Flowers- They are all natural, but their beauty is defined and categorized by a person’s perception of them. Consider the approach you need to take with the overall natural-style flower design trends that are taking over your flower shop orders.

Less frills and more greenery, the modern-day flower shop receives more and more natural-style requests from buyers. What is your shop’s plan for action? Take the trend by the stems and design for your clients with these natural-style flower inspiration essentials.

Every flower shop’s course for action is going to vary, but the consumer’s taste seems to remain consistent in the 2019-2020 trend forecast. Natural-style flower designs are taking over the day-to-day buys and are found specifically in the wedding market.

Go Green.

More and more consumers are looking to go green in their homes. Don’t be reluctant to stock up on plants or succulents as an option for the customer wanting the most natural products in nature. These are easy to store and have a long shelf life. They are also easily incorporated into other flower arrangements. Their versatility and natural-style aesthetic make them ideal for the modern-day design.

Going green isn’t limited to the home or the environment. Going green has everything to do with weddings. More and more brides are requesting all-green designs for their outdoor weddings. Work with brides to break down what works and what does not.

Eucalyptus and salal are among the more popular choices. Buying these textured greens in bulk will prove cost efficient. Aspidistra, boxwood and pittosporum are easily accented into any design not just for weddings. Talk with the brides who are adamant about going green. Show them their options. Encourage them to explore a little color or variety for texture and depth. Regardless, any extra bulk greenery can be easily transitioned into your more day-to-day designs.

If your bride is looking to go green, explore your options together. This will not only help grow your Pinterest boards and your wedding design portfolio; it will help you further your skills for adapting into your millennial market.

MonoFlower Designs

Baby’s breath, baby's breath, baby’s breath... Yes, the modern bride loves a baby’s breath-inspired design. However, there is so much variety that can be offered... A breath of fresh air if you will. Buying baby’s breath in bulk is a safe bet but consider persuading those monoflower-loving brides to explore other options.

What the modern bride really wants is an unstructured, picked-from-the-garden look that every coming bride will pin to their wedding boards. A florist’s job is to create this unstructured aesthetic with a structure and bride’s dream in mind.

Among the top trending choices to keep in bulk for a blushing bride are the following: roses (classic), tulips (inspiring), calla lilies (sophisticated). lily of the valley (elegant), hydrangea (versatile), peony (feminine). Ranunculus (modern), gardenia (delicate) and stephanotis (traditional).

Flower Chandeliers.

Flower Chandeliers are widely popular in the wedding market. These bold pieces carry a unique level of elegance and variety to any setup. Depending on your bride, your flower chandelier can be as breathtakingly bold or as minimalistic chic as requested.

The natural design trends need not take away from your overall design, especially when it comes to flower chandeliers. Consider featuring popular trends like the amnesia rose with gray and purple tones. Add dark burgundy, green accents and dusty miller foliage for contrast. The burgundy’s richness adds statement to the frosted look of the dusty miller and muted color tones.

This stylistic option can be done to any of your flower chandelier designs. If a bride requests the more frosted and/or green look, consider showing what a contrasting color can do to liven up the design. This could be exactly what the bride needs to tie the knot and write the check.

Flower Dreamcatchers.

Who says dreams don’t come true? Consider adding more variety to your flower shop. With the same concept as your wedding designs, a floral dreamcatcher can easily capture the attention of any customer with a boho-inspired taste that walks into your shop. It also gives you the opportunity to add some fun and flair to those simple natural-style designs.

The concept of how to make a floral dreamcatcher is very similar to any of your flower wearables. A dreamcatcher is typically formatted around a hoop with products hanging down. When creating a floral dreamcatcher, it is important to consider the products you use. Foliage like salal, eucalyptus and myrtle are all reliable options because they last much longer without a water source. This gives you the opportunity to offer these floral dreamcatchers for an event or wedding with a much greater chance of vibrancy throughout. Orchids and spray roses are among the most popular complementary flowers.

To create the base design, you’ll want to stock up on the wire that works best for your designs. Wire options are often in variety such as: metallic, paper covered and cotton yarn. Collect shells, beads, wood and macramé pieces for the essential complimentary accents. Offering this bohemian compliment is a great challenge to tackle. However, it expands your creative horizons and allows you to offer more and more for your event business.

