Photography by Joleen Willis, Love Wildly

The choice to elope and skip the big wedding with hundreds of guests has skyrocketed in popularity, and we love to see it. More and more couples are deciding to make their weddings more intimate and personal by crafting a day that embraces a new way of beginning their lives together. This flexible freedom is one of the best features of an elopement and grants couples free range to shoot for the moon. Typically, the main elements carried over from big weddings are elegant attire, stunning photography, and luscious flowers. If gorgeous flowers are a priority for you, and you think an elopement might be perfect for your personality, this is the post for you! Let’s talk about elopement florals!

Elopement Florals 101

Planning for Your Elopement Flowers

Most, if not all, of your elopement day will take place outdoors. The natural setting means that you’ll need to consider weather, location, and altitude when choosing your blooms. For example, if you’re outdoors for most of your photos, you’ll want your bouquet to look natural and play off the scenery.

We always take your elopement destination into consideration when we choose flowers for your bouquet and boutonniere.

If you’re still looking for an elopement destination, we recommend checking out our elopement service team Range Of Light Wed - specifically the Best Elopement Destinations In The Sierra Nevadas. We’ve also got a Yosemite National Park Elopement Guide, A guide on How To Elope At Joshua Tree National Park and Lake Tahoe.

Best Flowers For Outdoor Adventure Elopements

So, what flowers are best for getting married outdoors? It's a great question, and we're here to help you find the perfect blooms for your special day!

We highly recommend sturdy blooms for your bouquet, flower crown, or wedding arch. These florals will hold up well against the elements and look beautiful throughout your big day. These blooms include proteas, roses, ranunculus, scabiosa, dianthus, succulents, lavender, yarrow, thistle, feather grass, and zinnias. To add to the outdoor, wildflower look, we love to add accents of dried florals. These are perfect if you’re planning to hike on your elopement day. We’ve found dried florals are sturdy enough to be placed in backpacks while hiking, plus they look fantastic for photos!

Of course, those aren't the only flowers you can use! The following florals are charming, and while they may be a little less sturdy than the hardy flowers listed above, they will still do well outdoors under milder conditions. These blooms include snapdragons, dahlias, clematis, lilies, amaranths, and lisianthus.

Elopement Flower Color Palette

One thing to consider is the color palette. Are you going for something bright and colorful or more moody and darker? Thinking about the vibe you want for your day can help you narrow down the flowers you want to use on your elopement day. Pinterest or Instagram are always good places to look for inspiration!

Keep in mind that the colors you see in professional photos are most likely edited by the photographer. A bright magenta flower might become red or purple after editing, so while you can get inspiration from these photos, be aware that the reality might be a little different. We’ll be able to help you figure out what’s possible!

Elopement Bouquets

Let’s take a minute to talk about the floral star of any elopement day: your bouquet! We can help you decide which type of bouquet matches your style and will also work well with your elopement destination.

The kind of flowers and bouquet you choose directly correlate with the dress you are wearing. There are so many wedding dress fabrics and styles to choose from, and you’ll want to make sure your elopement bouquet, flower crown, and boutonniere blend seamlessly with the style and material of your wedding attire.

Once you have an idea of your dress material and style, we’ll brainstorm and decide on all of the unique characteristics of your flowers, from colors and design shapes to fabric ribbon ties on your bouquet.

Elopement Bouquet Shapes

When it comes to elopement bouquets, another huge factor in how they look is the shape. There are a few options for how bouquets can be styled, each offering a different look and a unique beauty all its own.

Free form bouquets work very well when it comes to elopement bouquets. As the most popular elopement bouquet, free-form bouquets are whimsical and “wild,” just like your wedding day! The bouquet is arranged loosely to look more natural and less put together.

Cascading bouquets are similar; however, they offer the whimsical effect of a hanging cascade of flowers flowing in front of you. Round bouquets are the most traditional and classic, with a rounded arrangement that looks more put together. Posy bouquets are similar to a round but a little smaller, making them easier to carry!

Dried Elopement Florals

We love a beautiful dried bouquet here at Sweet Lilacs. Dried flowers have several advantages for an elopement, and they can be used for your elopement bouquet, floral crown, boutonniere, and other fun arrangements.

