Glossary
Floral design glossary
78 words you'll come across in florists' quotes and moodboards, explained simply and linked to the guides that go into them.
A
- Anemone
- A winter and spring flower with a dark centre and clean petals; very photogenic, sensitive to heat and light.
B
- Ballast and weights
- The weights or anchoring that keep arches, signs and structures steady outdoors, especially in sea and lake breezes.
- Banquet table (long table)
- A long rectangular table that seats many guests in one row; the flowers are planned by the metre, not by the piece.
- Bomboniera (wedding favour)
- A small gift for guests, almost always with five sugared almonds; in floral versions it is a plant or dried flowers.
- Breakdown
- Removing flowers, vases and structures after the event, often at night or the next day; agree in writing who does it and when.
- Bridal bouquet
- The flowers the bride carries: shape, flowers and size are chosen with the dress, the season and the ceremony.
- Buttonhole (boutonnière)
- A small flower for the lapel of the groom, best men and fathers, chosen to go with the bridal bouquet.
C
- Caparra (confirmatory deposit)
- A sum paid to secure a contract under Italian law: whoever withdraws may lose it or have to return it doubled.
- Cascade bouquet
- A bouquet that falls downwards in a trail of flowers and foliage, longer than it is wide: dramatic, but heavy.
- Centrepiece
- The arrangement in the middle of each guest table; tall or low, it is often the biggest line in the flower budget.
- Chrysanthemums
- Beautiful autumn flowers, but in Italy linked to mourning and the Day of the Dead: they are usually avoided at weddings.
- Church flowers
- The flowers for a religious ceremony: altar, pews, entrance and aisle, within the limits set by the parish.
- Civil ceremony
- A wedding conducted by a civil registrar, at the town hall or at an outside venue authorised by the town council.
- Clutch bouquet
- A small, compact bouquet held in one hand like a clutch bag: well suited to civil ceremonies and simple dresses.
- Cold chain
- Keeping flowers cool from grower to event: cold rooms, refrigerated vans, deliveries in the cooler hours.
- Colour palette
- The 3 to 5 colours chosen for the flowers and styling, which guide bouquets, tables, fabrics and stationery.
- Conditioning (keeping flowers hydrated)
- The work that keeps flowers in water from market to event: cutting, resting, water tubes and water sources inside arrangements.
- Confettata (sugared almond bar)
- A buffet of sugared almonds in many flavours offered to guests, usually late in the reception; a typical Italian wedding custom.
- Corsage
- A small arrangement worn on the wrist or pinned to an outfit, usually for mothers, witnesses and bridesmaids.
- Cut flowers
- Flowers cut from the plant and sold by the stem, for bouquets and arrangements: they last days, not weeks.
D
- Dahlia
- A summer and autumn flower in every shape and size; the flower of September and October weddings.
- Decorating the bride's home (addobbi casa sposa)
- A custom found mainly in southern Italy: flowers and ribbons at the entrance of the home the bride leaves from, to welcome family and neighbours.
- Deposit
- An advance on the price paid when you sign; in Italy it is not the same as a caparra, and the difference matters if the wedding is cancelled.
- Destination wedding
- A wedding held far from where the couple lives; in Italy often on the lakes, in Tuscany, on the Amalfi Coast or in Puglia.
- Dried flowers
- Flowers and grasses dried to last for months; loved in boho styling, but fragile, dusty and to be kept away from flames.
E
- Edible flowers
- Flowers grown to be eaten, without treatments; the only ones that belong on cakes and plates, chosen by whoever prepares the food.
- Elopement
- An intimate wedding, sometimes just the two of you, often somewhere scenic; a micro wedding adds a few guests.
- Eucalyptus
- Greenery with scented, grey-blue leaves, sturdy and versatile; one of the most used in garlands, bouquets and table runners.
- Exclusive supplier
- When the venue requires its in-house florist or a list of approved suppliers that you must choose from.
F
- Floral arch
- A structure dressed with flowers and foliage that frames the couple during the ceremony, often outdoors.
- Floral foam
- The green block that soaks up water and holds stems in place; it is a plastic material, so many designers now work without it.
- Floral table runner
- A strip of foliage and flowers laid down the centre of the table, like a fabric runner but made of plants.
- Florist
- Someone who sells and arranges flowers, usually from a shop open to the public; many also do weddings and events.
- Flower crown
- A ring of flowers and foliage worn on the head by the bride or bridesmaids; usually fresh, sometimes preserved.
- Flower designer
- A professional who designs and produces the flowers for an event as a whole, from the first concept to set-up on the day.
- Flower repurposing
- Moving ceremony flowers to the reception and giving them a second life after the party: savings and less waste.
- Flower wall
- A vertical panel covered with flowers or foliage, used as a backdrop for photos, the ceremony or the top table.
G
- Garden rose
- A rose with dense petals and an open shape, often scented, unlike the florist's classic bud rose; the star of garden style.
- Garland
- A long arrangement of foliage and flowers, on a table, an arch, a railing or a doorway; it is measured in metres.
- Greenery
- Leaves and branches used in floral design for structure, volume and colour; cheaper than flowers and longer lasting.
