24 Cascading Wedding Bouquets You'll Totally Fall For

Make a statement by carrying one of these oversized bouquets.
Samantha Iacia - The Knot wedding style expert
by
Samantha Iacia
  • Samantha writes articles for The Knot Worldwide, with a speciality in wedding decor, trends, and fashion
  • Prior to The Knot Worldwide, Samantha was a features and weddings contributor for The Baltimore Sun
  • She is based in Washington, D.C. and holds a Bachelor of Science in journalism
Updated Jun 23, 2022

No matter your wedding style, cascading bouquets have a swoon-worthy effect that makes people stop and look. These decadent arrangements, typically designed with flowers and vines that spill out from the bouquet, are most often associated with royalty and glamorous themes—they're intended to make a statement. But there are so many different ways to embrace this unique bouquet shape, and we've got plenty of examples to prove it, from pastel arrangements for a spring wedding to luxe jewel tone bouquets that double down on the regal vibes. Before meeting with your florist, check out these cascading bridal bouquets from real weddings to inspire your very own design.

Cascading Bouquet FAQs

What is a cascade wedding bouquet?

This wedding bouquet shape resembles an upside-down teardrop, with a rounded bunch of flowers at the top that gradually taper down into a single point. The end result is a bouquet that "cascades" over your hands and down the front of your wedding dress like a waterfall.

You might recognize the larger-than-life bouquets as a major staple of the '80s—Princess Diana famously carried a cascading bouquet that nearly reached her ankles, spurring a wave of waterfall-inspired arrangements and one of the biggest wedding flower trends of the decade. Today, these oversized bouquets are still a go-to option if you want to make a statement or embrace a maximalist mindset for your wedding day.

What are the best flowers for a cascade wedding bouquet?

Any professional wedding florist will be able to work their magic to incorporate your favorite flowers, but there are a handful of blooms that easily lend themselves to cascading bouquets. Flowers that grow with long stems, like calla lilies, orchids, roses and tulips, are great for creating the rounded "base" of the bouquet.

Vine-like flowers, including clematis, amaranthus, sweet peas, jasmine and bougainvillea, are frequently used in cascading wedding bouquets to create the long, spindly effect toward the bottom of the arrangement. And we can't forget greenery, which is another essential component for this type of design—eucalyptus, ivy and smilax are a few popular options.

Cascading Bouquet Ideas

If you're more of a visual person, seeing real-life examples of bouquets will give you a clear vision of what you do or don't like. Get ready to bookmark these luscious waterfall-inspired designs.

Cascade wedding bouquet with clematis

Flowering vines, like clematis, are a natural fit when it comes to creating the elongated shape of a cascade bouquet. The star-shaped blooms stand out against the rest of the flowers in this arrangement, with lilacs, scabiosa and sweet peas complementing the picked-from-the-garden look.

Rose and ivy cascading wedding bouquet

You can add short ivy vines to a round wedding bouquet to break up the shape and make it slightly less formal. This sweet combination of fluffy white peonies, astilbe and pink roses was made for a spring wedding.

White floor-length bouquet

Can we hear a little commotion for this bouquet? To really wow your guests, carry an arrangement overflowing with vines and greenery that graze the ground as you walk (just watch your step!). A bouquet like this needs no other explanation.

Sunflower and rose cascade wedding bouquet

small cascading wedding bouquet with sunflowers, blue thistle, white roses and greenery branches
Caitlin Alohilani Photography,Culver City Flower Shop

Sunflowers are a popular choice for rustic themes and summer weddings, but they look great in a cascading bouquet too. Pair them alongside other cheerful blossoms, like blue thistle and craspedia, for a farm-inspired design.

Modern cascade bouquet with orchids

This luxe bouquet is literally dripping with orchids. The white flowers, known as phalaenopsis or "moth" orchids, provide multiple blooms per stem, which adds to the waterfall effect. Understated blush roses balance out the top of the arrangement.

Cascading wildflower wedding bouquet

bride holding cascading bouquet of wildflowers with dahlias, goldenrod, baby's breath and greenery
Kaitlyn Luckow & Alexander Kanastab

Wildflowers are ideal for creating an asymmetrical bouquet—their natural look has a perfectly imperfect finesse. Accents like goldenrod, wheat stems, hops vines and baby's breath can be clustered on one side of the bouquet to create the cascade shape.

Purple cascade wedding bouquet with ribbons

bride holding oversized cascading bouquet with purple roses and long greenery vines
Birds of a Feather Photography

Make your bouquet stand out even more by finishing it with long ribbons that mirror the trailing vines. This pastel purple and blush bouquet looks gorgeous for a springtime garden fête.

