Peonies are one of the most beautiful flowers that have recently begun to be used in wedding bouquets. From white, cream, pink, red and burgundy flowers in combination with shiny openwork foliage, florists create beautiful compositions that will suit even the most luxurious wedding dress. The bride's image is well complemented by, for example, peonies of the Bartzella, Heritage or varieties with yellow and red corollas.
A classic bouquet of white peonies is ideal for a chic dress with a fluffy white skirt. But a composition of red flowers will look no less advantageous, especially in combination with pink or white.
Peonies for a wedding dress are a great choice in 2022. The popularity of these flowers is only growing, and a wedding bouquet of peonies is in great demand.
Seasonality
The peony season is limited: it begins in May, peaks in June, and begins to gradually decline in the subsequent summer months. At flower markets and bases, peonies begin to appear in early spring, but it is worth keeping in mind that out of season and at the beginning of it, the price can increase 3-5 times.
How to choose peonies
What to look for when choosing peonies:
- Look for peonies with slightly open, soft buds. They should not be small dense balls, and they should not have green leaves (sepals) - in such cases, there is a chance that the bud will not bloom.
- The stems should be clean, without black spots of rot.
- It is better to choose flowers with thick, strong stems - they last longer without water, and the heavy head does not bend the stem and the wedding bouquet retains its shape better.
For bouquets and decoration, there are optimal varieties: Gardenia, Odile, Mathers' Choice and Madame Claude of white and soft pink peonies.
Gardenia/ Odile
Mathers Choice/Madame Claude
The well-known variety Duchess de Nemours is not worth taking - these flowers often scatter. For pink shades, we recommend the Sarah Bernhardt variety, and for wine red shades: Salmon and Red Charm. Terry varieties of coral and pinkish flowers are also persistent and lush.
Sarah Bernhardt
Red Charm
What do you need to know?
Peonies are suitable for spring and summer weddings, because you can find them on store shelves only in late spring and early summer - which is considered the season. At this time there are a lot of them, they are varied, and the price is very low.
It is worth remembering that these plants must be handled with extreme care and precision. They are afraid of both cold and heat - in such conditions they quickly bloom, and therefore can become disheveled and wither. They also don’t live long without water, so don’t forget to ask to add a sponge with water to the composition.
The stem of the flower should be dense and thick, and the leaves should be fresh, the cut edge of the peony should be green; if it is darkened, this indicates that the plant has been standing in water for a long time.
Palette of colors:
- soft pink;
- beige;
- lemon;
- dark red;
- yellow;
- white;
- wine red;
- deep pink;
- bright raspberry;
- soft peach;
- lilac;
- orange;
- burgundy;
- cream;
- fuchsia colors;
- blue;
- purple;
- coral
What do the shades symbolize:
- white represents the innocence, purity and sincere feelings of the couple;
- pink ones are considered a symbol of material wealth and respect in the family;
- rich tones of red and burgundy speak of the passion, devotion and sensuality of the newlyweds;
- yellow has a double meaning: on the one hand, it means misfortune and quarrel, and on the other, incredible fun, carefree days and vibrant energy.
The symbolism of the flowers themselves:
- Greece is considered the birthplace of peonies, where people treat them as a talisman against the evil eye and all evil;
- according to the Chinese interpretation, it is a plant of the sun, which brings financial success and prosperity;
- The Japanese believe that bouquets with peonies promise fertility and untold wealth;
- Mediterranean countries believe that such flowers bring joy, a good future and hope for happiness;
- Among Europeans, including in Russia, it is believed that a bridal bouquet made with peonies will bring the newlyweds a happy married life, strong relationships and family well-being.
Adviсe
- Tall newlyweds will look better with cascading bouquets, and short ones with classic round ones.
- For thin brides, a not very voluminous wedding composition is just right, but for plump ones, on the contrary, a larger and more curvaceous one is suitable.
- Bouquets of soft pink or red go well with the bride's snow-white dress, and pastel-colored peonies go great with beige, milky, silver, ivory or ivory.
- A round bouquet goes well with a lush outfit, and an elongated cascading bouquet goes well with a straight cut.
- It is good to dilute a composition of purple shades with yellow, purple or pale pink plants.
- Red tones look great in the hands of brunettes, pastels are ideal for blondes, and redheads should give preference to purple colors with a lot of greenery.
- For a vintage celebration it is good to choose a round-shaped flower arrangement, and for an eco-wedding - a cascading one.
What can you decorate with?
- cloth;
- satin ribbons;
- lace;
- rhinestones;
- pearls;
- feathers.
Combinations in bouquet and decor
In wedding bouquets and decor, peonies are ideally combined with flowers of similar shades and similar shapes, for example, with peony roses, ranunculus, dianthus (carnations), roses, hydrangeas, anemones and succulents. From greenery, choose stachys, olive branches, eucalyptus. To be honest, peonies can be combined with most flowers and the main rule is one: this combination must be harmonious. For those who doubt, we list several universal and stylish color solutions:
- mono bouquets
- white + silver
- white + green
- pink + white + silver
- mix of pink shades
- coral + salmon + silver green
- wine red + soft pink
In round bouquets of peonies, in contrast to spreading compositions, you should avoid combining round peony buds with sharply protruding “spear-shaped” flowers such as lavender, spikes, and astilbe.
The best ideas for wedding flowers
Each bride has the right to choose the color scheme that appeals to her most.
White-violet
It looks very gentle, stylish, fashionable. Complements and emphasizes the beauty of the bride in a snow-white or lilac dress.
