In 2023, an estimated 2 million wedding ceremonies and receptions are slated to take place. This is big news for wedding event planners everywhere. During the Summer and Fall seasons, wedding florists and event planners are in high demand. With a new year, there are also new trends for how to use wedding flowers.
Wedding flowers can enhance any aspect of the big day, from wedding centerpieces to the wedding arch and especially the bridal bouquet. The beauty of flowers is that they can be incorporated in many innovative ways to reflect every bride’s personal style.
To learn more about the top wedding flower trends for 2023, keep reading below for further information.
Natural Backdrops and Landscapes
Wedding florists in 2023 will likely see a demand for more natural elements in their wedding décor. This includes aspects such as live flowering and fruit trees in the wedding ceremony and reception. These natural elements are ideal for couples with a nature-based or eco-friendly vibe.
The best part of using trees as part of the wedding décor is that there is little waste. That’s because these trees are often planted elsewhere after the wedding ends. It’s a symbolic way for couples to express their blossoming and growing love for one another in a way that also gives back to the planet.
Natural backdrops are a unique alternative to the traditional wedding arch. A couple may opt to have a trellis as part of their wedding ceremony backdrop with trained climbing ivy or flowers like bougainvilleas to add a more natural touch.
Fruit and Vegetable Elements
Fruits and vegetables have a wide array of significant cultural and religious beliefs and personal meanings. For example, in Greek mythology, the cornucopia represents abundance which can be a good omen for a blessed union. It is often depicted as spilling out an assortment of fruits and vegetables, indicating there is plenty for all.
Certain fruits and vegetables in a wedding setting bestow blessings of fertility, good health, and wealth. In Chinese culture, the peach is the fruit of choice for longevity and prosperity. In Greek culture, the pomegranate is a symbol of fertility for the new couple trying to conceive a child.
Fruit and vegetable elements can be used in areas like wedding centerpieces at the reception. They can even be incorporated into the bridal bouquet.
Floral Crowns by Wedding Florists
Reminiscent of the medieval Renaissance and Victorian eras, floral crowns are making a resurgence in the modern era for an earthy and natural appeal. Floral crowns are a beautiful way for Bohemian brides and their bridesmaids to express their down-to-earth vibe.
For wedding florists, the demand for creating intricate and natural floral crown designs will take center stage in 2023. These wedding accessories can easily be made to complement existing wedding décor. They are suitable for both beachy and woodsy wedding themes.
Floral crowns are also becoming popular for grooms to wear as well. This trend in wedding flowers traces its origins back to the 1970s. In Greek culture, both the bride and groom wear floral crowns called stéfanias made of grasses, leaves, branches, and flowers tied together with a ribbon that links them together during the ceremony.
Long and Winding Aisleways
In 2023, another trend wedding florists will encounter is the adaptation of the traditional aisleway. Modern brides are opting for less straight and narrow aisle paths and instead are choosing walkways that meander from one end to the other.
The thought process here is meant to replicate the course of marriage itself. Marriage is not always a straight path, but one that wanders. It also enhances the bride’s journey to meet her groom at the end making for a more dramatic statement.
A long curved or s-shaped aisleway affords wedding florists many opportunities for implementing the design of the wedding flowers into this portion of the wedding décor. An elaborately decorated floral aisleway can offer a stunning visual appeal as well.
Country Charm
Country Charm is a growing trend for wedding themes that has a down-home vibe, especially for Southern brides. It incorporates rustic elegance and tranquility of the country. For this theme, wedding florists will want to go with primarily seasonal wedding flowers that grow locally in the event’s proximity.
For wedding centerpieces, brides may wish to have sprigs of greens, ferns vines, and other natural elements sitting in rustic water pitchers. Country Charm also utilizes a dressed-down wedding cake design with real flower accents.
Local flower options like wildflowers are well-suited for a country style. They can easily be integrated into the bridal bouquet depending on the color scheme chosen. A Country Charm theme is also another area for integrating a floral crown into the bride’s overall aesthetic.
Small-Scale Bridal Bouquets
With weddings, there is often a “bigger is better” mentality attached. But in 2023, that mindset is changing. This is particularly true when relating to the bridal bouquet.
