“Do I really need a Bouquet for my Elopement?”
This is one of the questions I get asked all the time.
The short answer is no.
But if you’re asking what I recommend, I would almost always say yes.
After photographing hundreds of elopements, I’ve found that a bouquet does much more than look pretty in photos. It adds personality, gives you something to do with your hands, and helps shift the day from “we’re out on an adventure” to “this is our wedding day.”
It’s a small detail, but it can make the day feel more special without making it overly formal.
If flowers truly aren’t your thing, skip them. But if you’re simply unsure whether a bouquet is worth including, I generally recommend having one. More often than not, it’s a detail couples are glad they chose.
This guide will walk you through when fresh, dried, or faux flowers make the most sense, how to choose a bouquet that can handle your plans, and what to consider before ordering one.
My Bouquet Recommendations at a Glance
If you just want my opinion, here it is:
- Yes, I generally recommend having a bouquet. It adds personality, gives your hands somewhere natural to go, and helps the day feel a little more like a wedding.
- Choose fresh flowers when they make sense for your location and timeline. They’re timeless, smell incredible, and allow your florist to create something unique using seasonal blooms.
- Choose dried or faux flowers when fresh flowers aren’t practical. They can be great alternatives for travel, weather, or remote locations, but be thoughtful about where you order them and whether they’re appropriate for the landscape.
- Trust your florist. Instead of getting attached to one flower you found online, ask what will be in season and what will hold up where you’re getting married.
- Choose a style that feels like you. Classic, garden-inspired, bold and boho, colorful and wild- there isn’t a wrong choice.
- Keep the size realistic. Your bouquet may be hiking, climbing over rocks, and spending hours outside with you. A smaller arrangement is often easier to enjoy than a large, heavy one.
- Plan ahead if you want to preserve it. Purchasing a few extra loose blooms can make your detail photos and preservation easier later.
Now let’s talk about why I recommend bouquets in the first place.
Is a Bouquet worth it?
I generally say yes.
Think of what a bouquet can add to your day.
Is it an additional thing to plan- sure. Do I believe the pros outweigh the cons? Absolutely.
It Adds Color, Personality, and Intention
Nature already gives you an incredible backdrop.
A bouquet brings in color, texture, and personality that can tie together your outfits, location, and the overall feel of the day.
Even a simple bouquet has a way of saying, today is different.
You probably wouldn’t carry flowers on a normal hike, even if you dressed up. A bouquet helps shift the experience from “we’re outside taking photos” to “this is our wedding day.”
It doesn’t need to be oversized or elaborate. A small arrangement can have just as much impact while still feeling natural to carry.
It Gives You Something to Do With Your Hands
This is probably my most practical reason for recommending a bouquet, and almost nobody talks about it.
One of the most common things I hear from couples is:
“We’re awkward in front of the camera.”
Honestly, that’s completely normal.
Almost everyone feels a little self-conscious when the camera first comes out. A bouquet gives your hands somewhere natural to rest, so you aren’t standing there wondering what you’re supposed to do with them.
It sounds like a small thing, but having something to focus on besides the camera helps a lot of couples relax much faster.
Of course, a bouquet isn’t the only way to feel comfortable. Choosing a location you love (How to Choose the Best Place to Elope), building activities into the day (101 Fun Elopement Ideas), and focusing on each other all help too. But if you’re already considering flowers, this practical benefit alone can make one worth carrying.
It Becomes Part of the Story
Your bouquet ends up being with you through a lot of the day.
It’s there while you’re getting ready, during the ceremony, in your portraits, and often at dinner afterward. If you preserve it, it becomes one of the few physical pieces of your wedding day you can keep for years.
For something that starts as “just flowers,” it often becomes a much bigger part of the day than couples expect.
If flowers feel even remotely like you and make sense for your plans, I recommend carrying a bouquet.
Fresh, Dried, or Faux? Choosing the right Bouquet for your elopement
Once you decide you want flowers, the next question is what kind of bouquet to choose.
Fresh flowers are almost always my first choice when they work for the location and travel plans. When they don’t, dried or faux flowers can still be great options.
The right one comes down to where you’re getting married, how you’re traveling, and what you want to do with the bouquet afterward.
