What is the difference between symmetrical and asymmetrical balance?

Symmetrical balance implies that an arrangement has equal visual weight on either side of an imaginary central axis. Each side suggests a mirror image of the other in overall shape and weight - though flower positions are not precisely duplicated. Symmetrical designs have long been associated with order and formality, and are most common in traditional design and for formal occasions. Asymmetrical balance is a visual expression in which the arrangement is actually balanced but material is distributed unevenly and off-centre. Each side of the central axis is dissimilar, but visual weight is in balance - a single large flower on one side can be balanced by a group of smaller flowers on the other. Asymmetry is a defining characteristic of most modern designs and generally requires a more developed eye than symmetrical work, because balance must be achieved without the structural guide of the central mirror. Sources: Pampling (100, 105, 200).