The Flower Dictionary: Bouquets

When meeting with your florist or even when interviewing potential florists, you'll avoid any confusion if you're armed with your "Flower Dictionary".

Here is a list of the various types of bouquets you can have when you walk down the aisle.

Biedermeier: This is a densely packed round bouquet. It is a unique bouquet, in that it is made up of concentric circles, in which each ring is typically made up of a different flower or colour bloom. The flowers are individually wired into a holder.

Cascade: This is as it sounds - a bouquet that cascades like water. It is composed of long-stemmed flowers and flowing greenery that are wired together to spill over the bride's hands and trickle down, usually around 40cm. This is a fairly dramatic bouquet - hence the reason it is often chosen for more formal, elegant weddings.

Classic: Your quintessential bouquet of tightly packed flowers (and greenery). These are held together in a holder, tightened with ribbon or wired together at the base of the blooms. Perfect for all occasions!

Composite: This is not so common, but it is a creative alternative to a bouquet. Different buds or petals are wired together at the end of a single stem, of which the result looks like a huge flower. Perfect if you are on a tight budget or having a very simple wedding.

Cone: A cone bouquet is a selection of flowers that sit in a cone, which is made of flowers or any other materials. This is an inexpensive bouquet, as you don't need many blooms to make it look good.

Crescent: This bouquet is shaped like the arch of a half circle, in which the left and right side of the bouquet is seen to be flowing down. You can have a symmetrical (or full crescent) bouquet, in which the central flowers have blossoms cascading down from both sides, or an asymmetrical (semi-crescent) bouquet, which has only one trailing stem.

Freeform: This bouquet does not have a specific or a defined shape. It often includes quite a bit of foliage and incorporates more alternative, tropical flowers.

Nosegay: Round bouquet that is approximately 40-45cm in diameter and is composed of tightly packed round flowers and greenery. The blooms used are typically round in shape and of a similar size. They are held together with either ribbon or wire.

Pageant: Have you ever watched a beauty pageant? The flowers are cradled like this way - a bunch of long-stemmed flowers placed across the forearm. This bouquet is also known as a "presentation" or "arm" bouquet. The best flowers for this type have long stems, such as calla lilies, orchids and long-stem roses.

Pomander: This is almost like an upside down bouquet. It is a bloom-covered ball that hangs from a looped ribbon. It is great for a quirky bride or for your little flower girls.

Posy: This is essentially a smaller version of the nosegay bouquet, but it typically has ribbons or extra little touches. They are round in shape, and the stems of the flowers can either be removed or left as is. Like the pomander, these are perfect for flower girls or if you want subtle bouquets for your bridesmaids.

Single Stem: Just what it is. Simple...elegant...beautiful.

Teardrop: This is very much like the cascade bouquet, but its is more stiff. It is shaped like a tear, in that it is round that the top and cascades to a point at the bottom.

Tossing: Did you know that when a bride "throw's the bouquet", she's usually tossing a fake?! It is typical to have your florist create a "stand in" bouquet, which is pretty much like your wedding bouquet, but oftentimes this version incorporates less expensive flowers.

Tussy Mussy: This is a posy carried in a small, metallic vase. It usually now just refers to the vase itself.

Wristlet: This is a wrist corsage, which is a way to keep both hands free and a way to keep the cost of flowers down!