“Flowers Take Center Stage”

Floral designer Jan de Ridder believes it is important to listen carefully to what the customer wants when interacting with them, while still adding his own personal touch.

“In every bouquet, the flowers come first. The frame is really just a secondary element, meant only to make the flowers stand out more.”

Jan loves bold colors, such as gold, burgundy, blue, or ochre. “A strong accent like that makes a bouquet striking and leaves a lasting impression on people. Color combinations are also important: if a bride chooses lilac, I stick to that color. If you pair it with pink, for example, it actually tones down the lilac.”

Jan doesn’t have a preference for specific flowers, but he prefers to work with seasonal flowers. “I like it when you can tell what season it is just by looking at the bouquet. So in winter I choose hellebores, in summer dahlias, and in May lily of the valley. Although that always depends on availability.”

Flowers for a personal touch

The most beautiful day of your life calls for floral arrangements that go beyond mere decoration: it calls for a piece that tells a story and enhances the wearer’s personality. In this in-depth special from DPK Floral Magazine
we DPK Floral Magazine how the boundaries of the
traditional bridal bouquet are blurring, giving way to floral art.

“Don’t just create—add value”

For floral designer Max van de Sluis, the process doesn’t always begin with a form or technique, but with a single flower. “A flower that demands attention, that calls for a moment of pause, that invites you to understand its character. In this series, I let that principle guide me: observe, delve deeper, and enhance. Always from my own perspective, but with respect for what the flower already possesses.”

From that starting point, bouquets emerge that are more than just a collection of materials. “They have a voice of their own, a presence of their own. And it is precisely in that connection that the encounter with the bride takes place. Sometimes you find a bouquet that reflects her; other times, the bouquet serves to amplify who she is or wants to be at that moment. In that interaction, something unique emerges: personal, layered, and meaningful. Perhaps that is the essence of our craft: not just creating, but adding. Offering an extra dimension, which enhances not only the work but also the person carrying it. A bouquet that doesn’t just adorn, but tells a story.”

“And yet, time and again, it all starts with something seemingly simple: communication. The ability to listen, to interpret, and then to demonstrate with conviction what is possible. Because only when a vision is shared can it truly come to fruition.”

Pronounced

This bouquet takes its inspiration from a single striking Heliconia, held in place by an XL ring wrapped in wool. From this central element unfolds a selection of flowers, chosen for their distinctive shape, character, and texture. The emphasis is on individuality and expression: each flower is given the space to shine within the hanging arrangement. This creates a powerful, characterful interplay of lines where tension and balance meet.

The materials used include Gloriosa superba ‘Simba Fifty Shades’, Rosa ‘Princess Hitomi’, Clematis ‘Amazing Kansas’, Cymbidium, Hypericum, and lisianthus.

Powerful volume

Two hundred Craspedia ‘Paintball Pop’ are individually attached to 2 mm wire (500 grams) and then brought together by subtly twisting them into one another. This creates a powerful and cohesive volume, in which the characteristic spheres merge into a single sculptural whole. Accents of Gloriosa superba ‘Simba Fifty Shades’ are added as a refined contrast. Their expressive form and warm color nuances break up the rhythm of the Craspedia and give the composition a dynamic, almost fiery tension.

Playful look

This boa is made up of more than 250 daffodils that were carefully selected and sorted by size. One by one, they were strung onto a thin 1-mm aluminum wire, creating a flowing, rhythmic line that moves gracefully around the form.

The subtle variation in scale and the natural freshness of the flowers give the boa a lively, playful look, while the repetition creates a sense of calm and cohesion. Another striking feature is its longevity: the arrangement effortlessly retains its quality and appearance for several days.