Flowers are one of the most important design elements at a wedding. Each year, the styles change a little bit, and an easy way to make sure that your wedding feels fresh and up-to-date is to keep up with the latest ideas in floral design. These are the hottest wedding flower trends right now.

The rising star on the wedding floral scene is the anemone. Round and feminine, not as formal as roses, the anemone is the trendiest wedding flower this year. It has many things to recommend it, particularly the wide range of bright colors available and the fact that it carries no scent (great for brides with allergies). What is really driving the popularity of the anemone for bridal bouquets and centerpieces right now, though, is the dramatic variety which features white petals around a black center. Black and white is all the rage right now for wedding color schemes, from everything from tablecloths and cakes to wedding gowns and custom bridal jewelry. The white anemone with the black center is the perfect flower for this elegant yet modern color scheme. A slightly more romantic version is the pale pink anemone with a black center. Whichever color you prefer, the end result will be just as striking and gorgeous as your custom bridal jewelry.

Another big trend in wedding flowers is more natural forms. Brides are moving away from perfectly round bouquets and centerpieces in rose bowls towards mixed flower arrangements with a looser style. This concept of floral arrangements works equally well for very formal and very casual affairs. For a black tie wedding, dramatically tall centerpieces with cascading roses and orchids will set the stage for glamor. A charming assortment of wildflowers set in a white pitcher would be just as pretty for an informal backyard wedding. We are also starting to see a lot of bridal bouquets with loose outlines and even teardrop or cascading forms rather than tightly packed nosegays.

When it comes to decorating a wedding, the more flowers the better! This has led to another top trend, which is to use a single flower as an ornament on a napkin at the dinner table. Choose a large blossom in a color which will either stand out against the napkin color (such as a hot pink flower on an orange napkin) or opt for a subdued tonal effect. As the flowers will be out of water for an extended period of time, choose blooms which are hardy enough to last without wilting. Good candidates include orchids, dahlias, and gerbera daisies.

Floral wedding favors are also hot this year. Place a single blossom or two of your favorite flower and display it on the dinner table above the place setting. If you like, you can also set a flat place card leaning up against each vase to show the guests to their seats. The great thing about this flower trend is that the vases are a favor that your guests are sure to enjoy, and the flowers in them will add another layer of beautiful decoration to your wedding reception. Talk about a win-win wedding trend idea!