Many modern brides don’t want to use large and cumbersome bouquets anymore. They are choosing small and meaningful minimalist bouquet options instead. Doing this leaves more room in the budget for wedding flowers that can be used elsewhere in the wedding décor plan.
With smaller bouquets, brides don’t have to worry about lugging a bulky bouquet around their ceremony and reception. It makes it easier to preserve the bouquet for the wedding album later on. Smaller bridal bouquets may even feature just one type of flower, like some understated Baby’s Breath, Forget-Me-Nots, or Lily of the Valley stems hand-tied with ribbon.
Unconventional Vases and Containers
Wedding décor for 2023 doesn’t just apply to the wedding flowers, it also applies to the containers they’re put in. Using different types of vases and containers for wedding flowers can greatly enhance their look. In this case, wedding florists may have to think outside of the box, or the vase.
Brides may prefer something like a small bowl for floating flowers and candles as wedding centerpieces, rather than large vase arrangements. They can also use containers such as:
- hollowed-out fruits and vegetables
- buckets
- tin cans
- upcycled jars
- foam floral towers
- teapots
There are also innovative methods for displaying wedding flowers like the Kenzan. Kenzans feature spikes that hold flowers in place. A Kenzan is a Japanese floral tool that lets wedding florists give flowers the vase-less appearance of standing straight up.
Dynamic Bridal Sets
2023 is all about creating a dynamic space with wedding flowers. This involves a major emphasis on the ceremony space. Since the ceremony space is the area where the wedding itself takes place, many brides are setting their sights here.
A rich infusion of wedding flowers paired with a dynamic backdrop offers a feast for the eyes of attendees and wedding party members alike. These sets can take on a multitude of different forms, like flowered curtains, hanging flower strands, decorated pergolas, or an ornamental wedding arch.
This could even include cultural backdrops like those for Indian or Iranian-based ceremonies. A natural wood altar or fireplace decorated with wedding flowers can also make for an eye-catching backdrop. It all depends on the bride’s unique wants and specifications.
Ground-Level Floral Wedding Décor
Instead of hanging or elevated wedding arrangements, brides in 2023 are also opting for a more grounded approach. This means having arches or garlands of wedding flowers lying flat on the ground.
For earthy brides, this provides a natural aesthetic, helping them feel more connected to Mother Nature. It also works well for smaller event venues where overhead décor might make the space feel too cramped otherwise.
Ground-level florals offer an intriguing perspective for photo opportunities as well. Brides can sit, stand or lay amidst a cascade of gorgeously draped florals. Wedding florists will want to alternate their flower sizes from small clusters at the ends to larger clusters in the middle to achieve a distinctive visual composition.
Some brides may even choose to have the stems of their wedding flowers stuck into the ground, giving the appearance that they are blooming out of the earth naturally. For wedding florists, providing these artful ground-level wedding décor pieces is likely to take off for wedding trends in 2023 and beyond.
Bright and Bold Color Choices Wedding Florists are Choosing
2023 says goodbye to the humdrum white and pastel wedding flowers of past seasons. Now it’s all about bold color options. With the announcement of the long-awaited Barbie movie also comes Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2023: Viva Magenta.
Viva Magenta is the perfect Barbie-inspired color for brides everywhere. Using this color in wedding flowers will give even Fall and Winter weddings a much-needed pop of color. You can find Viva Magenta color options in a wide variety of different flowers such as:
- Hibiscus
- Chrysanthemums
- Carnations
- Snapdragons
- Begonias
- Calla Lilies
Brides may choose to use these bright pink flowers as an all-encompassing floral theme or as a complementary color palette. They can even opt for an ombre color-block theme transitioning between light and dark hues. Either way, this explosion of pink offers brides and wedding florists alike the chance to infuse some serious color.
Discover More Tips for Wedding Event Planners at Event Planner Expo NYC 2023
No matter how trends change, wedding florists are always up for the challenge. With these popular 2023 wedding trends, brides have even more options available to help them set their wedding apart. If you’re a wedding or event planner, you can learn even more valuable tips and tricks at Event Planner Expo 2023.
The Event Planner Expo 2023 is the #1 Expo for the Events and Hospitality Industry. It takes place October 10th-12th in New York City and features over 150 different booths of venues and event services, as well as keynote speakers and industry professionals.
Get your tickets for The Event Planner Expo 2023 in NYC today.
