PHOTO BY ARAUJO PHOTOGRAPHY | FLOWERS BY HENS AND CHICKS

There are an infinite number of floral design choices fueled by personal preference and current trends. So how do you choose what color your bouquet should be?

All-white bouquets are the traditional and timeless choice for brides. Colorful bouquets are a newer style choice that gives a pop of color in photos and draws the eye to the bride. Either could be a perfect choice.

Nathan McCarthy, the owner of Hens and Chicks in the Strip District, says that couples should pay special attention to how they want the wedding photos to look.

“I think of everything in terms of what it’s going to look like when it’s photographed,” he says. “If you’re looking at the photographs or if you’re thinking about all the bridal party standing at the ceremony, do you want the flowers to be a feature?”

If a bride wants to coordinate her bridal bouquet with her bridesmaids’ bouquets, then the color of the bridesmaids’ dresses should be considered. If the bridesmaids are wearing bold colors, a similarly bold bouquet could mesh well, whereas a white bouquet would create a visual contrast, McCarthy says.

PHOTO BY ARAUJO PHOTOGRAPHY | FLOWERS BY THE FARMER’S DAUGHTER FLOWERS

Lauren Work Phillips, owner of The Farmer’s Daughter Flowers on the North Side, says that certain flowers and colors work better in some seasons. She explains that using a lot of burgundy in a spring wedding would make it look like a fall or winter wedding, so brides might only want to use pops of a dark color if they have their hearts set on that hue.

If brides have a specific idea of what flowers they want in their bouquets, then florists can give more insight into what colors are available. Roses come in a variety of colors, but a less common flower such as celosia has a narrower selection with only bright reds, oranges and purples.

Phillips suggests brides look at pictures online from magazines, Pinterest or Instagram to get a better sense of their personal style and their ideal wedding colors.

“As you’re looking at pictures, what makes you excited?” she says. “Do you get excited about color? Does that make you feel happy? Or do you get excited about that clean, crisp white? And go based on your own emotion, not based on what you think you should do or the time of year or any of that.”

PHOTO BY ARAUJO PHOTOGRAPHY | FLOWERS BY THE FARMER’S DAUGHTER FLOWERS

Perhaps the most important thing to take into account is personal taste and style. Favorite colors and color schemes are individual to each bride and are just as important a factor as how it will look.

McCarthy urges brides not to step out of their comfort zone when it comes to colors. When a bride is struggling to decide on color, he steps in to make sure they are picking something that reflects who they are.

“I would suggest that they honor who they are as people and just pick something that really reflects them in their everyday life. I mean, you shouldn’t be a different person for your wedding day,” he says.