Choosing your Wedding Flowers to Complement your Venue

If anyone has ever planned a wedding before or helped plan a wedding, you would know that there’s always some sort of vibe, theme or feeling that the couple wants to achieve. As a wedding designer, I often meet couples who are still in the process of establishing the overall look and feel of their wedding, yet torn as to which direction to head in with their flowers. With so many inspirations available these days (Pinterest, Instagram, Google, etc.), it’s easy to get overwhelmed with ideas and want to do a little bit of everything. My advice to couples is to start with the venue! Your venue will automatically set the tone. Your job (and our job) is to then complement the space with your décor.

If you have selected a vineyard for your vows, play into the vibe of the space. It doesn’t mean you need to have grapes trailing out of every arrangement but some vines here and there would be lovely as would some rich jewel tones depending on the season. Using flowers like Dahlias, Hydrangea, fresh herbs and greenery will really complement the surroundings.

If you’re having a classic New York City wedding at The Plaza Hotel or The Pierre, here is where it calls for opulence and lavishness. Most New York City ballrooms are grand and ornate so this is the perfect place for Roses, Orchids and big sprays of flowering branches (if they’re in season). Certain colors can work in these types of spaces but from a design standpoint, you can never go wrong with white. It’s timeless and won’t compete with all of the rich colors already there.

Last and one of the most challenging are the lofts and raw spaces like The Foundry and The Liberty Warehouse. There are a lot of different directions you can go in, and these types of spaces are really blank canvases. We always try to advise clients to look at other weddings that have been done there, to see what you like and don’t like. We’ve done modern/contemporary at Studio 450 and have also done garden-like tablescapes with trailing greenery there too. Both work, so it’s really a matter of personal preference.

The most important thing is to HAVE FUN and enjoy the process. Happy planning!