Written by Taryn King, Editor | Banner photo by Maria DeForrest Photography 

Blossoming arbor arches, festooned stairs, suspended floral clouds, flower-stuffed backdrops…these all fall under one big, trending category: floral installations.

I’m going to just say it. Your wedding flowers are the most important design element in creating that wow factor. Yes, this is the opinion of one editor. But I see a lot of weddings on a daily basis. And the ones that stand out the most all have one thing in common—amazing florals. High-impact, dramatic floral installations are one of the biggest trends of the year. And the creative options are endless!

Seaside Bride sat down with one of the most popular floral design companies in the area to discuss these trends, how to incorporate them into your wedding, and what you need to know before you decide to cover every spare inch of décor space in flowers.

Co-owners, Carly Miller and Jessica Bain of Styled., located in Lewes, DE are going on seven years in business together, but they’ve been friends for nearly 13. “We have been doing this together for many years on a volunteer level before the business actually started. We finally realized that we were ready for career changes and said, ‘Let’s go for it!’.”

There isn’t much these ladies can’t create where flowers are involved. Arbors, stairs, ceilings, statement lighting, floral walls, “We’ve made walls appear and disappear. We can create a structure where there isn’t any and add height, lighting, and other elements that are unique in the design that captures them.” 

It’s not an exaggeration when they say they can create structure where there is none. Styled has turned venues into completely different spaces altogether, "We create spaces versus pieces. Rarely do we go into an event saying one centerpiece is it—the whole space needs to be cohesive and look great together. We like to do things on a grand scale.”

When creating your wedding budget, 15 percent should go into floral and décor. And floral installations are a good place to put your money if you’re looking to emphasize a theme or personality.

“People underestimate how much things cost, and there’s a tendency to minimize the design aspect. Budgeting for installations depends on how it all goes together, how much of a certain element you want, specific flowers, and how big or small the installation structures are. It can quickly go from $8,000 to $50,000.”

One big misconception couples often have is that greenery is cheaper than flowers. This isn’t necessarily the case, depending on how much you need. Creating garlands with multiple types of greenery requires ordering, processing, storing, maintenance, and the actual creation. Sometimes it’s cheaper to choose locally grown, in-season florals.”

And it’s not just the flowers and greenery you’re paying for. There’s also the price of labor and construction materials, not to mention how it’s being built—are they creating rooms out of fabric or entire structures by hand? While you may be dreaming of flower chandeliers and upside-down gardens, keep in mind there may be limitations based on your venue. “A lot of venues don’t like us attaching things to their ceilings and walls. This means we have to create our own structures to hang things from, and size can be a limitation there as well. We love working in a tent because there are no restrictions!”

When choosing the actual floral elements, there are a few things to keep in mind. Pampas are currently popular, but they can get everywhere (messy for your guests), and eucalyptus can be sticky. Roses hold up beautifully, baby’s breath always dries really well—and according to Jess and Carly will live through the apocalypse. Hydrangeas aren’t the best first choice because they’re highly temperamental. Even certain greenery is better than others, with some barely able to stand a 70-degree day.  That said, “There’s not much we aren’t willing or able to work with. It’s also worth noting that when it comes to budgeting, we like to offer alternatives that are similar to the initial floral preference and are often a cheaper option.”

Styled also offers clients a design proposal draft with multiple options for varying budgets.

The more inspirational photos you can provide, the better. “It helps to see everything that people like—even if it doesn’t seem similar, we can pull out the cohesion in the designs.” When compiling your inspo photos do remember that they may not always reflect the reality of what’s happening behind the scenes. You might see an arbor on the beach with draping. What you don’t see are the 10 people standing with wind-blocking materials so that the photographer can get a perfect shot. Create that arbor here, and you’re getting a real beach, with real sand and ocean winds.

“At the end of the day, we try to be an ongoing resource for clients—we’re always happy to answer questions, make suggestions, and offer referrals for other vendors you might need.”

To create the floral installations of your dreams, contact Styled at 302-827-3225, email info@styledde.com, or visit them online at www.styledde.com