Why Greenery Matters
How It Influences Your Wedding or Event Floral Arrangements
Image courtesy of Henry + Mac
I absolutely love the impact greenery can have on floral arrangements. The right mix of textural foliage, unique leaf patterns, and varied shapes can truly bring a flower arrangement or wedding centerpiece to life. For example, in the woodland-inspired centerpiece above, I used Japanese Painted Ferns, Salal, Silver Dollar Eucalyptus, Dusty Miller, and delicate Maidenhair Fern.
When working with your wedding or event florist in Maine, it's essential to share your thoughts on greenery. It can dramatically transform the overall look and feel of your floral designs, so knowing whether you embrace it or prefer a more minimalistic approach is key to creating the perfect arrangement.Let’s discuss the benefits of adding or omitting greenery in your personal flowers and arrangements.
Image from Form Floral’s Website
With Greenery
Adds Color: Greenery introduces a range of hues, including various shades of green, silver, blue, bluish-green, copper, burgundy, red, and bronze. For a Fall wedding in Maine, incorporating seasonal foliage that changes color naturally is a simple way to bring authenticity to your floral arrangements
Contrast: If your Maine wedding or event has a white or pastel color palette, the addition of greenery creates contrast by introducing depth, visual interest, and dynamic energy. The lush, organic textures and vibrant green tones offer a natural counterbalance to the softness and coolness of pastel colors, transforming designs into something that feels both serene and inviting, while still visually stimulating and balanced.
Visual Texture: Matte leaves (like Eucalyptus) offer a subtle, soft texture that complements vibrant flowers, while glossy leaves (like Magnolia or Cocculus) add shine and richness, creating a luxe feel. Varying leaf shapes—long, thin (Lily Grass or Miscanthus) or broad, rounded (Hosta)—introduce contrast, depth, and movement in floral designs.
Volume: Those looking for texture, fullness, and a natural, lush feel. Ideal for rustic, garden, or boho styles, and for occasions where you want the floral arrangements to be large and impactful.
Slightly More Cost Effective: Greenery fills out designs and adds volume without the high cost of flowers. While not inexpensive, foliage tends to be more affordable than many blooms, allowing you to create fuller arrangements and reduce overall floral expenses without sacrificing style or elegance
Continuity: Greenery creates a cohesive, harmonious design by unifying different elements. It complements and enhances the flowers, adding natural texture and depth, while maintaining a balanced flow throughout the arrangement(s). This seamless integration brings a fresh, organic feel to any design.
Details: Some grasses and seed heads add texture and delicate details to floral displays. These elements sparkle in the light, drawing attention to the finer nuances of the arrangement. Their subtle movement and shimmer enhance the overall beauty, offering a touch of natural elegance.
Natural: Greenery is perfect for Maine weddings, reflecting the local landscape and seasonal beauty. Whether it's coastal, outdoor, or farm-style, incorporating native foliage like pine, spruce, or wildflowers connects the design to Maine’s natural charm, adding authenticity and a rustic, organic feel.
Image from Flora Bloom Co.’s Website
Without Greenery
Less Color: Omitting greenery does not add the green color. A clean, elegant look that highlights the flowers and creates a more polished, refined aesthetic.
Clean and Modern Look: Arrangements without greenery often feel more contemporary and sleek. The focus is entirely on the flowers, allowing their colors and shapes to take center stage. This minimalist approach works well for modern events, weddings, or any design that calls for a clean, polished style.
Maximizes Flower Variety: Without the distraction of greenery, the full range of flower varieties and colors can shine. This is ideal for showcasing rare or seasonal flowers that you want to highlight. In the image above, the arching stems and hanging bell shaped petals of the white Snow Drop flowers stand out and aren’t hidden by lush greenery.
Sophisticated and Elegant: Floral arrangements without greenery often have a refined, luxurious feel, making them perfect for upscale events like weddings or galas. The simplicity and elegance of flowers on their own can make a powerful visual impact. Perfect for Black Tie or luxurious events where the flowers are displayed in masses for the most impact
Focused Visual Impact: Without greenery to detract from them, the flowers themselves become the focal point of the design. If you're after a bold statement or want specific blooms to stand out, this approach ensures all eyes are on the flowers.
More Expensive: When you omit greenery, you’re left with fewer elements to fill out the arrangement, which means you may need to use more flowers to achieve the same level of fullness and balance. This can lead to higher costs, as flowers typically cost more than foliage. Without greenery to provide volume, the need for additional blooms to create a lush, full look can significantly increase the overall expense of your floral designs.
May Look Less Natural: Flower-only arrangements, particularly those with tightly arranged blooms, can sometimes appear overly structured or artificial, lacking the organic flow greenery provides. However, you can achieve a similar effect by alternating flower sizes and shapes, creating depth and visual interest to mimic the natural randomness of foliage. This technique helps avoid a rigid, overly manicured look, making the design feel more dynamic and connected to nature, even without greenery.
Amanda Young Photography