While a full floral arch can be beautiful, they're far from a wedding essential.

Of course, not opting for an arch doesn't have to mean opting out of ceremony florals entirely. At Love Blooms, we're seeing trends moving away from arches, and towards beautifully styled setups that feature thoughtfully placed arrangements, creating ceremony spaces that feel intentional, romantic and memorable. 

Let your Venue Shine

If you've selected a venue for your ceremony based on its aesthetics, you probably don't need to overdo your ceremony decor. Floral arches can sometimes compete with an already beautiful backdrop, which would be better complemented by flowers that echo the space. A floral arch doesn't always look as though it belongs in a space naturally, and when this happens they often become more of a visual distraction, rather than an effective way to highlight the magic of your ceremony.  

Some examples of florals we'd use to complement different settings:

• A garden ceremony with arrangements placed on the ground, mimicking a meadow
• A courtyard location with arrangements sat on stone plinths 
• A ceremony against an existing outdoor wall or hedge, with floral arrangements placed at varying heights to add depth and interest without covering what’s already there.
• An indoor ceremony with architectural features, where low, lush arrangements sit at the altar point and echo the lines or colours of the room rather than competing with them.
  

Choose Flowers that Work Harder (and Save You Money!)

One of the biggest advantages to swapping arch florals out for ceremony arrangements is the flexibility to repurpose your flowers for your reception. 

Arrangements made into vessels can be moved straight from your ceremony to your reception where they can be placed on the bar, at the entrance or behind the couples table. This repurposing not only allows you to stretch your budget further, but also helps to maintain a cohesive look throughout your day.

Florals that need to be attached to a structure, such as arches, will require florists to work onsite at the venue for installation before your ceremony, and removal after the event. This means that the cost of your arch will need to factor in additional labour, travel costs, admin costs, time spent co-ordinating with your venue and multiple types of insurance. These costs quickly add up, and are the reason that most florists will have a minimum spend - even if you just want a small floral flourish on an arch. 

A Softer Alternative to the Traditional Floral Arch

Floral arches will always have their place, but they’re not the only way to style a wedding ceremony. For intimate weddings, elopements and couples drawn to a more relaxed aesthetic, ceremony arrangements offer a beautiful, flexible alternative.

At Love Blooms, our ceremony flowers are designed to feel natural, romantic and easy - created to suit smaller celebrations and spaces where less truly is more.