Fresh Flowers
If they’re practical for your location and budget, fresh flowers are usually what I recommend.
They smell incredible, every bloom has its own character, and your florist can create something unique to your wedding day.
Another major advantage is that florists know what works.
Instead of trying to recreate a Pinterest bouquet flower for flower, let your florist guide you toward what’s in season and what can handle the weather and location.
Fresh flowers are usually the best fit if:
- You have access to a florist near your elopement location.
- You want a bouquet that reflects the season.
- You love the scent and texture of real flowers.
- You want your florist to create something unique.
What to Ask Your Florist
Give your florist the overall style, colors, and feeling you want, then ask:
- What flowers are in season?
- What holds up best in this climate?
- What would you recommend for the amount of hiking we’ll be doing?
A local florist understands how flowers behave in that environment and can create something beautiful without it falling apart halfway through the day.
Unless you have a sentimental reason for choosing a specific flower, give them some creative freedom. You’ll usually end up with a stronger bouquet than you would by asking them to copy something exactly.
Dried Flowers
Dried bouquets can be a great fit when fresh flowers are difficult to travel with, or you’re getting married somewhere remote.
They travel well, won’t wilt, and can last long after the wedding. They work especially well if you genuinely love their texture and earthy, boho-inspired look.
I’ve photographed beautiful dried bouquets, from family-made arrangements to custom pieces ordered from talented artists.
Dried flowers may be right for you if you:
- Love their texture and style.
- Need to travel with your bouquet.
- Won’t have access to a florist near your location.
- Want something that will last after the wedding.
- Prefer a bouquet that won’t change throughout the day.
I wouldn’t choose dried flowers only because they seem easier. Choose them because you like how they look and they make sense for your plans.
One Important Thing to Check First
Not every outdoor location allows dried flowers.
Some public lands prohibit arrangements with open seed heads because they can introduce non-native plant material. Moab is one place where this is worth checking before you order anything.
Ask someone familiar with the location, whether that’s your photographer, planner, florist, or the local land manager.
It’s a small step that helps protect the places we’re lucky enough to use.
Faux Flowers
Faux flowers have come a long way. A well-made faux bouquet can photograph beautifully and become something you keep forever.
Choose faux flowers because they make sense for travel, logistics, or preservation, not because you assume they’ll save money.
A high-quality faux bouquet often costs as much as, or more than, a fresh bouquet once realistic flowers and skilled design are involved. The inexpensive versions are usually where bouquets begin to look noticeably artificial.
Think of faux flowers as a long-term keepsake, not necessarily a budget option.
Faux flowers may be right for you if you:
- Are comfortable paying for quality.
- Want a bouquet you can keep forever.
- Need to travel a long distance with it.
- Won’t have reliable access to fresh flowers.
- Find a maker whose work you genuinely love.
Before ordering
- Read reviews carefully.
- Look at real customer photos, not only product photos.
- Choose someone whose work consistently looks realistic.
- Give yourself enough time to make changes if needed.
- Budget for quality rather than choosing the least expensive option.
I’ve seen faux bouquets that looked incredibly lifelike, and others that looked very different from the listing photos.
Where you order from makes all the difference.
Fresh vs. Dried vs. Faux at a Glance
Choose Fresh Flowers If:
- You have access to a florist.
- You want the most natural look.
- You love seasonal flowers.
- You want your florist’s creativity to shine.
- Your location and travel plans make them practical.
Choose Dried Flowers If:
- You love their texture and style.
- Fresh flowers aren’t practical for your location.
- You want something that won’t wilt.
- Your travel plans are tight.
- You’ve confirmed they’re allowed where you’re getting married.
Choose Faux Flowers If:
- You want a bouquet you can keep forever.
- You’re traveling a long distance with a tight timeline.
- Fresh flowers aren’t practical.
- You find a maker whose work you love.
- You’re willing to invest in quality rather than treating faux as the cheaper option.
There isn’t one right choice for every elopement.
Start with fresh flowers when they’re practical. If they aren’t, choose dried or faux based on the look you prefer, the logistics involved, and whether you want to keep the bouquet afterward.
Once you know which kind of flowers make sense, the next step is planning a bouquet that can handle the day itself.
