How to Photograph Bridal Bouquets For Your Wedding: Full Guide

The last place you want to learn how to photograph a bouquet of flowers is your wedding day.

Capturing the sheer beauty of bridal bouquets is an art form, as each blossom serves a purpose. But snapping swoon-worthy pics of your wedding day arrangements isn't hard to do! In fact, all you need to do is study a few photos and practice to get the hang of it.

In this guide, we'll walk you through the entire process, plus throw in some essential tips and techniques to help you master the art of photographing bridal blooms.

Here's how to photograph a bouquet of flowers at your wedding:

How to Prep Your Bouquet for the Camera

Preparing your bridal blooms for a close-up is essential to getting those perfect pics! We’re fond of faux flowers since they don’t wilt and require zero maintenance. If you order your bouquet in advance, you’ll also have plenty of time to practice posing with the real thing!

From adjusting angles to puffing up petals, here are 7 top tips for prepping your bouquet for the camera:

• Test durability: Double-check that your faux flowers are securely attached to prevent any mishaps during the photo shoot, especially if you plan on moving or twirling gracefully (something we highly encourage).
• Dust it off: Lightly dust your faux blooms with a soft brush to remove any stray lint or particles.
• Fluff it out: Gently fluff the petals and arrange the stems so your bouquet looks full from every angle – or, at least, the angles you want the camera to see.
• Practice posing: Practice holding your arrangement in front of a mirror to find the most comfortable pose for you. Remember to pick a pose that you truly feel confident in!
• Hit those angles: Experiment with different angles to find the most flattering way to hold your bouquet for the lighting, whether slightly tilted or head-on.
• Consult the photographer: When in doubt, ask an expert. Your photographer can offer valuable advice on wedding bouquet photography and how to best showcase your bouquets, so don't hesitate to ask!
• Have fun with it: Remember to relax and enjoy the process! Your bridal bouquet is a beautiful accessory meant to enhance your special day, so treat it that way.

How to Hold a Bridal Bouquet

No, you're not overthinking it; tons of brides have searched the internet for tips on how to hold a bridal bouquet! 

Your bouquet placement shouldn't be so high that it hides your dress, nor too low that they're not properly shown off. Keep it around belly-button height. Hold your arrangement snug against your body, with the blossoms turned towards the camera.

How to Pose with a Bridal Bouquet: 21 Creative Ideas

Whether you're posing with the bridal party, the groom, or solo, these 21 ideas will help you strike the perfect pose with your bridal bouquet and look flawless:

Bridal Party Poses

Gather the gals for these heartwarming bridal party poses! Here's how to pose with your bridal party and their flowers:

• Bridal Party Cluster: Lovingly surround the bride with her bridesmaids, each holding floral arrangements.

Photo by @maggieportraits

• Party Walk: Have the bride lead the bridal party in a line, each holding their bouquets.

Photo by @noblephotoco

• Circle of Love: Arrange the bridal party in a circle, with the bride and groom at the center, holding hands surrounded by the bridal party. This pose symbolizes the endless circle of love, hence the name!
• Friends Who Laugh Together: Capture a candid moment of the bridal party laughing together and holding their bouquets to highlight the joy and love between them.

Photo by @nadinemariephotography

• The Toast: Gather the bridal party for a champagne toast and have everyone raise their glasses in celebration while the bride stands in the middle with her bouquet.

Family Poses

These poses highlight the family's important role in the ceremony (and, you know, life) and the joy of sharing this special day. Gather your loved ones, and try these:

• Parental Embrace: This is the classic parent pose! To do this, have the bride and groom hold their bouquets proudly while their parents embrace them.
• Sibling Love: Have the bride's siblings surround her, holding bouquets playfully. Besties that feel like siblings count, too!
• Generational Embrace: Gather multiple generations for a heartwarming family photo with the happy couple in the center.

Photo by @michellegodfreyphoto

Solo Poses for the Bride

The bride and her blooms are the state piece, honey. Highlight the bride's beauty with these enchanting solo poses:

• Over-the-shoulder Glance: This pose is tried and true! Have the bride look back over her shoulder, the bouquet held gracefully in her hand.

Photo by DSTICHERTPHOTOGRAPHY

• Bouquet Close-up: Take a close-up shot focusing on the bridal flowers, with the bride's face slightly blurred in the background.

• Dancing Queen: Snap a pic of the bride mid-twirl, her gown billowing gracefully around her as she holds her bouquet.
• Window Watcher: Choose a window with soft, diffused light streaming in, and have the bride place one hand against the glass or let the natural light illuminate her face as she gazes thoughtfully outside.
• All Natural: Capture a genuine laugh while looking directly at the camera. To get that 'actually laughing' look, think of something funny, whether it happened in your life or your favorite TV show.

Photo by @madisongracephoto

Romantic Couple Poses

Celebrate love and connection with intimate couple poses! From stolen moments to shared looks, these poses are perfect for the bride and groom:

• Forehead Touch: For this loving pose, the happy couple touches foreheads, holding bridal flowers between them.

