What’s What When It Comes to Wedding Flowers

Flowers do more than decorate your wedding; they create the atmosphere.

When planning, you’ll run into a lot of floral lingo: clouds, meadows, plinths, personals (what even are personals?!). If you're not in the wedding world full-time, it’s easy to feel a bit lost.

So, here’s a handy breakdown of the different floral moments you might come across, what they actually mean, and where they fit into your day.

Whether you’re drawn to wild and whimsical, lush and romantic, or modern and sculptural, your floral elements will help bring that vision to life.

Personal Flowers

Let’s start with the ones that stay closest to you.

Personal flowers are the blooms you (literally) carry with you throughout the day. They're part of those intimate, behind-the-scenes moments; getting ready, hugging your Nan, walking down the aisle - and they show up a lot in your photos.

These might include:

• Bouquets: The main floral moment- usually for the couple, sometimes the whole crew. Big and lush, soft and simple, or anything in between.

• Buttonholes / Boutonnieres: Tiny blooms pinned to a lapel or collar. Classic, but we can give them a modern twist.

• Corsages: Often gifted to parents or grandparents and worn on the wrist or pinned to an outfit.
  Hot take? If you're looking to stretch your budget, this is one of the first things I’d suggest skipping. They’re sweet, but in my (maybe controversial) opinion, a little outdated and not always necessary.

• Hair Flowers / Flower Crowns: Especially lovely for garden weddings, elopements, or if you're feeling a little woodland fairy. A few wired blooms or a floral comb can be magic.

• Petal baskets / Mini posies: For the littlest members of your wedding party. Cute, simple, and always great in photos.

Ceremony Flowers

Here’s where we start to set the scene.

Ceremony florals are your first impression, the backdrop to your vows, the walk down the aisle, and the “we did it!” kiss.

Wherever you’re tying the knot- from the picturesque vineyards of Murrumbateman, to foodie favourites like Grazing Gundaroo, lush garden venues in Bungendore, or the art-filled grounds of Mona Farm in Braidwood — these floral elements help define the space and set the tone.

Options include:

• Arbours / Arches: A floral frame behind you — could be romantic and rambling, sculptural and modern, or somewhere in between.

• Floral towers / Grounded installs: Tall floral columns or asymmetrical shapes growing up from the ground- fab in open spaces (hello, Tallagandra Hill winery).

• Plinth arrangements: Flowers on pedestals, usually framing your aisle or arbour. We love them because they’re easy to repurpose for your reception.

• Aisle markers: Petals, posies, or ground arrangements lining your walk down the aisle - another great repurposing option.

• Love nests / Half-moon installs: Blooms that wrap around you. Soft, circular, and a bit magical; beautiful in paddocks, gardens, or any open-air setting.

• Urn arrangements: Bigger and more structured- ideal for formal venues like Pialligo Estate.

Reception Flowers

Now we’re talking party.

Reception florals help carry your look through to the celebration. Whether you’re hosting a long-table dinner at The Truffle Farm, a cocktail reception at Ovolo Nishi, or a sit-down dinner at The Boat House, flowers help tie it all together.

Reception flower elements might include:

• Table centrepieces: Grand and sculptural, or soft and simple- designed to suit your guest count and table layout.

• Bud vase arrangements: Perfect for long banquet tables or intimate settings. Think clusters of single stems and greenery scattered down the middle.

• Hanging floral installations (Flower Clouds): Suspended florals over tables or dance floors for serious wow-factor.

• Floral meadows / Runners: Low, growing-style arrangements that run the length of the table, sometimes spilling onto the floor. Lush, textural, and romantic.

• Flowers for cake tables, signage, or bars: Little touches that make the whole space feel curated and intentional.

Do You Need All of These?

Nope. Definitely not.

We’ll help you figure out which floral moments will have the most impact, based on your venue, your style, and what matters most to you.

Some couples just want a killer bouquet and a ceremony feature. Others want the full floral story- hanging clouds, bar florals, bud vases for days. Whatever your unique vision looks like, I’m here to help bring it to life.

Want a clearer picture of how all these pieces can fit within your budget? Please take a look at our Budget Guide to see what’s possible.

Time to Talk Flowers? We’re In.

If you're planning a celebration in Canberra, Murrumbateman, Braidwood, Bungendore, Gundaroo, or anywhere across the Southern Tablelands, I’d love to be your wedding florist. Click below to get the conversation started.