Just like there are plenty of beautiful wedding flowers to choose from, so are there different types of wedding bouquets.

Read on for some wedding inspiration and to know all about the six kinds of wedding bouquets. How will you know what suits you best? Remember to take into consideration your dress, your body shape and size, and of course, your wedding theme. If you’re tall, don’t get a tiny bouquet that will get lost in your wedding dress; and if you’re short, don’t get a large bouquet that will overwhelm your size.

1 – Posy bouquet

This classic style is small and round, usually made with smaller flowers that are either tied or wired together. If you want a simple bouquet that will complement, not compete, with your wedding dress, then this is the bouquet for you.

2 – Teardrop bouquet

This is a posy bouquet that has a trail of flowers creating a teardrop shape, with the trail no more than 35cm.

3 – Cascade bouquet

A less structured teardrop bouquet, the cascade is a lot longer and has multiple trails cascading from the top. This is perfect for garden and beach weddings and is usually made with lilies or orchids.

4 – Princess bouquet

For the fairytale princess bride. It is a larger and wider cascade bouquet, with many trails of flowers.

5 – Trail Bouquet

Almost the same size as the princess bouquet, except the only trail is made up of foliage. Extra flowers can be placed throughout the trail, making it less expensive than the princess bouquet. This is fantastic for outdoor weddings.

6 – Arm spray

A casual bouquet style, it is made up of long-stemmed flowers. The length of the bouquet can be toned down with foliage. This is great for brides looking for something more remarkable than the posy.

{Posy bouquet via Silk Wedding Designs; teardrop and arm spray bouquets via Florabella Design; cascade bouquet via Ali Eli Florals; princess bouquet via Flowers for Royal Weddings; trail bouquet via Noosa Flowers}

The bright and peppy bouquets by The Green Vase leave us sighing happily on this wonderful morning.

They make the loveliest handmade paper flowers and source top-quality fresh flowers and mix these together to make seemingly simple yet the most elegant floral arrangements. And, yes, these would be stunning as wedding flowers!

The Green Vase is run by two fantastic ladies—Livia Cetti, a floral and still-life artist, crafter, and event-designer from Santa Barbara, California; and Joanne Donohoe, a veteran florist and businesswoman from Yorkshire, England. Together they took their love of flowers and the arts to operate The Green Vase, which was originally owned by Livia’s mother. They cater to any event but specialize in wedding flowers.

Their paper flowers are low-maintenance yet high in style. And they’re so lifelike you almost want to take a whiff!

They also have cake topper kits where you can affix their paper flowers on your wedding cake. These are some fine wedding ideas from The Green Vase, don’t you think?

The Green Vase is located in The Bronx, New York. Browse their online shop for some more wonderful wedding inspiration.

{Images via The Green Vase}

Leading Sydney florist, Sally Thompson of Blushing Blooms shares her take on the new and exciting wedding flower trends for 2011.

In welcoming 2011 we also welcome some new and exciting trends in wedding flowers, floral styling and wedding décor.

Bold colours will be huge for 2011 – the days of the shy and retiring bouquet are long departed! Fuchsia, orange and cherry tones contrasted with splashes of lime green and yellow will dominate as brides follow trends emanating from Europe and the US. Over-the-top colours add glamour against dark bridesmaids gowns add oomph to wedding photos. Combined with the ongoing popularity of daring coloured wedding shoes, brides for the new year will embrace colour daringly and celebrate nature’s most vibrant blooms with gusto.

The lust for vintage and rustic-chic will continue beyond 2011.  Fluffy, feminine flowers in muted tones of musky pinks, creams and silvers will also remain popular. Embellishment of bouquets with jewelled brooches, buttons and other quirky relics (be it from Nanna’s drawer, a family heirloom or a thrift shop) will grow with brides seeking to add details and personalisation to their big day.

The more classic vintage look will see bouquets and centerpieces with masses of single species blooms with an emphasis on shading and soft texture – peonies, hydrangea and ranunculus will feature heavily. Rustic-chic inspired brides will request looser and more free flowing designs with an emphasis on organic and unusual details such as twigs, nests, berries and mosses.

As an extension of the ongoing trend of mis-matched bridesmaids dress I believe more progressive brides will seek to have mis-matched flowers – varying bouquets from the same ‘colour story’.

To the brides of 2011 my closing words of wisdom are these; trends are fun to observe and always interesting but choose what you love. As Yves Saint Laurent famously said, ‘Fashion fades but style is eternal’ and this couldn’t be more true. Your day should reflect your personality and be a celebration of you (and your fiancée’s) personal style. Happy planning!

Author Sally Thompson.

{Bouquets 1-3 shown are the original work of Sally Thompson from Blushing Blooms Floral Studio; Images by Cathy Crawley of Beautiful Moments Photography} {Wedding flowers 4 via Martha Stewart Weddings}  {Wedding flowers 5 via Pretty Chicky Wedding Blog;mage by Carl Zoch Photography}