Photo by @maggieportzlinephoto

• Side-By-Side Stroll: As the name suggests, the bride and groom walk together, hands clasped, with the bride using her other hand to grasp the flowers.
• The Nose-to-Nose: This bridal bouquet pose is cozy and cuddly. Have the bride and groom close their eyes and tenderly touch their noses. You can also have them gazing tenderly at each other instead of closing their eyes.

Photo by @neva_michelle

• The Dip and Kiss: The groom gently dips the bride backward while leaning in for a sweet smooch. This pose is great for adding a dash of drama to your Wedding Bouquet Photography.
• The Lift and Spin: For this classic couples pose, have the groom lift the bride off her feet and spin her around. We love this playful pose!

Poses That Use the Environment

Let nature and architecture enhance your wedding day photo game. From the great outdoors to the features of your venue, here's how to pose with bridal flowers using the environment.

Natural Surroundings

• Field of Flowers: The bride walks through a field of flowers, gracefully holding her bouquet.

• Under the Trees: Have the bride stand under a tree canopy with a bouquet held up against the greenery.
• Lake or Pond: Pose the bride by a calm stream with her bouquet resting beside her as she gazes into the water. This will also work with a beautiful fountain or other artificial water feature.

Venue Architecture

• The Staircase Pose: Staircases can translate beautifully to photos. Have the bride confidently stand on a staircase, her flowers resting on the railing. You can also use the staircase as a background, with the bride standing in front.

Photo by ryannwinnphotography

• Grand Entrance: Frame the bride in a doorway with her bouquet held to the front or side.
• Column Embrace: Columns are always a beautiful feature to highlight. The bride can stand beside a row of columns with her bouquet held gracefully to the side or front.

Urban Areas

• Celebrate the City: Have the bride (safely) stand in a bustling crosswalk, her bouquet adding a pop of color against the urban backdrop.
• Rooftop Romance: Elevate your photos with cityscape views from a rooftop. Have the bride hold the bouquet as she takes in the breathtaking scenery, or just use the skyline as a backdrop.
• Go Iconic: Are you getting hitched in a major city? Pose next to an iconic site or attraction the city is known for, or try to work it into the background.

How to Pose with Alternative Bridal Bouquets

Incorporating non-traditional bridal bouquets, such as hoop or balloon arrangements, is easier than you may think! These unconventional bouquets have unique opportunities for creative posing.

Check out these tips for posing with alternative bridal arrangements:

Hoop Bouquets

For hoop bouquets, embrace the circular shape when you strike a pose. 

Try having the bride hold the hoop bouquet vertically, with her arms extended outward, framing her face. You can also have the engaged couple stand facing each other, holding opposite ends of the hoop bouquet, symbolizing their union. You can also show off the hoop with a close up, leaving the bride and groom blurred in the background.

Balloon Bouquets

If you're using balloon bouquets, consider adding a sense of lightness and fun to your wedding photography. Have the bride and groom hold onto clusters of balloons while standing back to back, or have the bridal party release balloons into the sky.

Feather Bouquets

For these types of bridal bouquets, embrace the softness and feminine vibe of feathers. Have the bride hold the feather bouquet delicately in front of her, with her hand gently touching her face, or encourage her to walk while holding the feather bouquet, capturing the movement and flow as she moves.

Mason Jars

Capturing the charm of a Mason jar bridal bouquet in photographs is easy! Begin by finding a rustic backdrop—a wooden table or anywhere with good natural lighting will work beautifully. Experiment with different angles and perspectives to highlight the way the light reflects off the Mason jars. Capture a close-up shot of the bride's hands holding the bouquet, or have the bride and groom hold one side, gazing into each other's eyes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are you supposed to have a separate bouquet for bridal portraits?

Whether or not you use a separate bouquet for bridal portraits is entirely up to you.

Yet another benefit of faux flowers is their ability to be reused! If you've opted to go faux, you can easily use your bridal bouquet for your wedding portraits, or you can use a smaller version of your wedding bouquet.

How do you pose with a big bouquet?

How you hold your wedding bouquet makes all the difference in your photos, and when your florals are show-stoppingly large, you want to be conscious of how you pose.

The secret to taking flawless photos with a big bouquet is holding the flowers closer to your chest or waist, further away from your face and neck, adjusting as needed for your height.

How do you take a selfie with a bridal bouquet?

To take a selfie with your bridal bouquet, find good lighting, hold the arrangement at an angle that makes you feel comfortable, and use your front-facing camera to check your pose. Choose a simple background, and take many shots for many options. 

If you're just not feeling the photos, that's ok! Taking a selfie with a bridal bouquet in one hand and your phone in the other isn't something you do every day. You can also ask someone to snap some pics of you with your phone.

Send Us a Selfie

Feeling ready to serve the bridal looks, bouquet in hand, now that you know how to photograph a bouquet of flowers? Ling's premade bridal arrangements are the secret to hassle-free, exquisite florals on your big day. Alternatively, embrace creativity and personalize your wedding with Ling's DIY flower boxes.

Whatever you decide, tag us @lingsmoment on IG to show off your wedding bouquet photography!