The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Your Dried Flower Wedding Bouquet

Fresh flowers have always been the default go-to for weddings. But now, Pinterest-y gals will tell you that the trend of the decade is to use dried wedding flowers everywhere, from pampas grass arches to bridal bouquets. More couples are increasingly realizing that dried flower wedding bouquets hold up better, cost less to replace if something goes wrong, and become a keepsake of their very special day for at least a year, rather than ending up as compost by the end of the night.

This guide will cover everything you need to know so that your bouquet of dried flowers can match your wedding theme and what to do with these bouquets afterward!

Why Choose a Dried Flower Bouquet for Your Wedding?

According to the WedMeGood Annual Report, 52% of modern couples are now choosing eco-conscious options in their weddings, from limiting plastic waste to exploring low-waste and biodegradable alternatives to wedding essentials. Thankfully, a dried bridal bouquet fits perfectly into that shift. That is because:

• They don’t wilt under heat if your wedding is outdoors

• They don’t need refrigeration between ceremonies

• There’s no water needed to keep them fresh

• The arrangement doesn’t require single-use floral foam

• They travel well if packed properly.

• No flowers will randomly wilt between ceremonies

So, if you’re juggling a photoshoot or destination wedding, you need to consider dried flower arrangements. Plus, fresh bouquets are ordered only to be used for a few hours and thrown away after the function, while a dried flower bridal bouquet can sit in your home for 12 months after, reminding you of your special day. 

Aesthetically too, dried flowers do things fresh ones simply can't. The unique texture of pampas grass and the fluffy effect of dried bunny tails don't imitate fresh flowers. They hold a unique charm and give an extra edge to your wedding celebrations. 

Top Styles for Your Dried Flower Bridal Bouquet

Before I dive into the most popular dried flower bouquet styles, you need to keep in mind that they can be mixed-and-matched according to your wedding theme, colors, and preferences. At Coastal Habitat, we specialize in personalized dried flower bouquets and would love to make one for you on your special day. 

The Boho-Chic Statement

This is a Pinterest-savvy fashionista's dream bouquet style. Styled for a variation in textures, the Boho-Chic dried bridal bouquet adds depth without being too heavy to hold in your hands. An example bouquet can be arranged with pampas grass for softness, dried hydrangeas or baby’s breath for texture, and handmade Shola flowers to elevate the floral beauty. 

Do note to not go overboard with color changes in the bouquet. For instance, ivory pampas work best with beige bunny tails instead of everything being the exact same shade.

Wildflower and Whimsical

Wildflower, like its name, is about being wild and free. It is known for looking hand-gathered from the field rather than being arranged deliberately by a florist. Mostly, it features asymmetrical arrangements with different stem lengths, colored Shola flowers, bunny tails, and mixes of dried grasses.  

For Indian weddings, we recommend the wildflower dried bouquet style for outdoor shaadis, destination beach weddings, or your mehndi or haldi. For a Christian ceremony, your bridesmaids can also hold mini dried flower bouquets, complementing your bridal bouquet. 

The Modern Minimalist

Interior designer Tyler Wisler has some great advice for minimalist bouquet styling: “Stick to one color and put three stems or five stems." These bouquets usually have about 5 stems of dried pampas grass with very few preserved flowers in the middle as accents.

We recommend this bouquet if you wish for your wedding dress and glamour to be the highlight rather than the flowers. This dried wedding bouquet is usually to complement and complete the bride’s look. 

P.S. If you have a different theme or style in mind, Coastal Habitat has proven experience in  making dried flower bouquets for large-scale weddings and corporate events. Reach out to us here to customize your order.  

How to Match Your Bouquet to Your Wedding Theme

Color Palettes That Work

If you’ve seen a dried flower, you know that they sit in an earthy and warm register, mostly consisting of beiges, off-whites, soft browns, and muted greens. If you closely notice, most Indian architecture also follows this palette, but if you want to go more colorful, you can consider colored dried flowers. 

You also need to know that direct exposure to sunlight will cause the color in these dried flowers to fade faster. If your ceremony is an outdoor setting and you’re using these flowers for decor,  go for more natural tones.

Scale and Proportion

“Big, fat Indian weddings" is such a common saying that, funnily enough, I ended up having to write a section on how to choose a dried flower bouquet that complements your heavy wedding lehenga and grand dupatta. 

• Engagement outfits or simple gowns: A single-element minimalist bouquet is more than enough to add to the elegance of your fit. 

• A big, fat Lehenga: Unless you want your bouquet to disappear, you need a boho bouquet with good volume. 

• Saree: Since the silhouette is not as loud as a lehenga, a mini dried flower bridal bouquet works best. 

• Anarkali: It’s somewhere in between a grand lehenga and a saree in grandeur. So, choose a mid-size bouquet, both in size and looks. Anything too minimalist will disappear in the outfit.

Lastly, note that longer stems tend to suit outdoor ceremonies with open fields, while shorter stems better suit indoor ceremonies with more structure.  

Essential Care: Handling Your Bouquet on the Big Day

Yes, dried flowers are a worthy companion to your wedding since they are resilient, but that does not mean you treat them carelessly. Here are a few things you need to do:

• Avoid direct water contact like the plague. Even a damp bouquet wrapper can soften the stems and loosen the structure. Be especially careful if your wedding is an outdoor one. 

• Avoid tightly gripping your stems. A loose hold allows your plumes to shine the best. 

• Don't place anything on top of the bouquet, even clothes, since the weight can flatten the bouquet. Lean it on a chair or a wall. 

• Dried flower bouquets are inflammable, so keep away from diyas. This sounds obvious, but ceremony setups with open flames are common at Indian weddings.

• Give it a gentle shake the night before the wedding ceremony to get all the loose plumes out. Shedding is normal in dried flower bouquets. 

Life After the Wedding: Displaying Your Keepsake

This is something a fresh flower bouquet absolutely cannot do: live on even after your wedding. I’ll keep it simple on how you can make it a keepsake. Just put it in a vase and let it sit. I built Coastal Habitat from scratch because I think that dried flowers are like tiny moments frozen in time, preserving precious memories in forms that don’t change and hold the arrangement given to them. 

Here are some more ideas:

• If the original bouquet is huge, separate it into two or three smaller clusters for your bedroom, living room, and coffee table. A simple and dry glass bottle mimics a bottleneck vase and can hold your flowers aesthetically. 

• Individual dried blooms and grasses can be pressed flat and framed in a shadow box for preservation. 

• If you’re big on reading books, these dried flower bouquets will be your bookshelf’s best friend. Keep them on your shelf, along with some unlit candles, and an aesthetic setup is ready.

Do take care to avoid direct sunlight and moisture. Also, keep out of reach of children and pets. 

Conclusion

A dried flower wedding bouquet is like a long-lasting photo frame of your wedding day. Keeping bits of it around your house is a reminder of the timeless bond you built with your partner. If you’re worried about finding a dried flower bridal bouquet that can match your outfit, reach out to us! Coastal Habitat has a wide range of natural pampas, bunny tails, preserved blooms, and dyed varieties across different palettes, and I am certain we can whip something up for you.