Flowers have always been a way to express all kinds of sentiments, be it romantic, platonic or even a form of condolence. There is a bouquet suited for every occasion – which makes flowers such versatile gifts. On top of that, new innovative bouquet arrangements are always emerging, making sure that flowers never become a cliché.
It is a widely-known fact that different flowers represent distinct emotions. When put together as a flower bouquet, they can send across a plethora of messages. The classic red rose is a prime example of this. Typically when presented in a bunch, they symbolise a timeless love. However, they can portray other images when paired with other flowers. When arranged in a bouquet with fresh springtime tulips, the image of a light, youthful romance is painted.
The characteristics of a flower bouquet are wrapping style, choice or type of flowers and foliage, as well as miscellaneous items that can be added to spruce up an individual bouquet.
We anonymously surveying 50 Singaporean ladies. 27 of them were between the ages of 18-24, 13 of them were between the ages of 25-34 and 10 of them were between the ages of 35-44. After analysing the results of the survey, we compiled a list of five bouquets that are known to impress.
Rose bouquets
What would a list of bouquets be without the quintessential rose bouquet? Across all age groups, half of our participants ranked it as their favourite bouquet, putting it on top amongst the ladies. St Valentine’s flower never goes out of style.
We all know that rose bouquets express love. Typically wrapped in grocery-style brown paper, the roses speak for themselves. 12 roses say ‘Be mine’, and a more extravagant bunch of 99 roses scream ‘I love you for all eternity’. In a more solemn context, deep red roses can also convey feelings of condolences and heartfelt sorrow. Traditionally, rose bouquets will be wrapped in non-textured wrapping material like iridescent plastic.
We noticed that roses are most popular amongst ladies above the age of 25, based on the repeated appearance of the flower in the top five rankings. 85% of those aged 25-34 and 90% of those aged 35-44 favouring the classic flower, while only 48% of those aged 18-24 gave the same answer.
Over the years, florists providing flower delivery have switched up the traditional rose bouquet with their own innovative touches. Artsy types will be delighted to know that roses are no longer limited to the typical red, white and pink colour scheme. The trend of putting roses in coloured water has given way to beautiful roses in all colours imaginable. Some have taken it one step further by cross-sectioning the stem of the rose to create rainbow roses with a tie-dyed effect. The colour spectrum is your oyster. This bunch is a dream come true for the DIY queen.
The famous rose in a glass dome is quickly becoming a favourite, even amongst those who aren’t fond of flowers. This elegant take on the traditional rose bouquet can double up as a decorative item. The most popular arrangement is the single rose, reminiscent of the enchanted rose in the tale of Beauty and the Beast. These special roses can survive up to three years without sunlight or water, with the aid of a preservative recipe, making it a great gift for those on the go.
If rose bouquets are your favourite, you’re probably a tad idealistic. And diamonds are your best friend.
Korean wrapping style bouquet
The K-wave hit Singapore about a decade ago and it never really left. Ulzzang fashion and makeup style can be found on the streets and K-pop song constantly playing on the charts. The rise of K-dramas has paved the way for the trend of Korean-wrapping style bouquets.
This trendy bouquet was unsurprisingly a hit with the younger surveyors, with a whopping 64% including this style in their top 5. However, only a collective 13% of all those above the age of 24 added it to their list.
One main characteristic of these bouquets are the complexity of the flowers. The arrangement is extremely intricate, with attention given to the tiny details. These bouquets also often contain smaller blooms to complement the main flowers used, giving it added layers of depth. The flowers usually form an orb-like shape when viewed from the top.
Flower choices for Korean-style bouquets include many springtime blooms in pastel shades. A crowd favourite seems to be the delicate baby’s breath, which gives the bouquet a touch of whimsy. It all comes together in a flurry of rustic burlap cloth, or even just a simple touch of twine for a more casual vibe.
If this trendy bouquet is your favourite, it goes without saying that you are probably always up to date with the latest trends. Or maybe you’re just a Koreaboo.
Dried flower bouquets
Fresh flowers are overrated, dried flower bouquets are in…according to 59% of our surveyors aged 18-24, 46% of those aged 25-34. On the other hand, only 10% of those aged 25-44 are fans of dried flowers, which might be due to the fact that dead flowers are considered bad luck in some cultures.
Commonly used in potpourri and scrapbooking, dried flowers have made it into the flower arrangement industry due to its distinct look and less perishable nature. These characteristics make them ideal for home decoration purposes.
