Essential Wedding Flowers | What You Actually Need

How to Decide Which Wedding Flowers You Actually Need

A helpful way to think about your wedding flowers is to divide everything into three categories. Essentials. Nice to have. Purely decorative. Essentials are the flowers that appear in almost every album. They are tied to key moments like walking down the aisle or signing your marriage certificate. Nice to have pieces help your space feel more cohesive and styled, especially in photos. Purely decorative flowers are beautiful touches you only choose if your budget and vision allow for it.

There is no single correct list for everyone. Your venue, guest count, ceremony style, and personality will all shape what you need. The sections below walk through each type of wedding flower, when it is considered essential, and when you can confidently skip it.

If you would like help matching these choices to the way you plan, you can also read how to choose a Montreal wedding florist. It explains how to work with your florist so your list of florals, your budget, and your expectations stay aligned.

Personal Flowers

Personal flowers are worn or carried by you and the people closest to you. These pieces are usually the most photographed and the most emotionally significant, which is why they are often considered non negotiable.

For a deeper look at who typically receives which flowers, you can visit Bridal Party Flowers: Who Gets What. It breaks down the most common choices for partners, family, and wedding party members.

Bridal Bouquet

Who it is for. The person walking down the aisle who is the focal point of the ceremony.

Essential or optional. Almost always essential. Even in very minimalist weddings, the bridal bouquet is the one floral element that most couples keep.

Why it matters. Your bouquet frames you in every key moment. It appears in your portraits, the processional, the recessional, and many of your detail shots. It is also one of the purest expressions of your aesthetic and story. This is the place to lean into intentional design, shape, movement, and symbolic flowers if that speaks to you.

Bridesmaids Bouquets or Attendant Flowers

Who they are for. Bridesmaids or wedding party attendants walking with you.

Essential or optional. Nice to have. They add visual balance in photos and help create a cohesive look, especially in processional shots. If you are working with a tighter budget, you can choose simplified versions, small posies, or even a single focal bloom per person.

Wild Elegance tip. Consider bridesmaids bouquets that can be repurposed at the reception. For example, they can be placed into vases on the head table or grouped on the bar, which extends their impact without needing more arrangements.

Boutonnieres

Who they are for. Partners, parents, and sometimes members of the wedding party.

Essential or optional. Traditionally important for the couple and parents. Optional for extended parties. Boutonnieres create a subtle link between the personal flowers and the rest of your decor. They also photograph beautifully in close ups.

Wild Elegance tip. When possible, keep boutonnieres simple and slightly textural. A small cluster of seasonal blooms, foliage, or herbs has more grace than something heavy or overly large on a suit lapel.

Corsages

Who they are for. Often chosen for mothers, grandmothers, or other special family members.

Essential or optional. Optional but meaningful. If you have a few people you would like to honour, a corsage is a clear and loving way to do so. Wrist corsages, pin on corsages, or small handheld posies are all possible.

Flower Crowns and Hair Flowers

Who they are for. Flower children, the couple, or anyone who loves a more ethereal aesthetic.

Essential or optional. Optional. These are more of a signature styling choice. They can be impactful in photos and can reinforce a whimsical or nature rooted theme.

Ceremony Flowers

Ceremony flowers frame the moment you say your vows. They guide guests into the space and can transform even a simple venue into something more intimate and personal. The key is to decide what you want the eye to rest on and design around that.

Arches, Arbours, or Grounded Floral Installations

What they are. Structural pieces that frame the two of you at the altar. They can be traditional arches, asymmetrical installations, pillars of flowers, or grounded floral meadows.

Essential or optional. Very high impact but technically optional. If there is room in your budget, a ceremony feature is often one of the best places to invest. It will appear in most of your ceremony photos and can sometimes be repurposed for the reception.

Wild Elegance tip. Choose a design that feels like it is growing naturally from the space. Think of flowers climbing a structure or pooling at your feet rather than something stiff or overly symmetrical.

If you are considering a more curated wedding experience, you can explore the Love Birds Ensemble which includes design attention for these types of focal pieces.

Aisle Flowers and Petals

What they are. Flowers or greenery lining the aisle, or petals scattered along it.

Essential or optional. Optional. Beautiful for photos and adds a sense of arrival, especially in larger spaces. However, they are not necessary for every wedding. If your budget is limited, focus on the altar area and your bouquet and keep the aisle simple.

Welcome Arrangement

What it is. A floral arrangement placed at the entrance near a welcome sign or escort display.

Essential or optional. Optional but effective. It is one of the first floral moments your guests see, and it signals the tone for the rest of the celebration. This piece can sometimes be moved to the reception after the ceremony.

Signing Table or Ceremony Table Flowers

What they are. A small arrangement or cluster of bud vases placed on the table where you sign your marriage licence, or where your candles or ritual objects sit.

Essential or optional. Nice to have. They show up in close up photos and add intimacy to a table that carries significant meaning. If your ceremony is very simple, this might be the only extra piece you choose beyond your bouquet.

Reception Flowers

Reception flowers carry your aesthetic into the space where guests spend the most time. The essentials here depend on your layout and priorities. For many couples, the focus is on the head table and guest tables, then on a few key touch points like the bar, cake table, or welcome area.

Head Table or Sweetheart Table Flowers

What they are. Arrangements, garlands, or floral clusters focused on the table where the couple sits.

