ART OF THE BOUQUET

date posted: March 12, 2018

The tradition of a bride carrying flowers down the aisle is rooted in ancient customs.

Whether bearing herbs and spices to ward off evil spirits or hand-picked flowers to signify a new life together, the bridal bouquet has stood the test of time and continues to evolve in styles and arrangements.

Choose local, seasonal flowers and greens to highlight the essence of your surroundings, or incorporate your all-time favorite blossoms into your statement piece for the day.

Flowers offer fragrance, style, color, and texture, and are the bride’s primary accessory for this most special day.

Recreate the beauty of a 17th-century still-life painting with lush florals and protruding greenery.

For an outdoor wedding in the mountains, hand-tied bouquets with that “fresh-picked” style, pairing locally grown shrubs with gorgeous, fragrant florals, highlight the smells and colors of the season and add texture and nuance to your wedding day style.

Nothing dresses up a simple gown like a floral arrangement with a stunning color palette. Rich floral tones can be complemented by softer hues. Keep it simple with a posy bouquet that features mostly flowers of similar length and style, or embellish with cascading greenery for a more dramatic look.

adams fairacre farms

Hudson Valley, 845-336-6300 (Kingston), www.adamsfarms.com

Create your own bouquet or let one of their florists design an arrangement for you from their lovely array of fresh-cut flowers: roses, snapdragons, orchids, lilies, alstroemeria—selections from far and wide that change from day to day and season to season. They also specialize in creating arrangements for every kind of gathering or event, and they deliver locally. Stop by any four of their locations and see what’s blooming at the Adams Flower Shop.

athabold flowers

Germantown, 518-537-4215, www.athabold.com

At Athabold, we work with flowers to establish a mood, evoke an emotion, and bring people together. Owner/creative director Shuheng Ji offers the ideal combination of creative vision and customer service to deliver custom designs with a sense of seasonality, integrating current trends and quality products that are right for your specific needs. We collaborate with brides, couples, and wedding planners to celebrate special moments and create lasting memories.

dirty girls design

Hudson Valley, 845-626-1310, www.dirtygirlsdesign.com

Inspired by place and informed by season, Dirty Girls Design strives to capture the wilds of the Hudson Valley. Our passion is to design with the seasons—spring’s emergent growth, summer’s explosion of color, fall’s abundance of foliage, flower, and fruit. Even deepest winter offers hardy, textural foliage and striking architectural forms. Often seen harvesting from fields and roadsides, we are committed to using locally farmed and foraged material. We are also dedicated to cultivating dynamic relationships with our clients so that, together, we can create distinctive and authentic occasions.

elderberry flowers

Woodstock, 845-679-0271, www.elderberrydesignandflowers.com

Elderberry Flowers creates one-of-a-kind wedding florals based on your dream wedding. Designer Jim Williams, with years of art and design and photo styling experience, puts together unique floral combinations in a painterly fashion. Whether rustic country, casually elegant, formal, or totally modern, Jim will create the flowers of your dreams. With its focus solely on weddings, Elderberry gives you the ultimate attention you deserve and will make your everlasting floral memories.

flowerkraut

Hudson, 518-821-6716, www.flowerkrauthudson.com

Flowerkraut is passionate about using seasonal, locally grown flowers, working alongside the Hudson Valley’s best growers to compose sprawling, abundant designs. Expect to find subtle color palettes and attention to detail, from the tiniest pretty stems to the biggest blousy blooms. Arrangements incorporate herbs, unexpected foliages, seed pods, grasses, and other avant-garde components, alongside more classically beloved flowers. Always seeking out the most unusual ingredients, Mairead’s style is informed by an upbringing amongst Scotland’s wildflowers, and flower training amidst England’s country gardens.

hops petunia

Kingston, 845-481-5817, www.hopspetunia.com

Hops Petunia Floral is a non-traditional floral boutique that takes great pride in honoring nature, and brings back the artistry of floral design in its most honest way. Every design is artfully made and special to the occasion, with sweeping gestures and sweet delicate scents, wild and textured details. We do our very best to bring your wedding dreams to life and make your day as memorable as it should be. We also use as many American and locally grown flowers as we can.

