Wedding Florals

BY KRIPA SINGH

Florals are one of the most defining elements of your wedding design. Whether it’s whimsical baby’s breath, luscious roses, or tropical anthuriums, flowers create a romantic and beautiful setting for your nuptials. But beyond their aesthetic appeal, fresh blooms can carry deep cultural significance and age-old traditions. When curating your wedding décor, you can seek ways to make floral choices that are beautiful but also meaningful and sustainable. Here’s a guide to selecting the perfect wedding blooms that reflect style, tradition, and eco-consciousness.

Reflecting Your Cultural Heritage

For Indian weddings, flowers aren’t just decorative — they’re symbolic. Traditional weddings often feature lotuses, marigolds, and jasmine. These three flowers are deeply ingrained in cultural rituals. Lotuses hold a mythological significance in Hinduism and symbolise divinity and enlightenment in Buddhism. Marigolds are known for their vibrant orange and yellow hues, reflecting prosperity, and are often used in garlands, mehendi events, and traditional ceremonies. Jasmine, with its delicate white blossoms, signifies purity, and is used to adorn bridal hair or add fragrance to the ceremony space.

When planning your wedding, consider including blooms that honour your heritage and have a symbolic meaning. Research flowers and plants that can pay homage to cultural roots and add an auspicious aspect to your special day.

Balancing Tradition with Modern Trends

Today’s weddings often fuse tradition with contemporary flair, and flowers are no exception. If you want to blend tradition with modern style, consider mixing classic flowers with trendy choices. For instance, pairing marigolds with roses can create a stunning fusion that speaks to heritage and personal taste.

You can also experiment with floral colour palettes. While traditionally, Indian weddings have favoured bright colours, people have been opting for softer tones like blush pink and pastels for their big day. By combining vibrant traditional flowers with subtle hues, you can create a harmonious blend of the old and the new.

Sustainability

As couples become more environmentally conscious, sustainable florals are gaining popularity. There are many ways to make your wedding florals more eco-friendly while still achieving the desired aesthetic.

One approach is to source flowers locally and seasonally. Choosing flowers that are in season not only reduces the carbon footprint but also ensures freshness and longevity. Consider incorporating home-grown blooms like orchids, hibiscus, or birds of paradise which are readily available and can create a beautiful tropical aesthetic. Another option is to add texture and add in potted plants or succulents. These can double as décor and wedding favours, allowing guests to take a piece of the celebration home, while minimising waste.

Personalisation

Flowers can tell a story. One way to make your wedding florals personal is by choosing blooms that hold special meaning for your partner and you. Perhaps you have fond memories of frangipanis in your childhood home, or your favourite flowers have always been tulips. Incorporating such meaningful flowers into your wedding adds a layer of sentimentality and intimacy to the day.

You can also personalise your florals by designing custom arrangements that reflect your style. If you prefer minimalist, understated décor, opt for simple arrangements of eucalyptus, baby’s breath, and pastel carnations. For a more luxurious, dramatic effect, consider larger-than-life arrangements of lilies, roses, or cockscomb in deep, bold colours.

Working with Your Décor Designer

Working with an experienced décor designer is key to bringing your vision to life. When selecting a décor team, look for someone who understands your cultural traditions and aesthetic style. Share your inspirations, colour palettes, and the symbolic flowers you want to include, but also be open to their suggestions. Your decorator can provide valuable insights on which flowers are in season, which blooms pair well together, and how to achieve the desired aesthetic within your budget.\

Kripa Singh is a wedding decor designer and aesthete with a love for good books, dogs and a cup of tea.