Wedding flower demand set to bounce back in style for 2021

Following a disastrous peak wedding season as a result of the Covid-19 crisis, which left most florists with empty wedding diaries, it appears demand for wedding flowers in 2021 is set to boom.

According to a study by London-based wedding planning app Bridebook – conducted in the relative early days of the pandemic in April – coronavirus directly impact up to 64 per cent of weddings in 2020 either due to postponements, cancellations or changes in travel logistics. The research also found that 36 per cent of all wedding business will be lost and the wedding industry is set to suffer losses of up to £87.5 billion.

Empty Wedding Chairs
Wedding Florist at Work

However, those professional florists who have survived the crisis – and the pressures of high street trading – are reporting brisk business for 2021.

Florists up and down the country are saying demand is at record levels for a number of reasons. As well as rebookings of cancelled weddings, florists are reporting couples booking weddings in the UK, rather than risking overseas events. It also appears the lockdown didn’t put couples off tying the knot, with florists reporting a surge in engagements while locked down at home.

It also appears couples are going all out to make their big day extra special, with British Vogue reporting a trend for extravagant wedding flowers.

Return of opulence

In an article detailing post-lockdown wedding trends you wouldn’t expect, the fashion magazine quoted Chioma Alade, director of Studio-Chi Weddings as saying: “Couples are requesting more opulent flower arrangements for home ceremonies now, and my 2021 requests are for ‘flowers everywhere’!”

Alade has also seen increased interest in a more modern approach to flower buying. This includes a lot more Pinterest time for sharing ideas and demand for arrangements involving more colours, dried flowers, and pampas grass.

“It seems extravagant arrangements are being used to ensure socially-distanced ceremonies under current restrictions are still beautiful, while postponed, larger events for 2021 are going all out,” the magazine said.

Happy Couple

Midweek demand

Another trend highlighted by Vogue and backed up by Direct2florist’s network of wedding flower specialists is the growing demand for midweek dates. It appears demand for weekend dates is so high that brides and grooms are prepared to embrace midweek dates.

“Midweek weddings will definitely be the new normal in 2021,” confirms wedding planner and stylist, Anne Ladegast-Chiu of Hilde.

As well as venues being in high demand, it appears that florists will be too – helping them to make up for the disastrous 2020 wedding season.