Beyond the Traditional Bridal Bouquet: Flowers Plus…or Flower-less!
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For many brides, walking down the aisle with a gorgeous bouquet is one of the most dreamed of highlights of the wedding ceremony.But what if you are the type of bride who wants to take a unique and even bold approach to your bouquet? Perhaps replacing it with something that you can later keep as a treasured memento? Think beyond flowers: either flowers plus, or entirely flower-less! See our suggestions below for some inspiring options—from something simple yet symbolic to a bouquet you can even make yourself.
Consider These Unique Alternatives
1. Use a Pretty Rosary and/or Small Prayer Booklet – For Catholic brides, this is a wonderful way to pay homage to your culture and religion on this most special day. These items can be gifts from your parents, making them even more meaningful. As shown above, you may carry the rosary alone. Or you can have it tied together with the prayer booklet by a lovely ribbon or encased in a dainty pouch, so that you don’t have to worry about losing one or both during the ceremony. Hint: After the wedding, both of these items can be kept as wedding heirlooms.
2. Have a Feather Bouquet – Have you always loved the grace of fluffy feathers? Believe it or not, you can use them for your bridal bouquet! For a wintertime wedding, in particular, a bouquet made with feathers, then embellished with crystals and lace would look lovely. And since feathers come in a variety of colors, you can choose the perfect shades for your bouquet to match your color motif. You even have the option of using natural feathers such as peacock, marabou, diamond, and ostrich; or faux ones, if you prefer. Hint: Have your bouquet made with a mix of these feathers adorned with jewel or pearl touches for a sophisticated look.
3. Craft a DIY Bouquet Made of Paper or even Aluminum – A paper flower bouquet is another innovative option. The fun part is to craft it in colors that match your bridal motif or the season of your wedding. The bouquet can be made with folded pieces of tissue paper (the kind used to line gift boxes); or even origami style for something truly unique! For instructions and pictures for creating origami bouquets, check out the book Origami Flowers. Hint: If you’re a bit unsure of your crafting skills, you can always look for bouquet-making kits!
4. Try a Jeweled Bouquet – For an instant “wow” factor, jeweled bouquet accents are sure stunners. Create your own dazzling stem embellishments, for instance, using bands of velvet or satin ribbon encrusted with Swarovski or colored crystals or faux pearls—taking care to complement your wedding colors, of course. Have these dangle from the bouquet stem or wrap them in a neat band around the handle. Hint: Be sure to leave a portion of the handle jewel-free for a comfortable grip! For another option, you can also have a bouquet made entirely from a lace fan. See Frilly Lace Fans You Can Make For Your Wedding Shower.
5. Consider a Homemade Pomander – Feeling truly creative? Here’s your chance to craft your very own, one-of-a-kind pomander bouquet. The thrill is you can use a wide variety of craft materials and sewing supplies from colorful buttons to felt appliqués. If it’s an organic-inspired pomander you want, you can use items ranging from seashells to dried flowers to seed pods and even nutshells. Or if you want something truly quirky and original, use fun “found objects” such as bottle caps, candy, tiny toys, or acrylic beads. Simply form these all into a ball shape, with wire, nylon string, or craft glue—and you have your pomander! Hint: Finish your creation with a lovely ribbon. You do still want it to look like a bouquet!
Have a one-of-a-kind idea for your wedding bouquet? Share it and inspire other brides!
I saw a bride once who carried a bouquet made entirely of Christmas baubles! it was so unique and cool.
I attended a wedding where the bride requested we bring a silk flower and place in a basket at the door. A bouquet was assembled with lace and ribbon and given to her before the ceremony started. It was beautiful, made with love and was a gift from all who attended. She loved it!
Thank you for sharing! What a great idea!