- Gypsophila
- Tiny white flowers in clouds, light and inexpensive; available all year round and dries well.
H
- Hanging floral installation
- An arrangement hung from a ceiling, beams or a frame, above tables or the dance floor: striking, but it needs safe rigging.
- Hire (rentals)
- Vases, stands, arches, candelabras and structures lent for the event and then returned: a separate line in the quote.
- Hydrangea
- A flower with large heads that fill a lot of space; typical of the lakes and late summer, but quick to suffer without water.
K
- Kenzan
- A metal base full of pins that holds stems in a vase of water; an alternative to floral foam.
L
- Local flowers
- Flowers grown near the event or at least in Italy: they travel less and follow the seasons.
M
- Marquee
- A temporary fabric cover on a frame, used for outdoor receptions or as a back-up if it rains.
- Mockup
- A real trial of a centrepiece or a fully dressed table before the wedding, to check size, colours and overall effect.
- Moodboard
- A collection of images, colours and materials that sets the flower style before the quote, so you speak the same language.
N
- Naked flames (open flames)
- Lit candles and tea lights: many venues ban them or allow them only in enclosed glass, and flowers must be kept away.
O
- Olive
- The emblem of the Mediterranean: branches for garlands and runners, potted trees for entrances and outdoor ceremonies.
- Orange blossom (fiori d'arancio)
- Zagara, the blossom of citrus trees, is the traditional symbol of marriage in Italy; it smells wonderful but lasts little once cut.
P
- Pampas grass
- An ornamental grass with tall, soft plumes, the emblem of boho styling; used dried, it sheds fibres and catches fire easily.
- Pedestal stand (riser)
- A stand that lifts flowers, cake or sweets above the table; for tall centrepieces it is often hired.
- Peony
- A large flower full of petals, among the most requested for bouquets; the Italian season is short, between April and June.
- Petal toss
- Petals thrown by guests as the couple leaves, instead of rice: fresh, dried or handed out in cones.
- Photo backdrop (photo corner)
- A corner dressed with flowers or foliage where guests have their photos taken; sometimes paired with a flower bar.
- Place card
- A card or small object with the guest's name at their seat; a flower or a sprig makes it part of the table design.
- Plan B (wet weather plan)
- The alternative agreed in advance in case rain, wind or heat stop you using the outdoor space you planned.
- Pollen and allergies
- Pollen, strong scents and fibres from dried flowers can bother some guests: they are managed through choices and placement.
- Preserved flowers
- Real flowers treated to stay soft and colourful for months without water; useful in heat, in hair and on structures.
Q
- Quote
- The document listing pieces, quantities, prices and terms for your flowers: the more detailed it is, the easier it is to compare.
R
- Ranunculus
- A flower with thin, layered petals, like a small rose; the flower of winter and spring, widely grown in Italy.
- Ruscus
- Greenery with small, glossy leaves on long, flexible stems; tough, inexpensive, ideal for garlands.
S
- Seasonal flowers
- Flowers that bloom at that time of year in the field or greenhouse without forcing: often lovelier, fresher and cheaper.
- Seating plan (tableau de mariage)
- The display that shows each guest their table; it is often decorated with flowers and matched to the place cards.
- Set-up
- The on-site work of bringing in, placing and finishing all the flowers before the event; it has hours, staff and costs.
- Site visit
- A visit to the venue with your florist to measure spaces, check light, access and rules before the design is final.
- Symbolic ceremony
- A ceremony with no legal effect, held wherever you like: in Italy it is a popular choice for couples from abroad.
T
- Table setting (mise en place)
- Everything on the table: linen, plates, glasses, cutlery, place cards. The flowers have to fit within it.
- Top table (sweetheart table)
- The table where the couple sits, alone or with witnesses and families: the most photographed spot at the reception.
- Toss bouquet
- A second, smaller and cheaper bouquet made just for the toss, so you can keep the real one.
- Toxic plants
- Flowers and plants that can irritate or poison if touched or swallowed: keep them away from food, children and pets.
- Travel costs
- The cost of bringing team, flowers and materials to a distant venue: travel, vans, meals, accommodation, sometimes boats.
V
- VAT (IVA)
- Italian value added tax: many flower quotes show it separately, so the real total is higher than the lines suggest.
W
- Wedding planner
- The person who organises and coordinates the wedding and its suppliers; for the flowers they set timings and logistics, not always the style.
- Welcome sign
- The sign that greets guests at the entrance with the couple's names; it is often framed with flowers or foliage.
- Wildflowers
- Flowers with a natural, unplanned look, such as daisies, cornflowers and poppies; for weddings they are grown, not picked.
Questions about the glossary
What is the glossary for?
It collects the words you'll find in Italian florists' quotes and proposals, many of them in Italian, with a plain explanation and links to the guides that cover them in more depth.
Do the terms mean the same for every florist?
They're the meanings most widely used in the trade. Each florist may use them a little differently: if an item on a quote is unclear, ask what it includes.
Is a term from your quote missing?
Write to us from the quote page and name the term: we add the entries that help couples and event planners the most.
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