Light pink
The optimal choice for delicate romantic natures. The wedding composition will emphasize natural beauty and spiritual softness. This color scheme is chosen by sensitive and vulnerable girls.
Lilac
Emphasizes brightness, self-confidence and correctness of decisions. Adds bright colors to the bride's outfit. The color of deep feelings, harmony, mutual understanding.
Lilac pink
Emphasizes the originality of the bride, adds brightness and elegance to the dress. Suitable for girls who choose a simple outfit for a celebration, a dress without rings.
Red-violet
For brides with a bright temperament, strong character and strong self-esteem. A composition for a girl who is used to being the center of attention. It looks extremely bright, truly festive.
Who is purple shades suitable for?
The color represents aristocracy, wealth, originality, and sophistication. Suitable for girls who are used to emphasizing their individuality and uniqueness. Ladies with a bright appearance should choose this shade. Blondes should opt for light colors; brunettes should choose dark shades. Purple color is ideal in any color scheme for red-haired people.
Caring for a wedding bouquet of peonies
You can save pre-purchased peonies by frequently spraying the inflorescences with water. In dry and warm air, peonies quickly bloom or, without opening the bud, dry out. In a cool room they can be stored for quite a long time, and the bud can be kept in a semi-closed state. If, on the contrary, it is necessary for the flower to quickly open its bud, the stems of the plant are split with a sharp knife and placed in hot water.
All flowers need water, but peonies are quite resilient. If the day is not hot, the bouquet will easily withstand a long photo shoot or a walk, and during dinner in a restaurant it is better to put the bouquet in water. In hot weather, leaving a bouquet without water in the open sun for more than half an hour is already risky, but if it is not possible to put the flowers in water, you can at least spray them periodically.
You can collect the bouquet on the eve of day X, but it is important to ensure that the peonies are not completely open at the time of composition, and be sure to leave it overnight in a cool place.
How to make it yourself
To create a wedding bouquet in purple tones with your own hands you will need:
- flowers;
- material for decoration;
- a sponge that will hold moisture;
- floral tape;
- mesh or organza;
- scissors;
- heat gun.
Rules and tips:
- Peonies are very capricious; they lose their shape after 5-7 hours. The sponge will keep them fresh until the end of the day.
- The diameter of the bouquet should be 20-30 cm. Arrangements that are too large will disturb the girl, and small ones will look funny and ineffective.
- The stems should be trimmed, shortened, and wrapped with strip tape. This is necessary so that the bouquet does not fall apart in your hands at the most inopportune moment.
- An arrangement in delicate colors will not overshadow the beauty of a chic dress; a bouquet with bright flowers will make a simple outfit more spectacular.
The easiest way is to form a round bouquet. To do this you need:
- Shorten the stems and wrap with ribbon.
- Place into a sponge soaked in moisture.
- Form a bouquet.
- Tie the flowers together and wrap them in prepared packaging material.
- Add decorative elements.
If peonies are used in bouquets, the composition should be assembled on the eve of the wedding. Preferably in the morning. This bouquet is easy to make at home.
Peonies in a bouquet look gorgeous, especially when combined with other flowers. The only drawback is that they quickly lose their shape. Care must be taken to extend the life of living plants. With an original bouquet the bride will be the most beautiful!
Decor tip
Considering the high price of peonies, the frequent need to decorate the site in advance and the delicacy of the inflorescence itself, sometimes when creating large-scale compositions or arches, decorators use a base of artificial flowers, which in photographs and in life are almost indistinguishable from real ones. Fresh flowers are added in those places that will definitely be close-up in the frame or will be closest to the guests.
Header photo Magda Indigo, other photos Pinterest and flower studio “Summer Day”. Contact the Summer Day studio: Instagram
Single style
Blue shades in a bouquet look especially advantageous if their presence is justified by the overall style of the celebration. The accessory in the hands of the bride should be combined not only with her dress, but also with the suit of the groom and the outfits of everyone present. Blue suits a wedding in a vintage, shabby chic, Tiffany, space or sea style. For a summer celebration, the fresh coolness of blue will be very useful.
Cloth
A composition with blue flowers can be matched to any shade of a white wedding dress - from snow-white to cream and milky. To support the blue nuance, you can add a laconic belt in tone or a veil of the corresponding shade.
The bride's bouquet can echo the shade of the groom's suit, the color of his tie or pocket square.
A distinctive and bright accessory for the future spouse is a boutonniere. This is a small flower decoration that is attached to the lapel of a jacket. An original solution is a boutonniere made of artificial blue peonies to pair with the bride’s bouquet. This accessory will look impressive on gray or sand-colored fabric.
Photozone
When a wedding is held in the same style, it should be reflected in the photo zone. The design of this place requires special imagination, since this is where photographs are taken that will remain as a souvenir for the newlyweds and will be posted on social networks.
In addition to the bride's bouquet, you should think about floral decor and drapery made from light fabrics to match.
To make the structure look beautiful in the evening, it is worth adding lighting. The main thing is that the style of the photo zone does not diverge from the general theme of the celebration, and that the shade is combined with the color scheme. If the structure is located outdoors, measures should be taken to protect it in case of rain or wind.
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Bridal bouquet of roses and alstroemerias: features of choice and advantages of the composition
Dress code for guests
In order to finally satisfy the stylistic unity of the elements of the wedding party, it is worth establishing a dress code for those invited to the celebration. In this case, you need to warn guests in advance. You don’t have to demand too much, just one element of clothing in the right shade is enough.
The bridesmaids and groomsmen can wear matching outfits for a stylish look. In this case, a shade of blue must appear.
For girls, you can create delicate images in the total blue style.
