10 Cascading Bouquets to Inspire the Bold Bride
Today we’re continuing our bridal bouquet inspiration series with a style everyone is familiar with: the cascade! Love them or hate them, these dramatic bouquets have one of the longest histories in bridal trends, originating around 1910 and remaining popular until World War II. Following the war they fell out of style, but came back in a big way in 1981 when Princess Diana famously carried a massive cascading bouquet for her wedding to Prince Charles. Since then they have remained popular among brides, but the style has evolved from what your mom or aunt carried in the ‘80s or early ‘90s!
By nature, a cascading bouquet is a bold choice, but for brides seeking to add some drama to their wedding day look it can be the perfect bridal accessory. While we tend to think of royal weddings when we hear “cascading bouquet” (they are a favorite among royals after all), current takes on this classic don’t have to feel formal - it all comes down to material selection and styling. As with any bouquet choice, we’ll help you select the perfect combination of blooms and greenery to achieve the right fit for your day, whether you’re getting married at the Cathedral Basilica or Forest Park!
To highlight the wide range of styles, I’ve selected 10 cascading bouquets carried by real Belli Fiori Brides to inspire anyone considering this dramatic style…
Lisa’s neutral bouquet featured Phalaenopsis and Dendribium orchids, cream roses, lisianthus and just a touch of greenery. The design was both sophisticated and whimsical, and perfectly finished off her bridal look. The bridesmaids carried rounded bouquets accented with ruscus and eucalyptus to compliment Lisa’s bouquet.
Photos: Kairos Photography
Liz’s fun summer cascade featured garden roses, lisianthus, scabiosa, roses and eryngium in bold jewel tones. A variety of greenery created the loose, organic feel of the bouquet. Set against the beautiful simplicity of her gown, the bouquet absolutely popped! (Your dress style is always something to keep in mind when deciding on the type of bouquet to carry, as you don’t want the two fighting for attention as you walk down the aisle!)
Photos: Mike Cassimatis Photography
Orchids are a favorite when it comes to cascades because of their natural draping movement. For Kyla we paired Phaels with modern greenery to create a unique, slightly tropical bouquet, perfect for her summer wedding!
Photos: Kristen Hendricks Photography
Not all cascades need to be long and dramatic! Jessica carried a romantic take on a teardrop bouquet, featuring creamy roses, touches of peach and draping eucalyptus. Her bridesmaids carried natural style bouquets of ivory roses and eucalyptus to finish off the etherial look.
Kaitie’s cascade was traditional in shape, but incorporated more modern greenery elements and interesting textures. The neutral flowers featured protea to represent the groom’s home country of South Africa, and the bouquet perfectly complimented Kaitie’s classic bridal style.
Photos: Jackelynn Noel Photography
Jessica’s romantic spring cascade featured orchids, peonies, ruscus and roses in cream and blush tones. The structured shape was complimented by rounded bridesmaids bouquets with accents of greenery. Check out all the beautiful details from this whimsical spring wedding here!
Photos: L Photographie
Mary Jo’s lush, organic cascade featured peonies, roses, stock, lisianthus and ranunculus in burgundy tones with accents of blush and fuchsia. The draping greenery added to the soft, romantic feel of this showstopper bouquet! (When you ask for a big bouquet, Sandra will deliver a BIG bouquet!!)
Photo: Bliss Eleven Studio
If you’re looking for a cascade with a modern twist, Alli’s asymmetrical bouquet might be more your style! Unlike most cascades, this sleek design didn’t incorporate any greenery. Soft peonies and gorgeous draping orchids made the perfect unique statement piece.
Photos: Stephen Seebeck Photography
Another modern take on a classic cascade silhouette, Ashley’s bouquet featured sage-tone greenery and floral in ivory and shades of dusty purple. The unique textures and colors were the perfect twist on a fall palette and complimented her dress beautifully!
Photos: White-Klump Photography
Morgan’s bouquet is a classic. Softly draping orchids are supported by an armature of roses and stock - but don’t let the simplicity of this bouquet fool you! It actually takes a long time to select just the right orchid stems to achieve the perfect, effortless look!
Photos: Kelly Pratt Photography
Bonus inspiration! Last year we did a vintage-inspired styled shoot at the Fabulous Fox for St. Louis Bride, featuring these gorgeous 1930’s and ‘40’s style cascading bouquets. If you think a vintage-inspired bouquet might be for you, check out the full shoot here!
Photos: Shadow & Light Photography
Cascade Fun Fact! Queen Elizabeth carried a cascading bouquet at her wedding to Prince Philip, but it was misplaced following the ceremony! Official photos had to be retaken when the couple returned from their honeymoon, and the Queen now insists that a second backup bouquet be made for all royal weddings - as if being a florist to Royals isn’t stressful enough!
Cascading bouquets not your style? Check out our previous posts from this series: 10 Bouquets to Inspire the Classic Bride and 10 Bouquets to Inspire the Modern Romantic Bride - and stay tuned for our final installment next month, featuring Whimsical Bouquets!
By Kimberly Wallner