Home/Get Advice/How to Get The Prettiest Florals For Your Wedding

How to Get The Prettiest Florals For Your Wedding

Updated March 23, 2024
by kennedy@lovestoriestv.com

BloomBar founder Carly Ragosta is a go-to floral designer for weddings in New York City and beyond, so we always feel very #blessed when she uses her flower powers to transform Love Stories TV events! (Recently, she designed a tropical flower wall for our annual Wedding Film Awards, which you can see in action here.) In the spirit of making every wedding as beautiful as a BloomBar wedding, we asked Carly to answer the flower questions we hear most often from brides- and grooms-to-be. Read on for Carly's best hacks for maximizing your flower budget, selecting seasonal blooms, and more.

Photo Credit: Paper Antler

What should couples bring to their first meeting with a florist?

Every floral designer's process is different, so follow their lead in terms of that first meeting's function, but generally I'd recommend bringing examples of your color palette, wishlist of key floral elements you're looking for, and a few inspiration images or Pinterest pins.

What floral recommendations do you give couples looking to maximize their budget?

  1. Optimize and prioritize moments or vignettes rather than sparsely decorating every nook and cranny in your venue. Maybe it's a ceremony focal point, a stunning entry or escort card table arrangement, or a table setting, which also includes flatware, menus, napkins, linens, and accessories.

  2. Look into donating your flowers after the event for a charitable deduction.

We’ve seen that more couples are repurposing their flowers after their wedding, to extend the life of their amazing blooms. Have any of the couples you’ve worked with done this?

Yes and YES! I am a huge proponent of reducing waste, reusing flowers, and recycling as much material as possible. The events industry as a whole is responsible for a lot of waste, so minimizing my business’ footprint wherever possible is always a goal of mine. You can reuse your wedding flowers for the farewell brunch (we did that for our wedding and our guests were super excited to be able to take home after) or enlist the help of some of my amazing partners. Companies like Repeat Roses or BloomAgain Brooklyn find special places, like hospitals and shelters, to donate your day-after blooms. Bloomerent is also doing great things with second-use event flowers at both weddings and corporate functions, so that’s another option to check out.

Is it best to select flowers seasonally? What blooms do you recommend for each season?

Of course local and seasonal blooms are just inherently more special and available. If you love peonies and are choosing a wedding date based on their availability, go for early spring. If dahlias are your faves, then opt for a fall wedding. An important thing to remember is that in large quantities, all flowers are an expense. Go with what you love and your floral designer's expertise on seasonal recommendations and replacements if necessary.

Photo Credit: Elisabeth Millay
Photo Credit: Elisabeth Millay

Do you have any favorite floral trends that you're seeing now?

I am really into the ground arch and alternate installation trend, which I think of as a romantic return to the garden look. Arches and chuppahs definitely have cultural significance and are so beautiful, but there’s something unexpected, underrated and romantic about flowers and greenery lining the aisle up to a canopy of blooms underfoot. I also love the asymmetry and bold, bright color contrast that clients are asking for on ceremony structures. It feels fresh and playful.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmgD28PHt9m/.nyc

What are some under-the-radar flower or greenery hacks have you done that really transformed a space (big or small!) at a wedding?

Ina Garten likes to use a ton of any single bloom or greenery grouped together because it looks so rich and lush, and I agree with Ina on everything! Layers of fully opened spray roses toppling over each other, or tons of taller, textured greenery and branches, adds so much depth without bulky, expensive filler flowers. Along those lines, let roses fully open. Whether they are a spray roses, standard, or garden rose variety, there is such a lushness when the petals have had a few days and the proper conditioning to fully open.

What advice do you have for couples who are planning an elopement wedding, but still want to incorporate flowers in their wedding in some way?

First off, love that! We’ve done a few really special elopements and it’s super low stress for everyone involved. If you love flowers and you’re eloping you should incorporate them anywhere and everywhere you like! A table runner at your intimate dinner or a lush ground arch at your ceremony would be amazing. Also, if you're into it, carry a bouquet! Oscar de la Renta said the same thing about brides wearing a veil. It’s such a special and singular time in your life, so don’t forget the beautiful details that set it apart for you, even if you're going smaller-scale.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BlTrR_6nsos/.nyc

What tips do you have for flower crowns or hairstyles that incorporate fresh flowers?