Wedding Arches

Wedding arches can be tricky, but oh so rewarding! Seeing your design come to life is a satisfaction few outside of the floral industry could appreciate. Wedding arches are often a beautiful compliment to a natural-style wedding along with a staple piece to the more expensive weddings.

Floral foam is a lifesaving tool when designing a wedding arch. Your options are as diverse as the style you are creating. Choose from foam cages, raquettes, sculpting sheets and iglus pieces. These options open the door to more creative designs.

The concept of using lasting flowers in case of lack of water source is important to consider. This is another scenario where succulents are great to use. However, you must adapt to what is offered. When going through your wedding consultations, be sure to evaluate what pieces they want and go through which flowers will work best. If they are adamant on some, your floral foam choices will help source the essential water needed to get them through the ceremony.

When buying bulk for your natural-style designs, consider the most durable and flexible options. Don’t refrain from exploring color and texture and talk with your customers about options they may have never thought of. Our wholesalers at Hardin's Wholesale Florist, Inc. in Liberty, NC are here to help with everything you need to meet and exceed the expectations set for natural-style, bohemian, rustic and overall outdoor scenic events.

During every period of civilization, in every part of the world, people shaped and redesigned the environment to create places of beauty and respite, the places we came to know as gardens. This natural appreciation for growth and harmony gives Garden-style florals a timeless appeal.

Garden-style floral designs are very natural and look as if the flowers were picked right out of the garden. These designs are more foliage-focused and sprawling, often spilling out of the container that is used.

Unlike other designs, Garden-style florals are not tight and clustered or overly structured. These designs are reminiscent of flowers on a gazebo, delicate, trailing flowers and vines winding through a trellis. For inspiration, look to rambling gardens that are a mix of intentional buds and wildflowers.

The Garden-style designs of the present are an ode to the unique, handmade designs that were created before floral foam. The plant materials are placed in an abundance of colors and forms with thought given to how they would grow in nature. Foliage and stems create interest and maintain the form characteristic of this style.

Some popular flower choices for Garden-style designs are garden roses, scented geraniums, spray roses, sunflowers and dahlias.

Often utilizing seasonal blooms, Garden-style changes with each season to reflect the outside world. In the spring, bulb flowers like tulips and lilies capture the feeling of innocence and renewal. From summer to fall, sunflowers can be a bright addition to your garden-style creation.

Our wholesalers at Hardin's Wholesale Florist, Inc. in Liberty, NC have everything you need to create memorable Garden-style designs.

Setting up the Structure

When creating Garden-style arrangements, you should refrain from starting your design with foliage. Starting with the foliage will inevitably mean that you will be using your flowers to accent your foliage when you should be doing the opposite. Instead, as you place the flowers, layer in foliage. That way, foliage remains the accent, and using less foliage will increase your profit margins.

When you begin your design, start with the most expensive flower and put it in a prominent place, so it will be noticed. Continue adding greenery and flowers to build mass and distribute color and texture throughout. Add some buds or foliage wherever you need color but not in a way that is too fixed or formal.

Whether you use floral foam or chicken wire or floral netting for your structure depends on your design. One of the benefits of using floral wire netting is that is creates a design that is looser than foam and allows you to put your flowers directly into the fresh water.

The popular choices for Garden-style containers are clear glass and ceramic. Glass vessels with a more retro or historic feel will give a Garden-style arrangement more of an undone and updated look. Clear glass is favored by younger people as it has a recycled look, and the youth of today are drawn to items that are repurposed and reused.

Garden-style arrangements are meant to appear free, as if the pieces were pulled out of nature only to fall right into place. As a result, don’t overdo it with styling or the illusion will be shattered. Keep it natural and not too stiff or contrived.

If you are looking for a way to update the look, grouping or clustering is an option that will not take away from the overall design style. Consider placing textural flowers or greens together so they become more visible.

Being Green

Greenery is an important part of Garden-style designs. These designs are loose, natural and textured. The unstructured nature of these designs allows for plenty of creativity, and there are no set guidelines for the ratio of flowers to the amount of greenery used. Garden-style is a healthy mix of both flowers and greenery. When seeking out foliage, choose greenery that will drape.

Flowing greenery weaving its way around petals brings the flowers to life without stealing the show. If you are looking for greenery that is easy to work with as it is flexible and can be used in any type of arrangement, look no further than some of the popular options that are available in a variety of colors and shapes.

Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus is a recognizable plant with several variations in shape and size. Eucalyptus has a nice scent and works well as a filler. For large, grandiose arrangements, the tall, round leaf variety can add height and interest. For smaller arrangements, the silver dollar eucalyptus adds texture without overwhelming the rest of the arrangement.

Silver dollar eucalyptus can be used in larger arrangements, but the branches can be a bit heavy and somewhat difficult to control. If using the silver dollar in a larger bouquet, use floral wire to keep it together.

Ferns

Ferns add great texture and mystery to garden-style floral designs and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They also symbolize fidelity and sincerity, making them a meaningful addition to any arrangement. The Leatherleaf fern is thick with a triangle shape, which makes it great for adding volume while the tree fern is thin and wispy, making it incredibly easy to use.

Italian Ruscus

A wonderful option as it is cost effective, versatile and holds up without water is Italian Ruscus. Italian Ruscus is a pop of intense green that makes it a gorgeous contrast when placed with flowers and lighter greens. Italian Ruscus has a delicate, whimsical look.

Garden-style Foliage and Flower Facts

One large piece of Eucalyptus or a similar type of foliage can be cut into smaller extensions making Garden-style a look that is easy to achieve without having to invest in an abundance of greenery. The same is true for the flowers. This style has the appearance of a lot of florals when in fact, achieving this look requires minimal stems.

If you set out your florals and greenery before you begin, a Garden-style arrangement is a quick and fun experiment in utilizing nature to inspire your creativity.

Today’s Garden-style is a clean look that is less formal. It is composed of loose, airy extensions and interesting layers. These natural designs reflect the growing appreciation for the beauty of the natural world and the minimalist impulses that coincide with that appreciation.

Although the designs seem completely unstructured, placing the flowers and foliage in just the right areas and draping the greenery over the vessel in all the right places, leads to a finished, polished design. This style does not demand heaps of flowers and foliage; it just demands your creativity.

The job of a local florist is changing- DRASTICALLY. Everything we know as fact is now questioned by a new wave of trends from the rising generations. Clothing, haircuts and musical tastes all circle back around through each generation as new. We can’t let our art fall between the cracks. Sending flowers isn’t a lost gesture that only older generations participate in. Millennials crave that two, just in different ways. Sending flowers still has the potential to gain traction across a wide-range of audiences. In order to do so, our styles must change, so our work stays relevant. It’s time to turn old into vintage and outdated into aesthetic. The time is now, and these hot marketing and design styles for millennials will get you started.

FIRST: You’ll Need a Platform.

The Millennial generation is for platforms. They are all about supporting a cause, a look, a feel and an impact. Due to a changing economy and job market, millennials aren’t as inclined to pay to have flowers sent to someone as a gift or as a random gesture, but they will run last-minute to a grocer and grab something out of their display. Millennials are more inclined to buy a monthly wine subscription, candies from different countries or $5+ for coffees that add character to their Insta feeds. #BASIC

With a little grooming and coaxing, the local florist has the capability to speak the right language and draw the modern eye. There is no definite recipe, but there is an overall concept that seems to be a connecting thread. Millennials are willing to spend money on something they feel adds value to who they are or what they contribute to the world. (I.e. a platform)

Unless you are living in a cave somewhere, you know that social media is a main form of communication for millennials, as well as, most of the rest of the world. Banners and flyers may still be an effective way to reach a certain demographic in your area. However, in order to broaden that reach and increase the millennial purchase, you MUST engage with social media. Whether you sub out a team to run it for you or create an aesthetic of your own, social media is the place your shop should turn to.

DISCLAIMER: Facebook isn’t going to reach millennials the way you hope it would. It helps, but it should not be your shop’s main focus.

When striving to reach the millennial audience, focus most of your time and effort into Instagram and Pinterest. There are three main tips to get the ball rolling. Create an aesthetic for your shop’s social media: minimalistic and bold. If it is clean, consistent and overall pleasing to the eye, it will do better.

Promote social campaigns with the use of social graphics, hashtags and an initiative. Get your audience involved with promo codes, incentives to save or with a purpose they can get behind. This can be done by donating some of your proceeds to charity, donating flowers to a hospital or with the use of a #PayItForward campaign. The millennial audience wants to feel involved and like they are making a difference. If you are accomplishing that, you are one step ahead of the game.

Lastly, your language is a vital component for effective millennial marketing. When creating an aesthetic, developing an initiative or captioning your photos or products, know less is more. Speak less technical and more conversational. Don’t be afraid to use humor, popular phrases or puns to add depth. Short simple captions are most effective. Millennials do NOT want to feel sold to; they want to feel spoken to. Keep that voice consistent throughout each of your social platforms.

