Fruit on Wedding Tables is Trending: Nectar & Vessel's Take on Fruitscaping

SO, WHAT'S UP WITH ALL THE FRUIT?

Fruit styling by Nectar & Vessel | Photo by Rhode Tripper Photography

Ok babes,

Fruit on wedding tables is trending hot right now ie. fruitscaping (The art of intentionally styling fruit/produce on tables) and I have some HOT TAKES!

My aim here is to educate and to invite reflection (not to shame ANY florists out there).

So here is the thing,

not every florist should be fruit styling!!!!!!!

Just like not every person can or should rock a pixie cut -- (I know, random connection, but hear me out)

It takes a certain type of designer to curate a fruitscape (did I make this term up? maybe!) and I just don't think that everyone needs to be onboard and add it to their repertoire, even though it is HOT & TRENDY right now, because let's be real, not all florists are good at it!

ONE || PASSION

As designers, it takes us years to develop our craft, understand our own aesthetic and then curate a brand that is reflective of who we are, what we stand for and what we want to creatively give to the world.

It took me years of on-hand exploration to understand my floral design style and to hone my craft. I've been in the design world for 16 years so when it clicked for me that I was the type of floral designer that found inspiration beyond the flower, I knew that I needed to pull in other Organic elements along with flowers into my designs for them to feel complete. That meant for me, using fruit and other produce along with rocks, stones, drift wood, etc to curate a scene with flowers to create an art piece that felt like a still life painting. When I followed my intuition there and added those extra elements, it finally felt like an authentic representation of my design style.

In the 17th century, Dutch artists would paint the most lush still life vignettes, full of seasonal blooms, fruit in all forms, butterflies, lobsters, gemstones, bread, dead rabbits, you name it, and they expertly painted these scenes in a cohesive and lush way.

I have always been drawn to these paintings. I was 7 years old when I first fell in love with these type of art pieces. My favorite painting at 7 (and my favorite painting still) is "Still Life with Parrots" by Jan De Heem

Still Life with Parrots by Jan Davidz. de Heem 1606-1684

The way that these artists capture a scene in its most abundant and yet raw form is awe-inspiring. I am so moved by these paintings and I try to bring in the same level of rawness and realness mixed with abundant lushness into my floral art.

TWO || THE ART OF STYLING

Fruit styling by Nectar & Vessel | Photo by Lindsay Hackney

I need to be completely real here: not every floral designer is a stylist.

Designing a floral centerpiece is not the same as intentionally curating a tablescape and there is a level of precision and care that needs to go into fruitscaping that some florists just do not have.

I have a background in fashion and interior styling and spent time in the magazine world styling scenes for a living.

All of our designs and tablescapes at Nectar & Vessel are meant to be a living piece of art for you and your guests to enjoy. We want to invite you into awe, curiosity, exploration, & ultimately conversation.

And all of our Nectar & Vessel designers have an eye for styling. We take immense pride in our tablescapes, along with our attention to detail in the flowers we source and the produce that we procure.

THREE || NOT ALL FRUIT IS CREATED EQUAL

A local Maine farmers market haul for an August N&V client

I think this might be my DIE ON A HILL part of this soapbox-y blog post. I am beyond passionate and dare I say anal about the fruit and produce that I source for our clients.

Before we can even get to sourcing our produce, I have to determine what produce to use! (because you can't just throw average grocery store grapes or pears on a table and call it fruit styling!!!!)

A few things I need to consider before choosing what produce to use are: the overall vibe we are trying to curate, the color palate of our blooms, the season we are in, the food or drinks being served, and of course our client's budget.

Once I know what kind of produce I want to procure, then I go on the HUNT!

This is one of my favorite things to do (it's like finding that perfect thrift store goodie!) BUT it takes time, energy, gas money and did I mention time?

I go to farmers markets, specialty food markets, international grocers, local pick-your-own's and I even grow a good amount of our produce for our clients in my little garden. (and NO, I do not go to fruit wholesalers for this).

I source my produce like I source my blooms (I want the weirdo, variegated, unique fruit babies!)

There is a stark difference between a bunch of local Concord grapes with the foliage still attached than a grape bunch that was grown in Mexico and flown in and bought at Market Basket. (There just is! and I just won't settle)

Our fruit sourcing takes time, attention, an eye for detail and a deep passion to provide the best and most beautiful "edible" treasures that nature provides.

Fruit styling by Nectar & Vessel | Photo by Nikki Bassette

^ note the little blueberries I grew within the arrangement.

SO WHAT IS UP WITH ALL THE FRUIT?

I love that fruit on tables, fruit sculptures, fruit everywhere is #trending, because selfishly it finally feels like my personal aesthetic is reaching the masses, but I am hesitant to say, that it is a good thing.

Fruit doesn't need to be on every couple's wedding table in 2026. In fact I don't think it should be.

You should be hiring your floral designer for what they are best at.

If you want fruit on your table then hire a designer who works with fruit on the regular (ahem, us!!), and not just a talented designer, because I think that is where the miss comes.

I have seen too many gorgeous tables get ruined by fruit placements that are sloppy, un-intentional or just don't have the right fruit picked out for the table.

If you do want fruit / produce on your tables or desire a still life inspired tablescape then reach out to us at Nectar & Vessel so we can curate your dream tables with the deepest reverence for the garden treasures we choose for your sacred day.

Fruit Styling by Nectar & Vessel | Photo taken by our team

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