The Evolution of Wedding Flowers: Hydrageas, a Timeless Classic
Photos by: Papes Photography (Beth Anne’s Wedding) and Courtney Garrett (Mary Kate’s Wedding)
Every so often I have the privilege of designing for multiple weddings within the same family. Not only do I love celebrating these special moments with my clients and getting to know them over the years, I’ve realized that reflecting on their events is the perfect way to assess the Evolution of Wedding Flowers! That is how one of our favorite blog series came to be!
The Harrison Sisters—Beth Anne and Mary Kate were both married at the Inn at Carnall Hall within the past 5 years and they both chose hydrangeas as their focal flower, but different color palettes and accent flowers to reflect them as individuals. Let’s dive into the details and see which wedding fits your vibe the most.
Beth Anne was married in August 2019 and she chose a color palette of blues and whites. White hydrangeas, peonies, and ranunculus were the supporting flowers while blue hydrangeas stole the show.
Mary Kate was married in June 2023 and she chose a palette of all whites with touches of bright green. At the entrance to the reception, guests were greeted with columns of white and green hydrangeas and fern fronds. We decked the tables out in mixed arrangements featuring tulips, ranunculus, and of course more hydrangeas.
Both sisters carried round, semi-organic bouquets—Beth Anne’s a bit more traditional with hydrangeas and peonies only while Mary Kate’s was a bit more organic because we used more ingredients. See them side by side below!
For their bridesmaids, they each chose to go with smaller versions of their bridal bouquets. All white flowers with white ribbons paired with the ladies’ pastel dresses perfectly!
For Beth Anne’s reception, columns of hydrangeas framed the reception tent while for Mary Kate’s a combination of hydrangeas and ferns accented the tent’s entryway.
For their receptions, we designed 3 different types of centerpieces each to give the room dimension and depth. The first was a tall arrangement that brought height and grandeur to the space. Beth Anne’s was placed on a glass candelabra designed with white hydrangeas, blue hydrangeas, and greenery. Mary Kate’s was a tall open style arrangement in a glass vase filled with greenery!
A medium-sized arrangement was our 2nd centerpiece! For Beth Anne we filled round vases white blue and white hydrangeas, respectively. For Mary Kate we designed using those same vases, but mixed white and green hydrangeas together.
To round out our centerpieces was a low, compact arrangement that felt sweet and intimate on each table they were on. Beth Anne’s were mixed arrangements while Mary Kate’s were small vases of individual blooms.
Last, but not least is the CAKE! Both are adorned with hydrangeas, but both exude the feeling and vibe of the day they were meant for.
In the end, it’s amazing what a difference 4 years can make it wedding floral trends and these photos show that! Despite their differences, the throughline is that they’re both stunning. You can’t go wrong with any color or flower, as long as it feels true to you. Happy flowering!
Vendors
Venue: Inn at Carnall Hall
Photos for Mary Kate’s Wedding: The Papes
Cake for Mary Kate’s Wedding: Shelby Lynn’s Cake Shoppe
Coordinator for Mary Kate’s Wedding: Erin Duncan Events
Photos for Beth Anne’s Wedding: Courtney Garrett
Cake for Beth Anne’s Wedding: Shelby Lynn’s Cake Shoppe
Coordinator for Beth Anne’s Wedding: Wed by Meg
Do you have an image you're curious about? Just email it to althea@roseofsharonar.com and I'll take a look.