Shapes

Bouquet: Cluster of flowers either hand-tied at the neck of the stems or anchored in a bouquet holder

Nosegay: A round, densely packed burst of hand-held blossoms. Round showy flowers (roses, hydrangeas, peonies) work best in this shape.

Posies: Smaller version of nosegays. Works well with tiny buds.

Cascade: Nosegays that gracefully extend tendrils of greenery and blooms from their base.

Clutch: Simple or casual gathering of flowers tied with ribbon, raffia, or string, for a natural garden-picked appearance.

Styles

Formal: Formal bouquets are always all white with one to three different elegant flowers. The best shapes for a formal bouquet is the cascade and a nosegay. Some popular flower choices include roses, calla lilies, orchids, gardenias, stephanotis, and lilies of the valley.

Semi-formal: Semi-formal bouquets are colorful mixes of muted pastels or crisp, bright colors. They can also be a combination of colors of the same tone or white accented with a color. The best shapes for a semi-formal bouquet are the nosegay and an arm bouquet.

Informal: Informal bouquets are often smaller or posies. Their designs tend to be lively and unexpected like a handful of daffodils tied with a ribbon. But remember that informal does not have to mean unsophisticated.