Micro Weddings, Elopements & Courthouse Weddings: Bouquet Ideas That Still Feel Big
Small weddings are having a big moment. Nearly half of couples say they're considering a micro wedding, and courthouse ceremonies are booming as couples choose to spend less on the party and more on what matters to them.
A small wedding doesn't mean small meaning. If anything, every detail counts more when there are fewer of them. And your bouquet might be the most important detail of all.
Why the bouquet matters even more at a small wedding
At a big wedding, the flowers are everywhere: arches, centerpieces, aisle arrangements. At a micro wedding or elopement, your bouquet is often the only floral piece. It's in almost every photo. It's the thing you'll hold through the vows.
That makes it worth planning with care, and worth keeping.
Bouquet ideas for micro weddings and elopements
The single-flower bundle. A handful of one flower, like white tulips, garden roses or ranunculus, tied with silk ribbon. Simple and timeless.
The wildflower bouquet. Loose, gathered and a little wild. Perfect for a beach, field or mountain elopement.
The oversized statement bouquet. When you're only carrying one arrangement, go big. A generous, trailing bouquet photographs beautifully.
The seasonal bouquet. Let where and when you marry lead: peonies in June, dahlias in September, anemones and evergreens in December. See our guide to fall and winter wedding flowers.
The meaningful bouquet. Build it around flowers that mean something to you, like your grandmother's favorite bloom or the flower from your first date. Read about the meaning of wedding flowers.
The heirloom wrap. Tie your stems with a piece of your mom's veil, a family handkerchief or a ribbon from something that matters to you.
Courthouse wedding flower tips
Keep it easy to carry. You may be walking through a city, a lobby or a park.
Ask about florist pickup times. Courthouse ceremonies are often in the morning, so plan pickup the day before or first thing.
Add a boutonniere. It ties your partner into the photos and can be preserved alongside your bouquet.
Bring water. Keep your bouquet in water between the ceremony and the celebration dinner.
Don't skip the keepsakes
Small weddings often skip the traditions that come with big ones: the guest book, the toasts, the wedding party. That makes the few keepsakes you do have even more important. See our list of 10 wedding keepsake traditions for ideas that work for any size.
Keeping your bouquet after a small wedding
Your bouquet can become the first piece of art in your home, no matter how small the wedding was. At ADONIA Studios, we take your bouquet apart by hand, press each bloom and rebuild it in a frame. Smaller bouquets are perfect for our Small wedding size (from $325), and special event pieces start at $145.
Plan it before the day. Your flowers need to reach the studio within a day or two, so it helps to have the handoff set. For small weddings on the South Shore and around Boston, we can pick up the day after.
Frequently asked questions
What is a micro wedding?
A micro wedding is a small, intentional celebration, usually with fewer than 50 guests, that keeps traditional elements like a ceremony, dinner and flowers.
Do you need a bouquet for a courthouse wedding?
You don't need one, but many brides carry a small bouquet. It adds color to your photos and gives you something meaningful to keep.
Can you preserve an elopement or courthouse wedding bouquet?
Yes. Small bouquets preserve beautifully. At ADONIA Studios, wedding preservation starts at $325 and special event pieces start at $145.
ADONIA Studios is a floral preservation studio in Hull, Massachusetts, turning wedding bouquets into pressed, framed floral art for brides across Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire. See our work.
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