twilight acres’ homegrown

Stone Ridge, 845-687-0070, www.twilightacreshomegrown.com

We are a second-generation farm in the Hudson Valley specializing in cultivating sustainably grown varieties of cut flowers and foliage. We bring the field-to-vase initiative to life with a unique combination of seasonal blooms and foraged greenery and branches. Whether woodland and wild or sophisticated and polished, we will create a look that’s perfect for you. Although we favor working with our own seasonal botanicals, in the off-season we also import varieties from around the country and world.

jarita’s florist

Woodstock, 845-679-6161, www.weddingsbyjaritasflorist.com

Overseen by noted floral designer Rita Sands and husband Jay Sadowitz, Jarita’s is committed to offering the most exceptional floral arrangements with exquisite attention to detail that comes with over 40 years in the event business. They understand that the best gift for any couple is complete peace of mind on their wedding day. Working with Jarita’s on special floral arrangements guarantees a gorgeous day for all and beautiful memories that last forever.

meadowscent

Gardiner and New Paltz, 845-255-3866, www.meadowscent.com

Wedding flowers should be as unique as the couple getting married! From rustic romance to sleek contemporary, Meadowscent’s designers are the professionals keeping up on current styles and trends. Let them take your pictures and inspirations and create stunning florals just for you. Meadowscent carries flowers from sustainable farms and features local products seasonally, providing you with the most beautiful blooms available in a responsible manner.

meadow wilds

New Paltz, www.meadowwilds.com

Meadow Wilds is a floral design studio and flower farm by the mountains of the Hudson River Valley. As designers, we are inspired by nature’s beauty and the changing of the seasons. We forage wild flowers & greenery when we can. We grow over 75 varieties of cut flowers to create an artful blend of wild and cultivated botanicals. We delight in collaborating with our couples to create a unique and elegant vision. Our wedding services offer personal consultations and visioning for a most beautiful wedding day.

molly marquand flowers

Hudson Valley, 207-333-2699, www.mollyjmarquand.com

Hailing from England and growing up in New York’s Hudson Valley, Molly has been inspired by some of the most beautiful gardens and landscapes in the world. With an MS in botany and a professional background in plant conservation, all her work is conducted with careful consideration of nature. She creates arrangements from 100-percent foraged and locally grown flowers to reflect the wild abundance of Catskills plant life.

peony design studio

Poughkeepsie, 845-464-5554, www.peonydesignstudio.com

Peony Design Studio is a boutique wedding and event florist. We are truly passionate about our work. Our inspiration comes from you. Through collaborative creativity and personalized service we will make your event as unique and special as you are. We love what we do and we want you to love it, too. Call us today for your free consultation.

green cottage

High Falls, 845-687-4810, www.thegreencottage.com

As a sentimentalist, Dennis Nutley understands the importance of special occasions to everyday life. He creates expressive arrangements that evoke nature with a mix of ordinary and extraordinary flowers. His designs are truly dazzling, and his enjoyment of working with clients to reflect and refine their vision is paramount to him.

wildflowers

Margaretville, 845-586-2444, www.wildflowers-design.com

At Wildflowers, they search the globe for the most unique flowers to create European-style bouquets, centerpieces, and everyday arrangements. Catskill Mountain, city, and destination weddings are all within their reach. Awarded Best Floral and Event Design Company of New York by Corporate America Boardroom Elite for 2016 and 2017.

petals & moss floral design

Red Hook, 845-758-9964, www.petalsandmossflorals.com

At Petals & Moss, designer Nancy J. Lee partners with each client to create an organic floral experience that tells a story. A horticulturist based in the Hudson Valley for over 25 years, she is inspired by natural landscapes and seasonal foliage from local growers. Her abilities to transform fresh & dried flowers, in combination with foraged materials, offers a truly unique approach to each design. Whether it’s a private party, wedding, or statement installation, Nancy provides an artistic approach where no detail goes unnoticed!