Planning a Bouquet That Fits Your Elopement
Choosing between fresh, dried, or faux flowers is only part of the decision.
Your location, the amount of hiking, the weather, and whether you plan to preserve the bouquet can all affect what works best.
Choose it based on the full experience, not only how it looks in a photo.
Should You DIY Your Bouquet?
I love a good DIY project when it’s something you genuinely enjoy.
I made my own bouquet for my elopement.
But I didn’t make it because I thought it would save money. I made it because arranging flowers is something I love, and it became one of my favorite memories from the day. Sitting with my best friend and putting everything together felt like part of the experience, not another thing I had to get done. That’s the difference.
Consider making your own bouquet if:
- You have enough time to make it without adding stress.
- You already enjoy arranging flowers.
- It sounds like a fun part of the wedding.
- You’re excited about the creative process.
Consider hiring a florist if:
- You’re only doing it to save money.
- The thought of making it already feels stressful.
- You’ve never arranged flowers and don’t want to troubleshoot them right before the wedding.
- You’d rather spend your wedding morning relaxing.
DIY because you want the experience, not because you feel like you should save money everywhere you can. For you crafty gals- do what makes you happy!
If you are unsure, remember a florist knows what’s in season, what will hold up in your location, and how to create something beautiful without it falling apart halfway through the day. Sometimes the best investment isn’t spending more money. It’s spending less energy.
Think About Your Location
Your bouquet doesn’t exist in a vacuum.
It’s going hiking with you.
It might spend hours in the desert sun, get caught in mountain wind, ride in the back of a Jeep, or travel across rocky trails before you even reach the ceremony location.
Choose flowers that can handle those conditions rather than building the entire bouquet around one delicate bloom you saw online.
Ask your florist:
- What flowers are in season?
- What holds up well in this climate?
- Are there any delicate flowers we should avoid?
- What will work best for the amount of hiking we’re doing?
Give them the colors, overall style, and feeling you want, then let them guide you toward flowers that make sense for the location.
You’ll usually end up with a bouquet that looks better and lasts longer than one built around a rigid list.
Heat, Wind, and Weather Matter
Fresh flowers can be surprisingly resilient, but they’re still flowers.
Plan for the weather from the beginning instead of trying to rescue the bouquet after it has already spent hours in the heat.
A few simple ways to help it last:
- Keep the stems in water whenever possible.
- Store it somewhere cool before the ceremony.
- Protect it from direct sun while driving between locations.
- Ask your florist to use mostly hardy blooms if you’ll be outside all day.
- Photograph delicate flowers earlier, before the heat starts affecting them.
If a few smaller flowers begin to wilt, don’t panic.
Sometimes removing one or two delicate blooms is enough to freshen the bouquet back up. It doesn’t need to look untouched at the end of an adventure. It just needs to be built well enough to handle it.
Bigger Isn’t Always Better
One thing couples rarely consider is how long they’ll be carrying their bouquet.
During a traditional wedding, you might hold it for twenty or thirty minutes.
During an adventure elopement, you could carry it for hours.
That gorgeous oversized bouquet can start feeling very different after a few miles of hiking.
Before choosing the size, think about:
- How much hiking you’ll be doing.
- Whether you’ll be climbing over rocks or uneven terrain.
- How often you’ll carry it versus setting it down.
- Whether the size works with the pace of the day.
- Whether you’ll still enjoy carrying it several hours later.
This doesn’t mean you can’t have a dramatic bouquet.
But unless a large arrangement is really important to you, I usually suggest going slightly smaller than you think you need. It can still have plenty of impact without becoming something you’re tired of carrying halfway through the day.
I’ve never had a couple tell me they wished they had gone significantly bigger. I have had couples tell me they were surprised by how heavy their bouquet became.
Sometimes slightly smaller really is the better adventure bouquet.
Choose the Style You Love, Then Make It Practical
Trying to decide between a classic bouquet, a whimsical garden style, something colorful and wildflower-inspired, or a bold boho arrangement?
Choose the one that feels like you.
Flower trends come and go, but your wedding photos should still feel like your wedding years from now.
There isn’t a right or wrong style. The main thing to consider is how the size and shape work with what you’ll be doing.