Pink bougainvillea cascading wedding bouquet

A waterfall shape can add oomph to an otherwise monochromatic bouquet. Bright pink bougainvillea anchors one side of this oversized flower arrangement, creating a cascading effect and contrasting with the coral and yellow blooms.

Jewel tone cascade wedding bouquet

Rich jewel tones, like burgundy, amethyst and sapphire, are dramatic all on their own, but these saturated colors are even more eye-catching when you add them to a cascading bouquet. Loose ivy vines and leafy plumosa ferns add just the right amount of length to this one.

White long-stem orchid wedding bouquet

bride holding simple cascade wedding bouquet of white phalaenopsis orchids
James Shaw Photography,
Berry Blossom Flowers

Looking for a simple bouquet idea? Carry an arrangement with only one flower variety, like this long-stem orchid bouquet. The end result is chic and timeless.

Red and orange cascading wedding bouquet

This color palette is one of our favorites for a fall wedding. Amaranthus bunches add a lush look to this bouquet of dark red dahlias, with peach and orange ribbons trailing down the stems for a whimsical finish.

Classic cascade wedding bouquet with garden roses

For formal weddings, stick to a more traditional cascading bouquet shape. This example includes gorgeous peonies, spray roses and ruscus in a distinct inverted teardrop design.

Tropical cascading bouquet

Brightly colored blooms, like the orchids, anthurium and ranunculus seen here, echo the fun, easygoing vibes of a tropical or beach wedding theme. Palm fronds were used to create the cascade shape.

Pink and purple ombré wedding bouquet

Combine two eye-catching floral design techniques into one arrangement by opting for an ombré cascading bridal bouquet. Your florist can arrange flowers in "rings" or stripes according to color, creating the gradient effect.

Small cascading wedding bouquet

bride holding small bouquet of pastel roses and sweet peas with flowers cascading down each side
Perpixel Photography
,
City Flowers LA

Most cascade bouquets are bigger in size, but that doesn't have to always be the case. If a smaller bouquet is more your style, use flowers with thin, floppy stems (think sweet peas and scabiosa) that will drape naturally to create a mock-cascade shape.

Summer cascade bouquet

small cascading bouquet for summer wedding with dahlias, sweet peas, zinnias and greenery
Anne Skidmore Photography
,
Hancock Family Farm

Flecked with a pink, purple, yellow and green color palette, this summery design is another example of a small cascading bridal bouquet.

Blush and ivory bouquet with vines

Blush and ivory are two of the most timeless wedding colors. But if your style leans more classic-with-a-twist, you can put an unexpected spin on this elegant palette by opting for a dramatic cascading bouquet. The oversized shape will make a statement all its own, so stick with classic flowers like ivory roses, blushing bride proteas, pieris and trailing vines to avoid going too modern.

Rose and lily cascade wedding bouquet

For a truly regal approach, carry an all-white wedding bouquet—a tradition favored by some of the most famous royals, including the Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Eugenie and Princess Diana. This example includes white roses, dendrobium orchids and lilies.

Boho wedding bouquet with cascading greenery

Channeling a boho vibe for your big day? Add earthy elements, like olive branches, amaranthus and pampas grass, to an oversized bouquet to enhance the natural, cascading shape.

Peony and orchid cascading bouquet

Two coral charm peonies act as the focal point for this colorful bouquet, accented with roses, astilbe, dendrobium orchid stems and assorted greenery.

Pale yellow rose and anemone wedding bouquet

If you don't want to fully commit to the cascading bouquet shape, this design is a lovely compromise. Finish a garden-style bouquet with a few untamed flowering vines that trail down in front and catch the eye.

Cascade wedding bouquet with eucalyptus

Leafy greenery, like this silver dollar eucalyptus, is another way to fake a waterfall bouquet without going all in. The wispy branches naturally soften the shape of the arrangement while adding movement and texture.

Pink orchid cascading bouquet

We can't decide what we like more about this bouquet: the bold contrast between the red lilies and fuchsia orchids, or the contemporary look sans greenery. Either way, a showstopper like this is guaranteed to be remembered.

Rustic cascading wedding bouquet

bride poses with groom holding small cascade wedding bouquet with white flowers and greenery
Molliner Photography
,
Porch Therapy

Perfect for a fall wedding or farmhouse chic theme, this bouquet features a subtle cascade shape and a neutral color palette, with white dahlias, dried scabiosa pods and a touch of bougainvillea.

Up Next
  • abstract wedding flower ceremony arch with pink and purple pastel flowers
    An Essential Wedding Flower Arrangement Checklist