7 Trendy Wedding Flower Ideas That Will Stand Out in 2022
Here's what will be in full bloom at weddings this year.
Floral design by The Wild Fleur Co.
It's safe to say that we could all benefit from looking at beautiful, colorful things right now, and these trending wedding flower ideas for 2022 don't disappoint. Even though weddings these days are taking on all different shapes and forms, fresh flowers will still be a major part of many celebrations in 2022, which is something to cheer about. Below, we've got a first look at what's trending for bouquets, wedding reception centerpieces, and more, thanks to pro floral designers and other industry experts.
"This is the year that couples will be leaning into who they are and how they can express that more than ever," says Jaclyn Watson, principal planner at Jaclyn Watson Events in Stowe, Vermont. "Their floral visions will be grander than ever before."
Doing exactly what you want for your wedding—trendy or not—is a mindset that's only going to grow in popularity for 2022, and it's a sentiment that's echoed by other vendors. "Whether our couples are focusing on what truly is important to them or a push towards individuality, we are seeing more of our couples marching to their own drums, picking colors they love, flowers and colors that they are drawn to, and celebrating with their favorite people," says Nora Sheils, founder of Bridal Bliss in Lake Oswego, Oregon.
Flowers are the perfect way to breathe life, color, and energy into your wedding day, especially if you've been waiting a long time for the moment to arrive. From boutonnieres and bridal bouquets to attention-grabbing ceremony backdrops, these 2022 wedding flower ideas and trends will give you a boost of inspiration for however you're celebrating.
Cascading Wedding Bouquets
"Making a comeback after being gone for some time is the cascading bouquet that flows down and creates a whimsical and playful moment," says Watson.
This wedding bouquet style, which features flowers that are tightly arranged at the top of the bouquet and taper down into an asymmetrical shape, was popular throughout the '80s and '90s. You might remember it being carried by several famous brides from that era, including Princess Diana, Victoria Beckham, Iman Abdulmajid, and even Julia Roberts in Runaway Bride. Since those decades are currently steering much of today's trends across the board (fashion, home decor, and makeup, to name a few), we shouldn't be surprised that weddings are also under the retro influence.
But for 2022, cascading bouquets will take on an updated, garden-inspired look, using long greenery branches, vines, and pastel flowers to add color, airiness, and lots of texture. "We're also loving the pops of anemones that will be placed throughout these stunning bouquets," Watson says. Other flowers that are perfect for this oversized bouquet idea: phalaenopsis orchids, clematis, jasmine, and roses.
Purple Color Palettes
Eye-catching colors are coming in hot, including Very Peri, the Pantone Color of the Year and one of the top wedding color trends for 2022. This periwinkle-esque color brings a touch of energy and vibrancy to your wedding flower arrangements, and because you only need a hint of it here and there to make an impact, it's easy to work into a range of decorative aesthetics.
"We will see cool purple and blue-toned flowers make a comeback," says Joan Wydrum O’Hear, vice president of wholesale flower company Blooms by the Box in Watchung, New Jersey. "Blooms that will pair well with Very Peri are statice, veronica, and purple larkspur."
The color is easy enough to pair with other pastels, like blush or sage green, during the warmer months. But if you're worried about light blue and purple tones not fitting in with your wedding season, keep in mind that it's all about the accent colors you use to transform them. "You might think that with a color that very much seems to lend itself to spring and summer that it might be hard to use for fall and winter, but we love these tones paired with burgundy snapdragons and gerpoms," says O'Hear.
Understated Luxury
Statement wedding flower ideas are going to be big in 2022 (more on that in a minute), but on the opposite end of the spectrum, simple floral designs are also trending. This year's wedding boom will have some couples going back to the basics, with streamlined color palettes, smaller floral arrangements, and timeless flowers being prioritized. While some of that can likely be attributed to the ongoing supply chain issues related to the pandemic, it's also about creating an understated vibe that won't distract from the main reason you're planning a wedding: to marry the love of your life.
Choosing to keep your flower arrangements simple and streamlined doesn't mean that you don't care about the details. Instead, it's about being highly intentional with your choices. For some couples, this could mean using only two or three types of flowers that you genuinely love, or skipping otherwise trendy arrangements that don't necessarily match your personal style.
