Designing Your Dream Ceremony: A Florist’s Guide to Meaningful Wedding Florals in Vancouver and the Fraser Valley
You’ve imagined the moment: the music swells, the doors open, and you begin your walk down the aisle. Whether it’s an intimate ceremony under a tent in the Fraser Valley or a coastal celebration at The Teahouse in Stanley Park, your ceremony florals set the tone for everything that follows. They frame your vows, elevate the space, and bring your vision to life.
At Burst Flowers, we’ve designed ceremony florals for hundreds of weddings across Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. From historic churches and elegant ballrooms to private estate gardens and oceanfront views, we know how to take your dream and shape it into a stunning, cohesive floral design that fits your venue, your style, and your story.
Starting with the Vision: What Do You See?
Our process always begins with you. During our personalized consultation, we ask one very important question: What do you picture when you walk down the aisle? Is it grand and floral-filled? Natural and understated? Something timeless, or something totally unique?
From there, we layer in key design elements: your colour palette, bridal bouquet style, wedding theme, and overall vibe. Your bouquet often sets the tone—from the flower types to the textures to the overall aesthetic—and your ceremony florals echo and expand on that vision.
Letting the Venue Shape the Design
Every venue comes with its own set of considerations. Religious spaces may have restrictions around placement and cleanup. Outdoor tented weddings need weather-resilient blooms and backup plans. Historic venues often limit installation methods or floral heights.
We’ve worked in dozens of Vancouver and Fraser Valley venues and know how to navigate both the creative and the logistical. We ask the right questions, coordinate with planners and site managers, and design florals that work with—not against—the space you’ve chosen.
Key Floral Elements to Consider for Your Ceremony
Here are the most popular and impactful floral elements for your ceremony that we design and discuss with each couple during our consultation process:
✨ Ceremony Entryway or Welcome Table
Make a strong first impression with large statement arrangements or elegant floral touches on a welcome table. These pieces help set the tone and can often be repurposed at the reception.
Popular design ideas include:
• Floral urns or statement arrangements on either side of the entry path
• A floral-adorned welcome sign using seasonal blooms or lush greenery
• Minimal greenery for an organic feel or a bold pop of colour to match your palette
• Arrangements on or around the welcome or guestbook table
💍 Altar, Arch, or Chuppah Arrangements
This is the focal point of your ceremony and will be the backdrop in most of your ceremony photos. There are many wedding floral arch styles to choose from, each creating a unique visual impact:
•Classic Round Arch: A full-circle floral structure that creates a romantic, symmetrical frame.
•Open or Split Arch: Two separate floral pillars, often asymmetrical in height and shape, creating an open feel that still provides definition.
•Grounded Arch: A popular choice for outdoor or estate weddings, these frame the couple at ground level, blending beautifully into natural surroundings.
•Full Arch: A complete archway with flowers structure that frames the entire backdrop—dramatic and impactful.
•Hanging Installation: Suspended florals that create a dramatic, floating effect above the couple—particularly striking in tented or indoor settings.
•Chuppah or Canopy: Often used in traditional ceremonies, these four-post structures can be dressed with florals, greenery, or fabric for a lush, enclosed feel.
•Gazebo Florals: Often used in estate or garden weddings; designs can be half or fully adorned to suit your venue and style.
•Mantel Florals: Ideal for indoor venues or ceremonies in estates with fireplaces—these can be lush and full or artfully draped along just part of the mantel.
•Statement Altar Arrangements: Tall floral pieces on elegant stands flanking the altar create a grand, editorial look—especially impactful in church or hotel settings.
•Ceiling Florals and Greenery: For tented or indoor venues, adding florals or greenery overhead enhances the immersive experience and elevates the overall aesthetic.
Each of these options brings a different tone to your ceremony—from organic and ethereal to bold and architectural. We help you choose the best option for your venue, style, and photography goals.
🌼 Aisle Flowers
Options range from full-length aisle meadows to dramatic entry arrangements that frame the aisle. Some couples opt for low florals that create an immersive garden feel; others prefer bold floral markers at the aisle entrance for a clean, impactful look. Designed to complement other elements, like flower arches for a complete look. You can also choose:
•Individual aisle clusters placed at intervals
•Full meadow style arrangements lining the aisle
•Statement pieces only at the front or back of the aisle for visual impact without overwhelming the space
•Loose greenery laid casually along the aisle edges for a natural look
•Tied floral bundles on chairs or the aisle floor
•Floating petals or floral runners for a soft, romantic touch
• Rose petal aisle ways in various styles, including:
◦Full coverage (dense and dramatic)
◦Lightly scattered petals (romantic and subtle)
◦Venue-dependent patterns or designs
✨ Pew or Chair Markers
Small tied arrangements, posies, or hanging floral touches elevate the look of the ceremony seating. These can be simple touches that reflect your bouquet or more elaborate designs with trailing ribbons or greenery. They bring an added layer of polish and make the entire aisle feel special.
💍 Personal Flowers
Your bridal flower bouquet, bridesmaids’ bouquets, and boutonnieres often set the floral palette. We design your ceremony florals to coordinate beautifully with these pieces, creating a seamless look from aisle to arch.
Full-Service Floral Design That Goes Beyond Flowers
At Burst Flowers, we don’t just drop off bouquets. We provide a full design and consultation experience that brings intention and artistry to every stem. We plan every detail with you—from what flowers work with your colour palette, to how to maximize impact within your space, to how florals can be reused between ceremony and reception.
Our team handles setup of your ceremony, transitions, and takedown with seamless precision, so your floral design flows effortlessly from the first look to the last dance.
Ready to design your dream ceremony florals? Book your private consultation today and let’s bring your vision to life—from aisle to altar, and beyond.