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How to Choose Wedding Flowers

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Learn how to choose the perfect wedding flowers utilizing advice from art theory and considering the color wheel!

Jessica Bishop Headshot

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think one of the first things that brides-to-be do early in the wedding planning process is pick the colors that are going to be incorporated into their big day! Although flowers do add ambiance and texture to the wedding decor, I’m pretty sure that the basis of their appeal is color. And I’m sure that brides-to-be and brides a like will agree that color plays a huge role in your wedding day.

When we’re in grade school we learn about colors, and more importantly, the color wheel. Now I know what you’re thinking, “There is no way that the color wheel will help me plan my wedding.” But au contraire, using this elementary art tool will not only help you when arranging your flowers, but will also lead you in the right direction in choosing your color palette.

How to choose Wedding Flowers, keeping the color wheel in mind!

That’s why Blooms By The Box has created The Flower Color Wheel! Now before I say anything else, let me just say that all brides can use this color wheel, whether you’re DIY’ing your wedding flowers, or using it on you first floral consultation, we hope that you (or your florist) will be able to create not only beautiful floral arrangements and color combinations.

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The Flower Color Wheel

Okay, now back to how you will actually use this color wheel to arrange flowers. There are three approaches you can take when you keep color in mind when choosing and arranging your wedding flowers…

#1. Complementary Color Combinations

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For vibrant, intense results, combine Complementary colors in your bouquets and arrangements. These colors appear across from each other on the color wheel: Yellow-Purple, Blue-Orange, Red-Green. When you put Complementary colors side-by-side they tend to enhance the intensity of each other.

#2. Analogous Color Combinations

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You can create soothing, harmonious, romantic fresh flower combinations using Analogous colors. These hues are families of colors that are next to each other on the color wheel, like “Blues” (blue, blue-violet, blue-green), or “Yellows” (yellow-green, yellow, yellow-orange).

#3.Triadic Color Combinations

You can also create unusual, exciting combinations using Triadic colors, basing your flower choices on three colors that are equidistant from one another on the color wheel.  Think yellow/red/blue, or purple/green/orange, or blue-green/yellow-orange/red-violet.

So there you have it! I bet you never thought something you learned in grade school could contribute to your wedding décor! Lastly, keep in mind that these are merely suggestive combinations to enhance the colors and flowers you choose for your wedding. If your heart is set on an “all white” theme then go for it!


Jessica Bishop Headshot

Jessica Bishop is the founder of TheBudgetSavvyBride.com, and has worked in various areas and roles within the wedding industry since 2007. She is the author of the best-selling book,The Budget-Savvy Wedding Planner & Organizer and also hosts The Bouquet Toss Wedding Planning Podcast. Jessica's expert wedding advice and savvy savings tips have been featured by Good Morning America, COSMOPOLITAN, Glamour, and more.