Bridal bouquets, like cakes, gowns, and rings, are one of our most iconic wedding symbols.

And, like many other wedding elements, your bouquet will help showcase your personality and the overall feel you want your wedding to convey.

If you’re not quite sure what you want your bouquet to look like—or even if you want one—we can help. We’ve put together a few pros and cons of bridal bouquets and some tips for selecting the bridal bouquet that’s right for you.

Know What You Can Spend

As with most wedding-planning decisions, we strongly recommend that you have a budget in place for all of your flower expenditures, from bouquets to corsages, backdrop arrangements to reception table centerpieces. And keep in mind, flowers are not required—deciding if and how to use them is up to you.

As far as bouquet prices go, as of June 2023, the average cost of a bridal bouquet was $250, and the cost of a bridesmaid bouquet was about $80.

Pros and Cons

Bridal bouquets do have their plusses. They can amplify your visual impact, reflect your personality and the overall feel you’re going for—and, they immediately identify you as the bride.

Carrying a bouquet is also a lovely tradition going back centuries, and there’s always the fact that flowers are beautiful.

On the other hand, your bouquet is a significant expense; you may prefer to spend the money on something that means more to you.

Or, if you’d like a more non-traditional vibe for your wedding, a bouquet may not be for you. Some brides hold something else, like ferns, feathers, or an important photo, during their ceremony. Some don’t carry anything. Do what feels right to you.

First Things First

If you do opt for a bouquet, don’t rush your selection. While some preliminary research can be helpful, planning experts suggest waiting until you’ve chosen your dress before you move on to flowers. 

“The design of your bouquet is completely dependent on the style, shape and detail of your dress,” UK-based floral designer Emma Lappin told Bridal Musings. “I think the key to bouquet design is that it doesn’t drown you, hide the silhouette of the dress or unbalance the line.”

Seasonal Choices

Keep in mind as you start considering the flowers that will go into your bouquet that some options will not be available if they’re not in season. Your florist can guide you and suggest alternatives if you have something specific in mind.

A Guide to Shapes

One of the factors you’ll be considering is the shape of your bridal bouquet, which can help influence the overall look and vibe you want to achieve for your wedding.

Some of your options include:

-Asymmetrical: A more modern statement, this bouquet may be higher on one side than the other or feature an accent on one side that doesn’t appear on the other. Asymmetrical bouquets can also feature different flower types on each side. This allows you to mix colors and textures in an artistic way.

-Cascading: These bouquets feature a dramatic, waterfall effect of flowers and greenery that trail toward the floor. Cascading bouquets are popular choices for whimsical and romantic weddings.

-Composite: Composite bouquets made of a single bloom type, like roses or peonies, can mimic the look of one giant, lush flower.

-Hand-tied: The stems are tied with a ribbon. These bouquets lend themselves well to weddings with a rustic or romantic vibe.

-Pageant bouquets: These bouquets have long stems that lie on the bride’s arm and tend to make a dramatic statement. Pageant bouquets are a great choice for contemporary weddings.

-Posy bouquet: This is a small, round arrangement that can be held in one hand. They usually go light on greenery and feature blooms in similar colors. Posy bouquets are popular for bridesmaids and flower girls, but they’re a lovely choice for brides, too. Their smaller size also makes them budget-friendly.

-Round: This is a classic bouquet tightly arranged in a dome shape, typically with blooms and no foliage. These bouquets often have a single type of flower or different types of flowers that are the same color—though you absolutely can go with a variety of colors.

Picking your blooms

Unless you have some personal favorites in mind, the huge selection of flower types and colors available to you can make selecting flowers for your bouquet seem overwhelming. We suggest starting your selection process by thinking about colors. Go with blooms that will work well with the exact shade of your dress and the dresses of your bridesmaids. To do this, bring fabric swatches from your dresses with you when you visit your florist.

Additional tips include:

-Think about incorporating flowers that tie in with special memories or have special meaning to someone in your family.

-Have you selected a wedding theme? If so, you can select flowers that help showcase it. For a Texas-themed wedding, for example, you can include native plants from the Lone Star State or even Texas wildflowers.

-Many flowers have special meanings. A pink camellia, for example, means “longing for you,” while a red Camellia means, “You’re a flame in my heart.” Work with a florist to find some options that speak to you and your partner.

The Bell Tower on 34th is an elegant wedding venue with Old-World charm and a beautiful garden setting.

Our Houston venue is near Conroe, Texas, and is purpose-built for both indoor and outdoor events.

Learn more about holding a wedding here.