Floral arrangements for special occasions are a personal statement. The choice of color, shape, texture and accents reflects the imagination and aesthetic of the designer. In this sense, floral arrangements are more art than a trendy affair.
And yet, floral designs embody the hottest colors, shapes, and textures of the moment. They reveal the cultural paradigms and spirit of the times. While never straying from the primary goal of bringing beauty, art, and romance to an occasion, floral designs say much about just what sort of mood and drama an event aims to convey.
Current trends embrace traditionalism, but are eager to explore nature, science, and modern flower breeding in designs ranging from bohemian excess to sophisticated restraint, and from neutral tones of blush rose to preternaturally colored orchids.
One strong trend in 2019 is the introduction of bold corals, the 2019 Pantone Color of the Year. Likewise, jewel tones and shades of purple in garden roses, peonies, dahlias, anemones, ranunculus, hydrangea, and lisianthus reign in bouquets and table arrangements. Caroline Leslie, manager and floral designer at The Gateway Florist in Annapolis, says “An overflow of assorted eucalyptus has been a big look for the past couple of years, but this year we are veering away from that and going for more full-floral designs that use minimal greenery and a lot of flower varieties and textures to achieve an organic look.”
For centerpieces, Leslie says the use of non-traditional flowers and arrangements in minimalist arrangements is haute current. Instead of the traditional compact centerpiece, greenery with either garlands that run the length of a table or simply around a statement piece, such as a lantern, are being used. “Lighting, such as candles, is always great for that extra touch of romance, to make something as subtle as a garland come to life,” Leslie says. “Clustering of ‘vintage’ containers, such as bud vases, using one to three focal flowers, is a great choice to create a clean and minimal accent for tables.”
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Color Block Bouquetsthat Embrace Mysticaland Remarkable Tones
This style statement is drenched in elegance and a sense of high fashion. These bouquets speak to sophistication, worldliness, and daring artistry.
THE COLORS: Rich tones of maroon, purple, hunter green, carnation red, coral, and pacific blue.
THE FLOWERS: British-grown blooms, peony, oriental lily, calla lily, tulip, garden roses, dahlia, orchid, French marigold, bamboo, palm frond, berries in shades of blue and purple (such as viburnum), and Asiatic lilies.
THE INSPIRATION: Much like clothing trends for fall 2019, this floral trend looks to inspiration in jewel accents, vintage brocade, Dutch impressionism, peacock feathers, Japanese and Asian motifs, rich textures of velvet and silk, and layered golds.
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Boho Chic + Wild & Natural
This style statement can be overflowing with blooms and include multiple shades of green accents. Long cascades of flowers and leaves contribute to the natural, fairy-like vibe.
THE COLORS: Basil green, robin‘s egg blue, raspberry pink, peachy blush, and purple.
THE FLOWERS: Seedpods, ranunculus, blue viburnum, eucalyptus, Carolina sapphire, olive branch, roselily, hydrangea, peony, stock garden roses, waxflower, lisianthus, spray roses, garden cuts, pincushion, smoke bush, Japanese yew, cherry blossoms, Italian ruscus, Israel ruscus, lemon and leaf, seeded baby eucalyptus, fresh herbs like variations of sage, thyme and lavender.
THE INSPIRATION: Layered metals in shades of bronze, weathered copper and aged silver, watercolor paintings, traditional ribbons, archeological earthenware, bird egg accents, textures of linen, cotton, sage, and petals.
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Minimalist
Minimalist arrangements celebrate repetition of simple textures and colors, and are hypnotic in their subtle, gradual use of trim or accents. Minimalist trends aren’t afraid of large or tall statements; rather they shy away from complexity of color, tone, or texture.
THE COLORS: Fir tree, cactus green, eucalyptus blues, sunny yellow, coral orange, turquoise, royal blue, white, creamy white, and pink blush.
THE FLOWERS: Grasses and blooming branches like iris stems, calla lily, lily of the valley, bamboo, palm frond, euphorbias, jades, forsythia, quintz, cherry blossom and peach blossom, brunia berries.
THE INFLUENCES: 1970s, simplicity, nature, environmentalism, Japanese ikebana, Asian silk panels.
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Annapolis Blue and Gold
THE COLORS: Shades of pastel yellow, sunshine yellow, royal blue, navy blue, and bright white.
THE FLOWERS: Iris, blue bell, blue grape hyacinth, blue hydrangeas, white hybrid lilies, white hydrangeas, tulips, delphinium, yellow roses, dahlia, mums, freesia (blue or white), gerber daisies, sunflowers, creamy astilbe, and carnations.
THE INSPIRATION: The deep blue sea, USNA, summer sun, starlit nights, Provence.
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Bliss in Blush
Blush has become the go-to color for brides and new moms: it’s the perfect neutral canvas, is natural yet elegant, and pairs perfectly with richer darker tones. There are endless varieties of blush colored petals.
THE COLORS: soft shades of rose, peach, pink, purple, yellow, cream and white.
THE FLOWERS: Roses, tulips, dianthus, spray roses, peony, freesia, lisianthus, ranunculus, and astilbe accented by soft greenery like dusty miller or sage leaves.
THE INSPIRATION: Beach sunsets, champagne, honey, Monet, English tea.
Le Haute Fleur
Local florists say that, although many clients favor traditional bouquets of roses, peonies, and hydrangeas, others want something absolutely unique. The main elements of an on-trend bouquet are bold colors, unusual embellishments, unexpected shapes, and extraordinary textures. Cascading flowers or greenery are perfect ideas to include in bold floral statements. To create your own statement, think about these ideas:
Adopt Alternative Stems
Consider calla lilies in deep jewel tones, brilliant Asiatic orchids that fall in deep cascades, scented freesia, and antique shades of lily of the valley. Alternatively, consider simple bunches of seeded oat, barley, wheat, grasses, lavender, or thyme, wrapped with a silk ribbon to elevate the elegance of look.
Monochromatic
Consider choosing a monochromatic color palette of all whites, all blushes or shades of pink, or all brilliant blues and purples, but mix up the textures, tones, and accents (greenery, ribbons, or beading). Along these lines, think about choosing one bloom that stands out, such as an air plant or large open rose, surrounded by coordinating shades of much simpler petals or greenery such as eucalyptus leaves, grasses, or branches.
Handmade
Your bespoke bouquet will be truly unique, heirloom quality, and a statement. Consider a bouquet of ribbon roses, perhaps mixed in with natural berries or grasses, dried stems, or lifelike petals. Options for handmade bouquets are endless, and can reflect your hobbies, interests, and passions. Flowers can be made of sheet music, burlap, souvenir maps, and seashells. Accents can include ribbons from arrangements of long ago, brooches or other jewels, and inherited hankies.
