Inspiration Journal: My Favorite Bridal Bouquets I’ve Photographed To Date

Wedding Tips

I consider myself pretty lucky that my job includes being surrounded by some of the freshest, most vibrant flowers. How could anyone be depressed when constantly experiencing the fragrance and beauty of bridal bouquets? Wedding day florals are totally worth a little investment if you are looking for an easy way to set the tone for your special day. I’ve photographed many gorgeous florals, but some of my favorites are the bride’s bouquets. Below are some inspiration photos for all your brides out there looking for that perfect bouquet! Feel free to save this post and show your florist some of your favorites to inspire your very own perfect bridal bouquet.

My Favorite Spring Bridal Bouquets

Spring is the hardest season to pick favorite florals from, because it’s when most of the beautiful, pastel-toned flowers are in bloom! But, that also means it lends you many options as a bride. For the best seasonal flowers, an April-May wedding is likely to have the most options on the East Coast, because temperatures and weather are mild enough to produce lush blossoms for your bridal bouquets. From tulips to lillies, roses to peonies, ranunculus to sweet peas, snapdragons, delphiniums and more, you can discuss a variety of options with your florist.

Some of the most beautiful bouquet color schemes I’ve photographed were mixed palettes of pinks, corals, ivory, purple, lavender, blue, peach, and yellow. Whether you’re matching your palette to your wedding colors or using the bouquet to help you pop, your options are plentiful in the spring.

This gorgeous bride leaned heavily into coral and peach tones for her luscious, peony-based bouquet!
This wedding showed off one of the most varied floral mixes I’ve seen… playing with loose arrangements of tulips, garden roses, delphiniums, Queen Anne’s lace, and more to build a cohesive and vibrant pattern that set the tone for their pastel wedding day.
I loved the classic nature of this bride’s lavender and ivory bouquet! The tightly bound blooms offered a simple but elegant look, while still offering variety in her bouquet like tulips, ranunculus, and roses alike!
I particularly love the playfulness in varied heights used by this bride’s florist! It helped highlight each varied flower differently, letting each of them shine in their own way and contribute to her gorgeous mixed color palette. The daintiness of her bouquet is achieved by choosing delicate petals, such as that of the astilbe, garden rose, and dusty blue delphiniums.

My Favorite Summer Bridal Bouquets

Summer continues the floral craze with blooms that have cameoed in some of the most elegant wedding traditions over time. You often still get the beautiful pastel options that spring affords, but now with the added options of more vibrant, fall-leaning colors like deep purples and reds. However, keep in mind that summer heat when choosing your bridal bouquet. Tight, sturdy arrangements tend to fare much better on long, hot wedding days. Your florist is a wonderful resource for what will hold up best if you’re marrying your sweetheart between late May-August.

Sometimes less really is more! I loved how sweet and classic this bride’s hydrangea-based bouquet looked on her wedding day. It paired beautifully with her satin gown without stealing the show or threatening to show heavy wilt.
A mostly white bouquet with pops of your favorite color can make the bridal bouquet of your dreams! This bride chose gorgeous flowers like roses and dahlias to compliment her wedding day aesthetic, but had fragrant additions like heads of lavender mixed in as well!
If lavender is your main wedding color, this bouquet brings it center stage! You don’t have to rely solely on one shade to establish your vision. I loved the way this bride’s florist included dusty mauve and ivory tones to balance out the vibrant purple. And the blue-leaning greens like her eucalyptus sprigs tied it all into a perfect bow.

My Favorite Fall Bridal Bouquets

Fall weddings — gosh do I love them! In a world of “light and airy” muted tones and simple wedding aesthetics, I am still a sucker for jewel toned florals. This season, more than any other in my opinion, is the best for you color-loving brides! The weather is usually perfect for keeping a bouquet looking tip-top shape all day, too.

You should ask your florist about options with dahlias, varieties of black eyed susans, mums, amaranthus, marigolds and more.

This fall palette was just perfection — the pinks, purples, beiges, golds, and silvery greens had me glued all day. I loved the loose, wildflower look of this bride’s bouquet!
Having a fall wedding but still love pink? Lucky for you, that is easy to achieve. Mixing your palette with deep oranges and purples can bring out your favorite hues without clashing with the fall foliage around you on your wedding day.
At first glance, this burgundy bouquet may look like just any pretty, red wedding arrangement. But look closer, and you’ll appreciate all the creativity that went into its composition! The florist incorporated brown fall leaves and golden amaranthus at the base to frame the stunning dahlias, mums and roses! Such a genius and gorgeous touch that you don’t see often.
The more I stared at this bride’s bouquet, the more I appreciated every detail. The mixed burgundy, ivory, blue and gold palette worked so beautifully on this fall wedding day, adding pops of color that did not distract from the bride’s beautiful lace dress. Delicate choices like Queen Anne’s lace complimented the romance of their day, as well!

My Favorite Winter Bridal Bouquets

If you think winter is an impossible time to find gorgeous wedding flowers, think again. I’ve photographed plenty of winter weddings that prove this wrong. With the right florist and vision for your bridal bouquet, you can achieve unique and stunning arrangements for your wedding.

Plus, you can play with seasonal touches like evergreen sprigs and pine, adding not only to the texture but also to the lovely seasonal scent.

Winter bridal bouquet inspiration - winter wedding florals with roses and evergreen sprigs
This bride’s bouquet stuck to traditional ivory and blush tones, but with playful additions of evergreen and pine sprigs to build seasonality into volume.
Red is a classic color for any winter wedding day, but you don’t need much of it to make a bouquet pop. This bride and her florist understood that assignment well, balancing the deep reds with delicate ivory blooms and mixed eucalyptus varieties.
Orchids, orchids, orchids! The perfect, classic, and sophisticated choice for any simple, winter wedding. They add a touch of exotic elegance without stealing the show, and go well with just about any other large bloom if you’re wanting to add variety. I loved the monochromatic feel of this bride’s orchid-based bouquet, complemented by calla lillies and large garden roses.
Wanting a monochrome palette? Why not do it big! So many flower varieties in this gorgeous winter bridal bouquet, and all tied together with cyprus greens. The texture and movement in this one won it a top spot in my memory for most beautiful winter arrangements.

Finding the Right Florist

No matter your floral vision for your wedding day, it can only be achieved by partnering with a skilled and creative florist. Remember, no two bouquets look exactly alike. The key is to find bouquets that inspire you, pick a few to show your florist that demonstrate the shape, colors, and texture you’re looking for, then let them do their magic.

Below are some of the talented florists whose work I’ve photographed, and I recommend them if you’re getting married in the Northern VA/DMV area.

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