HomeFeaturesThe Best Wedding Flowers & Hottest Floral Trends

The Best Wedding Flowers & Hottest Floral Trends

Picking out flowers for your wedding can be a stressful ordeal. If you aren’t into gardening, it is tough to know what’s trending in floral design. That’s why Best of NJ asked three of New Jersey’s best wedding florists – Magnolia Exquisite Florals & Event Decor, Crest Florist and Katydid Floral & Events Design – about 2018’s hottest wedding flowers.

Most people don’t know their flowers, but they do know the look they want, Karen Vernon-Stewart, proprietor of Magnolia Exquisite Florals & Event Decor in Hamilton, told Best of NJ. The beauty of having a professional florist do your wedding flowers is that, “We know what works well together and what is in season at that time of year,” she said.

Matt Findlay, principal owner of Crest Florist in West Orange, told Best of NJ he gets a list of hundreds of varieties of flowers every week that are in season, more than enough to accommodate any wedding. The list changes every week, just like the stock market.


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Bohemian Romance

Wedding Flowers and Floral Trends

Vernon-Stewart said an unstructured, textural look is very popular. The flowers have a bohemian, ‘just picked’ look to them. Findlay said he is also getting a lot of requests for a bohemian, romantic look. “I tell all my brides their wedding will be the most romantic adventure they will ever have. Your flowers should be soft and romantic,” he said.

Greenery is a big part of this bohemian, romantic look; think olive leaf, bay leaf and eucalyptus, Kate Duffy, owner of Katydid Floral & Events Design in Spring Lake, told Best of NJ. She said she is getting a lot of requests for handmade garlands and cascading greenery.

Vernon-Stewart said she is also seeing suspended greenery and florals, especially for ceremonies. A chandelier with greenery or flowers; even a suspended floral wall, to be used as a backdrop for photo ops, for example.

Vernon-Stewart, Findlay, and Duffy said soft, muted colors that play into this romantic mood are popular; colors like blush pink, champagne and ivory, to name a few.

Bouquets and Boutonnieres

“Bridal bouquets depend on the dress and the wedding venue,” said Vernon-Stewart. If your dress is more formal and you are getting married in a church, you may want to be less bohemian. The flowers of choice for bouquets are varieties of garden roses, and white and antique hydrangeas, Findlay said.

Wedding Flowers and Floral Trends

Placing flowers in hair are gaining popularity, too, especially for outdoor or barn chapel weddings. Vernon-Stewart mentioned they make wreaths or headbands for brides as well as bridesmaids.

Boutonnieres are becoming smaller and more narrow, as lapels have become slimmer, said Vernon-Stewart. Keep an eye out for them to feature flowers or greens from the bridesmaids’ or the bride’s bouquet.

Moms’ corsages are often little bouquets now, Vernon-Stewart said. But some moms are opting for bracelets. The floral industry provides the florist with a rhinestone bracelet or a gold cuff with a place for flowers.

Wedding Flowers and Floral Trends

Functional Decor

Tablescapes are skewing towards low, said Duffy. Nowadays, most couples are choosing to seat their guests at a few long tables, versus a greater number of round tables. Duffy suggests what she calls ‘functional décor,’ or renting different kinds of chairs, specialty linens and different kinds of stemware and gold flatware. A sprig of herbs tied in each napkin add an extra dimension of greenery, she said.

Sources of Inspiration

Wedding Flowers and Floral Trends

“Brides do their homework now, so they are coming in more educated,” said Findlay. They are more aware of what they want. Years ago, a florist had to pull the bride’s vision out by talking to her.

Pinterest is probably the number one resource for brides today, Findlay said. (Brides typically bring in photos based on their research.) Today, for every 10 brides, more than half have the same photographs. Instagram has also become a great resource: In fact, Magnolia, Crest, and Katydid have Instagram feeds filled with great ideas.

Vernon-Stewart recommends couples start thinking about flowers and their color palette eight to 12 months before the wedding.


Hero (Top) Feature Image: © Radian Photography
Additional Images (in Order) Courtesy:
Something Blue by Susan Elizabeth
Nicole Klym Photography
Jennifer Larsen Photography
Something Blue by Susan Elizabeth

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