SECOND: You’ll Need a Makeover.

In order to grow, you must be able to adjust. Your shop only grows at the rate you are willing to adjust. The main millennial trend for flowers remains consistent. Millennials focus on the more natural and garden-picked designs. Heads up, millennials LOVE very expensive flowers, but they don’t always want to pay a lot for them. It’s a tough position to be in. Peonies, orchids and roses are consistently popular, but that’s not the only obstacle you’ll face.

Everything you have learned up until now is being called into question. What is considered hot and trendy millennial designs are consistently free form, loose and airy. Those bright, symmetrical designs are being replaced with picked-from-the-garden-themed designs that are placed on a white desk for someone’s Instagram photo. Most hot millennial designs are a focal aesthetic for those Instagram-worthy looks.

It is important to keep your flower shop stocked up on succulents. They are widely popular in day-to-day designs, as well as, wedding designs. Understandably so, they are a focal point for the minimalistic aesthetic and pairs beautifully with garden designs. Consider getting a variety of succulents in bulk. With the popularity of succulent-inspired flower designs and dish gardens rising, it is important to have what the millennial consumer is looking for.

Pair the patterned and textured flowers like celosia, orchids, green ball carnations, thistles and anemones along with other ideal choices complimentary to the organic textured, natural, free-flowing designs. Bold colors like deep burgundy red are very much trendy. They are also classic. Keep those natural greens and greys and pair them with a bold pop of color like burgundy.

With these natural trends growing, berries, pods, mushrooms, vines and other dried and earthy products are all important to keep stocked, specifically when designing for a millennial wedding.

Just because garden designs are what is hot for millennials doesn’t mean color is eliminated completely. Quite the contrary. Modern, bold and refined colors dominate a lot of millennial styles. The millennial generation is all about equality, tolerance and individuality. Color is one way of expressing those unique styles. They just don’t want those color to dominate the whole style.

This year’s Pantone Color of the year is no stranger to influencing boldness. For the millennials looking for those Living Coral undertones, encourage them to explore burnt orange and rust-colored flowers. For these designs, stock up on cymbidium orchids, dahlias, sunflowers and peach roses.

How your millennial customers embrace their style is going to differ. However, the structured, un-structured garden look and bold pops of colors are an overall phenomenon. If your shop is more wedding-oriented, branch off that trend. If you are leaning more towards day-to-day designs, be willing to “loosen” up your designs for a more free-form styles. If you want a millennial to spend the money, it will have to meet their style. Less is more for the minimalistic millennial.

THIRD: You’ll Need a Plan.

How much does your flower shop sell to millennials? Are you looking to grow your reach, or do you see your numbers dwindling and are trying to look for a solution?

Plan and prosper. In order to market to millennials, they need to be sold to without realizing they are being sold to. This can be done through click-baity blogs, promo deals or hashtags. Check your shop’s previous history of sales. Which flowers did you sell most of, and which areas need to grow?

When prepping for more millennial-inspired designs, consider the following flowers in your next bulk product purchase. Our wholesalers at Hardin's Wholesale Florist Supply in Liberty, NC are here to help. In order to design with what’s hot for those millennial arrangements, you’ll need these products.

The Garden Pieces

As previously discussed, the succulent craze doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. Whether you buy them in bulk to sell as-is or are looking to design around them, their fleshy stems and overall trendiness are taking over.

Basic greenery, such as grasses and dried flowers, are hot decorative accents for millennial designs. They are expected to take over the wedding bouquet game. More and more brides are opting for primarily green, foliage-styled bouquets, along with other accents. They are typically best used in vintage and rustic weddings. However, they are being more widely used in bohemian, minimalistic and classic -aesthetic-type weddings, as well.

Greenery is widely accepted and embraced in garland forms, bouquet accents and as decorative cake pieces. Leafy eucalyptus and dusty miller are just a few of the accents that are most popular in the 2019 millennial designs. However, ferns seem to be what will be taking over. For the boho-chic, outdoorsy wedding aesthetics, these woodsy plants will continue to fill social feeds everywhere.

Dried lavender, baby’s breath and daisies are a few popular added accents. These garden pieces are well-loved for their simplicity and are unique alternatives to the traditional wedding designs. These popular pieces are gaining traction for their overall sustainability, simplistic design foundation and their growing traction on the wedding trend forecasts for millennials.