A loose, oversized bouquet may look incredible, but it may not be the best choice for hours of hiking, climbing, or off-road travel.
Start with the style you love, then adjust the scale and flowers to suit the adventure.
A bouquet you’ll carry all day should feel just as good to hold as it looks.
Boutonnieres: Do You Need One?
Like bouquets, boutonnieres are completely optional.
If you’re skipping flowers altogether, that’s perfectly okay. But if you want a small floral detail without carrying a bouquet, a boutonniere can be a great option.
Keep it simple and choose something that will still look good several hours into the day.
- Keep it on the smaller side. Oversized boutonnieres, especially ones with large blooms, tend to lose petals and look tired as the day goes on.
- Choose flowers that can handle the conditions. Your florist can recommend blooms that will hold up well in the weather.
- Opt for dried. Even if you are doing live florals, having a dried boutonnier can last longer and look nice throughout the day- even through spins, hiking, lifts, etc.
- Consider a pocket boutonniere. These sit inside your jacket pocket like a pocket square instead of being pinned to your lapel. They’re one of my favorite options because they stay put, photograph beautifully, and usually hold up better throughout the day.
If you’re deciding between a traditional and pocket boutonniere, I usually recommend the pocket option. It tends to stay in place and requires less adjusting.
Like your bouquet, it should complement your style without becoming a hassle.
Preserving Your Bouquet
If you want to preserve your bouquet, plan for it before the wedding.
By the end of an adventure elopement, it may have spent hours in the sun, wind, heat, or cold. That’s part of the day, but some blooms may not look as fresh as they did that morning.
Consider purchasing a few extra loose blooms when you order your flowers, especially the signature flowers that define the bouquet. They’ll add a little to the cost, but they can make a big difference later.
Those extra blooms can be used for:
- Flat lay detail photos with your rings, vow books, jewelry, perfume, and other keepsakes.
- Giving your preservation artist fresh blooms from the same arrangement if parts of the bouquet become weathered.
Keep them somewhere cool, like a refrigerator at your Airbnb or hotel, while you’re out celebrating.
When it’s time to send everything to your preservation artist, include the untouched blooms with the bouquet. That gives them fresh flowers from the exact same arrangement and helps the finished piece resemble how it looked at the beginning of the day.
Choose your preservation method and artist ahead of time. Many options require the bouquet to be shipped or delivered quickly, and that’s much easier when you already know what needs to happen after the wedding. They also have insight on the type of blooms that preserve the best. A small amount of preparation can make a noticeable difference in both your detail photos and your preserved bouquet.
Leave No Trace and Your Flowers
One of the best parts of adventure elopements is getting to celebrate in incredible natural places.
Part of that privilege is taking care of them.
Your flowers should follow the same Leave No Trace principles as everything else you bring.
- Don’t toss flower petals during your ceremony. Even real petals can introduce non-native plant material, and they rarely stay where you toss them.
- Check local regulations before bringing dried flowers. Some public lands don’t allow arrangements with open seed heads.
- Pack everything out. Ribbon, loose greenery, broken stems, and any other floral pieces should leave with you.
Don’t plan anything that requires leaving floral material behind, even temporarily.
When you leave, the landscape should look exactly the same as it did when you arrived.
Enjoy Your Bouquet Beyond the Ceremony and Portraits
Your bouquet doesn’t have to disappear once the ceremony and portraits are over.
If you’re having dinner afterward, place it in a vase and use it as part of the table décor.
If you’re celebrating at your Airbnb, cabin, or campsite, keep it nearby while you eat, relax, and relive the day together.
And if you preserve it, you’ll have a meaningful keepsake long after the flowers themselves would have faded.
You’ve already chosen and paid for the bouquet. Let it be part of more than one moment.
Bouquet Style Inspiration
There isn’t one right bouquet style.
Whether you’re drawn to something timeless and traditional or loose and whimsical, your bouquet should reflect you, not whatever happens to be trending right now.
Popular styles include:
- Classic: Clean, timeless, and elegant. This will never go out of style, and won’t date your images when you look at them for years to come.
- Garden: Loose, romantic, and naturally gathered. One of my personal favorites because it feels effortless without being overly formal- plus it isn’t as heavy as a boho packed full of blooms.