Essential or optional. Often considered essential, especially in photos. This is where guests will look during speeches and where many portraits are captured. The design does not need to be huge to be effective. Even a thoughtful collection of bud vases and candles can create a beautiful frame.

Guest Table Centrepieces

What they are. Arrangements or bud vase groupings placed on each guest table.

Essential or optional. For a seated dinner, some form of centrepiece on each table is usually expected. It can be a full arrangement, a cluster of smaller pieces, or even a mix of flowers and candlelight. For cocktail style receptions, you may choose fewer and smaller pieces, focusing on the areas where people tend to gather.

Wild Elegance tip. Consider mixing centrepiece styles. Some tables can have lush arrangements, others can feature bud vases. This allows you to control budget while keeping the room visually interesting.

Cake Flowers and Dessert Table Flowers

What they are. Floral accents on the cake, or small arrangements placed on the dessert table.

Essential or optional. Optional, but very photogenic. If your cake is an important detail for you, a few well placed blooms can tie it back to your bouquet and table flowers.

Bar, Lounge, and Restroom Flowers

What they are. Small arrangements on the bar, in lounge areas, or in restrooms as a thoughtful touch.

Essential or optional. Optional and often chosen in more curated or intimate weddings. These are details that guests remember and that can be created by repurposing ceremony or bridesmaids flowers where possible.

Absolute Essentials vs Nice to Have

Every wedding is unique, however this general breakdown can help you prioritise.

Common Essentials

• Bridal bouquet or main bouquet for the person walking down the aisle.
• Boutonniere for the partner, if desired.
• Parents flowers, either boutonnieres or corsages if you wish to honour them.
• Head table or sweetheart table flowers.
• Guest table centrepieces for seated dinners.

High Impact, Nice to Have Pieces

• Ceremony arch, arbour, or grounded florals that frame your vows.
• Welcome arrangement at the entrance or escort display.
• Signing table flowers.
• Cake flowers and dessert table flowers.
• Aisle markers or petals.
• Lounge, bar, or restroom flowers for extra touches.

Purely Optional, Personal Touches

• Flower crowns and hair flowers for you or your wedding party.
• Extra florals for photographs and flat lays.
• Floral moments for your welcome party or day after brunch.

How Your Venue and Budget Shape What You Need

A simple venue often benefits from a few strong focal pieces. For example, a beautiful bouquet, a ceremony feature, and thoughtful head table flowers can transform a minimal space. A venue that is already visually rich might only need personal flowers and a few well placed centrepieces to feel complete.

Your budget will also guide your choices. When you share your priorities with your florist, they can suggest where to invest and where to scale back. Some couples prefer to focus on the ceremony and personal flowers. Others want the reception to feel like a lush, overgrown garden. Neither approach is right or wrong. It simply depends on what matters most to you.

This page gives you a high level view. For a deeper look at how budget and pricing work for wedding florals in Montreal, you will soon be able to visit a dedicated guide to wedding flower budgets (add link to your budget cluster page here once it is live).

In the meantime, if you would like help deciding what you truly need for your wedding in Montreal, you are welcome to explore the complete Montreal wedding flowers guide or inquire about a consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I really need flowers at my wedding.

You do not need every possible floral detail, however most couples choose at least a bouquet, some personal flowers, and a few key arrangements to mark the significance of the day. Flowers help create atmosphere, signal celebration, and become part of how you remember your wedding in photos.

For a deeper look at how to decide what is essential for you, you can read more in the Montreal wedding flowers guide.

What is the minimum I can order and still feel complete.

For many couples, an artfully designed bouquet, a boutonniere, and a few intentional pieces for the ceremony or head table are enough to feel complete. The exact minimum will depend on your venue and priorities, however it is always possible to create something meaningful without covering every surface in flowers.

You can explore sample floral plans and suggested priorities in the main guide.

Can my ceremony flowers be reused at the reception.

In many cases, yes. Pedestal arrangements, ground florals, or some arch components can be moved by your florist or venue team if the timing and logistics allow for it. This is a useful way to extend the life of your flowers and make the most of your budget.

There are a few considerations related to mechanics and timing. These are explained in more detail in the Montreal wedding flowers guide.

How do I know if my expectations match my floral budget.

A helpful first step is to gather a few inspiration photos that truly feel like you, then share your budget range with your florist. They can translate those visuals into a realistic floral plan and suggest adjustments where needed. This might include simplifying certain pieces, adjusting sizes, or focusing on fewer areas for greater impact.

If you want to feel confident about that conversation, you can also read how to choose a Montreal wedding florist. It explains what to look for and which questions to ask.

Is it possible to keep deliveries a surprise for my partner or guests.

It can occasionally be possible to keep timing or details a surprise for someone, however surprise deliveries are not guaranteed. The priority is always a smooth and successful delivery, which sometimes means contacting the recipient or venue if there are access or timing questions.

You can read more about delivery details and expectations in the policies section linked from the main wedding flowers guide.

Next Steps

If you are ready to talk about your own wedding flowers in Montreal, the next step is a conversation. You can bring your venue details, a sense of your budget, and a few images that feel like you. From there, we will build a floral plan that focuses on what you actually need, with space for meaningful details where it matters most.

When you are ready, you can return to the main Montreal wedding flowers guide or inquire directly through the contact form on the site.