Originally written by Sarah Johnson, Updated by Leah Britt, Dec. 2021
From romantic and whimsical to traditional and hand-tied, there are so many types of wedding bouquets for brides to choose from. Your bridal flowers are such an important part of your wedding day, so it’s important to pick a bouquet style that will complement your overall look and theme.
To help you figure out what's right for you, here are 12 types of wedding bouquets to consider carrying as you walk down the aisle!
1.) Cascade
Cascade bouquets showcase a literal waterfall of flowers; by using greenery and choice blooms, the bouquet gets a gorgeous tapering effect. This bouquet is meant to hang or drop down in front of the hand and form an upside-down teardrop shape, rounded at the top and forming a point at the bottom.
Cascade bouquets are fantastic for very high-end, elegant weddings, as well as more inexpensive garden weddings that have a lovely range of blooms.
To make this type of wedding bouquet, use the hand-tied technique instead of using a holder unless you’re going super formal since a silver holder can look very elegant. Almost any flower can be used in this bouquet, but using bold flowers like garden roses or lilies can make this style modern and fun.
Photo:Laken Mackenzie Photography
2.) Hand-Tied
Hand-tied arrangements look exactly how they sound: a cluster of flowers is hand-tied together with ribbon, giving the arrangement a casual look from the loose stems. This is a very popular choice for brides today, as well as one of the easier styles to create for a DIY bride.
To make a hand-tied bouquet, start with a focal flower, then start adding flowers around in a spiral fashion until you are happy with the shape and size. You can gently adjust any flowers if needed. Then wrap stems with floral tape to secure. Finish by wrapping stems with ribbon or fabric. The bouquet below was crafted using anemones, blue thistle, and fresh greenery!
Photo:Connection Photography
3.) Crescent
The crescent bouquet is a unique style that is shaped in a soft arch. The flowers are usually more compact in the center, then extend out of each side into a more tapered shape. Think of a quarter moon shape. Depending on your style, it can be symmetrical or asymmetrical.
This bouquet is a great choice for brides that want something a little different. It can be used in modern, romantic or whimsical settings. To create your own crescent-shaped bouquet use greenery with a natural drape like cascading ivy or star asparagus. As for flowers, you can use hanging amaranthus, ranunculus and other wispy blooms.
Photo:Kaitlyn Rebecca Photography
4.) Round
Perhaps the most well-known bouquet type, round bouquets are, of course, round in shape, having more flower blooms than greenery and being very harmonized and balanced.
The round bouquet is a bigger version of the posy and a more buttoned-up, structured version of the hand-tied. Round bouquets usually consist of fewer flower types, to keep them more consistent. Consider using flowers like roses, anemones or any flower with a round bloom.
This style works best for formal modern or traditional weddings.
Photo:Whitney Justesen Photography
5.) Nosegay
Highly traditional and popular, nosegay bouquets are round bouquets consisting of a tight bunch of flowers cut uniform in length and style. The flowers are packed in very tightly, and tied by an accenting fabric wrap or wire.
Generally, one focal flower or focal color defines the bouquet. This is a very elegant and classic look; choose this bouquet for a chic and small indoor wedding that’s more focused on the romance and intimacy of the day. To recreate the look below, combine a white rose with calla lilies and billy balls.
Photo:Mi Belle Photography
6.) Biedermeier
Biedermeier bouquets are round and consist of a tight bunch of uniformly cut flowers wrapped by fabric or wire. However, Biedermeier arrangements align the flowers in concentric circles around each other, creating a striped effect on your bouquet.
This look should be used for a highly creative and artistic wedding, filled with excitement and eccentric arrangements. Use flowers like orchids, roses, dahlias and other texture-filled flowers to achieve this style.
