Floral gown by Coriander Girl from Fleurs De Villes 2018.
The royal wedding is only a few days away, so we thought it’d be best to gather all the predictions and ideas that will likely inspire the big event, and inspire bridal trends for the next couple of years.
We had the chance to chat with some seriously talented florists from across the country who’ve been part of Fleurs De Villes, a unique cross-country event in its third year, in which floral designers are challenged to create bespoke gowns entirely from fresh blooms. They gave us the inside scoop on their floral trend predictions, what the flowers at the royal wedding will look like, and their favourite floral pieces to make for weddings.
Kelly from Botany & Bloom in Vancouver
What are your floral trend predictions for the upcoming year?
The top floral trends are all about colour, which excites me! Lots of beautiful blooms and a variety of foliage and fruit to create layers of texture with movement and whimsical designs.
What do you think the royal wedding flowers will look like?
I picture Meghan with a cascading bouquet full of lush peonies and David Austin garden roses. The wedding flowers will be over the top, but not in a fussy way, which seems to go along with their personalities — lots of flowers and greenery with a natural feel. I imagine the reception site will be full of flowers, tall centrepieces and suspended floral decor.
What is your favourite piece to create for a wedding?
I love designing the ceremony arch. The ceremony is my favourite part of a wedding as it is so sentimental, so designing the arch is really special.
Nathan from Graham & Lane Florists in Edmonton
What are your floral trend predictions for the upcoming year?
We predict the season will continue with a very abstract, wildflower, woodsy aesthetic. Many brides are drawn to a loose, airy feel and bouquets using a variety of foliage and textures. Interesting statement blooms continue to be popular, such as peonies, protea and dahlias. The most popular tones for the summer remain rustic, with creamy peaches, burgundy, aubergine, sand and cream.
What do you think the royal wedding flowers will look like?
We predict the royal couple, although young and contemporary, will conform to a more formal, classic style for their wedding. We see Meghan carrying a bouquet in classic whites and ivories, interspersed with a mixture of natural foliage to add texture. Our predictions include flowers such as white, David Austin O’Hara garden roses, ranuculus, lily of the valley and green and white parrot tulips. We hope to see her carry a very clean and classic nosegay style bouquet rather than a teardrop like Katherine or a full cascade bouquet as Diana carried.
What is your favourite piece to create for a wedding?
My favourite piece to create for every wedding is the bridal bouquet! It sets the tone for the whole wedding and all other flower decisions come from that one piece. It is a very personal connection between the bride and a florist.
Cory Christopher from Cory Christopher Design in Calgary
What are your floral trend predictions for the upcoming year?
For upcoming trends, we’re going to see a continuation of greenery and more earthy florals. There’s this push toward foraging and making that connection with the outdoors. We’re also going to see more unexpected elements. I think florals these days are moving away from this bohemian look and toward getting creative with textures. We’re going to be seeing more installations–they’re going to become a really integral part to a wedding.
What do you think the royal wedding flowers will look like?
In choosing their floral designer and even cake designer, Meghan and Harry are really trying to pay homage to that social responsibility aspect of their wedding and their lives as a whole. Their flowers are going to include unique elements, but are also going to be reflective of their personalities and souls. They’ll incorporate locally grown flowers that are meaningful to them.
Your floral dress at this year’s Fleurs De Villes will feature a Meghan-Markle inspired dress. What can we expect?
For Fleurs De Villes, I’ve really wanted to make my gowns couture–something you can see on the runway. It gives me a chance to propel my skills and attention to detail. Fashion and wedding gowns really influence what bridal floral trends will be, so I wanted to create something to reflect that. The gown will be fun and whimsical, with greens and shades of yellow.
What is your favourite piece to make a for wedding?
I love creating the bridal bouquet. The bouquet, for me, is like my gift to the bride. It’s something very meaningful and special, and I spend time with each of my brides creating something totally unique to her personality.
Deanna from Coriander Girl in Toronto
What are your floral trend predictions for the upcoming year?
My top floral trend/predictions for 2018 are the cascading bridal bouquet, but more loose and garden inspired with trailing greenery. I also predict that greenery heavy arrangements will be very popular with a focus on foraged and more interesting foliage such as the incorporation of wild greenery branches and grasses.
What do you think the royal wedding flowers will look like?
I think The Royal Wedding will be traditional and simple in the sense that the palette will likely be white and ivory blooms and maybe a pop of some shade of purple like a soft lavender. I think the flower girls will likely wear cute and dainty flower crowns, but none for Meghan and the bouquets will be small, posy-like bouquets similar to Pippa and Kate with some trailing greenery in the bridal bouquet. I imagine the centrepieces being a combination of tall and low arrangements with spring blooms such as peonies, tulips, garden roses, hyacinth and more.
What is your favourite piece to make a for wedding?
My favourite pieces to make for a wedding would be large-scale installations such as arches and other ceremony backdrops or mantle arrangements. The design of these vary greatly and it allows our team to really get creative. Of course, I also look forward to making the bridal bouquets because they always get the best flowers.
Myariam from Fleurs De Laurier in Quebec
What are your floral trend predictions for the upcoming year?
The colours are essentially the same as last year: dark blue, green in all its variations as well as yellow and gold. For an industrial style wedding, materials range from metal to cement and to barn wood.
What do you think the royal wedding flowers will look like?
I think that since Prince Harry and Meghan are more extravagant, they will rather opt for something that looks like them. I predict they’ll use colour such as lime green and purple as accent color. The bouquet would be composed of purple orchid phalaenopsis, some leaves of pendanus folded to give a little volume, one beautiful big leaf of monstera, two beautiful white anthuriums and some green cymbidium lime to give a little sparkle .
What is your favourite piece to make a for wedding?
I love to do wedding flowers in general, but what I particularly like is that weddings are personalized to the taste of the customers. I like to start from photos of inspirations and personalize each piece so that it is unique.