Dried bouquets are low maintenance, and you won’t have to worry about keeping them in water to keep them fresh. They also last much longer than fresh flowers, so you’ll have a keepsake of your elopement day if you want to keep them. Dried flowers can last for a year or two, so if you love having flowers in the house, they can be a sustainable alternative you won’t have to replace for a while.

5 Tips For Choosing Your California Elopement Florals

1. Choose Seasonal Blooms

Opting for in-season flowers enhances the natural beauty of your California elopement and ensures the freshest blooms for your big day. Spring elopements consider beautifully delicate peonies and ranunculus, while fall ceremonies should look into the rich tones of marigolds and dahlia. We love to help our brides choose seasonal blooms that fit perfectly into their elopement vision.

2. Consider Your Elopement Location

Here in the Eastern Sierra Nevadas, we have a fantastic array of landscapes to choose from for your elopement. Your florals should complement your surroundings, whether you choose a beautiful desert location, and we use succulents, dried flowers, or lush greenery and earthy tones for your forest elopement to enhance the natural charm.

3. Go With Hardy Flowers

California elopements typically involve travel and, of course, outdoor conditions. Selecting hardy blooms can help them withstand the elements on your big day. We recommend roses, proteas, orchids, and eucalyptus for gorgeous, durable flowers. If you're eloping during the summer months (in harsher conditions), steer clear of delicate blooms because they wilt very quickly.

4. Your Elopement Florals Should Reflect Your Style

At Sweet Lilacs, we want your florals to reflect your personality, wedding vibe, and style. If you’re looking for a wild, boho look, we are here for it! We'll choose monochromatic flowers in more structured arrangements if you’re looking for a modern or minimal vibe. Your vision is our inspiration when it comes to crafting the perfect California elopement florals.

5. Travel Friendly Bouquets

We love elopement's adventurous and spontaneous nature, but an elopement day can be rough on flowers. It’s important that your elopement florals are easy to handle. It can be cumbersome to have a huge bouquet (although we are here for it if that’s truly what you want). We recommend a compact, hand-tied bouquet that’s ideal for mobility, particularly if you’re hiking. We also recommend using a hydration wrap to keep your bouquet looking vibrant and fresh until your ceremony and for your photos.

Finding Your Elopement Florist

We absolutely love to provide elopement florals and the unique nature of elopement days.

What Questions Should You Ask Your Florist?

If you have a specific flower you want: Is it available at the time of year of your elopement?
Can I pick my flowers up the day before (sunrise elopements)?
Do you have a minimum order?
What is your cancellation policy?

What Should You Inform Your Florist About?

Allergies (particularly severe)
Any flowers that mean certain things in your culture
Let us know what type of elopement destination you have. For example – hiking, beach, etc. So that we can choose flowers accordingly.

What To Take Into Consideration When Choosing Elopement Florals?

What’s in season?
Availability based on the location
How hearty are the flowers? Particularly if you’ll be going hiking or will be outdoors

Sweet Lilacs Follows Leave No Trace

Another important aspect of sustainability is Leaving No Trace. If you’re unfamiliar with it, LNT is a set of seven principles that guide how we recreate outdoors to help reduce our impact on the environment. In all honesty, sometimes we do more damage than we realize!

When it comes to elopements, some sensitive locations won’t allow live flowers because seeds or leaves can fall and disturb the ecosystem. Others will ban certain invasive species, and each location can have its own unique set of rules. So it’s a good idea to check all the rules when choosing an elopement destination.

Remember, always be sure to pack out anything you pack in! It’s a common misconception that biodegradable items, like flower petals, won’t cause any harm, but anything that doesn’t belong in that environment shouldn’t be left there!

Eloping is all about being unique and creative; we can do that with your flowers, too! Choosing the right blooms for your California elopement is all about enhancing the natural surrounding, embracing spontaneity, and your personal style. With the right selection, your flowers will make your elopement day even more unforgettable.

We would love to make your elopement bouquet, flower crown, and boutonniere dreams come true! Let’s talk about what you’re looking for!

If you’ve just started planning your California adventure elopement and you’re struggling with where to begin - we are a part of phenomenal elopement planning service. Range Of Light Wed is here to help take all of the stress out of planning one of the most amazing days of your life.

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Choosing The Right Florals For Your California Elopement