Blooms commonly used in dried bouquets are more delicate and underrated, such as baby breaths, lavender, cotton, forget-me-nots, peonies, rabbit tails, or even wheat. These bouquets are smaller and more compact, probably due to the flat shape of pressed petals. They also tend to follow a fall colour scheme, such as pale blue or a muted purple. Besides the skill of flower arrangement, a certain level of craft goes behind this particular bouquet when it comes to the process of preserving and dyeing the materials.
The flowers can be presented in various creative ways due to their durability. Bigger bouquets are wrapped in brown wax paper for a vintage feel, while smaller bouquets can be attached to cards or simply tied together with a pretty silk ribbon or rope.
If this is the bouquet for you, it’s obvious that you are extremely practical, maybe even bordering on cynicism. You might also have a soft spot for quirky, retro knick-knacks.
Exotic flower bouquets
In the sea of pretty bouquets of roses and tulips, it gets repetitive sometimes. How does one stand out? By using more exotic flowers of course! At least that’s what 30% of those between the ages of 18-24, 54% of those between the ages of 25-34 and 60% of those between the ages of 35-44 think.
Non-tropical blooms like the Peruvian lily, freesias and ranunculus, commonly known as buttercups, are gaining traction in sunny Singapore. These flowers are harder to cultivate in our tropical country, which is the basis of their appeal. The flowers are usually surrounded and complemented by wild sprigs of non-native fauna such as succulents, creating an entirely authentic exotic bouquet. To finish off, the bouquet would be wrapped in light woven or chiffon cloth, regularly in neutral hues like light grey or white. This draws all attention to the rightful stars of the show: the rare blossoms.
While an entire exotic flower bouquet is a foolproof way to put a smile on a girl’s face, it is also guaranteed to cost a bomb. It’s a good thing that the flowers speak for themselves though, so a simple single bloom bouquet would suffice. This bouquet screams adventure, and if you find yourself drawn to it, you’re probably spontaneous and might have an impulse issue.
Free style bouquets
Freestyle bouquets are regarded as a creative art form in the world of flower arrangement. The flowers are used to create textures, colours, shapes and lines that illustrate something.
It is now confirmed that Singaporean ladies do know how to appreciate a thoughtful collection of blooms. While only 19% of the youngest age group have this bouquet in their top five picks, 62% and 80% of those between 25-34 and 35-44 have this in their selection respectively.
Under the giant umbrella of freestyle bouquets, there are different types of arrangements that individuals might favour.
The most common for gift-giving are natural bouquets, which rely heavily on flower choices to express a season or a moment. In this case, flowers used would be seasonal and vibrant blooms are preferred, such as peonies and orchids. Flowers tend to look less styled, thus flowers like carnations, with a cascading or layered form are sought out in order to create texture. With its relaxed packing and less rigid structure, these bouquets will definitely appeal to free-spirited, nature-lover in all of us.
On the other end of the freestyle spectrum, abstract and contemporary bouquets are meticulously arranged and revolve around a more specific and complex idea or theme.
Abstract arrangements usually showcase an artistic and imaginative interpretation of a certain theme, such as ‘Minimalism’ or ‘Spirals’. They are highly complex and personal, and chances of duplicates are almost none. There is no fixed form, so think spirals and weaves. Twigs, vines and all other kinds of materials can be incorporated into this bouquet, although they are usually kept minimal to avoid distraction from the main theme.
Contemporary bouquets make use of modern materials to portray an idea. An example would be bouquets which pair unconventional flowers such as chrysanthemums, and lilies, which are commonly associated with death, with traditional blossoms like roses, constructing a stark contrast. Granted, these bouquets are your typical go-to flowers, but those with an eye for edge might enjoy this particular brand of flower arrangements.
Amongst those who chose freestyle bouquets, 63% preferred the abstract and contemporary styles over the natural style, a majority of whom fall under the age group of 25-34. This suggests that Singaporean ladies prefer more curated and unique bouquets over generic, off the shelf ones. Guys might want to keep this in mind this when getting flowers for a special occasion!
So there you have it, the five favourite bouquets of ladies in Singapore, ranging from timeless classics to newer, more hyped bouquets, which just shows diversity in taste. It is shown that younger women lean toward what bouquet style is in trend at the moment, while older women are more concerned with the quality of flowers and stick to the classics. When it comes to gift-giving, while these might be the most popular bouquets, it is also important to keep in mind that taste is highly subjective. Most importantly, it’s always the thought that counts.
Written and surveyed conducted by Haymun Win, mass comm tertiary student in Singapore.
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