Experts Share Everything You Need to Know About Holding a Bouquet on Your Wedding Day

When it comes to wedding planning, holding a bouquet the right way might seem like a small detail amidst all the other seemingly endless to-dos. However, how you hold a wedding bouquet can affect your posture, photos and overall presence as you walk down the aisle.

With this in mind, we tapped two experts—a florist and a photographer—to walk you through exactly how to hold a wedding bouquet so your blooms make a special and sentimental statement. (Beyond their aesthetic value, flowers have long symbolized purity, love and new beginnings, which is why brides carry flowers in the first place.) Whether taking couples portraits or walking down the aisle toward your partner, learning how to hold a bridal bouquet with ease and intention is one of those seemingly simple yet crucial finishing touches that tie everything together. To find a photographer and florist to help you further understand how to hold your bouquet, search for pros near you on The Knot Vendor Marketplace.

In this article:

• How to Hold a Bouquet Properly
• Frequent Mistakes That Accompany Holding a Bouquet

How to Hold a Bouquet Properly

Positioning is everything when it comes to holding a bouquet of flowers, so we've created a step-by-step guide on properly holding a bouquet, complete with expert insight. "Following these steps will make sure you, your outfit and your flowers are all in the perfect position for your beloved to admire (and for the perfect photos!)," says Michelle Maslowski, florist and owner of One of a Kind Events in Indianapolis, Indiana.

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1. Find the Front of Your Bouquet

While this may vary depending on the shape of your design—for example, a cascading or asymmetrical arrangement—Colorado and destination wedding photographer Leah Black explains that "more often than not, the back of the bouquet is indicated by a small pin that can be found along the stems." This is an excellent example of what to ask your florist beforehand so you'll know exactly how to hold your bouquet on the wedding day. This small detail helps ensure it's positioned correctly in photos and during the ceremony.

2. Bring the Bouquet to Belly Button Height

According to Black, "You should hold your bouquet around the belly button height." At the same time, your elbows should have a soft bend that looks relaxed, as opposed to rigid and too stiff. Per the pro, "A good trick is to place your thumbs near your belly button and have your arms resting slightly above your hips."

3. Position Your Hands Accordingly

Once you've found the right height, you'll want to put the thumb of your non-dominant hand on the back of the stems and wrap it around the front, Maslowski says. "Repeat with your dominant hand, moving in the opposite direction." That said, if you are looping your other arm through the arm of an escort going down the aisle, only do one hand. And remember, "This is more art than science—just make sure you are comfortable!"

4. Angle Appropriately

Be sure to angle the top of the bouquet slightly forward, with the blooms facing the camera and the stems gently tucked toward your belly button. Not sure where to start? Per Maslowski, you can do this by ensuring your thumbs are facing the sky, not your stomach. Additionally, Black explains that, from a photographer's perspective, this positioning enhances the blooms in photos by making them appear fuller.

5. Relax

Before the photographer starts snapping away, Black recommends taking a few deep breaths while rolling your shoulders back and down to relieve tension (which, by the way, is normal, whether you are the soon-to-be newlywed or a member of the wedding party). Not only will this help you feel more grounded and at ease, but it will also help you maintain good posture and a soft, natural stance in your photos.

Frequent Mistakes That Accompany Holding a Bouquet

To avoid wedding flower mistakes when holding a bouquet, remember these wedding day tips so that your florals look their best, in photos and in person.

Pulling the Bouquet Toward Your Face

"As you get nervous walking down the aisle, you will naturally want to pull the flowers up toward your face," Maslowski says. "The attention, the anticipation, and the joy all collide in that moment, and your body will want to bend your arms at a 90-degree angle." To prevent this from happening, make sure your wrist is gently touching your waist. This way, you'll feel when the bouquet starts to creep up, allowing you to easily adjust before it becomes too noticeable.

Not Tilting the Flowers Forward

Unless you have a cascading bouquet, the flowers will likely point at the sky—and ultimately away from the photographer. To avoid this, Maslowski recommends ensuring you can see the bottom knuckle of your thumb when holding the bouquet. This minor adjustment can help prevent one of the most overlooked wedding photography mistakes. While the most natural instinct is to face the flowers behind you in the direction of your hand, all you'll get is a shot of the stems and the underside of the bouquet, "which is much less interesting," Maslowski says. "Instead," she says, "tilt the top of the bouquet forward rather than back—you don't have to face the flowers toward the camera directly, but tilting the flowers forward means you get the side of the bouquet rather than the bottom." It's a smart detail to remember when working through your wedding photography shot list with your photographer.

Using Both Hands

This mistake is common among those with an escort down the aisle, such as a parent or member of the wedding party. "Trying to do so will mean the flowers are either too high or at an odd angle," Maslowski says. Instead, grip the bouquet with one hand and touch your wrist to your hip bone on that side. Between the emotion of the moment and the music—especially if you've picked a meaningful song to walk down the aisle to—it's easy to forget your posture. Still, this subtle tweak makes a big difference in photos and overall presence.

Having Stiffness and Tension in the Body

We naturally read into body language when we look at photos. With that in mind, Black advises, "Be sure not to have stiff or locked arms when holding your florals, as this can make you appear tense or uncomfortable." To mitigate this, she recommends softly bending your arms at about a 90-degree angle.

Similarly, "Tension often creeps into the shoulders without you noticing." Taking a few seconds to roll your shoulders up and down before photos—or even mid-shoot—can help you relax. Don't hesitate to ask your photographer for a quick break if you need one.

Squishing the Bouquet

When posing with your bouquet in wedding photos with your soon-to-be spouse, be mindful not to flatten your blooms between you. Instead, Black recommends holding your bouquet "at your side near your hip, facing the blooms toward the camera, or gently draping it along your partner's back or around their neck." Additionally, it's key to "always angle the blooms toward the camera and tuck the stems away" so that the florals look full and natural.

Hiding Flowers in Certain Shots

If you are taking a classic bridal portrait meant to showcase the back of your dress while also holding your bouquet, avoid holding it directly in front of you. "It will hide the flowers," Black warns. Instead, the pro recommends resting your bouquet lightly on one hip, "turning that side slightly toward the camera." Alternatively, she suggests, cradling the bouquet like a football, with the stems inward and the blooms angled outward.