Blooming Trends
As we step into the new year, exciting floral trends are awakening, from blush pinks to soft, powder blues. Looking ahead to 2025, couples are embracing bold, dynamic designs that set the stage for unforgettable moments. Read ahead as Melbourne Wedding & Bride’s Josephine Day chats with Lilly Mance, the owner and head florist of Lillypad Flowers & Events, about upcoming trending flower arrangements, offering inspiration for incorporating these designs into your wedding day.
From Rebel Wilson to Millie Bobby Brown, weddings over the past year have showcased grand arches and centrepieces adorned with bright, white, angelic flowers. While these flowers evoke a timeless, classic feel, the minimalist trend is expected to take the wedding industry by storm. Lilly Mance, a seasoned expert in the floral industry, has been creating masterpieces since 2001 and now owns her own store.
After purchasing a retail florist in Reservoir, Mance’s passion for floristry blossomed, and she continued to grow and refine her skills even after leaving school to ultimately buy the business which was a huge leap of faith at the time. “Over the past twenty four years, I have never stopped learning as with each new trend there are new techniques and new flowers to experiment with.” Mance has noticed a growing demand for pale blue flowers and modern minimalism, with brides requesting simple, reflexed roses. Additionally, the trend of incorporating edible fruits and vegetables into centrepieces is on the rise, offering a fresh twist to wedding floral design.
What’s Trending
Wedding trends are influenced by the world around us, with factors such as fashion, design and art playing a significant role in shaping the choices couples make for their big day. Over the last two years, the cottagecore aesthetic has gained popularity, blending floral and earthy tones to emphasise simplicity and a return to nature. Mance has noticed this trend within the wedding industry, as fashion and interior design influence floral colour choices. “If earthy tones are trending then the maids’ dresses may be in sage or warm blush, hence the flowers will be selected to include sage blush tones or terracotta tones,” she says. Alternatively, if the venue styling features layered draping fabrics, florals with soft layers of petals like ranunculi, peonies and classic roses, may be selected.
Choosing wedding florals is crucial, as they help set the tone and mood for the day. While roses remain an all-time favourite, garden-style flowers are emerging as a popular choice, with locally grown daisies, dahlias, ranunculi, sweet peas and butterfly delphiniums making their mark. Over the years, wedding florals have evolved from traditional styles to ones that better reflect the bride’s personality. Mance notes a shift from compact, perfectly domed rose bouquets to more free flowing, asymmetrical designs. Brides are also experimenting with richer and bolder tones, moving away from the whites and pinks of the past. She continues to predict that pastels such as blush pinks, peaches, cappuccino tones and soft powder blues, will dominate the wedding scene in 2025 and 2026.
Conscious Creations
Floristry is often misunderstood as merely arranging flowers, but it’s much more than that – it’s an art form centered around experimentation, creating experiences and evolving ideas. As trends shift and environmental awareness increases, florists are increasingly influenced by sustainability, with couples making more eco-conscious decisions when choosing flowers.
According to Mance, many couples are repurposing flowers wherever possible, and an increasing number are opting to hire silk flower installations and centrepieces to cut costs. Sustainability also plays a crucial role in flower selection, as florists are now more likely to source locally grown, in-season blooms, reducing the need for imported flowers. In addition to these eco-friendly choices, couples are getting creative by incorporating non-floral elements like fruits and vegetables – grapes, tomatoes and oranges – into their designs, adding an unexpected twist to their floral arrangements. Whether integrated into centrepieces or draped along the table these non-floral elements add “an extra layer of texture and colour to the styling theme,” Mance says.
While these sustainable and cost-effective trends are emerging, some traditional floral arrangements remain timeless. Mance highlights that floral arches are enduring favourites, often chosen as a statement piece for weddings, creating stunning freestanding designs that seem to grow from the ground into a spectacular display. Another rising trend is minimalist bud vases, perfect for reception styling.
A Word Of Advice
As your wedding day approaches, planning your floral arrangements early is crucial to avoid lastminute stress. According to Mance, “couples should establish their budgets early in the process and consider seasonal flowers for their wedding day, delivery and setup costs. We recommend they select the most important florals that will make the most impact on the day. For example, ceremony arch or centrepieces and select flowers based on their budgets.”
She also emphasises the importance of ordering wedding flowers well in advance, as this is not something that can be rushed, much like choosing a dress or venue. “We need time to source the perfect blooms and be open to slight substitutes as nature can be unpredictable at times and flowers may not arrive on time or be in the exact tones we requested. Trust your florist to select the best blooms to make your wedding memorable!” Mance advises.
Another helpful tip is to gather inspiration for your floral arrangements and how they will complement your overall style and theme. Having a vision will make the process smoother, as your florist can guide you in choosing flowers that meet your specific needs. By planning early, you ensure that your wedding flowers will be as beautiful and stress-free, leaving you to focus on other aspects of your big day.
Image courtesy of Emotions and Math.