Popular tropical wedding flowers

No wedding is complete without flowers. They add beauty to banquet halls, tables, and, most importantly, the bride and groom. Tropical flowers are one of the most popular choices for weddings because they add color, texture, and a sweet scent to wedding festivities. Regardless of your personal color scheme, the addition of tropical flowers can make for a breathtaking wedding.

There are three main kinds of tropical flowers that are used in weddings:

Orchids

Available in a huge assortment of colors, orchids can add either a hint of color of a huge splash. Dendrobiums are often used in leis, in bridal bouquets, and in hairpieces. Loose dendrobiums are often placed on wedding cakes. Traditional dendrobiums come in white, purple, lavender, pink, and yellow. These small flowers are both simple and elegant. If you're planning a wedding in Hawaii, orchids are a must!

Anthurium

Anthuriums are another popular type of flower used in weddings. There are two main types of anthuriums used: tulip-shaped and heart-shaped. Tulip anthuriums are pastel purple in color and look similar to tulips. They are often used in bouquets and in tabletop centerpieces. Heart-shaped anthuriums are bright red in color. They make great additions to bridal bouquets, wedding party bouquets, and serve as striking centerpieces.

Heliconia

Heliconia, with its vibrant oranges and reds, makes wedding decorating fun! Numerous flowers appear on long panicles, making them ideal for decoration. They are often seen in large bouquets and as centerpieces on tables. They are also often used to decorate reception halls.

Hawaiian Flavor

If you are considering having a Hawaiian wedding, tradition calls for leis to be worn by the bride, groom, family members, and close friends. Many brides also opt to wear haku. This means, of course, that you'll get to incorporate even more flowers into your wedding!

• Leis are traditionally given to another as a sign of affection and to express joy or happiness, which makes them perfect for weddings. No traditional Hawaiian wedding would be complete without them. A bride's lei is often made out of white dendrobium orchids, but can be formed from other flowers.

• Haku is a head lei that is traditionally worn by brides in Hawaii. They often consist of intricately woven flowers and ferns, which include white, purple, or lavender dendrobium orchids.

• Maile Leis are one of the oldest types of leis still around. Many grooms opt to wear this type of lei for their wedding. They are leafy green, made of maile vines that grow in the Hawaiian mountains, and are open-ended rather than closed. Maile leis have a fresh scent, similar to vanilla.

The advantage to going tropical

There are many advantages to using tropical flowers for your wedding. Here are a few:

• Tropical flowers have a long vase life. Once the wedding is over, you can still enjoy your flowers. If properly cared for, they can last for up to 2 weeks.

• Tropical flowers make nice favors. Guests are able to take leis home with them. What could be greater than that?

• Tropical flowers withstand heat. Unlike other types of flowers that are prone to wilting in hot weather, tropical flowers can withstand heat from photographic lights and general activity.

Enough flowers in the bunch

No matter what type of tropical wedding flowers you choose, be sure you have ordered enough! If you are planning a large wedding, you will need the following:

• Bridal bouquet
  
• Haku
  
• Leis for family members and friends
  
• Maile lei
  
• Corsages/boutonniere
  
• Wedding cake flowers
  
• Ceremony flowers
  
• Reception flowers