Although I like crowns, I do think we're moving away from that trend and seeing more fresh floral combs, though it tends to be a bit fragile if using fresh blooms. I’m loving the dried floral elements and painted or metallic trend on hairpieces and combs. Also remember: Fresh flowers in the hair can be a gorgeous photo moment, but don’t necessarily have to be carried through the rest of the day. Flowers will be at their best and freshest during the first look or getting ready, or portraits. Then work with your incredible hair stylist to re-tousle or retouch the hair to be ceremony-ready. That’s my advice…they just don’t hold up and you’ll be disappointed if you’re wearing a saggy, browning flower in all of your wedding day photos!

What are the most magical reception florals BloomBar has created recently?

My dear friends let me go wild at their wedding in terms of design and flower selection, so we repotted 150 herbs like rosemary, oregano, lavender, and sage, along with small grasses and vines, and incorporated them into the centerpieces. We hung greenery chandeliers from the tent interior and draped vines and clusters of figs, grapes and baby artichokes down the long tables. We also went all out with textures and dimension, which are some of my favorite elements. So, lots of pampas grass, dried lace cap hydrangea, bunny tails, sage, chocolate cosmos—I swear the photos look so interactive and magical because of all the tactile details.

And, last but not least, what are the prettiest bridal bouquets you’ve created?

All my flower friends know how much joy and love I have for designing bouquets. So much so that I build them Friday night, then it’s the first thing I retouch and rework early Saturday morning before the wedding. It’s like a rough draft and a final draft. For an artist working with materials as ephemeral as flowers, I take full advantage of this small opportunity to revise and edit. Some are very simple and soft, others are very textured, layered, and dimensional, but [they're] always lush for BloomBar. I want you to feel like you have to keep looking at the bouquet to take it all in. I really don’t have a favorite. They’re all so special to me because they represent the amazing clients I get to work with! Here’s a few on a highlight reel if I had to choose:

Photo Credit: Kim Lyn Chauvin
Photo Credit: Sas Pooviriyakul
Photo Credit: Kim Lyn Chauvin
Home/Get Advice/How to Get The Prettiest Florals For Your Wedding

How to Get The Prettiest Florals For Your Wedding

Updated March 23, 2024
by kennedy@lovestoriestv.com

BloomBar founder Carly Ragosta is a go-to floral designer for weddings in New York City and beyond, so we always feel very #blessed when she uses her flower powers to transform Love Stories TV events! (Recently, she designed a tropical flower wall for our annual Wedding Film Awards, which you can see in action here.) In the spirit of making every wedding as beautiful as a BloomBar wedding, we asked Carly to answer the flower questions we hear most often from brides- and grooms-to-be. Read on for Carly's best hacks for maximizing your flower budget, selecting seasonal blooms, and more.

Photo Credit: Paper Antler

What should couples bring to their first meeting with a florist?

Every floral designer's process is different, so follow their lead in terms of that first meeting's function, but generally I'd recommend bringing examples of your color palette, wishlist of key floral elements you're looking for, and a few inspiration images or Pinterest pins.

What floral recommendations do you give couples looking to maximize their budget?

  1. Optimize and prioritize moments or vignettes rather than sparsely decorating every nook and cranny in your venue. Maybe it's a ceremony focal point, a stunning entry or escort card table arrangement, or a table setting, which also includes flatware, menus, napkins, linens, and accessories.

  2. Look into donating your flowers after the event for a charitable deduction.

We’ve seen that more couples are repurposing their flowers after their wedding, to extend the life of their amazing blooms. Have any of the couples you’ve worked with done this?

Yes and YES! I am a huge proponent of reducing waste, reusing flowers, and recycling as much material as possible. The events industry as a whole is responsible for a lot of waste, so minimizing my business’ footprint wherever possible is always a goal of mine. You can reuse your wedding flowers for the farewell brunch (we did that for our wedding and our guests were super excited to be able to take home after) or enlist the help of some of my amazing partners. Companies like Repeat Roses or BloomAgain Brooklyn find special places, like hospitals and shelters, to donate your day-after blooms. Bloomerent is also doing great things with second-use event flowers at both weddings and corporate functions, so that’s another option to check out.

