2023 Wedding Flower Trends

Planning a wedding in 2023? Floral arrangements are one of the most important elements of wedding décor, setting the tone for your entire celebration. At Liatrreins Flower Centre, we've been creating bespoke wedding flowers for couples across the UK for over a decade, and we're excited to share the emerging trends we're seeing this year. From sustainable choices to dramatic installations, here's what's blooming in the world of wedding flowers for 2023.

1. Sustainability Takes Center Stage

Eco-conscious couples are increasingly prioritizing sustainability in their wedding planning, and floral arrangements are no exception. This year, we're seeing a significant rise in the following sustainable approaches:

Locally Grown, Seasonal Blooms

More couples are choosing British-grown, seasonal flowers for their arrangements. Not only does this reduce the carbon footprint associated with importing flowers, but it also ensures your blooms are at their freshest and most vibrant. Seasonal flowers often have stronger scents and more robust structures than their imported counterparts.

Foam-Free Designs

Traditional floral foam is not biodegradable and contains microplastics. In 2023, we're seeing a move away from foam-based arrangements toward more environmentally friendly mechanics like chicken wire, reusable metal frameworks, and natural moss bases.

Repurposing Ceremony Flowers

Smart planning allows ceremony flowers to be relocated and enjoyed during the reception, reducing waste and maximizing your floral budget. For example, altar arrangements can become statement pieces for the head table, while aisle markers can be repurposed for guest tables.

Potted Plants and Living Gifts

Living plants that can be taken home and enjoyed long after the wedding are becoming increasingly popular as centerpieces and favors. Herbs, succulents, and small flowering plants create sustainable centerpieces that double as meaningful gifts for guests.

2. Color Palettes Making Waves

This year's wedding color trends are all about personal expression, with several distinct palettes emerging:

Terracotta and Rust

Warm, earthy tones are having a major moment. Terracotta, rust, and burnt orange combined with creamy neutrals create a sophisticated, modern look that works beautifully for autumn and winter weddings. These tones pair beautifully with dried elements like pampas grass and bleached foliage.

Vibrant Dopamine Brights

After the challenges of recent years, many couples are embracing joy and optimism through vivid, mood-boosting color schemes. Bold combinations of hot pink, tangerine, cobalt blue, and sunshine yellow create a celebratory atmosphere that feels both contemporary and timeless.

Moody Monochrome

Single-color arrangements in varying tones and textures create sophisticated, impactful displays. Deep burgundies, inky blues, and forest greens are particularly popular for creating drama, while all-white arrangements with multiple textures offer timeless elegance.

Coastal-Inspired Blues

Soft blues, sea glass greens, and sandy neutrals evoke a serene coastal feel that's perfect for summer celebrations. This palette works beautifully with both traditional and contemporary styling.

3. Dramatic Installations and Statement Pieces

In 2023, wedding flowers are going big in both scale and impact:

Hanging Installations

Suspended floral arrangements create a magical atmosphere by drawing the eye upward and transforming the entire space. From elaborate meadow-inspired canopies to minimalist geometric structures adorned with strategic blooms, hanging installations make a dramatic statement without taking up valuable table or floor space.

Floral Arches Reimagined

The classic floral arch is evolving into more creative forms: asymmetrical designs, circular "moon gates," and architectural frameworks that incorporate unexpected elements like dried materials, painted foliage, or sculptural branches.

Living Walls

Floral backdrops create stunning settings for ceremonies and photo opportunities. Whether lush and abundant or more structured and geometric, these vertical gardens make a major impact and can incorporate lighting elements for additional drama as day turns to evening.

Table Runners That Cascade

Rather than traditional centerpieces, many couples are opting for abundant floral runners that spill over the edges of tables. This creates a sense of natural abundance and works particularly well with long banquet-style seating arrangements.

4. Textural Contrast and Unusual Elements

The most interesting arrangements of 2023 play with contrasting textures and incorporate unexpected elements:

Mixing Dried and Fresh

Combining fresh blooms with dried elements like pampas grass, bleached ruscus, dried palms, and preserved flowers creates arrangements with depth, interest, and a contemporary edge. This approach also offers greater sustainability, as many components can be kept as keepsakes after the celebration.

Foliage Forward

Greenery continues to be a major component in wedding florals, but with a focus on interesting textures and varieties. Unusual foliage like plumosa fern, eucalyptus pods, olive branches, and Japanese maple adds sophistication to arrangements without relying heavily on flowers.

Fruits and Vegetables

Incorporating seasonal produce like figs, pomegranates, artichokes, and kumquats adds unexpected color, texture, and a sense of abundance to arrangements. This approach works particularly well for harvest-time celebrations and Mediterranean-inspired aesthetics.

Painted and Dyed Elements

Carefully colored blooms and foliage allow for perfect color matching and unique effects. From subtle gold-tipped ferns to more dramatic painted tropical leaves, this technique can create truly bespoke arrangements that perfectly complement your color scheme.

5. Personalized Bouquets and Meaningful Details

Personal touches that tell a couple's unique story are becoming increasingly important:

Heirloom Additions

Incorporating family heirlooms into bouquets — perhaps your grandmother's brooch, a locket containing a photo of a loved one, or a piece of lace from your mother's wedding dress — creates a meaningful connection to family history.

Scent Memories

Couples are becoming more attuned to the power of fragrance, choosing flowers with personal significance. Perhaps the lavender that grew in your childhood garden, the jasmine that was blooming when you met, or the roses that remind you of your first date.

Wildflower Inspirations

Bouquets inspired by meadows and gardens, incorporating British wildflowers and cottage garden favorites, create a romantic, gathered feel. These arrangements feel personal, as if you've just collected your favorite blooms from a loved one's garden.

Ribbon Stories

The ribbons trailing from a bouquet offer another opportunity for personalization. We're seeing hand-dyed silk ribbons in ombré effects, ribbons printed with significant quotes or dates, and even ribbons incorporating fabric from meaningful items of clothing.

6. Unexpected Flower Choices

While roses and peonies remain perennial favorites, 2023 is seeing a rise in less conventional bloom choices:

Anthurium Renaissance

With their glossy, heart-shaped flowers in striking colors, anthuriums add a contemporary, architectural element to arrangements. Previously considered a retro choice, these tropical blooms are enjoying a major revival in modern wedding designs.

Textural Flowers

Blooms with interesting textures and forms like protea, banksia, scabiosa, and thistle add dimension and interest to arrangements. These structural elements create more dynamic designs than arrangements relying solely on traditional rose-form flowers.

Ornamental Grasses

Feathery, movement-filled grasses add height, drama, and a sense of windswept romance to arrangements. Varieties like bunny tails, fountain grass, and hare's tail create soft, dreamy effects that photograph beautifully.

British-Grown Specialties

Locally grown, seasonal specialties like foxgloves, sweet peas, dahlias, and delphiniums support local growers while providing unique blooms that aren't typically available through major commercial suppliers.