- Wildflower: Colorful, playful, and organic. The biggest concern is making sure it is hardy enough for the weather and adventure you are on.
- Boho: Textural, bold, and full of movement. While gorgeous, these can get a bit heavy and large. Be intentional about the size and type of blooms or be ready for the added weight.
- Modern: Sculptural and often more minimal. Fabulous when done right.
- Minimal: Small, simple arrangements that let a few beautiful blooms stand out. Adds that special touch, while keeping the added weight and care minimal.
As you look through the images below, pay attention to what you’re naturally drawn to instead of trying to recreate someone else’s bouquet exactly.
Use inspiration photos to communicate the colors, shape, and overall feeling you like, then give your florist room to create something that works for the season and location.
Final Thoughts
Flowers don’t have to be an all-or-nothing decision.
You don’t need the biggest bouquet. You don’t need the trendiest flowers. And if flowers genuinely aren’t your thing, you don’t need them at all.
But if you’re asking what I recommend, I would almost always say to include some kind of bouquet- unless it truly isn’t you.
- Think beyond how it will look in your photos.
- Think about how it will make you feel while you’re getting ready.
- Think about carrying it toward your ceremony.
- Think about the little bit of confidence it can give you when you aren’t sure what to do with your hands.
- Think about setting it on the table while you celebrate over dinner.
- Think about preserving it so you can keep a small piece of the day for years.
It doesn’t need to be large, expensive, or elaborate. It just needs to work for your location, your plans, and how you want the day to feel.
Choose it intentionally, but don’t overcomplicate it.
FAQ
Scroll through some of my Favorite
Bouquets
Dried with Wood Blooms
Colorful Garden Bouquet
Colorful Garden Bouquet
Colorful Garden Bouquet
Classic Bouquet with Dusty Blush and Creams
Classic Bouquet with Dusty Blush and Creams- Boho Bouquet with Earth Tones
Matching floral Clip
Boho Bouquet with Earth Tones- Boho Bouquet with Earth Tones
White and Cream Boho Bouquet
White and Cream Boho Bouquet- White and Cream Boho Bouquet
- Boho Bouquet with Peach, Orange and Burgundy
Boho Bouquet with Peach, Orange and Burgundy
Garden Bouquet with Succulents and Soft Desert Tones- Garden Bouquet with Succulents and Soft Desert Tones
- Pinks and Succulent Faux Bouquet
- Pinks and Succulent Faux Bouquet
- Pinks and Succulent Faux Bouquet
Classic Bouquet with Purples, Blues and Succulents
Classic Bouquet with Purples, Blues and Succulents- Earthy Toned Bouquet with Faux and Dried Florals
Earthy Toned Bouquet with Faux and Dried Florals- Classic White Bouquet with added Greenery
Classic White Bouquet with added Greenery- Dried FloralsCream Bouquet and Boutonniere
Dried Florals Cream Bouquet
Dried Florals Cream Bouquet
Pinks, Peach, and Deep Reds Garden Bouquet
Pinks, Peach, and Deep Reds Garden Bouquet- Pinks, Peach, and Deep Reds Garden Bouquet
Pinks, Peach, and Deep Reds Garden Bouquet- Classic White and Cream Bouquet
- Classic White and Cream Bouquet
- Classic White and Cream Bouquet
- Desert-toned Boho Bouquet with pops of Orange
- Desert-toned Boho Bouquet with pops of Orange
Desert-toned Boho Bouquet with pops of Orange- Bright Pink, Orange and Yellow Garden Bouquet
- Bright Pink and Yellow Boutonniere
- Bright Pink, Orange and Yellow Garden Bouquet
Bright Pink, Orange and Yellow Garden Bouquet- Classic Minimal White Rose Bouquet
Classic Minimal White Rose Bouquet- Classic Minimal White Rose Bouquet
- Cream and Desert-toned Wood and Dried Floral Bouquet
