10 One-of-a-Kind Elopement Flower and Bouquet Ideas
Get inspired with unique elopement flower and bouquet ideas that go beyond traditional arrangements, helping you create a personalized and memorable floral experience for your special day.
Flowers can feel like one of those small, magical details that make your elopement day feel extra special. They add color, movement, and a touch of nature’s beauty to your celebration—without needing to follow any strict rules.
While the tradition of carrying a bouquet originally comes from a time when brides used flowers to mask body odor (yes, really!), today it’s all about celebrating your style, your love, and the natural surroundings of your elopement. The best part? You have so many creative ways to make florals feel completely you.
Before you dive into picking your bouquet, there are a few practical things to consider to make sure your flowers are as enjoyable as they are beautiful:
Things to Consider for Picking an Elopement Bouquet or Flowers
Location rules: Some outdoor spots don’t allow live flowers to protect the local ecosystem from invasive species. You’ll usually discover this when you research or apply for permits for your chosen location.
Portability: If your elopement involves adventure—hiking, walking through forests, or exploring mountaintops—a heavy bouquet can become more of a nuisance than a joy. You’ll want something you can carry comfortably while still holding your partner’s hand and enjoying the surroundings.
Renting: You can actually rent a silk bouquet instead of buying one, if you don’t want to keep it long term! This is a great way to be eco-friendly but also to keep things simple for your elopement experience.
Before you buy elopement flowers, watch this ↓
Key Takeaways
Florals are flexible: Your bouquet or flowers can be traditional, adventurous, or completely unique—pick what feels true to you.
Consider the logistics : Think about location rules, weight, and practicality so your flowers enhance your day rather than get in the way.
Make them meaningful: Use flowers to express your style, personality, or sentimental touches—they’re a fun addition, but your love is the main focus.
01. Traditional Elopement Bouquet
Just because you’re eloping doesn’t mean you can’t have a classic bouquet! Sometimes, you might still want to include a few traditional elements, and a real, fresh bouquet is timeless. There’s something so beautiful about holding live flowers on your special day, and the good news is, there are incredibly talented florists all over the world ready to help you create the perfect arrangement.
02. Floral Wristlet
If you don’t want to carry around a heavy bouquet all day (I totally get it, lots of my couples have chosen not to) but still want to incorporate florals somehow, you have two other popular options. The first being a floral wristlet.
Wristlets have been known to be for mothers and family members in traditional weddings, but I’m on a mission to make them more mainstream for my couples eloping. They are a perfect way to have something a little fancy, but also have your hands totally free throughout the day to hold your vow books and your partners hand.
This bride made her wristlet out of dried flowers her husband and step kids had given her over the years - how sweet!
03. Floral Crown
The second option, if you don’t want to have a big bouquet, is to wear a floral crown. Floral crowns are a gorgeous and ethereal way to wear your flowers instead of having to hold them. You can also choose to use live florals or non-real flowers. Some people keep it small and simple and some have massive crowns. I’d keep it more on the simple side unless you have a foolproof way to keep it tightened down on your head. I’ve seen people have trouble with it getting loose, flopping around, or falling off. If you’re adventuring in the outdoors on your elopement day, you don’t want to have to worry about any of that happening!
04. Floral Hairpiece
If you want something a bit smaller than a big floral crown, a little comb or headpiece is perfect! There are some gorgeous creations that you can find. Some florists will glue succulents and dried flowers onto these little accessories to bring a little bit of glam to whatever hairstyle you chose for your big day. Again, make sure you know how to pin it down nice and tight so you don’t have to worry about it falling out all day.
05. Silk Floral or Bouquet
When you are having an elopement in a location that doesn’t require live florals, silk bouquets are the next best bet! It might surprise you to find out that there are actually plenty of bouquets that are made from “fake” flowers. Thankfully, they can still look very real and beautiful! Another plus about these kinds of florals is that they won’t die. If you want to keep your bouquet as a keepsake, this is a great option.
06. Floral Clip for Bridal Wings
This bride was my inspiration for this tip, so I give her all the credit! I had never seen anything like this before, and I loved it. She pulled out the floral clips and used them to attach the “wings” over her wedding dress. One of the wonderful things about this is that it added to her outfit while keeping her hands free to wrap around her partner all morning long!
07. Dried Florals or Bouquet
Choosing dried flowers is a really cool way to add something a bit more unique to your elopement day decor. One of my brides took all the dried flowers she had saved over the years that her husband and kids had given her. She then created a floral wristlet and boutonnieres from those flowers. It was a personalized and unique way to incorporate something meaningful into their special day (and super eco-friendly!)
08. Pick or Create Your Own Elopement Bouquet
Did you know you can actually buy a bucket of different types of flowers from local floral vendors? You could also go to a flower farm to pick your own flowers! This bride bought a bucket of flowers and pieced her bouquet together the night before. She loved being a more active part of the process in the creation of her elopement bouquet. I always thought it would be fun for a couple to go to a flower farm to pick their flowers and greenery as an actual part of their elopement day! Wouldn’t that be fun? You could also scavenge some greenery from your own land, but don’t do that on any other private or public land! We always want to follow Leave No Trace Principles.
09. No Bouquet or Florals
Have you ever thought about not having any florals at all? Not many people have, but when it comes to elopements. Keeping things simple is usually at the top of the list for goals for the day. I’ve had plenty of couples choose to forego the florals altogether and keep things more focused on the celebration itself. One less thing to worry about and carry around with you!
10. Elopement Flower Venues
What if you just get married in a field of flowers instead of bringing them along with you? Choose a private flower farm or a trail somewhere with abundant wildflowers! You can’t go wrong with your wedding florals surrounding you. It allows you to keep the planning even more simplified and just enjoy the beauty of nature as it is.
Final Encouragements
No matter what florals or bouquet you choose, your elopement day is going to be magical—because it’s all about the two of you!
Flowers are just a little extra sparkle to your adventure. Go big with a wild, colorful bouquet, keep it simple with a few sprigs from the forest, or mix in something totally unexpected—whatever makes you smile. At the end of the day, your flowers should feel like you and add a little extra joy to a day that’s already full of love, laughter, and adventure.