Sources:white roses and white orchids bouquet,green orchids with white roses bouquet,roses and peruvian lilies,baby’s breath and tulips,striped effect bouquet
7.) Posy
Posy bouquets are a classic choice for brides. They're perfect for petite brides, bridesmaids and flower girls as it is a smaller bouquet. This type of style consists of a small round bouquet that is tied with a decorative ribbon and is easy to hold in one hand.
Posy bouquets feature mostly flower and little to no greenery. Flowers like roses, peonies, ranunculus and gerbera daisies create beautiful posy bouquets.
Photo:One Eleven Photography
8.) Composite
Composite bouquets require a certain level of innovation and thought to perfect. By using a series of buds, petals, and blooms, you can wire together an arrangement that looks like a single, giant flower made from smaller flowers.
Composite bouquets give off a very extravagant and sumptuous ambience; use them more for refined, luxurious weddings with a softer color palette. These types of wedding flower bouquets are usually not for the DIY bride unless you are extensive flower experience.
Not all florist are experienced with the composite bouquet as well, so it can be challenging to find an experienced florist and it may come with a large price tag. That being said, this bouquet is not for everyone, but if you like simple designs with a big impact and price doesn’t matter, this bouquet is for you!
Sources:coral bouquet,white dahlia,ivory rose,white and green composite,lavender rose
9.) Contemporary
In contemporary wedding bouquets, no particular form is mandatory. Flowers and greenery stick out at unexpected angles, creating a highly unique and complex arrangement. Tropicals work great with contemporary bouquets. Consider using exotic flowers like anthuriums, monstera and birds of paradise.
This very detailed and complex arrangement needs a detailed and complex wedding to fit into; use this type of bouquet if your wedding will be over-the-top with versatile, strange, and unconventional arrangements to show your abstract creativity.
Sources:air plant and succulent bouquet,white and ivory bridal bouquet,rustic twig arrangement,calla lily and dahlia bridal bouquet,calla lily arrangement
10.) Single Stem
Instead of having an abundance of flowers, choosing one gives you a simple and humble appearance. However, don’t think this budget-friendly bouquet is less for it; the quiet accent of a single flower held by a beautiful bride can be a touchingly romantic and sweet look.
If you want a simple and elegant look, this is the bouquet for you. Use statement blooms like garden roses, king protea, hydrangea, or peonies to create a chic look.
Sources:protea single stem,blue hydrangea,pink peony bridesmaid,bridesmaid rose,garden rose single stem
11.) Pomander
While this bouquet is traditionally for children and flower girls, pomander bouquets can be a fun and unique addition to your wedding.
Pomander bouquets feature a round ball of flowers suspended from ribbon or twine, and worn by the wrist.
Typically, a pomander bouquet will be enhanced with colorful jewels and gems. To achieve this bouquet style, use sturdy flowers, such as roses, carnations, sunflowers, and gerbera daisies. Let your imagination play when choosing flower and color combinations.
Sources:purple pomander,woodland themed pomander,lavender and green pomander,baby’s breath pomander,pomander with silver ribbon
12.) Presentation
Last but not least, are presentation bouquets, also called pageant bouquets. This style is traditionally used in competitions like Miss America but they've become an exciting staple of wedding flower bouquets.
These bouquets can be either simple and chic for an elegant and crisp look, or elaborate and detailed for a lavish and regal look. Either way, this bouquet should fit easily into the crook of the bride’s arm so she can carry it easily.
Standard calla lilies are a popular choice for this bouquet, but you could also use roses, orchids, gladiolus, tropical flowers or other long-stemmed flowers.
Photo:Radion Photography
No mater what type of wedding bouquet you decide to design for your big day, FiftyFlowers is here to bring you all of the fresh, wholesale flowers that you will need to make your DIY dreams come true. (All orders come with FREE shipping!) Check out our blog on How to Make a DIY Wedding Bouquet for a full tutorial!
For more DIY inspiration, tips, tricks, and flower information, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest.
Featured Header: Photo by Hailey Ayson Photography. For full list of vendors from this Styled Shoot click here.
