Pampas grass; What you should know about this wedding trend
Pampas grass (Cortaderia) is an attractive ornamental grass that is has been an ongoing trend in weddings for the last couple of years.
It’s hugely popular when it comes to being used in home décor with many celebrities using it in their homes - Stacey Solomon, Rochelle Humes and Mrs Hinch all use it and share inspirational and creative ideas on their social media which look beautiful and have made their way into many people’s homes.
When it comes to weddings, dried flowers and grasses are also having a bit of a moment. Once upon a time, drying out a bridal bouquet was something many brides would’ve considered doing after the wedding, but these days including dried flowers like pampas grass, bunny tails, bleached ruscus, wheat or barley, reed grass, briza, luneria or stypha along side fresh flowers is one of the hottest trends when it comes to big-day blooms and décor.
What is the difference between dried and preserved wedding flowers?
It is important to understand the distinction between the two when you are speaking to your wedding florist so they can create what you want for the big day.
Dried flowers are fresh flowers that have had the moisture removed through a natural dehydration process (such as hanging them upside down).
Preserved flowers have had the moisture in the flowers and foliage replaced with glycerine. This makes them look and feel more like fresh flowers.
How can I include grasses and dried flowers in my wedding décor?
If you are a fan of pampas grass, bouquets and centrepieces can be the easiest way to work it into your theme. They also look just as great hanging from the ceiling in a whimsical cloud design as they do sprouting from floor-level pots used to section off the space.
As they are long-lasting in nature and lightweight, dried grasses and flowers allow greater flexibility in creating larger installations with them that might be more challenging with fresh flowers. Not only because they are light weight but also because they don’t need a water source which cancels out a lot of weight.
The popular ‘bunny tails’ tend to lend themselves better to smaller items such as buttonholes and corsages due to their natural shape being smaller and more delicate in form, whereas larger grasses work well in big displays, arches, centrepieces etc
Brides often choose to add dried flowers into fresh bouquets and arrangements to create that much sought-after boho vibe, and they look lovely tied with caramel, dusky pink and toffee shades. Dried flowers lend themselves to so many different styles, add lots of texture and can help bring warm tones to arrangements. Here are some alternatives to Pampas grass that we know are beautiful for weddings and some past wedding inspiration too:
Why choose Pampas or grasses for my wedding?
The popularity of dried flowers for wedding florals has not only been influenced by, well, influencers, they are also chosen by those who have been influenced by the conscious movement towards more sustainable floristry methods.
An added bonus is they are everlasting, so you can enjoy them long after your wedding day - pampas grass can last for three years or more with proper care! Top care tips include keeping them out of direct sunlight, keeping them out of humid environments, and avoiding getting them wet.
(A little trick if you're looking to get your pampas grass even fluffier than its natural state is to blow dry it with a hairdryer! Gently blow-drying the pampas grass on a low heat setting for about 5 minutes helps the plumes to open up.)
A word of caution though – Grasses naturally can shed everywhere – its what they are designed to do! If you are including materials like velvet, felt etc in your wedding theme, be prepared that even with very careful preservation you may get a little spreading.
What are common misconceptions about Pampas grass?
Many brides assume dried flowers are the cheaper choice for their wedding but they cost more than fresh flowers for us florists to buy!
This is because they have an extra process applied to them. The wholesaler charges more for not only growing the flowers but also spending time drying or preserving, and sometimes even dying the flowers too, so bear this in mind when thinking about your theme and budget for your wedding flowers.
One last thing to mention – remember that the images you see on social media are not always true to real life, and this is particularly the case when it comes to pampas grass. This image here ➡ is a hugely popular image I receive from brides, however, it has been highly edited and had filters applied, the real colours would not look like this – make sure you discuss this with your florist so you know what to expect!
If you would like to include pampas grass or other dried flowers in your wedding florals and would like to have a chat about how to approach it, do get in touch.