Like any element of wedding design, floral trends are constantly evolving. From roses and peonies in classic neutrals to last year’s calla lilies and cascading Amaranthus in bold, unexpected hues, every season brings a new perspective.
We spoke with Flor de Casa Designs, Lambert Floral Studio, and New Leaf Floral Design to get their take on trends defining 2026, learn about their individual creative design process, and more.
1. What floral trends have you been noticing for 2026 weddings?
Flor de Casa Designs
Color!! Couples are leaning into color a lot more and aren’t afraid to push boundaries with it. Chartreuse or wasabi (as some are calling it) is one of the colors on trend for 2026. Another trend we are noticing is full weekend weddings. Couples are prioritizing experiences and wanting guests to enjoy a full wedding weekend with entertainment, welcome parties, post-wedding brunches, and lots of interactive experiences guests can not only enjoy, but take home with them as mementos. Perfume bar, anyone? Make your own lipstick? Mixology class? The sky is the limit!
Lambert Floral Studio
I believe 2026 couples are investing in the ultra-personal. In recent years, we've seen a lot of rinse-and-repeat visions that called upon a very specific selection of floral ingredients (looking at you, white calla lily, hanging Amaranthus, and some sort of orchid), and now I think clients are realizing that floral design visions are not one-size-fits-all, and that your flowers should serve your specific overall design vision. So, the trend is to shy away from trend? ;)
New Leaf Floral Design
Intentional color stories! In previous seasons, the clients who opted for color wanted ALL the colors of the rainbow. This year, we are noticing that the palettes are more limited, which lends to an elegant design without compromising on those fun, whimsical moments. Petite and cascading bouquets have also been a popular request this year. We either have clients who want their bouquet to be a chic accessory or those who want a modernized version of the classic, cascading bouquet.
2. Are there any specific flowers or arrangements that you think are underrated?
Flor de Casa Designs
Yes! Carnations. I know they get a ton of side-eye, but carnations are some extremely versatile flowers. They come in a wide array of colors and even some antique varieties. Many designers can even get them tinted in an uncommon shade like brown or blue! When carnations are used with a design-forward eye, they no longer give "funeral" or "cheap.” They are giving elevated, interesting, and chic. Perfect example is what we designed with all red carnations at this year's Art in Bloom in DC! The cherry on top is that they are, in fact, a more cost effective option than many other flowers on the market. When designed thoughtfully, they don't take away from an event; they become the main character.
Lambert Floral Studio
Yes! A small, cup-sized vase filled with the same type of flower for cocktail hour tables is sweet, simple, and perfect for that setting. A julep cup of pansies sounds quintessentially romantic right about now!
New Leaf Floral Design
Freesia is such an incredible bloom. It comes in a wide range of colors and makes an impact, with a peppery scent that smells like a fragrance you’d want to invest in. Dianthus, a member of the carnation family, is also an underrated queen. We love the texture she brings when grouped together in aisle pieces, large installations, plus the color ways available. As for underrated arrangements, the bar top is usually one that gets overlooked or is repurposed from the ceremony. I love when our clients opt for a separate piece on the bar because it can be set before cocktail hour, and it is always a space where we can flex our creativity.
3. What does your creative process look like?
Flor de Casa Designs
For us, really understanding what the client wants to achieve matters most. What's the overall goal when it comes to design? Once we have understood that, we partner with our clients to design something that truly speaks to who they are and the experience they want their guests to have.
Lambert Floral Studio
Our creative process revolves around listening, understanding, and then problem solving: how do we take a client's vision, respond to the existing features of the client's venue, and then ideate ways for flowers to help stitch the two together?
New Leaf Floral Design
Nature has always inspired me. I love how much harmony can be found in the ways flowers grow with each other. When I go to the floral market, I often don’t even have a color palette or a specific design in mind. I walk around, take it all in, and begin to build the palette based on the colors that both bridge and contrast with one another. Once I get back to my studio, I spend hours testing out the ways in which I can achieve a balance between the experience I have with manipulating blooms and their natural harmonies. I love pushing the limits of my creativity by working with the unexpected, like radishes or nettles growing in my front yard. Documenting my studio work has been essential in my process as it allows me to look back on what I felt worked and what I would change for the next time. Creativity for me is a practice. It is a safe space where I can show up with no expectations and be free to experiment.