The New Neutrals

Millennials are all for saving some money and saving the earth to. Millennials typically like to buy local. It doesn’t quite make sense because sales from the local florist are still declining. One reason appears to be that the cost doesn’t quite meet the cause. Millennials are willing to avoid big grocers and buy local if they feel it will make a difference,

Simple Mono arrangements and wedding accents are a craved design. Millennials want the feeling of flowers picked straight from their mom’s garden. Stock up on clematis, lilacs and other flowers with local flair for your local-inspired millennial client.

Market in-season and local flowers. Be willing to adapt. Refurbished products are a millennial must. If you choose to design with local flowers and refurbished products, you add a significant amount of attraction to the millennial market. Don’t be afraid to promote that and use it to your advantage.

For those neutral-driven millennial clients, consider adding some blazing bolds to extra white designs you are overstocked on. It will carry over to a bolder millennial client.

The Blazing Bolds

Millennials are all about trends, and 2019 is all about embracing color. Living Coral, the Pantone 2019 Color of the Year, is all that and more. It is a bold pink-orange that adds dazzle to any piece. For the clients that aren’t into the blazing bolds, encourage them to consider it paired with a primarily white bouquet or a bouquet with mostly greens. It keeps that bold feel without distracting the eye. Creams, whites and greens are just the balance Living Coral needs.

Anthuriums are another next big thing for the bold-color-loving millennial. This tropical flower is a beautiful balance between classic and millennial modern. They are a natural fit to any wedding at the beach or a statement piece to a house on the water. These beauties can be paired with roses or lisianthus to emphasize a modern look but are best purchased for a millennial that loves color and has this unique taste. It may not be for all millennials. However, most millennials love anything that is unique and less traditional. It doesn’t hurt to offer it.

The Feminine Features

For the millennial wanting something feminine but with masculine features, offer a bold, deep color matched with a delicate pink or daring red. Blue hydrangea paired with bright roses is just one example. Plus, these classic beauties are essential to keep on hand. These designs emphasize feminine features without feeling like an all-pink, baby shower arrangement.

This design style caters to the millennial mindset. It is moderate. The pink-is-for-boys-too vibe is easily picked up on. This design style has enough of both features to feel versatile, clean and overall beautiful. You can easily compliment this style with neutral tones such as: tan, peach, gray and brown. Brunia, cattails, cornflowers, boronia and pussy willows are just a few options.

One thing is for certain, the customer is always right, even when they are wrong. They are paying after all. Their style may not match your own, but ultimately, the product is for them. When marketing and designing for millennials, strive to build a reputation directed towards them.

Remember, millennials don’t want to feel sold to; they want a cause to get behind, and they are willing to spend the money on something that fits who they are. Don’t be wasteful. Use the products you have, just consider repurposing them in different ways. Millennials are our new buyers. They are who are going to keep the floral industry running. We must adapt. These hot marketing and design styles for millennials are one place to start. Let us help you expand your floral design demographic, so your shop can have a more successful future.

The smallest member of the wedding party can make a huge impact. When it comes to the flower girl’s adorable and memorable appearance trotting down the aisle, the flowers are a big factor. Flower girls are called such for a reason, so give plenty of consideration to the flower girl when assisting clients with wedding florals.

Flower Girl History

Flower girls may be a tradition, but there are also some amazing alternative flower girl flowers to coincide with tradition yet still offer variety to prevent the flower girl from becoming too much of a distraction or worse, a disaster.

When discussing the flower girl and options for flowers, it helps to provide some history into the significance of flower girls. The tradition began in ancient Rome at a time when many marriages were arranged, and fertility was extremely important. The flower girl walked down the aisle scattering wheat and herbs to ward off evil spirits and bestow fertility and blessings on the couple.

The wheat and herbs the flower girls originally scattered were eventually replaced with flower petals, and the flower girl traditions that resemble the ones we recognize today can be traced back to the Victorian era.

The flower girl is a symbol of innocence and purity. When she waltzes down the aisle ahead of the bride, the flower girl represents the bride transitioning from childhood to adulthood as she takes on her new role as wife and future mother.

Before considering flowers, it helps to get an idea of how the flower girl may behave during the wedding. The girl’s age is the first factor as that will affect her ability to carry something like a basket or appropriately scatter petals. Also, if she is extremely young, it may be difficult to keep her focused enough to make it all the way down the aisle.

