How to Pull off a Wedding Flower Crown

It’s no secret that flower crowns have been a cool and fresh way to lighten up a boho-chic bridal look for a few years now. Stemming from the 60s and 70s flower power revolution style, they’ve come back into vogue as brides seek to have a more free and casual wedding atmosphere that puts nature and beauty at the heart of things.

The thing is, now that they’ve been around a while, it can seem like every flower crown related look has been done, or seems a bit predictable. It’s often the case that people go overboard with their floral arrangements and it can look like a Hawaiian Luau or too costumey.

As with any headwear or bridal accessory, flower crowns should accentuate the bride’s beauty and allow her to shine, rather than overshadowing her and become a statement in itself. It can be a tricky balance to strike, but when it’s done well, the results can be spectacular.

So, let’s dive into the wonderful world of wedding flower crowns and find out how you can make it work for your special day.

Think about your overall theme

First things first, as with anything in your wedding, you need to think about your overall wedding theme and how it’s going to play into it. If you’re planning on having a minimalist wedding or a big, traditional cathedral affair, then a flower crown probably isn’t going to factor into that look.

Normally, flower crowns are associated with outdoor weddings or rustic, chic weddings in barns. Basically, if your wedding has ties to nature or is more casual in tone with floaty dresses and a more communal vibe, then flower crowns have a strong chance of fitting in.

Also, think about how upbeat and party-like your wedding is going to be. If you’re planning on dancing the night away, swinging around and jumping up and down, then having a flower crown pinned into your hair is going to get uncomfortable quickly. Of course, you can take it out after the photos and speeches are done, but if it’s an integral part of your look, it might mess with the overall aesthetic.

Sizes

Not all flower crowns are created equally. They can range from dainty daisy style chains to full lush bouquets that wrap around the entirety of your head, with anything in between. It’s up to you to decide what kind of size is going to work best both for your bridal look and on a practical level for the demands of the day.

If you have an outfit that’s romantic, soft and dainty, then your flower crown should match. If you’ve got a big statement dress that can contend with a larger crown then by all means try it out. Remember that you want to be wearing the flower crown and not the other way around, so pick a size that really, truly works for you.

Balance your floral arrangements

This is a really important aspect because honestly unless your theme is botanical gardens or tropical, you don’t want to look like you’re getting married in a greenhouse. Not only is it a lot to take in visually, but it can also detract from the bride and groom, who, at the end of the day, is what the day is all about.

If you’re planning on having a flower crown, you need to tie this into your surrounding floral arrangements and make sure there’s a cohesive thread throughout. This might be by using the same exact flowers or just the same sorts of textures and shades. Either way, it has to look as one. Your florist should be able to advise on the best way to do this with the floral schemes you’ve chosen.

Remember, even if you’re having a maximalist wedding, sometimes too much is just simply too much. Don’t let decor take over your big day to celebrate love.

Cascading flower crowns

If you’re looking for a new update on the flower crown trend, let us introduce you to cascading flower crowns. These crowns take a sweeping approach, almost mimicking the movement of a 1920s veil that comes around the head before billowing down in front of the shoulder. You can think of it as a floral fishtail plait.

It’s a big statement piece and can be difficult to pull off. If you’re thinking of trying this trend, ensure that your wedding dress errs on the simpler side so there isn’t too much going on. The key here is to go heavy with the foliage – there should definitely be more greenery than florals in this kind of display. If you want a reference point, consider Te Fiti in Moana. That’s the lush vibe that you’re going for.

Realistically, this is for super laid-back, nature heavy wedding themes. Because of the size of the wedding flower crown, you’re not going to want to be moving a lot, so it doesn’t lend itself well to dancing or running around saying hello to everyone. If you’re looking for a flower crown that’s more aesthetic and less on the practical side, then this could be the look for you.

Final Tips

Let’s end with some final flower crown tips so that you know all there is about this particular trend:

• Remember to secure it tightly. No one wants to be chasing a flower crown down the road if a gust of wind picks up just as you’re about to walk down the aisle.
• Check the weather forecast. If rain’s coming or it’s overly humid, those flowers are going to wilt and sag so make sure you choose some hardy varietals.
• Don’t be afraid of artificial flowers. Some florists may baulk at this but fresh flowers are expensive and temperamental so if you want something reliable that you can try on before the big day and get used to in advance, fake flowers might be the way to go.

The New Flower Crown

This new twist on the bridal flower crown from Primary Petals and Emily Blake Photography is outstanding. It’s big, it’s bold, and it’s definitely beautiful. This inspiration shoot was originally created for Darling Magazine’s spring issue to showcase the beautiful similarities between women and gardens. Aside from being just awesome, this look would be fantastic for both bridal portrait sessions or a boudoir shoot!

Between the large blooms and asymmetrical cascade, this new style of flower crown is definitely poised to take over. Mahalo to Emily for submitting this outstanding and creative shoot!

Credits: Photography: Emily Blake Photography // Flowers: Samantha Santana of Primary Petals Floral Design & Event Styling Studio // Hair & Makeup: Remba Productions // Dress: Flannel.