Wedding Reception Flowers. Image by Amy Shaw.
With the start of the new year, now is the perfect time to think about the design and style of your wedding. Flowers make a wedding, so what trends can we expect to see in 2017?
I’m going to stick my neck out here and say that vintage is over, and so are flower walls! From the sublime to the ridiculous, these two wildly differing looks have been featured endlessly in the bridal press as the must have look for weddings. At one end of the scale vintage has been seen as the perfect solution for the money conscious bride flowering a DIY wedding. At the other end, flower walls filled with literally thousands of blooms have been the floral must haves for those, bold enough and wealthy enough to afford them.
While both styles can and do look beautiful, I’m seeing a real trend towards floral designs that strike a balance between old fashioned tea party and vulgar ostentation. I noticed a definite swing towards something more elegant, stylish and dramatic last year, and I’m sure this will definitely continue in 2017.
Glamour is back in a big way, with reception tables dressed with tall statement vases overflowing with romantic blowsy blooms in muted shades and plenty of greenery. Talking of greenery, I couldn’t be happier that this is the official Pantone colour of the year, so expect to see it featuring heavily on social media, especially Pinterest.
Foliage is an absolute favourite of mine, yet so often overlooked. Foliage is both versatile and adaptable. Amazing for lavish celebrations when used in huge quantities, but also for more modest weddings because it adds scale and drama to arrangements, giving the impression of expense. If you want to create the feeling of an enchanted garden, ask your florist how to create a fabulous opulent style with just the use of greenery.
Overtaking the flower wall, floral and foliage chandeliers, as well as hanging flowers generally are among the latest trends. These statement pieces which look so impressive can often be a far more cost effective option. I'm very excited that there seems to be a real desire for good old fashioned romance in floral design right now. Many creative florists are transforming venues with beautiful garden style installations. Garlands for staircases, and banquet style tables, oversized statement urns and even statues are succumbing to this widely romantic look. So if this is a style that you love, think more about the green, and less about the flowers and be a trendsetter in 2017.