While the role of the flower girl is mostly unchanged, modern flower girls are not necessarily as young as they used to be. With many people entering into second marriages with older children, flower girls are sometimes much older, and the role gives a daughter the opportunity to have an important role in the wedding.

If the flower girl is a bit older or more mature, she may be perfectly capable of carrying on the normal duties, but she should have adequate practice, direction and preparation. If the flower girl seems shy or a bit afraid of being the center of attention, she can always be paired with the ring bearer or another flower girl as a partner to give more confidence and make the children more comfortable.

Alternative Flower Girl Options

According to Jackie Lacey AAF, AIFD, CFD, PFCI, “Flower girls are wearing more so than carrying flowers.”

Flowers are beautiful as accessories and can be marketed as part of the wedding attire. Flower girls can wear flowers and twine in their hair. Flowers can also be worn as anklets or as embellishments on dainty flower girl shoes.

There are beautiful ways to fashion flowers on a crown for the flower girl. A flower crown can either be small and delicate or large and bright.

Orchids have always been a popular choice for flower girl accessories and are an even stronger choice now due to their longevity and ability to survive without a water source.

Tropical flowers are getting their time in spotlight and being recognized for their ability to add unexpected structure and interest. Pincushion flowers are charming and versatile. Protea are South African flowers with a unique appearance almost look like they were plucked from the bottom of the sea. Protea represent hope and change, a nice sentiment for a wedding. Comments like these are a great way to convince a couple of the importance of florals.

Flower Menu Depends on the Venue

When determining what florals will accompany the flower girl’s waltz down the aisle, have your client check with the venue prior to deciding. Some venues will not allow petals to be tossed on the floor and some refuse to allow confetti, especially if outdoors.

The venue is the stage that sets the tone for the affair. The presentation of the flower girl should accompany this scene. If the couple is having a beachy wedding, the flower girl can even have a buoy with tropical flowers attached to a rope or a large seashell filled with tropical petals.

For formal weddings, floral lanterns, a glowing candle in a lantern (can be fake for safety purposes,) a copper bucket or a hat can be used to hold petals or springs of lavender for the flower girl to toss or single stems she can hand out to guests.

Forest Florals

For meadow or garden party weddings, tin pails, terracotta pots, baskets of tree bark and vines or baskets with moss, florals and ribbons are very pretty additions to the flower girl’s ensemble. Succulents and baby’s breath can add simple and pretty embellishments to flower girl baskets.

For flower girls who are going to be sprinkling petals or confetti, petal cones can be made of book paper, or they can be made in special stationary with the names of the bride and groom. If you are using confetti, there are biodegradable options that are water soluble and still available in a wide range of colors.

If scattering flowers and confetti doesn’t tickle the fancy of the bride and groom, fragrant herbs like rosemary, sage and thyme are eco-friendly and fragrant. Rosemary represents loyalty and fidelity and mint means virtue, so many herbs are a natural choice for the symbolic act of the flower girl scattering something to symbolize protection and future happiness and prosperity.

Some other unique and environmentally friendly options include dropping dried lavender buds, handfuls of fresh lavender, fresh leaves, eucalyptus petals and tiny pinecones.

For those who choose not to have the flower girl scatter any flower petals, confetti or paper, flower girls are carrying garlands and waterfall designs that are free form and not stiff or contrived. Cute and simple designs are favored with plants, vines and succulents taking center stage.

For flower girls who may have difficulty holding a basket, there are many very cute, memorable options. Flowers can be arranged in a heart pattern dangling from a string that the flower girl can easily hold. Hoop bouquets are quite lovely, and flower pomanders with satin ribbon allow the flower girl to lightly hold one item that will look lovely and smell delightful.

The flower girl can also hold a miniature bouquet that mirrors the bride’s bouquet. This also goes along with the tradition of the flower girl representing the bride as a young, innocent girl. If a bouquet still seems too much for her to carry, the flower girl can also carry a single flower.

The Flower Trends Forecast for 2019 brought the colors and textures of the forest into focus with a “Forest Walk” trend forecast. Organic life is the inspiration for this natural look that welcomes vines, textured flowers in bold tones.

For flower girls, this look translates to vines and greenery that is loose and right out of the garden. Flowers can be simple and cute and contained in a woven, handmade or handsewn bag.