Is it best to select flowers seasonally? What blooms do you recommend for each season?

Of course local and seasonal blooms are just inherently more special and available. If you love peonies and are choosing a wedding date based on their availability, go for early spring. If dahlias are your faves, then opt for a fall wedding. An important thing to remember is that in large quantities, all flowers are an expense. Go with what you love and your floral designer's expertise on seasonal recommendations and replacements if necessary.

Photo Credit: Elisabeth Millay
Photo Credit: Elisabeth Millay

Do you have any favorite floral trends that you're seeing now?

I am really into the ground arch and alternate installation trend, which I think of as a romantic return to the garden look. Arches and chuppahs definitely have cultural significance and are so beautiful, but there’s something unexpected, underrated and romantic about flowers and greenery lining the aisle up to a canopy of blooms underfoot. I also love the asymmetry and bold, bright color contrast that clients are asking for on ceremony structures. It feels fresh and playful.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmgD28PHt9m/.nyc

What are some under-the-radar flower or greenery hacks have you done that really transformed a space (big or small!) at a wedding?

Ina Garten likes to use a ton of any single bloom or greenery grouped together because it looks so rich and lush, and I agree with Ina on everything! Layers of fully opened spray roses toppling over each other, or tons of taller, textured greenery and branches, adds so much depth without bulky, expensive filler flowers. Along those lines, let roses fully open. Whether they are a spray roses, standard, or garden rose variety, there is such a lushness when the petals have had a few days and the proper conditioning to fully open.

What advice do you have for couples who are planning an elopement wedding, but still want to incorporate flowers in their wedding in some way?

First off, love that! We’ve done a few really special elopements and it’s super low stress for everyone involved. If you love flowers and you’re eloping you should incorporate them anywhere and everywhere you like! A table runner at your intimate dinner or a lush ground arch at your ceremony would be amazing. Also, if you're into it, carry a bouquet! Oscar de la Renta said the same thing about brides wearing a veil. It’s such a special and singular time in your life, so don’t forget the beautiful details that set it apart for you, even if you're going smaller-scale.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BlTrR_6nsos/.nyc

What tips do you have for flower crowns or hairstyles that incorporate fresh flowers?

Although I like crowns, I do think we're moving away from that trend and seeing more fresh floral combs, though it tends to be a bit fragile if using fresh blooms. I’m loving the dried floral elements and painted or metallic trend on hairpieces and combs. Also remember: Fresh flowers in the hair can be a gorgeous photo moment, but don’t necessarily have to be carried through the rest of the day. Flowers will be at their best and freshest during the first look or getting ready, or portraits. Then work with your incredible hair stylist to re-tousle or retouch the hair to be ceremony-ready. That’s my advice…they just don’t hold up and you’ll be disappointed if you’re wearing a saggy, browning flower in all of your wedding day photos!

What are the most magical reception florals BloomBar has created recently?

My dear friends let me go wild at their wedding in terms of design and flower selection, so we repotted 150 herbs like rosemary, oregano, lavender, and sage, along with small grasses and vines, and incorporated them into the centerpieces. We hung greenery chandeliers from the tent interior and draped vines and clusters of figs, grapes and baby artichokes down the long tables. We also went all out with textures and dimension, which are some of my favorite elements. So, lots of pampas grass, dried lace cap hydrangea, bunny tails, sage, chocolate cosmos—I swear the photos look so interactive and magical because of all the tactile details.

And, last but not least, what are the prettiest bridal bouquets you’ve created?

All my flower friends know how much joy and love I have for designing bouquets. So much so that I build them Friday night, then it’s the first thing I retouch and rework early Saturday morning before the wedding. It’s like a rough draft and a final draft. For an artist working with materials as ephemeral as flowers, I take full advantage of this small opportunity to revise and edit. Some are very simple and soft, others are very textured, layered, and dimensional, but [they're] always lush for BloomBar. I want you to feel like you have to keep looking at the bouquet to take it all in. I really don’t have a favorite. They’re all so special to me because they represent the amazing clients I get to work with! Here’s a few on a highlight reel if I had to choose:

Photo Credit: Kim Lyn Chauvin
Photo Credit: Sas Pooviriyakul
Photo Credit: Kim Lyn Chauvin