A wedding colour sets the tone for the whole celebration: invitations, décor, bridesmaids' dresses, the groom's boutonniere and, of course, the bridal bouquet. Here are the most popular palettes — blue, red, yellow, green and purple — the flowers that suit each, and how to keep the look balanced.
For ready-made options in different colours, see bridal bouquets and flowers for newlyweds.
For shape and size, see our bridal bouquet guide.
Blue is one of the most traditional wedding colours: in English-speaking countries the bride wears "something blue" for luck. Few flowers are naturally blue: delphinium, hydrangea, muscari, eryngium, forget-me-nots and cornflowers. Blue roses and orchids are usually dyed. Blue looks best paired with white.
Red means passion and ceremony. Roses, ranunculus, peonies, dahlias and anemones work well, and amaryllis in winter. The deep wine shade marsala became popular in wedding floristry after Pantone named it Colour of the Year for 2015; it is softened with peach and cream.
Yellow is sunny and joyful — ideal for summer and autumn weddings outdoors. Yellow roses and ranunculus, craspedia balls and freesia work well, with sunflowers and mimosa in season. Soften yellow with white, cream or grey-blue. See also what yellow flowers mean.
Green suits eco weddings, garden celebrations and boho style. Eucalyptus, ruscus and ferns form the base, with white flowers and green accents: Anastasia Green chrysanthemums, hydrangea, bells of Ireland. More in our article on green flowers.
Purple means luxury and romance. In spring use lilac and tulips, in summer lavender and lisianthus, in autumn asters and chrysanthemums, and callas and orchids all year round. Lilac is especially lovely with silver eucalyptus and white. For purple flower ideas, see purple flowers.
It can, but natural blue flowers are few and are usually combined with white and greenery. An all-blue bouquet almost always includes dyed flowers.
Not exactly, but it should echo one of the bouquet's colours or flowers.
White with greenery and a single accent — it works in any season, venue and style.