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Mrs. Cowboy Boot, Santa Fe Age and Occupation: 25, Magazine Editor Fiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Artist and Whitewater Rafting Guide Engagement Date: April 28th, 2008 Wedding Date: October 2009 Venue: Devil's Thumb Ranch, Colorado About Me: I grew up in Los Angeles and have since lived in San Diego, Boston, Italy, Hawaii, New York City, and Santa Fe. I speak Italian and love pasta. My real passion is the outdoors, though. When I'm not at work, I'm snowboarding, hiking with my two dogs, mountain biking, surfing, cross-country-skiing, or boating New Mexico's rivers. Despite my boyish love for adventure, I'm a girly-girl at heart and am overly-excited to pull off the romantic, vintage-inspired, country wedding of my dreams.
About Mrs. Cowboy Boot

My Unrequited Love Affair

April 13th, 2009 @ 10:30 am by Mrs. Cowboy Boot

I just learned that I have a serious thing for ruffly, girly flowers called (you guessed it) peonies. I started sending my florist images of my bouquet inspiration. Beautiful, overflowing, loose, garden-y bouquets full of, yup, peonies. It was then I found out that peonies just weren’t interested in loving me back.

(source)

I’m an October bride, and apparently, peonies have a very strict schedule–about a five-week window that exists a solid four months before my wedding. The closest I’m going to get? The ever-expensive and elusive garden rose. Luckily, I have a very talented florist, Erin Hornstein from Plum Sage Flowers, to recreate the just-rolled-out-of-bed-but-perfectly-designed loose, ruffly look I’m going for. And, in fact, she got married at Devil’s Thumb Ranch recently with a gorgeous yellow blooming umbrella.

So, I’ve been hunting for bouquets that don’t involve peonies.

But rather, garden roses, regular roses, hydrangea, dahlias, and any other flower that has a smidgen of a chance of poking its head up around the first week of October. My options are also limited because I’m looking for flowers with color–I’m afraid that a too-ivory bouquet will vanish into my dress, and stark white just won’t match.

Here are a few images of my (new) inspiration. Please excuse me if I happen to include a few peonies in there–their beauty is blinding me.

Bouquet 1

(source)

Bouquet 2

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Bouquet 3

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Bouquet 4

(source)

Bouquet 5

(source)

Bouquet 6

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Bouquet 7

(source)

Which bouquet is your favorite of the bunch?


View Results

After you tell me, I’ll fill you in on which is my fave and which won the vote.

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22 Responses to “My Unrequited Love Affair”

1.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Bruschetta (message)  5,553 posts, Bee Keeper

What color do you want your bouquet to be, mainly?

 
2.
JennyBryde
Member
JennyBryde (message)  1,148 posts, Bumble bee

I love bouquet 3. What flowers are those? I am a September bride, and I also had my heart set on peonies, and it ain’t gonna happen. I am going with garden roses and carnations to soothe my aching soul.

 
3.
Emilydll
Member
Emilydll (message)  428 posts, Helper bee

#3 is my favorite as well! There is just something about it that I adore!
I think it’s the hydrangea’s peaking out on the side. :)

 
4.
mary-alice-me
Member
mary-alice-me (message)  1,870 posts, Buzzing bee

I voted #5 but it’s a tough call. My personal favorite for myself. Like Bruschetta asked, besides peonies and ruffles, what other look are you going for?

 
5.
Member Icon
Member
Grey56 (message)  535 posts, Busy bee

I voted for #3 too, but I would want to see more COLOR. :-) I am an October bride too. We’re using Englsih roses (I heard they’re not good out of water though, so they’ll mainly be in the centerpieces, not in bouquets), dahlias, lisanthus, etc. Actually, I know what flowers I DON’T want more than what I do want. :-)

 
6.
Miss Deviled Egg
Bee
Miss Deviled Egg (message)  894 posts, Busy bee

I love peonies! You could do what others have done (Shortcake and Flamingo come to mind) and use bunches of carnations to create a peony look.

