When it comes to wedding floral design, purple flower arrangements strike a perfect balance between elegance, romance, and visual drama. Whether you're planning an opulent ballroom celebration or a charming garden ceremony, purple hues offer endless possibilities for color harmony and floral artistry. In this guide, we’ll explore how to incorporate purple flowers into your wedding—through centerpieces, bouquets, aisle decor, and more—along with practical styling tips and design ideas to inspire your special day.
Why Choose Purple for Your Wedding?
Purple is a color long associated with royalty, spirituality, and creativity. In weddings, it carries layered symbolism—mystery, passion, and sophistication—making it a versatile choice for both classic and contemporary styles. From soft lavenders to deep plum tones, purple can anchor a palette or act as a vibrant accent.
For many brides and designers, purple flower arrangements bring:
Visual depth in photography
Seasonal flexibility across spring, summer, and fall weddings
Natural pairings with greenery, ivory, blush, or metallics
A unique personality beyond traditional pinks or whites
Types of Purple Flowers Ideal for Weddings
Here are some popular wedding flowers in various shades of purple, all beloved for their texture, symbolism, and availability:
Flower Shade Range Use
Lavender Light Purple Bouquets, table runners, favors
Lisianthus Light to Medium Bouquets, boutonnières
Delphinium Medium to Deep Ceremony arches, tall vases
Anemones Plum center Centerpieces, mixed bouquets
Calla Lilies Deep Purple Modern arrangements, altar decor
Scabiosa Dusty Purple Rustic themes, garden weddings
Roses All shades Universal use—bouquets to backdrops
Each bloom serves a different mood—lavender for airy romance, calla lilies for sleek elegance, scabiosa for texture-rich detail.
Styling Purple Flower Arrangements by Wedding Element
1. Bridal Bouquets
A purple bridal bouquet can be monochromatic or mixed with complementary tones like cream, blush, or sage. For a romantic effect, blend lavender roses, lisianthus, and dusty miller. Want more drama? Add plum ranunculus or aubergine calla lilies.
Tip: Use satin ribbon in a matching purple shade or metallic tones for a luxury touch.
2. Table Centerpieces
Centerpieces set the tone for your reception. Create height variation using:
Low floral compotes for intimate round tables
Tall glass vases with cascading delphinium or orchids for drama
Mixed bud vases of lilac and lisianthus for a relaxed garden vibe
Add mercury glass candles or gold chargers to enhance elegance.
3. Ceremony Arch & Aisle
Design a focal moment with a purple-draped floral arch. Use trailing greenery like eucalyptus as a base, then layer in large purple hydrangeas and accent with anemones.
For aisle markers, small bouquets of lavender tied with ribbon or silk petals scattered down the aisle offer subtle yet striking accents.
4. Boutonnières & Corsages
Miniature purple blooms such as lisianthus, lavender, or scabiosa are ideal for boutonnières. Pair them with dusty greenery and wrapped twine or satin ribbon for cohesion with the overall theme.
How to Build a Cohesive Purple Wedding Palette
Choosing purple doesn't mean every floral needs to match. Consider combining:
Lavender + Ivory + Greenery – soft, airy, romantic
Plum + Burgundy + Gold – rich, moody, luxurious
Lilac + Blush + Dusty Blue – whimsical, garden-inspired
Let your venue, season, and personal style guide your combinations. Remember, balance is more important than uniformity.
Seasonal Tips for Using Purple Flowers
Each season allows purple to shine in different ways:
Spring: Lilac, tulips, and sweet peas in pastel arrangements
Summer: Lavender, lisianthus, and delphinium in bold mixes
Fall: Deep plum dahlias, berries, and burnt orange accents
Winter: Eggplant calla lilies with silver foliage and candlelight
Plan with your florist to ensure bloom availability aligns with your wedding date.
Real Wedding Inspiration: Purple in Action
Here are a few real-world ideas you can emulate:
💐 Garden Wedding in June
A soft lavender and ivory bouquet with lisianthus and sweet pea, wrapped in vintage lace ribbon. Coordinated with table garlands of eucalyptus and lavender.
🕯️ Formal Indoor Reception
Tall centerpieces of plum orchids and dark calla lilies in gold trumpet vases, set on mirrored table runners. Purple uplighting enhances the ambiance.
🌾 Rustic Fall Barn Wedding
Bouquets made of dusty purple scabiosa, thistle, and dried lavender. Table centerpieces placed in wooden crates with purple and beige dried florals.
Artificial vs. Fresh: What Should You Choose?
Fresh flowers offer scent, seasonal charm, and authenticity. They're best for bridal bouquets, centerpieces, and ceremony installations.
Artificial flowers, especially high-quality silk varieties, are perfect for pre-made decor like arches, table runners, and even boutonnières.
Blended designs—using fresh focal blooms with artificial filler—are growing in popularity, especially for destination weddings or long event durations.
