Floral installations have become a big trend in weddings over the past few years.  By “floral installations”, we mean large statement pieces that require some special rigging and extra time to set-up on-site.  To be honest, we are not huge fans of massive floral installations here at Love ‘n Fresh Flowers. Typically, large-scale floral installations require a lot of floral foam and an excessive amount of flowers that frankly isn’t very earth-friendly, going against one of our core missions as a sustainable flower farm and design studio.  Also, floral installations are very hard on a wedding budget.  They cost a lot to create, and we generally think there’s better ways to spend your floral bucks.

But, that all being said, there are three styles of floral installations that we do rather love creating.  These three floral installation options aren’t over-the-top and, therefore, not as hard on your wedding budget.  They also can all be designed without floral foam, the arch-nemesis of sustainable floral design.  And while they’re not overly large in scale, they are big in impact and worth every penny when you want to have a little drama in your wedding decor but don’t want to spend a fortune.

Floral Installations We Love

Free-Standing Asymmetrical Pillars

Taking a modern twist on the more traditional ceremony arch for an updated look, free-standing asymmetrical pillars are a floral installation we can get in front of or between — they’re great for framing the couple as they say “I Do” and then later doing double duty as a backdrop for the sweetheart table or as a photo booth frame.   These pillars were perfect recently in the airy space at the Kimmel Center for Tess and Matt’s October wedding.

Florals Scrambling Up Tree Trunks Or Tent Poles

Want to add whimsy to a garden wedding?  Floral installations that create a enchanting focal of flowers scrambling up a tree trunk or tent poles are just the thing.  We absolutely LOVE this look and have had fun creating it a few times at various venues.  Our favorite was this autumn waterfall of orange and red dahlias spilling off a massive old oak tree in the garden at Powell House in Philadelphia.    You should totally check out more photos from this stunning wedding in this past blog post!

Lush {But Not Massive} Hanging Hoops

Hanging floral installations have been en vogue for several seasons now.  Sometimes they are massive and cover entire ceilings and take days and many designers to install.  This scale obviously comes with a price tag, both in terms of your budget and in terms of how sustainable a concept it can truly be.   But we definitely recognize how hanging floral installations can help create a more natural and intimate atmosphere for a wedding reception taking place in a large space that needs a little “dressing up”.  Lush but smaller hoops can be just as effective as massive pieces.  One concept we came up with that’s a bit easier on the budget are small botanical hoops that encircle the tall support poles of large tents.  These smaller hoops are easier to install and do not require as much material, making them easier on the budget.  And yet they still have a bit impact, warming up the space and visually lowering the ceiling.  So that’s a win-win in our book!   

A single lush  36″ hoop suspended over the head table can also elevate an event without elevating the budget to a level of discomfort.  

What floral installations are you seeing that you like right now?  If you’re getting married and planning your wedding, do you feel a lot of pressure to have some floral installations?  If you’re a designer, what challenges do you find with most floral installations?  Is this a trend you like?