Timeless flowers—particularly those that bloom in white, buttercream, and ivory—will all be popular for achieving a subtle, classic look. If you're not into oversized arrangements and bouquets, roses, calla lilies, and sweet peas are some of our favorite flowers to carry in a small posy. "Another popular flower that we will be seeing throughout the 2022 wedding season is Lily of the Valley," says Watson. "This sweet and delicate flower has been a floral favorite of one of my favorite iconic legends, Audrey Hepburn, and even Grace Kelly. Get ready to take a step back in time and feel the understated luxury that these florals will hold."
Larger-than-Life Flower Installations
If you're looking to go all out for your wedding in 2022, you're not alone. After dealing with postponements, vendor availability (or lack thereof), and ever-evolving health and safety guidelines—on top of regular wedding planning to-dos—the arrival of your big day is a huge cause for celebration. It's no wonder that couples want their wedding to be a completely memorable party, which is why 'bigger is better' is a common theme for wedding flower ideas in 2022.
"Tablescapes will be full, lush, and very detailed," says Sheils. "Escort walls will continue to be a big trend [along with] ceiling installations, although looser than in years past." Dramatic, over-the-top flower installations will also accent ceremony backdrops, wedding venue entrances, lighting elements, and dessert displays.
Fluorescent Pastels
Pastel colors and popular wedding flowers are no strangers to each other—there will always be a time and place for soft blush pink blooms (trust us, we love peonies as much as the next person). But this year, the trend of airy, washed-out hues will shift slightly, with multi-color palettes that include not just one or two pastels, but several of them. The end result? A toned-down, rainbow-inspired effect that's full of life and whimsy, without being overwhelmingly bold.
"This lends itself to Pantone’s Color of the Year, Very Peri, as well" says O'Hear. "Color palettes include buttery yellow, pale pink, peach, soft blues, and purple."
Adding a bright accent color like lilac or periwinkle is an easy way to boost your color palette if subtle pastels, such as blush and pale yellow, feel too basic for your style. If you're having a fall wedding or winter wedding, consider adding seasonal accent colors, like terracotta orange or olive green, as anchors for a pastel palette.
English Garden Style
Yep, Bridgerton and cottagecore will continue to trend in 2022, but truthfully, we can't get enough of this pretty aesthetic. With a heavy focus on details like frilly dresses, toile prints, and pastel colors, this trend is also a natural fit for some of the dreamiest wedding flower ideas.
"The English garden feel will be making its way back on the map," says Bri Marbais, bridal stylist at The Bridal Finery in Winter Park, Florida. "With Bridgerton still having an influence on wedding trends for 2022, we expect to see couples draw inspiration for their flowers from the show. Garden roses, baby’s breath, peonies, and snapdragons are a few types of flowers to consider when going for this look. We anticipate the use of colors such as lavender, periwinkle, blush, and sage but through a more muted pastel way."
Overfilled wedding centerpieces, large blooms, and perfectly imperfect tablescapes will all help you create a homey but elegant English garden-inspired wedding theme. For spring and summer weddings, focus on using wildflowers and other blooms that you'd see growing naturally in a garden, like tulips, daisies, hydrangeas, and Queen Anne's lace. This popular style also pairs perfectly with some of the other 2022 wedding flower trends, like cascading bouquets and flower installations (think 'planted' floral aisles and chandeliers draped in lush greenery garlands).
Dried Grasses and Florals
When you think of beach or boho wedding decor, there's probably one trendy floral accent that quickly comes to mind: pampas grass. The fluffy brown grass has been a huge trend for the last few years, and while it's not going away quite yet, you can expect to see other types of grasses and botanical accents coming into play for 2022. The same goes for popular greenery, like eucalyptus, as couples and wedding florists will be looking for new ways to make their arrangements feel personal and one-of-a-kind.
"Pampas grass is here to stay, mixed with the combo of fresh and dried flowers," says Watson. "The use of greenery is also still sticking around, but with some slight tweaks with couples stepping away from the eucalyptus leaves and going more towards the seasonal greens and various grasses from where they are getting married."
If you love the cool, easygoing vibe of pampas grass but you want something a bit more unexpected, consider using other dried accents, like bunny tails, okra pods, iridescent lunaria branches, bleached ruscus, or oat stems. P.S.: One of our favorite things about including dried wedding florals is that many of them can be dyed to match any color scheme, which you'll love if you're going for a modern, monochromatic look.
