedding decorations!
- Romantic Arrangements: Typically comprised of white, blush, cream, and occasionally pink flowers, these fluffy looking arrangements are very traditional and formal.
- Tuscan Arrangements: Typically comprised of yellow, orange, and dark red flowers, Tuscan arrangements are very warm and earthy in appearance and often incorporate fruits into their design. These are commonly found at “rustic” style weddings. They have a lot of wood grain and earthy tones throughout the color scheme.
- Tussy Mussy: Nearly extinct and incredibly vintage, the tussy mussy is a cone-shaped, metallic bouquet holder popular during the Victorian era.
- Wood Roses: These are artificial roses made from wood. Wooden roses feature a wire stem and fabric leaves. They look amazing, and are very cost-effective.
Putting Wedding Flower Terminology to Good Use
The terminology listed above should help you greatly while discussing arrangements with your florist. Additionally, it will help while shopping for the perfect wedding flowers. We tried to cover most of the terminology we are asked about on a regular basis. However, the above guide to wedding flower terminology is far from complete. Be sure to discuss all of your options in great detail with your wedding florist. This will help you get exactly what you want for your special day. We hope you found this guide to wedding flower terminology helpful. Please feel free to share it on your favorite social media platform. Good luck and have fun planning your wedding!