All of your inspiration photos are gorgeous! I’m having a tough time choosing, but I’m leaning towards #4 and #5.

 
7.
purpleHaze79
Member
purpleHaze79 (message)  875 posts, Busy bee

Love peonies, too! That’s stinky that they aren’t available in October! =( And please tell your awesome florist that he bloom umbrella is TO DIE FOR!!! Absolutely lovely!!

 
8.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Quiche (message)  2,186 posts, Buzzing bee

I love #2!

 
9.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Duckling (message)  1,349 posts, Bumble bee

I just love #2!

 
10.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Stiletto (message)  765 posts, Busy bee

I voted for 4 because I believe they’re Dahlia’s, which is what I’m starting to strongly consider…they’re so fun!

But #2 is fabulous…and what’s in #1? Looks very unique and fun!

 
11.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Taffy (message)  2,605 posts, Sugar bee

I love your inspiration!!! It’s so hard to choose!

 
12.
Luvbug6315
Member
Luvbug6315 (message)  427 posts, Helper bee

I voted for 5, but I love 4 too!

 
13.
frenchbulldog
Bee
frenchbulldog (message)  6,077 posts, Bee Keeper

I voted for 6, but I’m partial to it since it was one of my flower inspiration photos as well :)

 
14.
arobb81
Member
arobb81 (message)  267 posts, Helper bee

Thank you for posting this. I also fell in love with Peonies and they became the driving inspiration behind my entire wedding design- until I found out they bloom in may, four to five months after my wedding in January. I am just heartbroken because I haven’t found a single flower that I like as much.

My vote is for number 4. Thank you for giving me hope about finding flowers that are just as pretty!

 
15.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Latte (message)  646 posts, Busy bee

so hard to choose! a whole bunch of lisianthus can give a peony-effect…and there are always cabbage roses. i’m loving the ranunculus in #2.

 
16.
HistoryBride
Member
HistoryBride (message)  411 posts, Helper bee

Definitely love the look of 4. You should tell us what flowers they are!

 
17.
hollienoel
Member
hollienoel (message)  36 posts, Newbee

Check out peony-tulips, peony-poppies, ranunculus, and lisianthus. I don’t know their seasons but they are also ruffly and gorgeous!

 
18.
MightySapphire
Hostess
MightySapphire (message)  2,608 posts, Sugar bee

Go number six!!

 
19.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Labrador (message)  1,325 posts, Bumble bee

I basically don’t have to write my post about flowers now because I can just link to this! I’m in the EXACT same boat with peonies. I’m not a huge flower person but as soon as I did some research, I fell in love with this gorgeous flower. I’m contemplating fake flowers just to get the peony! Btw, I chose #3 because I’m partial to all white, peony bouquets!

 
20.
loralie
Member
loralie (message)  545 posts, Busy bee

If I had it to do all over again, I’d seriously consider planning my wedding date around that magical 5-week peony window.

 
21.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Crab Cake (message)  818 posts, Busy bee

I love #2, totally my colors!

 
22.
LatteLove
Hostess
LatteLove (message)  4,120 posts, Honey bee

i loved #6. Yellow are so bright and cheery!

 


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Mrs. Cowboy Boot Mrs. Cowboy Boot, Santa Fe Age and Occupation: 25, Magazine Editor Fiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Artist and Whitewater Rafting Guide Engagement Date: April 28th, 2008 Wedding Date: October 2009 Venue: Devil's Thumb Ranch, Colorado About Me: I grew up in Los Angeles and have since lived in San Diego, Boston, Italy, Hawaii, New York City, and Santa Fe. I speak Italian and love pasta. My real passion is the outdoors, though. When I'm not at work, I'm snowboarding, hiking with my two dogs, mountain biking, surfing, cross-country-skiing, or boating New Mexico's rivers. Despite my boyish love for adventure, I'm a girly-girl at heart and am overly-excited to pull off the romantic, vintage-inspired, country wedding of my dreams.
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