Fairy Wings and Magical Things

Another trend that was predicted in the Floral Trends Forecast for this year was called, “Ethereal Bliss.” This trend is minimalistic with mythical and fantastical elements. The trend is influenced by soft chenille, distressed velvet and garden flowers and eucalyptus.

For any weddings that may have mystical tones in a natural setting, this is an opportunity to make the scene magical and utilize the flower girl’s fairy-like appearance. For a little fairy flower girl, fashioning a wand will be a unique and interesting accessory that will be easy and fun for even the tiniest fairy to carry.

There are many ways to design a floral wand. Wands can also be heart-shaped and decorated with buds to match the bride’s bouquet. The wand itself can be made of a long, natural twig. Silk, flowers, ribbons and sparkling embellishments look lovely being twirled and swirled by the flower girl on her walk.

If you choose the right blooms, the flowers can create a scepter. Tall, multiple blooms create a dazzling accoutrement. Agapanthus is an example of a tall-stemmed floral that can easily create a scepter. The great part about Agapanthus is that it is attractive and survives in a climate of chronic drought, so it should survive the wedding.

Another magical option for the flower girl is fairy wings. Thin, almost transparent butterfly-like wings are the perfect background for a floral masterpiece on fairy wings. Whether you cover the landscape of the wings with flowers or just add a few blooms to the middle, fairy wings are gorgeous on the flower girl and will probably bring her enjoyment.

Traveling Down the Aisle in Style

Flower girls are not always walking the standard walk down the aisle. Weddings have become more accommodating and creative when it comes to the flower girl. Some flower girls have ridden tricycles down the aisle.

If a flower girl seems shy but has a favorite stuffed animal, offer to make a flower crown for the stuffed animal so it can be pretty and give her courage and comfort on her walk down the aisle.

For flower girls who are very young, a wagon can be beautifully decorated with flowers and pulled by a second, older flower girl or other member of the wedding party. The wagon can also be decorated the way the traditional car looks that whisks away newlyweds – with flowers, ribbons, bells and cans attached to the back.

The great thing about weddings is that traditions can still be appreciated and utilized but also changed to coincide with whatever the engaged couple wants. If you need more inspiration, our wholesalers here at Hardin's Wholesale Florist Supply in Liberty, NC are always glad to help.

Parasols

Another somewhat unconventional idea for flower girls that is quite beautiful in photographs, especially for an outdoor wedding in the sunshine, is a floral parasol. The parasol should be the correct size for the flower girl and should not be a size that will overwhelm her or be difficult to carry, especially if there is wind.

The floral parasol design can begin at the middle of a premade parasol made of either transparent material or lace with a large flower like a peony then moving into medium-sized flowers like ranunculus into a pattern that continues and fills in with smaller flowers.

If you want a less opaque parasol, skip the premade parasol. Instead, use one long twig that connects to stunning flowers that have long yet flexible stems that will spray in all directions over the flower girl’s head.

Personalized Options

Weddings are increasingly becoming more personalized and are a way to celebrate the unique story of the bride and groom with individual touches. If the bride and groom have a beloved pet, the flower girl is the obvious choice for escorting the pet down the aisle. The pet can wear a flower crown or collar. If the pet seems averse to wearing the flowers, you can also attach blooms to the leash.

Another way to incorporate flowers into a flower girl’s walk is to decorate a sign with flowers. The sign is another way for a couple to personalize their wedding procession, and there are countless ways to exhibit the statement of their choice. Cut out letters, regular wooden signs, chalkboards and flags can all be embellished with flowers to match the rest of the wedding florals.

Part of the worry that comes with having a flower girl take part in the wedding, especially if she is young, is that she may not do what she is supposed to do. To prevent that from happening, encourage your clients to invite her to any wedding-related activities so that she feels comfortable with the other people in the wedding party and feels like she is part of it all.

Also, it is a good idea to suggest that if they fear she may become distracted, at the end of her walk down the aisle, she can go sit with her parents instead of staying up at the front with everyone watching her every move.

Flower girls are always adorable. Flower girls may be the smallest members of the wedding party, but all eyes are on them up until the appearance of the bride. This means that the florals you create for the flower girl will capture the eyes of the audience. Even though the personalized nature of some modern weddings may mean unconventional flower girls, this gives you the opportunity to utilize your creativity, pick some alternative blooms and display them in unusual ways to help realize the vision of the bride and groom.