- Cream and Desert-toned Wood and Dried Floral Bouquet
- Cream and Desert-toned Wood and Dried Floral Bouquet
- Boho Bouquet with Vibrant Desert Tones
- Boho Bouquet with Vibrant Desert Tones
- Boho Bouquet with Vibrant Desert Tones
- Loose Garden Bouquet with Cream and Blue Thistle
Loose Garden Bouquet with Cream and Blue Thistle- Colorful Wildflower Bouquet
- Colorful Wildflower Bouquet
- White Garden Bouquet
- White Garden Bouquet
- White Garden Bouquet
- Garden Bouquet with Sunflowers and Warm Colors
- Garden Bouquet with Sunflowers and Warm Colors
- Garden Bouquet with Sunflowers and Warm Colors
- Southwest Colored Wildflower Boutonniere
Southwest Colored Wildflower Bouquet with Cacti
Southwest Colored Wildflower Bouquet with Cacti- Colorful Garden Bouquet
- Colorful Garden Pocket Boutonniere
- Colorful Garden Bouquet
- Desert Toned Dried Floral Bouquet
- Desert Toned Dried Floral Bouquet
- Desert Toned Dried Floral Boutonniere
- Pink, Pink and Pastels Garden Bouquet and Pastels Garden Bouquet
- Pink, Lavender and Pastels Garden Bouquet
- Reds and Peaches Wildflower Bouquet
- Reds and Peaches Wildflower Bouquet
- Minimal Classic White Bouquet
- Minimal Classic White Bouquet
- Blush and Dark Pink-toned Garden Bouquet
Blush and Dark Pink-toned Garden Bouquet- Blush and Dark Pink-toned Garden Boutonniere
- Cream and Tan Dried Floral and Wood Bouquet
- Cream and Tan Dried Floral and Wood Bouquet
- Cream and Tan Dried Floral and Wood Bouquet
Colorful Faux Floral Garden Bouquet- Colorful Faux Floral Garden Bouquet
- Dusty Pink and Pastel Garden Bouquet
- Dusty Pink and Pastel Garden Bouquet
- Dusty Pink and Pastel Garden Bouquet
- Dried Floral Bouquet
- Dried Floral Bouquet
- Colorful Boho Bouquet
- Dusty Rose Garden Bouquet
- Dusty Rose Garden Bouquet
- Dusty Rose Garden Bouquet
- Vibrant Pink and Pastel Garden Bouquets
- Vibrant Pink and Pastel Garden Bouquets
- Vibrant Pink and Pastel Garden Bouquets
- Blue and Cream Dried Floral Bouquet
- Blue and Cream Dried Floral Bouquet
- DIY Dried and Live Bouquet
- DIY Dried and Live Bouquet
- DIY Dried Boutonniere
- Jewel Toned Dried Floral Bouquet
- Jewel Toned Dried Floral Bouquet
Deep Fall Colored Boho Bouquet- Deep Fall Colored Boho Bouqet
- Deep Fall Colored Boho Bouquet
- Colorful Wildflower Bouquet
- Colorful Wildflower Bouquet
- Blush and Cream Dried and Faux Floral Bouquet
- Blush and Cream Dried and Faux Floral Bouquet
- Blush and Cream Dried and Faux Floral Bouquet
- Peach and Pink Wildflower Bouquet
- Peach and Pink Wildflower Bouquet
Classic White Bouquet with hints of Blue- Classic White Bouquet with hints of Blue
- Classic White Boutonniere
- Desert-toned Garden Bouquet
- Desert-toned Garden Bouquet
- Blue and Warm Desert-toned Mixed Classic Bouquet
- Blue and Warm Desert-toned Mixed Classic Bouquet
- Blue and Warm Desert-toned Mixed Classic Bouquet
Hi! I’m Shannon Durazo
A former project manager turned your Southwest elopement photographer, go-to problem solver, and Adventure Buddy
Are you ready for a nature-filled wedding or an epic elopement adventure? Let’s make it unforgettable. I’m here to do more than take photos—I’m here to help you create a day that feels as incredible as it looks. From scouting jaw-dropping locations and sharing vendor recommendations to crafting timelines that catch that golden-hour magic, we’re building more than a wedding day; we’re creating art while putting your experience first. Whether it’s hiking a mountain, off-roading to a secret spot, or chasing sunsets, we’ll make memories as unique and extraordinary as your love story.
I specialize in capturing both intimate elopements and weddings in Arizona, Colorado, Utah, and Northern New Mexico.