4. How do you incorporate your signature aesthetic into each wedding?
Flor de Casa Designs
Our couples trust us when it comes to floral choice and design. So, they give us free range on which blooms to choose, how much or how little to use, etc. Having this freedom allows us to design something spectacular for them without compromising who we are as designers.
Lambert Floral Studio
I think our signature aesthetic is derived from that creative process - we want the flowers to feel like the place, while also being thoughtful to the specific world the clients are creating.
New Leaf Floral Design
I love highlighting the unexpected and think it is one of the reasons folks love our aesthetic. Whether it be a stem with an interesting curve, wiring blooms together, or layering colors to create depth and perspective in each piece. My designs are meant to take up space, to have a presence and a voice. They are an expression of myself and my endless love for what I do.
5. Besides price, what’s something that clients don’t expect when it comes to wedding florals?
Flor de Casa Designs
Clients don't expect the creative ways one can incorporate flowers to tell their unique story. They also don't expect the vast abundance of different kinds of flowers they have never seen before incorporated in their wedding. The amount of times we have been asked, "Is that flower real?!" is quite amazing to them and us.
Lambert Floral Studio
The breadth of considerations and unseen decisions your florist makes when in preparation for your wedding! It's a tango of timing and babysitting - some flowers take three days to fully open, while some flowers are best harvested the day before your wedding. Some flowers are too delicate to be arranged beforehand and packed for transit to your wedding venue and should only be arranged in situ; one variety of flower might benefit from refrigeration while another will wilt if in the cooler - the list goes on! I'm always impressed by the amount of knowledge my floral colleagues store and apply to their craft.
New Leaf Floral Design
Most clients are really unaware of the amount of time and how many talented folks it takes to bring their vision to life. The work we are known for takes significant knowledge in color theory and how to manipulate each stem so that they each have a voice in a finished piece. Our approach is not to create on an assembly line with an exact formula per centerpiece. We are creating works of art on various scales, all while balancing other variables, such as safely engineered mechanics, weather, and tight timelines.
6. What happens to the florals after the wedding? Do you have a recommendation for repurposing or donating?
Flor de Casa Designs
A lot of our couples repurpose their wedding flowers for use the next day during a brunch or opt to keep several arrangements for a DIY home project. Many others donate their flowers to nursing homes or homeless shelters. There are several organizations that will come and pick up flowers at the end of the event for donations. A few in our area include Plants and Blooms Reimagined, Friendly City Florals, and Loudoun Rebloom. You would be surprised what joy some fresh flowers can bring to someone who is in a difficult situation. Flowers are truly a medium to spark happiness and peace of heart, and we are so grateful we get to work with them all the time.
Lambert Floral Studio
In the same way a wedding is but a brief, magnificent flash of celebration, we honor the ephemeral magic flowers offer to the festivities. At day's end, flowers are typically spent (I'm sure many wedding guests can relate); and while we do not typically repurpose or donate after a wedding, we feel they have served their purpose in a beautiful way.
New Leaf Floral Design
We offer a service to wrap florals for guests at the end of an event so everyone gets to take some beauty home. When this is not an option, we suggest donating the flowers to birth centers, neighbors, or anyone you feel would enjoy them. When we have leftovers, I will often create a studio piece to give myself more space to practice, document, and get the most life out of those gorgeous blooms.
Photo courtesy of Abigail Lewis Photo, The Wipplers (cover photo), Akbar Sayed Photography, Amanda Crean, Inde Photography, Nathan & Zoey Photography, SINCERELY, SINI, Maddy Williams Photography, and Camille Delaune Weddings.
Questions? Give us a shout at help@hiholden.com or a ring (pun intended) at 646.722.6817.