Every year, International Floral Distributors, Inc. partners with a leading trend forecaster to research consumer buying behavior and the social, political, and environmental factors that affect these decisions. IFD then releases this information in their annual Flower Trends Forecast to provide the flower industry with the information necessary to meet and respond to customers’ evolving preferences.

As part of the 2018 Flower Trends Forecast, IFD collaborated with Michael J. Skaff, AIFD, PFCI, AAF, to provide flower experts with the upcoming year’s flower, color, decor, and wedding trends. Skaff utilized his experience with the Color Marketing Group, National Interior Design Association, and the White House to equip IFD and the flower industry with today’s consumer floral demands.

IFD would now like to share what they discovered about 2018’s brides and their buying preferences regarding bouquet and accent decor designs, flowers, and styles.

Freeform Bouquets

In today’s dynamic world, individuals of all backgrounds, cultures, and walks of life aim to embrace their individuality and revamp traditional conventions. The modern bride will echo this trend with her desire for an updated twist on a classic bouquet. Rather than accompany her unique gown with the compact, cookie-cutter bouquet of years’ past, the contemporary bride will choose eclectic flowers that combine traditional and contemporary design in an updated color palette. Textured with unique flowers and foliages, larger freeform bouquets boast a complex shape that mimics the bride’s personality and her distinct taste for a chic, yet timeless look.

Floral Chandeliers, Wall Decorations, and Archways

Brides will assert their passion for individuality and embellish their day with exquisite archways, floral chandeliers, and wall decorations. Forever celebrated in memories and pictures of the big day, these lavish floral accessories are the ultimate way for the bride to effortlessly capture her extraordinary personality and leave an everlasting impression. The design potential is endless as brides can choose from a combination of vibrant flowers such as Orange Crush roses, green alstroemerias, and blue delphinium. Whichever floral accent the bride selects, these flamboyant archways, floral chandeliers, and wall decorations will wondrously showcase her quirky spirit. 

Living Greenery Bouquets

With society’s constant bustling, brides are aiming to ground their wedding in nature’s serene ambiance. Though the vintage country trend is dwindling, the garden design continues to flourish and captivate brides across the world with its beautiful use of more foliages and plants. The outdoor look is reinvented with cleaner lines as living greenery bouquets flaunt organic succulents and flowing seeded eucalyptus.  Often featuring delicate white flowers, this earthy style conveys a more refined, natural feel with its use of textured foliages like jasmine, acacia, dusty miller, and foxtail grass. Brides will showcase their love of nature and its calming beauty through a living greenery bouquet that is both stylish and eco-friendly.

Bridal Flower Trends

Brides’ flower choices no longer adhere to the muted, monobotanical sprays of our ancestor’s traditions, but are sprinkled with modernity and personality. The perfectly round bouquets are ideas of yesteryear as golden sunflowers, rust-colored lilies, and green Bells of Ireland juxtapose with vines, citrus, and olives. Understated white color palettes will still be a favorite amongst many brides, but an updated romanticism will also be featured in vibrant purple and pink peony, gerbera daisy, and rose blooms. Bouquets consisting solely of white daisies have been replaced by delicate white jasmine, amaryllis, and viburnum flowers in the nature-inspired bridal posy. Vibrancy is not to be ignored as brides boldly include brilliant rainbow roses, pink dahlias, and orange calla lilies in their whimsical bouquets.

International Floral Distributors, Inc. is a marketing consortium of 19 flower distributors with over 60 locations in the United States providing flowers, supplies, and an annual Flower Trends Forecast to leading floral decorators, designers, and retailers. More information about IFD’s 2018 wedding trends, as well as popular flower, color, and decor choices, can be found at flowertrendsforecast.com and in IFD’s annual Flower Trends Forecast, available on September 28.