A Refreshing Turn Towards Simplicity
As a wedding photographer here in Milwaukee, I've noticed that wedding bouquets often catch the eye through splashes of vibrant colors, accentuated textures, or bold arrangements. But lately, my eye has been drawn to arrangements that dial in the elegance of form and the beauty of simplicity. This past season, at a private estate wedding outside Milwaukee, a bride chose a perfect exemplification of this approach, opting for long-stemmed calla lilies bound together in a minimalist style. Their smooth, sculptural curves and understated design allow the bouquet to draw the eye effortlessly, standing strongly on its own while working in concert with the vision of the whole wedding.
Long-Stemmed Lilies Provide Elegant Posing Options
By this point, most brides and brides-to-be's who have researched wedding photography have seen the hits as far as posing with a bouquet is concerned. Traditional, shorter-stemmed bouquets have a limited catalog of posing options: flowers held up around the waist, down by the side, or not held at all. While all of these can be beautiful, the extra length of a long-stemmed calla lily bridal bouquet opens up a wider range of elegant, flowing hand positions, creating a relaxed and graceful silhouette for the bride. This effect is particularly pronounced when paired with a wedding dress punctuated by clean lines and simple texture, making room for a subtle harmony between the dress and flowers.
Styling Tips from a Photographer
Here are a few simple notes to keep in mind when opting for this type of bouquet for your wedding that I believe will help these flowers (and you!) shine:
- Minimal Wrapping: Keeping the stems clean and free of distraction highlights the natural, sculpture-like form of the lilies.
- Neutral Palette: White or Cream colored lilies complement almost any wedding style, helping to pull the look together.
- Stem Length: Choose stem length carefully, as too short may look unintentional and too long may prove cumbersome rather than flattering.
